Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness by Deb Miller goes beyond conventional fairytales to explore the quest for happiness and fulfillment, challenging societal norms. This inspiring book is a manifesto for women eager to break free from limiting roles and embark on their own unique journeys to happiness. The narrative blends personal stories and cultural analysis to challenge fairytale ideals of happiness that often limit women's life choices. The book guides readers to reshape their understanding of happiness and encourages timely self-reflection. Every chapter deconstructs different fairytale tropes, ranging from the passive princess in need of rescue to the idealization of marriage as the perfect ending. In contrast, Miller advocates for embracing joy through authenticity and self-sufficiency, promoting a life shaped by individual choices.

Deb Miller’s writing style makes complex ideas about societal norms and personal freedom easy to understand and relate to. This book truly shines with its powerful message of empowerment and self-discovery. Miller goes beyond simply critiquing; she shares practical steps and uplifting stories that show how everyday women have created fulfilling lives by rejecting the fairytale blueprint. Her message impacts a society still struggling with gender roles and expectations, making it essential reading for anyone wishing to reshape their story and discover genuine happiness. Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness urges women to question, challenge, and ultimately transcend the fairytales that have long dictated women’s lives. This book is an excellent start to breaking the stereotypical impact fairytales have held over women for centuries.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

In Such a Pretty Picture, Andrea Leeb recounts her traumatic childhood filled with unsettling family dynamics, sexual abuse, and the struggle for identity. The memoir explores the relationship between Andrea, her mother Marlene, and her father David, which unravels against secrets and manipulation. The narration begins in the early 1960s, vividly detailing the impact of a traumatic incident that leaves Andrea living with guilt, fear, and confusion. She lived with the guilt and suppressed the memory of the abuse from her childhood until, at thirty-three, an indecent groping incident on a New York City subway forces her to confront her trauma. This book documents her harrowing journey toward healing. The narrative captures how these early experiences shaped Andrea’s perceptions of love and safety, delivering an exploration of the lingering effects of childhood trauma.

Andrea Leeb’s memoir is punctuated by dark humor and irony, as seen through her youthful misinterpretations of her circumstances and her mother's frantic attempts to portray a picture-perfect family despite their dysfunction. The author writes about family loyalty versus self-preservation as she and her sister navigate their father's volatility and their mother's enabling behavior differently. The setting, primarily revolving around their New York apartment and later Florida, amplifies feelings of isolation and foreboding, contrasting with the colorful recollections of childhood joy that Andrea desperately clings to. The memoir delivers a raw and unsettling narrative that forces readers to think about the consequences of abuse, parental love, and the struggle for self-identity. Such a Pretty Picture asks the question: Can one truly heal from childhood trauma? The author answers this question by sharing her story with utter honesty and delivering the wisdom she learned through the process. I was impressed by the confident writing and the author’s ability to write about disturbing episodes of her life.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

In her memoir Diary of 66: The Night I Burned Alive, Alexandra Furnea recounts her painful journey following the 2015 Colectiv Club fire in Bucharest, where she details the inadequate medical care, mistreatment, and systemic failures she lived through. She survived when dozens of others did not, but this was only the beginning. Despite initial reluctance, she shares her story to expose the flaws in the Romanian medical system. Enduring excruciating pain and dehumanizing treatments, she reflects on the loss of her former self and the challenges of rehabilitation. Furnea highlights moments of resilience and support from loved ones even as rampant neglect and corruption rankled within the healthcare system. Even after horrific setbacks and dismissiveness from medical professionals, she persists in seeking justice and better care for burn victims, shedding light on the systemic abandonment they endured upon their discharge from the hospital and the aftermath and collapse that followed.

Diary of 66 is an incredible memoir and Alexandra Furnea describes everything she experienced in clear, horrifying detail. I'm quite ashamed to say that it was not a tragedy I had much exposure to in the United States, but the gravity of it is substantial and resonates across Europe even today. I read a lot of memoirs, and Furnea's is among the best and most engrossing I have read this year. What makes this book so beautiful, even in light of all that had happened, is that Furnea demonstrates empathy and compassion toward herself and others who have suffered similar fates. In her writing, she uses metaphors that show a deep understanding of pain and trauma with lines like, "The stories their intricate designs tell are no longer only of pain and destruction, but also of redemption, and the latter have multiplied, with every surgery that succeeded and every kindhearted human being who healed instead of harming." Stories like Furnea's are the ones that need to be told so that what happened is amplified to the point that it never, ever happens again. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Of Dirt and Wildflowers: A Memoir On Growing the Courage to Bloom is a work of non-fiction in the autobiographical, memoir, and inspirational writing subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience and is penned by Kylee J. Marshall. In this heartfelt memoir that takes us on a powerful emotional narrative, we follow Marshall’s struggles with self-confidence and self-image. We see how she blossomed and grew through exploring her narrative and dreams for the future. In this way, she shows us how we can plan for growth as we navigate the different seasons of our lives.

