JM

Heart-wretching and raw!

Revisado: 03-25-25

This was a vulnerable, emotional, intensely honest memoir about the personal impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. When Melanie is 14, her dad gets diagnosed with HIV from a blood transfusion. Back in the 80s, little was known about this disease and the stigma was all too real, causing the Brooks' family to make the hard decision to lock down their secret -- a secret that festered inside Melanie for a solid decade.

My heart breaks for this author and what she and her family went through. To have a sick and dying father is one thing, but to be ostracized from the church AND to navigate their struggles alone -- in complete silence -- takes their suffering to a whole new level. If it had been cancer, they would've received boundless levels of support, guidance, religious community, and more. But with HIV/AIDS, they were left to carry this burden alone.

The writing was superb, going between the present day and the past, weaving together moments of hope, grief, celebration, denial, anger, compassion, and more. This was a book club pick and I'm excited to hear what everyone has to say about it.

I loved that Melanie was able to narrate the audiobook version herself. Not all authors possess the talent to do this, but Melanie did a phenomenal job! I was pulled right into the story and didn't want to stop listening.

If you love heart-wretching memoirs with piercing honesty, this is a must read!

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A highly engaging story with a great narrator!

Revisado: 02-13-25

This was a wonderful story! The characters were all so believable and I loved all the intricate details of each of their struggles and how they reacted to their mother's disappearance. I laughed out loud, cried, and kept guessing who did it. The narration was fantastic and I especially loved how she brought Joy so much to life. I highly recommend!

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Powerful and eye-opening

Revisado: 01-28-25

I learned a lot about what happened on January 6 and the darker side of American politics. The author does a great job narrating this story. I enjoyed hearing his personal stories as well. I highly recommend listening to this one!

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A sweet and wonderful read!

Revisado: 11-20-24

This is a poignant and moving story that captures the essence of losing a loved one and how to carry on, especially during the holidays. It a wonderful reminder that we all need to appreciate the little things, every single day.

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