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abarnakwn_ourcolourfulpages's review
I'll be picking this back up when I'm in a better head space! I've just been struggling with memoirs lately - I've been more in the mood for fiction and escapism as opposed to real life.
alexisisreading's review
3.0
Becoming Shameless is a memoir written by Eden “Simchah” Robinson and it follows Eden’s experiences from when she is a young girl growing up with a narcissistic mother to her adult life where she comes out as a lesbian and learns to heal/redefine beauty.
The book is very emotional, and was inspired to be written after the release of I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, which was one of my favorite reads in 2022. The inspiration is definitely evident in the memoir and I think it’s important to recognize how much influence Jennette’s book had.
Throughout the book you can see Eden’s progression from justifying her mother’s behavior to her to realizing that she deserved better than what she was given. Where the first few chapters show the illusion of her mother just wanting the best for her, the later ones see Eden standing up for herself.
One part of the book that stood out to me was her discovery of Tumblr because I could definitely relate to that. Most of what I learned about feminism was a direct result of being on Tumblr around 2012 which I just thought was interesting to see another person have the same experience and talk openly about it. Eden also talks about how shows such as The L Word and P!nk’s music helped her to come to terms with her own sexuality and find beauty in herself which I think just further proves how important representation in media is.
Overall, this was a very emotional read and I thank Eden for sharing her story.
“The process of healing has its fair share of pain and tears, but it also requires us to honor our own joy.”
*I was given an ARC by the author, and this is my honest review*
The book is very emotional, and was inspired to be written after the release of I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, which was one of my favorite reads in 2022. The inspiration is definitely evident in the memoir and I think it’s important to recognize how much influence Jennette’s book had.
Throughout the book you can see Eden’s progression from justifying her mother’s behavior to her to realizing that she deserved better than what she was given. Where the first few chapters show the illusion of her mother just wanting the best for her, the later ones see Eden standing up for herself.
One part of the book that stood out to me was her discovery of Tumblr because I could definitely relate to that. Most of what I learned about feminism was a direct result of being on Tumblr around 2012 which I just thought was interesting to see another person have the same experience and talk openly about it. Eden also talks about how shows such as The L Word and P!nk’s music helped her to come to terms with her own sexuality and find beauty in herself which I think just further proves how important representation in media is.
Overall, this was a very emotional read and I thank Eden for sharing her story.
“The process of healing has its fair share of pain and tears, but it also requires us to honor our own joy.”
*I was given an ARC by the author, and this is my honest review*
jenwoodrum's review
5.0
Becoming Shameless is a stunning and emotionally impactful memoir. Fans if I'm Glad My Mom Died and What My Bones Know will resonate deeply with Eden. This is a very brief read, but the messages will stay with me.
Eden bravely tells the story of her childhood with an emotionally abusive mother. Through her eyes, we get to see Eden recognizing that the treatment she perceived to be normal was not okay. Watching her slowly gain courage, self-worth, and confidence to set boundaries, accept her identity, and care for herself was beautiful.
Eden describes important topics of battling internalized homophobia, disordered eating habits, and healing trauma through therapy.
This quick read was powerful and worth every second. I'd like to save the final chapter of Eden's life lessons and continuously learn from them!
Thank you so much to the author for the e-ARC in exchange for this honest review!
Eden bravely tells the story of her childhood with an emotionally abusive mother. Through her eyes, we get to see Eden recognizing that the treatment she perceived to be normal was not okay. Watching her slowly gain courage, self-worth, and confidence to set boundaries, accept her identity, and care for herself was beautiful.
Eden describes important topics of battling internalized homophobia, disordered eating habits, and healing trauma through therapy.
This quick read was powerful and worth every second. I'd like to save the final chapter of Eden's life lessons and continuously learn from them!
Thank you so much to the author for the e-ARC in exchange for this honest review!
mwritesdragons's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Star rating an indie memoir doesn't feel appropriate, so I'll just say: read the content warnings. If you think you can handle to topic covered, and are looking for stories of people who have made it through hard times, this memoir is accessible and inspiring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape
thepaperbackplace's review
4.0
I seriously gobbled it up in one day! The writing is so relatable and wonderful. I felt like the author was sharing these stories with me in person. I loved the frankness of sharing these moments from her life and for highlighting the importance of finding a support team on the path to healing and discovering your true self. Overall, an excellent read and one I’d recommend readily! Thank you for sharing your story.
weyheyitsrachel's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
I always struggle to rate memoirs because how can anyone rate another person's own life story? So naturally, 5⭐️ for Eden sharing her DEBUT memoir which was so raw and inspiring with the world.
Eden shares with us about her life growing up with an abusive mother, and it reminded me of Jeanette McCurdy's memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died. Obviously both are two totally different experiences, but both shared what it was like growing up in an abusive household.
Eden also told us about how she felt ashamed of herself growing up, be it her thoughts about herself and her actual self. It was so heartbreaking to read about, but it was so inspiring to hear her story of how she overcame that and how she's still working on becoming shameless.
As an ally of the queer community, I appreciated Eden explaining some of the terms (example: internalized homophobia, sapphic beauty) and what they meant to her.
I learned a lot from Eden's memoir, and it is definitely worth picking this one up. Even if you haven't experienced what Eden has experienced, this is still an emotional and inspiring read.
Eden shares with us about her life growing up with an abusive mother, and it reminded me of Jeanette McCurdy's memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died. Obviously both are two totally different experiences, but both shared what it was like growing up in an abusive household.
Eden also told us about how she felt ashamed of herself growing up, be it her thoughts about herself and her actual self. It was so heartbreaking to read about, but it was so inspiring to hear her story of how she overcame that and how she's still working on becoming shameless.
As an ally of the queer community, I appreciated Eden explaining some of the terms (example: internalized homophobia, sapphic beauty) and what they meant to her.
I learned a lot from Eden's memoir, and it is definitely worth picking this one up. Even if you haven't experienced what Eden has experienced, this is still an emotional and inspiring read.