Kylee J. Marshall's unique narrative style grips you from the off in this tender work, which is part memoir and part inspirational guide to life. Everyone has struggles in their sense of self and path toward a better future, and Marshall writes in such an engaging and soothing way that it feels like a wise old friend is sitting you down for a heart-to-heart. I enjoyed the flow of the work, and the vignettes and anecdotes from her life were well-balanced and framed in an engaging way to expand them into poignant life lessons and points for action. The idea of ending perfectionism caught my attention, and those wise words around the subject will stay with me for a long time after setting the book down. Overall, I recommend Of Dirt and Wildflowers as a deeply engaging read for fans of memoirs who want to be inspired for their next steps in life.

Reviewed by Joe Wisinski for Readers' Favorite

Just Fireworks by Nader Barrak is an account of the Lebanese Civil War as seen through the eyes of a child who was almost three years old when the war began. He describes what it was like to be in the middle of the warring factions, never knowing if or when an attack from one side or the other would occur near his home. The author went through many horrendous experiences, including the kidnapping of his father, who was held in captivity for three months, and a stray bullet that literally went through his mother’s hair. In addition to being a behind-the-scenes account of the war, the book is a history of Lebanon and the surrounding area. There are numerous photos and maps throughout that help readers understand the history of the war. An epilogue consists of a timeline of Lebanon from 1990, when the civil war officially ended, through 2022.

Anyone interested in history should read Just Fireworks. But beyond its value as history, this compelling book will teach its readers just how terrible war is and why it must be avoided. Additionally, although the accounts of the war are horrifying, they are must-reads for anyone who wants to understand the history of Lebanon and nearby countries. The photos are fascinating too. Readers won’t find them in many other accounts of the Lebanese Civil War. I learned more about Lebanon and the surrounding area just by reading this book than I knew up to this point in my life. Author Nader Barrak is a fine writer, and his passion for telling his story shows through on every page. I can see this book as required reading in a high school or college course about Middle Eastern history. I highly recommend it to anyone.

Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite

Ryan is not content with the quality of his life. He refuses to continue pretending that he is successful. His career in pharmaceutical marketing starts to suffocate him. His marriage ends in divorce. Ryan becomes desperate and battles dark thoughts. Then, he decides to change his life fundamentally. Raised in the rural parts of New Jersey, Ryan remembers the excitement of being free in the wild. He quits his job and accepts the challenge of the Appalachian Trail, which is more than two thousand miles long. Ryan hikes from Georgia to Maine, meets many incredible people, and ruminates over his life choices. Wander by Ryan Benz appeals to fans of memoirs, adventure, and inspirational literature.

Ryan Benz's Wander is an engaging story of overtaking self-imposed limitations. Ryan is very honest with himself and his readers throughout the book. He openly speaks about his mistakes and describes his misfortunes on the trail with sparkling humor. Ryan's first encounter with a bear gives us chills and makes us smile at the same time. The author's sense of humor is contagious, and the wisdom he shares is priceless. "I was comfortable with the illusion," says Ryan about his old life. The author's experience on the Appalachian Trail shows that such a journey is not for the faint-hearted and requires enormous willpower at every stage. I appreciated Ryan's stories about the people called "trail angels," like the hospitable Linda, whom he met in Hartford, Vermont, and vivid descriptions of the natural wonders the author observed along the way. Also, Ryan raises awareness of cystic fibrosis, gently nudging us toward a better understanding of those battling it.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

A Cup of Tea on the Commode by Mark Steven Porro is the memoir of Hollywood dream-chaser Mark and his unwavering commitment to caring for his ailing mother, Genevieve. Mark reflects on a childhood shaped by Catholicism and recounts his initiation into caregiving with humor. Discussions include family traditions, unique culinary experiences, conmen, and the family's heritage. The difficulties seem endless, particularly with contentious hired aides and legal hurdles. Mark ultimately transitions to full-time caregiving, providing insight into daily routines, the evolving dynamics of family, and even the impact of Hurricane Sandy. Mark also battles uphill with his own health and a personal life that humorously details events like his experience with long-distance relationships. When it comes time to say goodbye, Mark looks back on his time with his mother, the unique ways individuals grieve, and the challenges of facing the end of a long journey with loved ones.

A Cup of Tea on the Commode by Mark Steven Porro is a funny, loving, and lovely tribute to the passing of a beloved mother and the time the author, her son, was given to spend with her as her caregiver. Mark writes in a comfortable and conversational style that allows a reader to feel like they are chatting with a friend over coffee. The result is a connection to the work and the people in it that is hard to come by in memoirs written by or about people most readers do not know or know of. I loved Mark's skillful injection of humor into difficult situations, such as his mother's relentless search for discarded cheese labels during a family reunion. The comical scene of Mark and his brothers feigning collapse as Genevieve points her accusing finger is hilarious, and the anecdote involving his nephew's reaction to the chaotic scene adds to its levity. There is an intentional thoughtfulness to Mark's narrative structure and in making connections, like birthdays, and the gradual progression from joyful celebrations to the somber acknowledgment of his mother's limited time. Overall, this is a beautifully told story that will likely prove comforting to others on similar journeys. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

When I Was Her Daughter is a work of non-fiction in the memoir and family social issues subgenres. It is best suited to mature adult readers owing to themes such as grief and abuse, and was penned by author Leslie Ferguson. In this harrowing and often heartbreaking account of children growing up in the shadow of their mother’s mental illness, we see Leslie and her brother struggle to live within the confines of a broken reality. When their mother becomes convinced that unseen forces are out to kill them all, she develops an extreme solution to ensure her children’s safety. But even the interventions of well-meaning outsiders can cause more problems along the way.

