Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest review.

This book was difficult for me due to the heavy content. I expected it to be complex and even dark, however this within the first two chapters I was shocked at the dark & heavy content. I listened to the audiobook so this may have been a factor that made it more difficult to get through as well. I would have a hard time recommending this book due to the content, and feel strongly this book needs trigger warnings added.

I found this book both difficult to get through and absolutely riveting at the same time. It’s the story of Stephanie and her family through most of her childhood, but maybe more so the story of her mother’s mental illness and the effects on their family. Stephanie and her sister are both brought up by different parents despite living in the same house. With her parents at odds, Stephanie is given way too much freedom and does not use it wisely. Ending up in situations a 10yr old, a 12yr old, a 14yr old and so on, should never have to deal with. The story ends with her as a junior in high school and I can’t help wonder what the consequences of this were to her future self, because we find this entire story is the consequence of her mother’s experience. It was very well written, and hard to get through certain scenes. The author did not shy away from describing the experiences and feeling through some harrowing events.

Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.


Woof. This is a heavy book. I’m not sure I could recommend it to anyone to be honest. I think the writer has a lot of skill in entering the voice of a different aged girl and aging that voice. I also thought each character was complicated and nuanced in interesting ways.

That being said, the sheer level of heavy topics thrown in one after the other started to ring more as shock value additives rather than building toward something more substantial.

I was fascinated by this book. Emily English Medley did an excellent job with the cultish theme of this book. It was a very religious tone, but it set the book apart from others of its kind. The characters were well written, and the story line was well plotted. I couldn't stop listening. The narration of this book gave it a great amount of depth as well. I can't wait to read more from this author. I definitely recommend this book to readers.

Thank you Net Galley ARC, Greenleaf Audiobooks, and Emily English Medley

Listened to the audio ARC of this book…this book is, in a word: disturbing. The narrator is phenomenal! What she can do with her voice is incredible—she adds to the story and the creepiness of this novel. Check ALL of your triggers before reading/listening to this book. Given all of the controversial topics in this book, it would make an excellent book club book. I’m thankful for the audio copy—it just added such a depth to this book. *I received a complimentary audio copy from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Wow what a wild ride with this book. A lot of religion talk but completely fit the book. I didn't feel like I was being preached to, just was part of the story.

I wish there had been more explanations toward the end of the book with certain things. It definitely contains some triggers as well. At some points I found the book hard to stomach, but the overall book was good! If you like a little crazy with a cult feel, then I would recommend this book.

I did like the narrator except when she was speaking as a young child, I found her voice very annoying at those times. Other than that, she did a great job in my opinion.

Thank you to netgalley for this free audiobook!

I was intrigued by this one. I was expecting a dark read, but not this dark. I also could not stand the narration. I feel bad because I know it is the author, but her little girl cloying voice was like nails on a chalkboard for me and made the material twice as disturbing. This was not a good fit for me...

This book was incredibly challenging to read and not my cup of tea, filled with dark triggers and heavy themes that make it emotionally exhausting. While seemingly rooted in a Christian narrative framework, the story's progression felt stagnant, with endings that failed to provide meaningful resolution.
If this is indeed based on true events, I deeply sympathize with the family's experiences. However, the book's intense subject matter—dealing with sexual abuse, pedophilia, and mental illness—makes it absolutely unsuitable for anyone currently struggling with their mental health. It's not a book I would recommend, as it offers little comfort or hope. The narrative is overwhelmingly bleak and potentially re-traumatizing for sensitive readers.