Book Review: Ungrateful Immigrant Daughter: A Memoir From The Child Of A Mail-Order Bride by Katya Suvorova-Memoir

Hello, dear Readers,

Below is my book review of Ungrateful Immigrant Daughter: A Memoir From The Child of a Mail-Order Bride by Katya Suvorova.

Title: Ungrateful Immigrant Daughter: A Memoir From The Child Of A Mail-order Bride

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Memoir

Author: Katya Suvorova

Publisher: Alcove Press
Publication Date: September 29, 2026

Language: English

Hardcover: 352 Pages

Meet the Author: Katya Suvorova

Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

In this darkly funny and irreverent memoir, the daughter of a mail-order bride unpacks her undocumented childhood in America.

The perfect read for fans of the jaw-dropping twists of 90 Day Fiancé and the emotional gut punch of I'm Glad My Mom Died.

Growing up undocumented in Houston, Texas, Katya Suvorova learned that keeping her family together meant dodging the police, enduring her mother’s many husbands, and babysitting her younger sister instead of finishing the third grade.

Her understanding of her life shifted dramatically at seventeen, when Katya discovered her mother’s advertisement in a forgotten Eastern European mail-order bride catalog from the 1990s. As she grew older, Katya came to better understand what her mother had risked when she smuggled herself and her then three-year-old daughter from Russia into the US.

When your parents sacrifice their lives so yours can be better, who do you owe your future to?

Ungrateful Immigrant Daughter explores difficult questions and stories, both shocking and hilarious, from Katya’s childhood to an adulthood estranged from the woman who sacrificed everything for her. Her sharp, dry wit draws readers into a deeply relatable take on being a child of immigrants and unraveling a landscape of family secrets and lies, sharing her unique story as the undocumented daughter of a mail-order bride.

My Thoughts

One of the best Memoirs I have read this year.

Some TW: sexual abuse of a child, neglect, domestic violence, dysfunctional family relationships, alcohol abuse. 

I felt so much for Katya. There were times I got so angry; I wanted to be there with her to tell her how valuable she is. 

It always blows my mind how vulnerable and brave people are to put their stories out there; I'm not saying this in a bad way, but it makes me wonder if I could ever be brave enough to do the same. I appreciate Katya sharing her story. 

On the other hand, I can see why Katya's mother was, because she wanted to have a better life, and she truly thought the United States was the place to do so; however, the price she paid to have a green card, to be legal in this country, was very high, not only for herself but for her mom, her daughters, and Katya's father. 

I absolutely loved Katya and her grandmother's relationship. Although they could not always be together physically, they were there for each other mentally and spiritually. I am glad Katya had her and also her partner in life, who always tried to really listen to her and to be there for her. I also loved that Katya was able to reconnect with her father, that side of her family, and try to rebuild their relationship.

Thank you, Alcove Press and NetGalley, for the free advance copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Wendy

Book Review: Chancla: Healing Our Families, Ourselves, and Our Culture through Nonviolent Parenting by Leslie Priscilla-Parenting

Hello, dear Readers,

Below is my book review of Chancla: Healing Our Families, Ourselves, and Our Culture through Nonviolent Parenting by Leslie Priscilla.

Title: Chancla: Healing Our Families, Ourselves, and Our Culture through Nonviolent Parenting 

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Non-Fiction-Parenting

Author: Leslie Priscilla

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: August 19, 2026

Language: English

Hardcover: 304 Pages

Meet the Author: Leslie Priscilla

Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

A parenting guide that speaks directly to Latinx families with language, history, and lived experience that honors and celebrates our cultura―while helping readers unlearn violence and shame as tools of discipline.

For many in the Latinx community, “la Chancla”―what we learn to see as the warning sign for disciplinary violence―has become a cultural symbol that has spawned relatable memes that many of us laugh about and bond over. But what if it’s also a symbol of something more harmful? 

In Chancla, educator and Latinx Parenting founder Leslie Priscilla invites readers, parents, and the Latinx community on a transformative journey away from cycles of fear, shame, and corporal punishment. With warmth and deep cultural insight, Priscilla explores the historical legacies attached to Chancla while offering a path forward rooted in connection, self-reflection, and ancestral healing. Chancla is the nonviolent parenting practice that celebrates Latinx cultura, while teaching its readers―and their Mamis, Papis, Tias, and Tios―how to heal from generational violence. 