Author Leslie Ferguson is to be commended for the insight, honesty, and raw emotion with which she writes about her troubled childhood, and indeed the knock-on effects that such an upbringing has had on her adult life. I felt as though the narrative never strayed into sensationalizing the contents or offering shock value, but was always grounded in understanding the psychology of both her mother and the children at the time. It felt like a deep dive into the world of child welfare, abuse, and mental illness from a totally unique perspective, and it was delivered with the eloquence and emotional balance of someone who wants to help others whilst sharing her experiences. Overall, I would certainly recommend When I Was Her Daughter to memoir fans seeking something unique, well-penned, and meaningful for their next eye-opening read.

Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Midpoint: A Memoir by Patricia Angeles, Sebastian Cudicio, and Issam Ghazzawi Ph.D. is an inspiring memoir of an immigrant woman as she looks back at the major milestones of her life as a young girl in Manila, an immigrant in Los Angeles, a banker, and a mother. The memoir is divided into two parts namely: Manila (1984-2005) and Los Angeles (2005-present). Patricia grows up in a loving and closely-knit family under the watchful eye of a strict father. The only girl in a brood of four, she has fond memories of playing games outside from sun up to sun down during the summer days. Her love affair with books starts when she is eight years old. Starting a journal in sixth grade, her writing ability is recognized in school. Immigrating to the US after graduation from college, she struggles to keep jobs until she lands a position in the banking industry where she thrives. She gets married and becomes a mother to three girls. She writes this memoir to reflect on her past as she plans for the future.

Patricia Angeles’ Midpoint is one woman’s assessment of her life experiences as she tries to give meaning to her existence. Reaching a milestone in her life, this memoir is also a letter to her children so that they will get to know her better. Medium-paced and lyrical, the author vividly conveys a range of emotions so that it is easy to relate to her as she struggles in the different phases of her life. Her simple and gripping writing style keeps readers engaged throughout. In telling her story, she inspires her readers to pursue happiness and to always aspire to live life to the fullest. At times amusing and touching, Midpoint is one woman’s honest recollection of her journey in finding her place under the sun.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

Today, as a grandmother, my memories of how my two daughters tried my patience and drove me to despair when they were squabbling, misbehaving youngsters have grown dim. As I read Keri Williams’ memoir But, He Spit in my Coffee, I couldn’t help but wonder if I would say that if my child-raising days were even remotely close to Keri’s. This memoir about adopting a child, Devon, with Reactive Attachment Disorder, is eye-opening, but almost as chilling as a horror novel…except this story isn’t fiction. When Keri and her husband, Delano, who already had other young children, decided to adopt a pair of siblings, looking at 3-year-old Devon’s sweet face, they had no idea that behind his captivating smile was a child who had experienced neglect, possibly abuse, and separation during the critical stages of his development in the first three years of life. As he grew, Devon’s behavior became more uncontrolled and manipulative. His violent outbursts, which Keri eventually learned were “rages”, not mere “tantrums”, proved dangerous to his adopted siblings, classmates, and Keri herself. Keri wanted to believe, like her mother and others, that all Devon needed was lots of love. But love alone was far from a cure because while “…it’s possible for children with RAD to heal, most will continue to have some personality and relationship issues into adulthood.”

Though Devon’s behavior was appalling, what was even more appalling were the attitudes of other adults…Keri’s husband, mother, hospital personnel, even therapists…to what Keri was experiencing daily. While she was falling apart at the seams as she tried to cope between work obligations and keeping her other children and herself safe from Devon, she was made to feel like a bad, incompetent mother. She was also guilt-ridden with shame for almost hating Devon, for wanting to lash out at him in response to his rages toward her and others. If nothing else, He Spit in My Coffee is a strong cautionary message to those thinking of adopting. As the author points out in her epilogue, she and Delano jumped into adopting “heart-first”, but because children with RAD “don’t know how to be in a healthy relationship, they feel safer pushing people away.” 

Since adoptive parents don’t already receive training and support for dealing with developmental trauma, too many of these RAD children end up in treatment centers that “are virtual incubators for violence, churning out angry, dangerous young people.”
Keri Williams has written this important memoir in an easy-to-read style, initially taking readers gently from the earlier happier days when Devon was still little. But as Devon grows and becomes more violent, Williams’ writing becomes hard-hitting and in-your-face, much like Devon’s behavior, making her story delivery that much more unforgettable. If it’s true that children are our future, and if you, like Keri and her husband, are thinking of adopting, you MUST read this memoir. Being forewarned is fore-armed. Consider yourself warned as both readers and future adoptive parents.