Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

In her memoir Embracing the Unknown, Julie Maurer talks to us about the sudden loss of her husband to suicide, and the avalanche of emotional and practical challenges that followed. She speaks on her husband's battle with professional setbacks, depression, and a reluctance to seek help, while also acknowledging her own dissatisfaction in their marriage; a fact she had not fully confronted until after her mother's death. In the aftermath, Maurer is spun into a whirlwind of grief, responsibilities, and trying to reconcile what transpired with a new way of living. She finds support in friends and her relationship with Jeff, who later becomes her husband. She embraces life with Jeff but finds settling in is not as simple as she thought. Over time, she learns to embrace uncertainty and finds peace in moving forward, accepting the unknown with openness and a deeper sense of self-awareness.

Julie Maurer shares her incredibly brave journey following an unbelievable loss in Embracing the Unknown: One Woman's Radical Decision to Turn Her Life Over to the Universe and the Amazing Transformation that Follows. Her writing style is so comfortable and conversational, making it easy to empathize with her as she opens up about her life. I love that every chapter starts with a Rumi quote, and Maurer’s spirit shines through in her willingness to share not only the heavy moments, like sorting through her husband's belongings and managing the responsibilities of grief, but also the moments of unexpected joy. I was particularly heartened by her experience of driving a Mercedes for the first time and sharing the songs played at her wedding to Jeff. Maurer’s transformation is deeply inspiring, and her willingness to embrace uncertainty makes this memoir both uplifting and motivational. It’s a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Brave New You by Mary Poffenroth, PhD presents a revolutionary approach to understanding and mastering fear and anxiety in our daily lives. This comprehensive guide combines cutting-edge neuroscience with practical strategies, making complex concepts accessible to readers seeking to overcome their fears. Through a blend of scientific research, psychological insights, and personal narrative, Poffenroth introduces readers to effective 'neurohacks' that can transform their relationship with fear. The book addresses the spectrum of modern anxieties, from social situations to professional challenges, offering a roadmap for personal growth and emotional resilience.

Author Mary Poffenroth brings both academic expertise and personal understanding to this transformative work. The writing style strikes an impressive balance between scientific accuracy and accessibility, making complex neurological concepts manageable and applicable to everyday life. The warm and confident tone inspires readers. What I found most compelling was the integration of real-world examples with research findings, creating clear connections between theory and practice that make perfect sense and are easy to recall. The structure builds progressively, allowing readers to develop a deeper understanding of their fear responses while gaining practical tools for managing them. Poffenroth's inclusion of personal stories brings authenticity and real-world context to the scientific framework. Her explanations of neurological processes help readers understand the why behind their fears as well as the how of overcoming them. I loved the breakdown of different 'neurohacks' that help readers understand the brain and how to master it. The exercises and strategies are innovative and achievable, designed to create lasting change rather than quick fixes. Overall, Brave New You is an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand and transform their relationship with fear and anxiety, and I would not hesitate to recommend it.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

The Light From a Thousand Wounds: A Mother's Memoir of Finding Beauty in Life's Darkest Moments by Corey Hatfield is a deeply moving account of resilience and hope in the face of adversity. The story takes the reader through Corey's life as a mother navigating the complexities of raising five children, including the intense challenges posed by her son’s violent autism and her eldest son’s substance abuse. When tragedy strikes in the form of a life-altering accident that leaves her son in a coma, Corey and her husband are forced to confront the fragility of life and their marriage. Through faith and an unwavering determination to find meaning in suffering, Corey discovers the hidden beauty in life’s darkest moments and begins a journey toward healing for herself and her family.

Author Corey Hatfield’s narrative is raw and filled with emotions, taking the reader into the depths of her experiences while also offering moments of amazing inspiration. Her ability to find light amid darkness makes this memoir both heartbreaking and uplifting. The narrative is paced well, with each chapter shedding light on her evolving relationship with faith, her family, and herself. The author’s exploration of trauma, love, and determination resonates universally, offering comfort and encouragement to readers facing their own battles. The memoir’s emotional honesty sets it apart, making it a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. The Light From a Thousand Wounds is a powerful and unforgettable story of finding grace and beauty in the most unlikely places.

Reviewed by Maalin Ogaja for Readers' Favorite

In The Hate Game: Screaming in the Silence, Gary Trew takes us on a harrowing and heartbreaking journey through his childhood experience at Knoll School for Boys. Trew details the abuse, bullying, and intimidation he endured from the first day of school to the end of his five-year attendance. He describes not only the torment inflicted by fellow students but also the general lack of caring from the teachers and the abuse that some of the teachers meted out to the students. Amidst all these challenges, Gary grapples with personal grief and the typical growing pains associated with adolescence.