Blending personal storytelling, historical context, and actionable tools, Chancla helps readers not only nurture their children, but their wounded inner child. Readers will see themselves in these pages because Chancla ultimately encourages them to unlearn what they’ve inherited and make space for what they deserve: homes full of love, safety, and respect.

My Thoughts

What an eye-opening book. And to think that for many years, I just thought about the "chancla" as the way my mom wanted to discipline me for my "bad" behavior. I never ever thought about all the implications and the history behind chancla culture, and the deep impact it can have on children and those children transitioning into adult life. 

I appreciate the author's thorough research, examples, and proposed questions in the book and how she mixes her own story with the information meant to be conveyed to readers. 

I loved reading this book; it was very relatable, informative, and well explained. 

Thank you, Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley, for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Wendy

Book Review: Anxiously Ever After: An Honest Memoir on Mental Illness, Strained Relationships, and Embracing the Struggle by Clint Edwards-Memoir

Hello, dear Readers,

Below is my book review of Anxiously Ever After: An Honest Memoir on Mental Illness, Strained Relationships, and Embracing the Struggle by Clint Edwards.

Title: Anxiously Ever After: An Honest Memoir on Mental Illness, Strained Relationships, and Embracing the Struggle 

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Memoir

Author: Clint Edwards

Publisher: Page Street Publishing
Publication Date: November 08, 2022

Language: English

Paperback: 320 Pages

Meet the Author: Clint Edwards

Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

How Are You Doing? No, Really ...

In this poignant memoir that is both laugh-out-loud funny and sniffle-inducing, Clint Edwards explores his lifelong struggle with mental illness in the shadow of his father’s battle with the opioid epidemic and his mother’s undiagnosed mental illness.

From being diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder to finding love, marriage, and having children, Clint explores what it means to find a healthy and balanced life with mental illness as your co-pilot. From the little hells of middle school and (frankly relatable) anxiety poops to running away from home at 14 and dealing with the death of a loved one, to learning that truly basic life lesson: you are not your parents, Clint touches on the crux of living moment to moment, struggle to struggle- without losing your ever-loving mind.

Clint’s candor, critical self-awareness, and refreshing sense of humor make for a one-of-a-kind read that might just make you feel less alone.

My Thoughts

I truly enjoyed this book. It was a very refreshing read and about a topic that is not explored and talked about enough, especially in Memoir. Mental Health Illness in men.  

Don't get me wrong, it was very hard to read about Clint's struggles from such a very young age, but at the same time, it was interesting to read about mental health and their effects in men. Usually, the memoirs I read are written by women, and although some of them discuss parents' and relatives' struggles, the focus is usually on the women's stories. 

Reading Clint's story, I can see how many other men experienced or are experiencing the same struggles; however, since we live in a culture where men are expected not to show emotions or to talk about mental health or any other issues they may be having, they are supposed to tough it out and move on. 

It was revelatory to see how much impact his father's issues had on Clint and how he went into his teens and adult life carrying the weight of all of these issues, not really knowing what it was until he knew and understood the roots of all of it and accepted the issues were not going away and learned how to live and cope with his mental health struggles. I am glad, personally, that he found the help he needed and his life got a lot better. 

Wendy

Book Review: Ungrateful Immigrant Daughter: A Memoir From The Child Of A Mail-Order Bride by Katya Suvorova-Memoir

Hello, dear Readers,

Below is my book review of Ungrateful Immigrant Daughter: A Memoir From The Child Of A Mail-order Bride by Katya Suvorova.

Title: Ungrateful Immigrant Daughter: A Memoir From The Child Of A Mail-order Bride

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Memoir

Author: Katya Suvorova

Publisher: Alcove Press
Publication Date: September 29, 2026

Language: English

Hardcover: 352 Pages

Meet the Author: Katya Suvorova

Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

In this darkly funny and irreverent memoir, the daughter of a mail-order bride unpacks her undocumented childhood in America.

The perfect read for fans of the jaw-dropping twists of 90 Day Fiancé and the emotional gut punch of I'm Glad My Mom Died.

Growing up undocumented in Houston, Texas, Katya Suvorova learned that keeping her family together meant dodging the police, enduring her mother’s many husbands, and babysitting her younger sister instead of finishing the third grade.

