Takes More Than Love

Book overview: This transformative memoir follows Jenn as she confronts her past, mentors her husband throughout his own journey to racial awareness, and also discovers the inner strength to be a champion for others.

This was an incredibly honest and raw memoir, filled with moments that made me the feel the full spectrum of emotions, anger, disgust, shock, sad, happy, hopeful, and inspired. Jenna’s words strike to the heart of the reader. The part where she teaches her children was especially beautiful. In that teaching she was healing her own inner child.

There were many pearls of wisdom too. This author is a wizard with words and spins them into a beautiful web of expertise and enlightenment. There were many life phrases that I highlighted in my kindle. Here’s are a few of my favorites…

-“There should be no comfort in ignorance.”
-“No one gets to be the judge of my experiences.”
-“To explain why these things matter is basically pleading for someone to care about your humanity as much as their own.”
-“But we need love AND action.”
-“I'm going to tell them these things so that they know that an ordinary person can and should be an agent of change within their sphere of influence when something in the world is awry.”

The racism, utter ignorance, and vitriol she experienced had me breathless, it was revolting. Unknowingly, I would pause my reading during these times and just stare off dazed about what I just read.

However, even though it tackles the ugliness of racism and biases it also highlights how we can heal from our traumas, use our voices to help others, and be allies and champions together. Our voices have power and we need to start looking “at the people and places we can influence and ask ourselves where there is room for improvement.”

The author then ends her memoir with a little feel good send off and plan of action. I need everyone to read this when it releases on September 3rd and then talk with me about it!!! 😄😍♥️

Compassionate and eye-opening, this memoir is full of heart and hope. It was so inspiring to follow Jenn on her journey, as she not only found reconciliation within her marriage but shows a great example of how to advocate for others. If everyone read this book, the world would be a better place!

This memoir details the author and her partner's individual and relational journeys towards growth and healing from racial trauma. It is an open and accurate picture of what navigating the nuances of an interracial relationship entails, and it is presented in a way that is always kind in spite of the harshness of the racism that she experienced from her new family. This should be mandatory reading for mental health therapists, new and old alike, as well as for anyone who feels alone and "othered" in their families and communities.