Educator, comedian, and author Gerardy chronicles her journey from abuse to love and self-acceptance in this memoir.

“While some people’s first memories are presents around a Christmas tree or blowing out candles on a birthday cake,” the author begins, “my first memory could have easily landed my family on Dr. Phil.” Born to parents who were on the verge of divorce when she was conceived, Gerardy experienced a childhood of violence and emotional tension, she writes. Her mother, she says, was prone to fits of rage that often resulted in violence toward the author; her father was absent, claiming that Gerardy couldn’t be his biological offspring. To cope, Gerardy says, her mother moved her from location to location, putting her in the path of a sexually abusive step-uncle in Peoria, Illinois. Later, the author experienced barely livable conditions in South Florida and encountered other abusive men. She grew up in poverty in the 1980s, but finally achieved some form of normalcy in adolescence after her mother met and married her stepfather, who balanced her mom’s mood swings and provided Gerardy with the compassion she needed. Still, she struggled with the trauma of past abuse as she grew older. Although Gerardy’s prose is informal, she effectively delivers an inspiring tale of forgiveness, healing, and redemption that’s emotionally fraught but also finds respite in humor. Readers gain a firsthand understanding of how insidious the cycle of abuse can be, while also getting a vibrant sense of the author’s personality. Along the way, Gerardy also shares everyday details of her life, such as going to the movies with friends, which effectively draw readers into her story.

An earnest and open remembrance of abuse and the hard work of recovery.