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Read this for a book club. It's not something I ever would have picked up on my own, because like Shari expresses, I find true crime media to be exploitative. I hope that writing this is healing for Shari and that she doesn't look back and regret it in the future--I worry because she's still so young and because this kind of exploitation is all she's ever known, that she feels compelled to lay all of this bare in a way she wouldn't otherwise.
The book was well-written, though it could be a bit word-vomity at times, which I completely understand. I switched back and forth between the e-book and the audiobook, and have to say that I'm impressed with Shari's narration. She does an excellent job.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Abandonment
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual harassment
Minor: Confinement, Vomit
I chose the audiobook version which Shari narrates and I think she did a wonderfully.
All this praise being said, you could tell this book was written by a 21/22 year old person. The writing lacked some sophistication and depth. If this came out five years later, I think this would have been better. The timeline seems really tight, between Ruby and Jodi’s arrest to writing this book and participating in the Hulu docuseries. I also think Shari would have benefited from taking more time to process her feelings about Derrick and the abuse he inflicted on her. My heart broke when she realized the church would not take her allegations seriously and she received punishment for his actions. I am glad that it seems she has created a much needed support network and has begun her healing journey.
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Stalking
Minor: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Gun violence, Pedophilia, Violence, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Abandonment
Minor: Miscarriage
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic