My goodness. This is such a powerful memoir. I’m not sure if it’s marketed as such actually but that rings true for me.
Full of stories of the authors life from childhood on being raised by a mother whose behavior was so toxic, manipulative and narcissistic that it’s at some times horrifying and hard to comprehend. Most of the time, honestly.
I went in with a bit of trepidation, I wasn’t sure if I’d find it too upsetting to read, but I switched to the audio just due to time constraints and honestly, it’s a delightful book even with the awful moments throughout. Melanie Shankle is just so funny. There’s a lot of snort laugh moments scattered throughout.
It’s a book which mothers of teen daughters should read of course, there’s so much to relate to, but to be honest if you have a kid of any gender who has struggled with mean kids and fitting in, you’ll feel so heard, so seen. I cried. There’s not many books that open up the pain of parenting when everything you try just doesn’t work. I liked that there’s beautiful redemption in the relationships towards the end.
Highly recommend.
Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for the digital arc.

I first heard Melanie Shankle on the 10 Things to Tell You podcast, and felt like her story echoed mine. The author is funny and relatable, and her stories on dealing with mean girls and a mean mom are relevant in this era. Highly recommend.

As a long time follower of Melanie Shankle I knew I would enjoy this book, but wow, this is something truly special. The honesty and vulnerability that Melanie shows by sharing her difficult relationship with her mother is really remarkable. She does such a good job of walking the line between honoring her mother while still showing her many imperfections. She then relates those experiences to challenges her teenage daughter faces with mean girls in high school. Melanie gives such great advice with a Christian perspective that I appreciate. I highly recommend this for mothers and daughters everywhere!

I discovered Melanie Shankle's books years ago and was delighted to see she has a new one. She writes about her life in such a relatable, down-to-earth way. I couldn't put this book down once I started it. Thankfully I didn't experience the toxic relationship that the author had with her mother, but I do know others who grew up in such a situation. It was easier to relate to her descriptions of navigating the teenage years with her daughter and vowing to be a better mother herself. Thanks to NetGalley, WaterBrook and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

Here Be Dragons by Melanie Shankle wasn't in my schedule to read this week. I just found out about this new book and since I am pre-approved for NetGalley, I immediately downloaded it and it was just what I needed to read.

In Here Be Dragons, Melanie tells her story about growing up with the first "mean girl" in her life--her mom. She leans into her story to heal so she can better guide her daughter through the "mean girl" years in high school. The book's name comes from medieval times, when uncharted waters were marked on maps as Here Be Dragons to signify that no one knew what dangers might lie ahead. Similarly, in life, we don't know what dangers lie ahead, especially when our children start middle school or high school.

Melanie wanted to raise her daughter, Caroline, to use her innate skills to be a strong warrior and to also look to God to help her fight her battles. However, before she could really help Caroline learn to fight, she had to heal from her own hurts from the dysfunctional family she grew up in. Through the first part of this book, it reads much like a memoir as she shares stories from her growing up years. She tells this difficult story with grace and humor and really does a good job sharing it.

The second half of Here Be Dragons, Melanie tells the story of parenting Caroline through the tough years of her daughter's high school where she dealt with some mean girls. Mean girls there told her to kill herself and were just really unkind. I experienced some mean girls in high school but these girls were among the meanest. The nice thing about the book is that Caroline has now completed two years of college and has came out on the other side stronger and in a much better place--which I think gives parents hope. This part of the book gives some guidance for parents in similar situation but also reminds parents that each child and situation are unique too. Ultimately, Melanie recommends a lot of prayer and seeking God's guidance to know what to do in your own situation.

I read Here Be Dragons in about 24 hours. I honestly couldn't put it down. While my family of origin story reads differently, I could relate to so much of her story about how her mom treated her. Her mom's words were often similar to my mom's words. I admire Melanie for not sharing this story while her mom was alive. I also thought she told it quite well--with honesty but also with some grace and mercy towards her mom. I highly recommend this book to anyone who grew up with their own mean girl mom or who are raisin a teen in today's world of mean girls.

I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah through NetGalley. All opinions within this review are my own.

I've been following Melanie for over a decade via her blog and podcast, and have read several of her previous books. This is her best one yet. Melanie is vulnerable, honest, and deep in this memoir in a way that she has never been before. Toward the end, Melanie shares that she has always been careful never to speak publicly about her toxic relationship with her mom and only has the freedom to now because her mom has passed away. Having followed Melanie for so many years, I can attest to how much she has honored that boundary with her public readers. I don't have daughters, but I still appreciated Melanie's wisdom and insight on parenting our kids through hard stuff and using the wisdom of past experience and trusting God to get through it.

This book is head-on, truthful look at hard relationships and how they affect us. The author walks us through her hard childhood and relationship with her mother and then later trying to protect her daughter from the toxic people on her life. Though dealing with hard and painful truths, this book also gives hope and points the way to healing through Christ. I give this book 4 stars. I received a complimentary review copy from NetGalley.

I’ve been a long time reader of the Big Mama blog and have read every one of Melanie’s books, but when I heard about this one I knew this was the one I had to read as soon as possible due to my life circumstances. Not only is this a must read for parenting tweens and teens, it’s a must read for people who have had to separate from toxic parents to break the cycle of hurt and find peace and healing. Like she said when she first talked about this book, it was not the story she intended to write when she started this book, but it was the story that came as she talked about parenting her own child. Thankful that there is a book like this with a biblical perspective as it will help a lot of people feel less alone and give them the courage to make changes that will break toxic cycles. “Sometimes true healing can’t take place until you cut off the source of pain.” In her typical fashion this book handles a very sad and tough topic with humor and truth. Laughing one minute and tearing up the next. Put this on your read list. Thanks to NetGalley and Waterbrook for the advanced copy.

I’m a longtime fan of Melanie’s and have loved all her books, but this one is next level, and my new favorite. Beautiful storytelling that is somehow gut-punching and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time. One of the best books I’ve ever read.

I will read anything Melanie Shankle writes! She comes across so relatable, and I absolutely love her humor and storytelling. As a mom of a two year old, I’m definitely in a different stage of life, but I figured I would go ahead and read this now and then read again as we approach teenage years and it’s more applicable. Well, that’s still the plan, but what I didn’t expect was how relevant this book would be to my life now. So much of the story is about her troubled relationship with her mom and healing from that trauma. It was encouraging to me to read about how she handled some tough family situations. This is definitely a book I will read over and over again. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read it early! I’m planning to go see her on tour in Austin!

Melanie’s voice, as well as her heart, came through loud and clear…and that’s a positive thing! You can tell she felt a need to get this off her chest as well as guide others walking through anything similar. Well done! I’m ready to read her next one!

If you've read all of Melanie Shankle's books and listen to the Big Boo podcast ever week (raising my hand too), you'll likely be surprised by parts of this story but also moved by what Melanie shares. If you're brand new to her writing/story but pick it up because of mother/daughter/generational pain, you'll appreciate also it. The cover leaves much to be desired, but open up the pages and you'll connect with the writing -- whether you've loved Melanie's words for a long time or you've never heard her name before.

Wow. I adored this book! I have read several of Melanie Shankle’s previous books and this may top them all. She tells her own story and struggles with vulnerability and heart, point back to what she’s learned and how Christ has led her each step of the way. I found myself highlighting quite a bit as she delivered nuggets of wisdom on parenting as she describes her experience with her own mother and also being a mother herself. I think anyone could glean something from this book, especially if you have relationship struggles in family or friendship. I will be recommending this one!

I am DNFing at 50% because this book isn't for me, but I am sure other people will enjoy it!

The author explores what it means to be a daughter, to be a mother, and to be a mother to a daughter, in interesting ways, using her own personal experiences as the basis for her thoughts.
Unfortunately, I didn't realize from the quick description that the author is very religious and religion/beliefs/God comes up quite often in the book, which is uncomfortable for me.

I would still highly recommend this book to anyone interested in those topics of motherhood and women family relationships if the religious aspect is something you can read about.

Thank you NetGalley and WaterBrook for the opportunity to read this ARC.

To say I devoured this book would be an understatement. Drawn in from the first chapter, I laughed out loud and cried continually as I read the whole thing in under 24 hours. While nonfiction, so much of this read like a story. Unbelievable and raw at times, beautiful and redemptive at others.

Melanie shows the vulnerable hard and good of family. Specifically, the complexities of the mother, daughter relationship. The book was a balm to my heart and full of hope for the days I know I get it wrong.

Melanie shares so much about her relationship with the Lord. I aspire to pray and trust the Lord as boldly as she has with my own daughter. The steady reminder that the biggest gift we can give our children is our own spiritual, emotional, and mental health was woven throughout her story.

Shankle’s perspective that her daughter was created uniquely, specifically as God intended her for his purpose and will is something I will hold on to. I pray this truth will be firmly planted in all mothers’ hearts.

The full circle moment of the last chapter was a brilliant ending. What a work the Lord has done in this family.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Here Be Dragons is a raw heart full look at generational trauma and a mother’s quest to overcome. In the first 2/3 of the book, Melanie tells the heartbreaking details leading to her estrangement from her mother, shortly after becoming a mother herself. Her mother, likely perpetuating the toxic relationships she saw modeled, created unbearable relationships with her daughters. In the last 1/3 of the book, Melanie talks about her relationship with her daughter. Caroline experienced mean girls in her high school and found a whole new world upon entering college. In conclusion, Melanie discusses the death of her mother and how “God had broken a generational cycle that had told the women in my family to find their value in everything but His love.”

I received and Advanced Reader Copy from WaterBrook, an imprint of Random House, via NetGalley.

I love Melanie Shankle and although I do not have generational trauma……I have encountered mean girls. The whole analogy of “Here Be Dragons” was perfect. As parents we send our children into treacherous waters and unchartered, scary territory every day. And we feel every disappointment, injustice and barb. Every mom needs to read this book! 5 stars!

I will read anything by Melanie Shankle. I listened to her past books in audio format and her voice carries through the same in written format. Totally enjoyable.

Melanie Shankle is funny. Ms. Shankle’s books are funny. They are also well written, thought provoking, and honest. Her latest book, Here Be Dragons, is no exception. Perhaps her most heartfelt book yet, Here Be Dragons delves into Ms. Shankle’s relationship with her mother, simultaneously revealing the truths that led to her hopes and desires in her relationship with her own daughter. As unsettling as it can sometimes sound, you can’t erase the past, but thankfully many times, and in this case, you can learn and grow from it.

Brave & honest Melanie shares the story of her dysfunctional upbringing & how she ultimately decided to sever ties to her mother. She also shares an honest look at what our children are facing at school everyday & how her own daughter struggled in high school. Through it all God is always with us.