The Rose

For readers of Educated and The Glass Castle comes a raw, unflinching memoir of survival, resilience, and self-discovery. From the outside, my journey may seem unimaginable - a life shaped by abandonment, addiction, and the shadows of suicide. But at its heart, this is a story of transformation, of turning pain into power, and of finding my way back to myself. Like Tara Westover in Educated and Jeannette Walls in The Glass Castle, I grew up in a world where survival meant adapting to chaos, where childhood innocence was stolen too soon. At just ten years old, my world was shattered, setting me on a path of reckless choices and self-destruction. I lived, and nearly died, navigating the darkness of addiction, isolation, and trauma. But this is not just a story of struggle; it is one of strength. You will meet the lost little girl I once was and witness her transformation into a woman who refuses to be defined by her past. It might be hard to read about how I have taken my deepest wounds and turned them into a source of unshakable resilience but you will find places of growth and healing within. This memoir is an invitation - to step into the light, to reclaim your power, and to discover the warrior within you. If you have ever felt broken, lost, or defined by your past, let this be your proof: healing is possible, and you are stronger than you know.