In The Hate Game, Gary Trew exposes the long-lasting effects of abuse and neglect including the emotional and psychological effects it had on his life. He describes his experiences in a vivid and captivating manner, so much so that I was drawn into his story, and at times I felt like the level of abuse and suffering he underwent was untenable. However, his masterful balance of comedy and heartbreak kept me engaged to the last page. Another theme that he discusses is growing up in the 70s, where he was expected to “suck it up” even when going through significant trauma. He could not tell his parents, nor could he understand why the teachers did nothing, and often felt alone and abandoned, with no one to talk to. This memoir is also a testament to resilience, and how our past significantly impacts our current lives and mental health. I enjoyed this book immensely, largely due to Trew’s excellent narrative of a very traumatic period in his life.

Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

Scrambled or Sunny-Side Up? by Loren Ridinger is an emotionally rich memoir that explores the powerful love story and shared journey of Loren and her late husband, JR Ridinger. Known for their entrepreneurial spirit and deep commitment to each other, the Ridingers built a life that touched countless others through their work with Market America, a business they nurtured from the ground up. At the heart of this memoir is a portrayal of JR as an inspiring, visionary figure whose dreams extended beyond personal success to empower those around him. Ridinger recounts how JR’s larger-than-life presence influenced every facet of their lives, from their professional ventures to their family’s day-to-day moments. Through tender letters and anecdotes, Loren reflects on her journey of love, growth, and shared dreams with JR. She writes with vulnerability about the challenges of continuing life without him.

One of the book's most captivating themes is the exploration of grief, a process Loren Ridinger describes with raw honesty. She navigates the complexities of loss, recounting their last days together with both a painful awareness and a sense of gratitude for the time they shared. Loren’s narrative moves seamlessly from joyous memories of family vacations and milestone celebrations to the overwhelming heartache of JR’s sudden passing. Her story encourages readers to find strength in their vulnerability, urging them to honor their emotions and seek solace in their support networks. Scrambled or Sunny-Side Up? offers hope, resilience, and the enduring power of love. Her journey through grief transforms into a tribute to JR’s legacy and an inspiration for anyone facing loss.

Reviewed by Amy Raines for Readers' Favorite

Losing Dad, Paranoid Schizophrenia: A Family’s Search for Hope is written by Amanda LaPera. LaPera’s father was diagnosed with cancer. After going through the surgery, he left his family in search of a more divine purpose. He sends postcards from some of the places he visits and agrees to baptize Amanda and her son at her home. But he cancels, as if sensing that she had planned to get him the help he needed. Her father was suffering from a late onset of Schizophrenia that drew him away from the family and to other countries, behaving in ways that were not in his normal character, including his callous comments about the deaths of his parents. Still, the family held out hope that he would come home and get the help he needed for his mental illness.

Losing Dad, Paranoid Schizophrenia is a sad journey that explains how the onset of mental illness is not always during the earlier years of life. Amanda LaPera has shown a great amount of bravery in sharing the ordeal she and her family faced while trying to find a way to help her father through his mental illness. The astounding patience, compassion, love, commitment to family, and willpower LaPera has shown while coping with such an issue is remarkable. I recommend Losing Dad, Paranoid Schizophrenia to anyone who faces mental illness or knows someone who does. This book will inspire and encourage loved ones not to give up hope even when getting help seems all but impossible.

Reviewed by Grace Masso for Readers' Favorite

In The Typhoon's Eye: A Story of Childhood and Leaving Home by Bles Chavez-Bernstein is a childhood memoir that covers the author’s growing years in the Philippines through her coming-of-age, to leaving her family in pursuit of a dream. The author introduces readers to a family that has survived through moving from place to place and that has stuck together in spite of the odds. Her father is an ambitious man who wants to have a house for his family and the mother is a loyal wife with strong family values, a woman who stays with her husband even when he is caught cheating with his cousin, Ela. Bles takes readers on a ride through her childhood, exploring the exciting experiences and the climate in her family, allowing compelling images of locales she lived in and the lifestyle of the people to come out strongly in the writing. It is a story of family and love, and one that captures the theme of separation in a poignant manner, with the author forced by circumstances to leave her fiancé and children to seek greener pastures, hoping to keep her promise of freedom for herself, financial assistance for her family, and fidelity to Andy.