Her understanding of her life shifted dramatically at seventeen, when Katya discovered her mother’s advertisement in a forgotten Eastern European mail-order bride catalog from the 1990s. As she grew older, Katya came to better understand what her mother had risked when she smuggled herself and her then three-year-old daughter from Russia into the US.

When your parents sacrifice their lives so yours can be better, to whom do you owe your future?

Ungrateful Immigrant Daughter explores difficult questions and stories, both shocking and hilarious, from Katya’s childhood to an adulthood estranged from the woman who sacrificed everything for her. Her sharp, dry wit engages readers in a deeply relatable take on the experience of being a child of immigrants and unraveling a landscape of family secrets and lies, sharing her unique story of being the undocumented daughter of a mail-order bride.

My Thoughts

One of the best Memoirs I have read this year.

Some TW: sexual abuse of a child, neglect, domestic violence, dysfunctional family relationships, alcohol abuse. 

I felt so much for Katya. There were times I got so angry; I wanted to be there with her to tell her how valuable she was, and she is. 

It always blows my mind how vulnerable and brave people are to put their stories out there; not saying this in a bad way, it just makes me think if I ever be that brave to do the same. I appreciate Katya sharing her story. 

On the other hand, I can see why Katya's mother was, because she wanted to have a better life, and she truly thought the United States was the place to do so; however, the price she paid to have a green card, to be legal in this country, was very high, not only on herself but for her mom, dad, daughers and Katya's father. 

I absolutely loved the relationship between Katya and her grandmother. Although they could not always be together physically, they were there for each other mentally and spiritually. I am glad Katya had her and also her partner in life, who always tried to really listen to her and to be there for her. I also loved that Katya was able to reconnect with her father, that side of her family, and try to rebuild their relationship.

Thank you, Alcove Press and NetGalley, for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Wendy

Book Review: I Belong to Me: A Survivor’s Guide to Recovery and Hope after Religious Trauma by Tia Levings-Self-Help

Hello, dear Readers,

Below is my book review of I Belong to Me: A Survivor’s Guide to Recovery and Hope after Religious Trauma by Tia Levings.

Title: I Belong to Me: A Survivor’s Guide to Recovery and Hope after Religious Trauma 

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Non-Fiction/ Self-Help

Author: Tia Levings

Publisher: St. Martin's Essentials
Publication Date: May 05, 2026

Language: English

Hardcover: 400 Pages

Meet the Author: Tia Levings

Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

What does it mean to heal from trauma caused by the people, beliefs, and practices of your faith? And to rebuild a sense of self, when high-control religion said you shouldn’t have one?

Indoctrinated from early childhood to obey, conform, and want what others wanted for her, Tia Levings learned love and acceptance meant being someone other than herself.

After years of abuse in a violent marriage and high-control religion, Tia Levings escaped with her children (a story told in her memoir, A Well-Trained Wife) and thought the hardest was behind her.

But leaving was just the beginning.

With an audacious persistence to reclaim her life, Tia set off on a 15-year quest to psychological peace. The result is an emotionally regulated, actualized, self-aware woman who is able to tell her harrowing story without retraumatizing herself ―a woman who can reach back to help others claim what’s theirs. If trauma took your past, it shouldn't get your present and future, too.

Through a series of personal stories, therapeutic stages, and resources, Tia Levings guides readers through the journey that helped her leave abuse, rediscover selfhood, and heal her mind, soul, and body after religious trauma ―so that you can too.

My Thoughts

I will say this over and over. I am so glad I found Tia Levings's work. I read her first book and now this, her second book, and she will definitely be an Auto Buy author for me forever.

More than a self-help book or a step-by-step instruction book, I Belong To Me is what these types of books should be. An honest, raw, and hopeful guide based on personal stories, journeys, backed up by research, and, more importantly, from real-life situations. 

In her first book, we learned how Tia escaped from a high-control religion and how she took herself and her children out of a horrible living situation. Now, in I Belong to Me, we learn how Tia was able to rebuild her life and heal from that high-control religion, her controlling husband, and a life of not being able to be her true self. 

