This was a hard book to read. Carrie endured so much abuse that I almost didn’t want to finish reading the book. However, she eventually found healing, and that made it worth continuing on. I found many parallels between Carrie’s story and that told by many people I have met who have come out of a restrictive cult in our home area. Hopefully, her story will help me to understand them better. It is good to see that someone has found healing, and I hope she continues to grow in the Lord and find more healing and reconciliation with her family.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

A detailed, woven story of a young women’s childhood, adolescence and life after college having grown up in a fanatical religious household. Her Father ruled the house and she and her many siblings were subjected to physical and emotional abuse. It was a hard story to read because she endured so much, yet sticking with the book I appreciated her perspective as it grew, and as she developed greater awareness of how unusual her upbringing was, later realizing how abusive the environment actually was.
The book reminded me of “ Educated “ where the sadness and difficulty in reading about her challenging youth was tempered as later in the book the author of both memoirs had come out of the weird mind-mess of their childhood and youth and had a healthy perspective to then move forward in their life.

Possibly cathartic for the author, but this is the most difficult book I’ve ever read.

Carrie Sheffield’s memoir is incredibly detailed. The first 13 chapters are a literal blow by blow accounting of the horrific events she experienced in the perverse, Mormon, LDS adjacent unit they called family.

These 13 chapters are dark and I almost DNF’d multiple times as my soul was grieving with very little relief, page after page after horrifying event. The depth of mental illness is astounding and it affects everyone to varying degrees. Her father and brothers should have been institutionalized YEARS ago; many, many years before they actually were.

For readers that have an history of mental illness in their families, this book is a nonstop trigger warning. I grew up with a mentally I’ll mother but Carrie’s father makes her a saint, in comparison, and THAT is saying something, for me…

If you’re and a fan of memoirs, the last three chapters are truly some light at the end of this long, dark tunnel. Despite the first 30+ years of all encompassing abuse, Carrie finds some victory and a path to continue success along. I won’t spoil the ending for those readers who choose to take the journey.

Normally, I wouldn’t suggest skipping or skimming but because the first 225 pages are so hard to read, it’s possible to read the first 2-3 chapters and spot visit the next 10 before checking back in fully at chapter 13 or 14…just a suggestion.

3.5 stars rounded up for perseverance and good writing mechanics 📚

Read & Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC with thanks

This book was very enlightening and sad at the same time. Being abused, whether it was because of religious, physical, sexual, or emotional is a very difficult and painful experience. I’m thankful that Carrie shared her vulnerable journey in this book. A must read!

I wasn’t able to finish this book due to the triggering depictions of abuse. My heart breaks for the author and do believe this is an important book and I admire the bravery by all involved. Thank you for providing the opportunity for me to try out this book. I hope it is a huge success!

3 stars
Absolutely heartbreaking book. A very difficult read for me. I think there is definitely an audience for this book.