In The Typhoon's Eye is a unique memoir that those who have lived in the Philippines will adore. Bles Chavez-Bernstein has a unique voice and it is compelling. The descriptive nature of the writing pulled me in and some passages had me laughing, especially the way the author captures scenes from her childhood. One of the things I loved about this book is that it captures a reality that kids growing up in rural areas experience, such as feeling a kinship with nature and the woods. Her conversation with her mother about who owns the hills and the mountains is very revealing of the mind of a child. The family life is brilliantly written and the reader gets a clear idea of family values and what is most important for each member of this family. Locales where the protagonist has lived — from San Jose to the barrio of Guinaban, to Ocampo, and Sandig, carefully nestled in Mt Isarog, a dormant volcano — are well written. The narrative voice is lively and gripping, the prose crisp and the characters fully developed. In The Typhoon's Eye: A Story of Childhood and Leaving Home is engaging, emotionally rich, and depicts provincial life in the Philippines with compelling and colorful images. A wonderful memoir that reads like fiction.

Reviewed by Emma Megan for Readers' Favorite

A Hard Silence is a profoundly moving, personal, and informative account of the challenges of dealing with AIDS from a daughter's perspective. In 1985, Melanie Brooks's life was deeply affected by tragedy when her father contracted HIV from a blood transfusion during open-heart surgery. This memoir is about her father, how he was before and during his illness, and how the illness affected every family member, especially Melanie. Melanie was only thirteen years old when her beloved father, a surgeon, became a patient bearing the burden of HIV/AIDS. Melanie says that for many years she couldn't voice her pain and agony as her family decided not to tell anyone about her father's devastating illness. They wanted to avoid facing discrimination and the stigma that people infected with HIV faced during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. But remaining silent and living in isolation and secrecy affected her in ways she wasn't prepared for.

What this book teaches the reader more than anything else is that not talking about your tragedy, pain, sadness, and loneliness can lead to more severe problems later in life. Melanie Brooks's story of dealing with uncertainty, judgment, fear, faith crises, grief, and loss is essential reading. Her courage to finally lift the veil of secrecy and expose her trauma is impressive. This heart-wrenching and page-turning memoir describes what it was like to feel useless when someone you deeply love fights against an illness with no cure. It inspires those suffering from separation, loneliness, and loss who need compassion and support to speak about their struggles and pain and not feel alone anymore. I highly recommend A Hard Silence.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Incurable Optimist: Living with Illness and Chronic Hope by Jennifer Cramer-Miller is a memoir as the author retells her battle with kidney failure and its consequences. Twenty-two-year-old Jennifer had a great job, an excellent life in Seattle, and a loving boyfriend. However, everything changed when her kidneys were damaged beyond repair. It all started with puffy eyes and ended with her struggling to survive. The pain and strangeness of her circumstances were enough to throw anyone off track, but Jennifer became more resilient. She went through many tests and doctors, but that didn’t stop Jennifer from fighting back and reclaiming her life.

Jennifer Cramer-Miller proved that fate will bend to your will if you want to survive. I was blown away by her courage and her tenacity to live. I cannot imagine what it felt like to lose organs, but I can imagine her pain. Incurable Optimist remained true to its title. Jennifer was an optimist until the very end. After the initial shock, she composed herself and handled everything with grace. After four kidney transplants, countless hospital visits, and many growing opportunities, Jennifer became an incredible human being who was a walking-talking motivational example. I loved how this was not a sob story to make readers feel sorry for Jennifer but to take courage from her journey. The narrative style was perfect. Divided into five parts, each revealed the intricacies of the disease and every step of how she battled with her body to live. The tone was cheerful and infinitely bright. I loved the vivid descriptions and how gentle yet open Jennifer became after the long battle. I highly recommend this memoir.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Those Darn Stripes is a work of non-fiction in the memoir genre. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by Tyrel Nelson. The book is a reflection on the author’s life during a period of intense turbulence and change, in which they return home from teaching abroad only to find themselves unemployed and ending a long-term relationship. Consoled through this period by his father, the author begins to recover only for his father to pass away, leaving him without his closest friend and confidant. Now in the world without his main source of emotional support, the author reflects on the connection with his father as well as older parts of his life.

This book is a beautiful depiction of the bond between father and son, and Tyrel Nelson’s loving description of his time with his father Jay never failed to be deeply moving as their bond carried the author through one of the most difficult periods of his life. One of the things that are so difficult to articulate about grief is that when you share a close relationship with someone, in particular a parent, their influence extends into almost every aspect of your life. With the person at the center suddenly gone, it’s almost alien to experience the things you used to share without them. This feeling was captured perfectly in Those Darn Stripes as the reflections on the past see the author use the memories of his father to continue finding joy in the things that they once shared. An emotional and thoughtful read, I recommend this book to all.