It will always amaze me how, through other people's lives, we can learn so much about many other things that happen in the world. I will always be grateful to Tia because, thanks to her work, not only her books but also her social media platforms, newsletter, etc, I have been able to educate myself and better understand a lot of what is going on in the world now. From politics to religion to subjects that specifically concern women. 

I highly recommend this book. You don't necessarily have to be a religious trauma survivor to read this book. I believe what Tia shares with us in this book can also be applied to many other situations, including traumas or difficult situations we have experienced in the past or may be experiencing now. 

Thank you, St. Martin's Essentials and NetGalley, for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Wendy

Book Review: Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can't Forget by Reyna Grande-Essays

Hello, dear Readers,

Below is my book review of Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can't Forget by Reyna Grande.

Title: Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can't Forget

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Non-Fiction/Essays

Author: Reyna Grande

Publisher: Atria/ Primero Sueno Press
Publication Date: May 12, 2026

Language: English

Hardcover: 256 Pages

Meet the Author: Reyna Grande

Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

An ambitious memoir in essays by beloved bestselling author Reyna Grande that illuminates the hidden cost of the American Dream and the complex journey of healing that follows survival.

What is the true power of stories? Can they heal the jagged edges of a traumatic childhood? Is the cost of telling the story worth the price of the cure?

Reyna Grande has spent her career capturing the raw reality of life across borders. In this intricate and deeply intimate memoir-in-essays, the author of the landmark memoirs The Distance Between Us and A Dream Called Home again turns her gaze inward to explore the scars left by migration and the ongoing work of stitching herself back together.

With her signature blend of sophistication and raw honesty, Grande interrogates how living between two nations, two languages, and two identities has shaped the woman, mother, and writer she has become. Moving from the legacy of violence in her hometown of Iguala, Mexico, to a bittersweet family vacation in Europe spent reconciling her own impoverished past with her children’s world of abundance, she uncovers startling truths about the nature of survival.

Whether being racially profiled in the Arizona borderlands or finding unexpected wisdom from the slugs in her garden, Grande unflinchingly asks: How do we bridge the gap between who we were and who we have become? How do we turn pain into power? When memory threatens to define us, how can we use story to heal while still honoring our boundaries?

Migrant Heart is a powerful testament to Grande’s role as a storyteller and cultural witness. It expands our understanding of life in the United States and the complex people who cross its borders and live within it. It is an essential read for the seekers, the dreamers, and anyone who believes in the enduring, transformative power of finding one’s voice.

My Thoughts

First of all, some trigger warnings: Illness, fear of aging, sex life, alcoholism, death, grief, sexual assault, dysfunctional family dynamics, parenting, and immigration.

I have read all of Reyna’s previous work, and I love every single book. I find Reyna Grande to be an author who always tries to write in the best, most honest way possible, no matter how raw or hard the subject matter is.

While her previous work focuses on her journey coming to the USA, crossing the border, the impact of immigrating and growing up between two cultures, and her relationship with her mom and dad and her family in general, however, in Migrant Heart, written in Essays, I love how we get to know more about Reyna, the human being, the woman, the wife, the mom, the daughter, the sister, the writer, the friend, the advocate, and all the challenges she went through growing up as an immigrant, from the language barrier, to the psychological impact of living and developing between two cultures, from the place she was born and grew up to the place she immigrated to and became a teenager, and adult to the challenges of becoming a wife, a mom, a writer and navigate the world of writing books and advocating and educating on immigration matters.

I found this part of the book interesting and compelling: how, through her books, her writing, and by going back to her family in Mexico, to the place she was born, she always tries to help, educate, and advocate, no matter how much risk it might entail.

It was also fascinating to learn more about Reyna, the woman, the wife, the mom. How she handles and faces situations that are very common to women out there, such as parenting, sex life, illness, fear of aging, and family relationships. I loved how we learned a little bit more about Reyna’s husband and children in this book.

As you can tell, I loved Migrant Heart because, even though it felt more personal, it didn't leave out Reyna’s ongoing work on awareness, education, and advocacy around immigration through her personal experiences and journey.

Thank you to the Author and the Publisher for the free ARC physical copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Wendy

Book Review: Homeschooled: A Memoir by Stefan Merrill Block-Memoir

Hello, dear Readers,

Below is my book review of Homeschooled: A Memoir by Stefan Merrill Block.

Title: Homeschooled

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Memoir

Author: Stefan Merrill Block

Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Publication Date: January 06, 2026

Language: English

Paperback: 288 Pages

Meet the Author: Stefan Merrill Block

Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

A heartbreaking, empowering, and often hilarious debut memoir about a mother’s all-consuming love, a son’s perilous quest to discover the world beyond the front door, and the unregulated homeschool system that impacts millions like him.

Stefan Merrill Block was nine when his mother pulled him from school, certain that his teachers were “stifling his creativity.” Hungry for more time with her boy, who was growing up too quickly, she began to instruct Stefan in the family’s living room. Beyond his formal lessons in math, however, Stefan was largely left to his own devices and his mother’s erratic whims, such as her project to recapture her twelve-year-old son's early years by bleaching his hair and putting him on a crawling regimen.

Years before homeschooling would become a massive nationwide movement, at a time when it had just become legal in his home state of Texas, Stefan vanished into that unseen space and into his mother’s increasingly eccentric theories and projects. But when, after five years away from the outside world, Stefan reentered the public school system in Plano as a freshman, he was in for a jarring awakening.

At once a novelistic portrait of mother and son, and an illuminating window into an overlooked corner of the American education system, Homeschooled is a moving, funny, and ultimately inspiring story of a son’s battle for a life of his own choosing, and the wages of a mother’s insatiable love.

My Thoughts

Every now and then, I come across a memoir that, more than the story itself, what fascinates me is the writing, the way the story is written. It is like this unique voice that makes you feel different while reading, in a good way. That was the case for me with Homeschooled.

Don't get me wrong, the story is very important and relevant, an important subject to be talked about, specially when you can hear from someone who actually went through Homeschooling, in this case, Stefan, sharing his story, his experiences, which for someone like me, who was never homeschooled, can be a very eye-opening account on the realities for kids who go through it and the long lasting consequences and impact. of it. 

I truly appreciate Stefan for sharing his story. 

Thank you, Hanover Square Press and NetGalley, for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Wendy

Book Review: Such A Pretty Picture: A Memoir by Andrea Leeb-Memoir

Hello, dear Readers,

Below is my book review of Such A Pretty Picture: A Memoir by Andrea Leeb.

Title: Such A Pretty Picture

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Memoir

Author: Andrea Leeb

Publisher: She Writes Press
Publication Date: October 14, 2025

Language: English

Paperback: 280 Pages

Meet the Author: Andrea Leeb

Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

For readers of I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy and The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, a candid and heart-wrenching memoir about child abuse, family secrets, and the healing that begins once the truth is revealed and the past is confronted.

Andrea is four and a half the first time her father, David, gives her a bath. Although she is young, she knows there is something strange about the way he is touching her. When her mother, Marlene, walks in to check on them, she howls and crumples to the floor—and when she opens her eyes, she is blind. Marlene’s hysterical blindness lasts for weeks, but her willful blindness lasts decades. The abuse continues, and Andrea spends a childhood living with a secret she can’t tell and a shame she is too afraid to name.

Despite it, she survives. She builds a life and tells herself she is fine. But at age thirty-three, an unwanted grope on a New York City subway triggers her past. Suddenly unable to remember how to forget, Andrea is forced to confront her past—and finally begin to heal.

This brave debut offers honest insight into a survivor’s journey. Readers will feel Andrea’s pain, her fear, and her shame—yet they will also feel her hope. And like Andrea, they will come to understand an important truth: though healing is complicated, it is possible to find joy and even grace in the wake of the most profound betrayals.

My Thoughts

TW: This book contains themes of sexual abuse, child abuse, domestic violence, physical and psychological abuse, suicide, and alcoholism. 

This was such a heartbreaking story to read. I just wanted to grab Andrea out of the pages, give her a hug, and tell her how loved she is. She was craving so much love and forgiveness from her mother; it was just so painful and hard to read.

I was also furious at the parents, one for perpetrating the abuse and the other for choosing the abuser over her own daughter, time and time again. However, I think it was good that Andrea was able to have some sort of closure with her mother. 

It was very mind-blowing to hear a child admitting that at such a young age, they were thinking of dying, of being gone forever. Still, on the other hand, I can only imagine the level of stress and abuse and confusion the author was going through because of the abuse, that she could not see any other choice. 

I appreciated the author's honesty, vulnerability, and raw storytelling. 

Thank you, She Writes Press and NetGalley, for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Wendy

Book Review: The Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban Diaspora by Elena Sheppard-Memoir

Hello, dear Readers,

Below is my book review of The Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban Diaspora by Elena Sheppard.

Title: The Eternal Forest: A Memoir of the Cuban Diaspora

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Memoir

Author: Elena Sheppard

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: September 30, 2025

Language: English

Hardcover: 288 Pages

Meet the Author: Elena Sheppard

Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

"Spellbinding." ―Booklist, starred review • "A must-read." ―Library Journal

"Poetic." ―Emma Straub • "This is writing as spell-casting and archival longing." ―Leslie Jamison

A memoir of the Cuban diaspora that follows one family’s exile from the island, through a lyrical exploration of memory, cultural mythology, and the history of Cuban-American relations.

History is undeniably dominated by its men, but the stories Elena Sheppard was brought up on were almost always about Cuba’s women―everyday women, whose names would be forgotten and buried along with their bones unless someone took the effort to remember them.

Cifuentes, Cuba, in the 1950s was nearly idyllic―at least that’s how Elena’s grandparents, Rosita and Gustavo Delgado, remember the Eden they left. When Fidel Castro seized power in 1959, Gustavo was placed on a list of political undesirables, and by the end of 1960, the couple and their two daughters had fled to Florida, with nothing more than five dollars, and a suitcase each. The Delgados were certain they would return to Cifuentes within a few months, after Castro’s reign had run its course. But they never went back, and a piece of each of their identities became frozen in that moment.

In 1987, Elena was the first in Gustavo and Rosita’s family to be born in the United States, but through the memories that lived on in her grandmother’s mind, Cuba became the foundation of her childhood. Elena takes us inside these stories, and as we travel back and forth across the narrow Florida Straits that separate Miami and Havana, we also weave between past and present, to discover family secrets that are on the brink of being lost to time.

In lyrical yet unflinching prose, The Eternal Forest follows one family’s exile from their homeland and in so doing, it tells the larger political story of the Cuban Revolution and its diaspora. Through a spellbinding blend of cultural myth, historical texts, and personal narrative, The Eternal Forest seeks to understand the nature of inheritance, how trauma and memory are passed down through generations, and what it means to yearn for an island you can never fully know.

My Thoughts

Always interesting for me to read anything related to Cuba, especially when it is a memoir.

Reading about people's experiences, from exile, family history, going back to Cuba, the culture, family dynamics, relationships, and life in America, gives you a completely different view and understanding of what you may know or do you think you know about Cubans and Cuba in general.

I appreciate the author's descriptions, showing history and relationships. I appreciate the care and interest in telling the stories the right way. 

Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Wendy

Book Review: Loveable: A Memoir by Amber Rae-Memoir

Hello, dear Readers,

Below is my book review of Loveable: A Memoir by Amber Rae.

Title: Loveable

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Memoir

Author: Amber Rae

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: August 05, 2025

Language: English

Hardcover: 240 Pages

Meet the Author: Amber Rae

Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

Good wives don’t fall in love with other men. That's what Amber Rae told herself when, in the midst of building a home with her husband in Mexico, she met the man she knew she was meant to spend the rest of her life with.

Maybe in another life, she thought. But the truth was, for years, she smiled and strived her way through a sexless and lonely marriage, never admitting her unhappiness to anyone―not even to herself. She thought that if she just tried harder, everything would fall into place. But as the voice inside her grew louder, she realized she had two choices: keep pretending everything’s fine and her needs don’t matter, or confront everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and her own limits.

LOVEABLE is a raw and intimate journey of a woman breaking free from the roles that confined her. This memoir isn't about trading one life or one man for another―it’s about the painful, beautiful process of coming home to oneself. And this isn't just Amber’s story―it's a rallying cry to stop being good so you can start being free.

My Thoughts

This was a very interesting story, and one that, in many ways, a lot of women can relate to.

I appreciated the honesty, the vulnerability, and the unfiltered tells. I always believe you not only have to be brave to share your personal story with the world, but also honest and unapologetic, and strong enough to take the criticism.

I think the author was all those things, and what I enjoyed the most was at the beginning of the book when she decided, despite everything, to give herself a chance of real love, and to do it afraid. 

Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Wendy