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Published by She Writes Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
Amidst the control, confusion, and chaos caused by her eight-times-married mother, this author’s story spans the extreme emotions of a mother-daughter relationship, touching on cyclical family dysfunction, addiction, and forgiveness.
Beginning at the age of five, Sondra spends decades auditioning for the role of her authentic self. Her dazzling mother casts her as confidante and co-conspirator in her affairs and serial marriages. Sondra vacillates between fierce anger toward her mother—who does nothing to protect her from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse—and a desperate need for her love and approval.
As an adult, Sondra enters into and stays in a toxic marriage for years, engaging in affairs with married men rather than divorcing. When therapy and AA eventually propel her out of the sense-deadening haze of alcohol and cigarettes, she summons the courage to tell her husband she plans to leave him. He reacts by playing on her biggest fear, telling her, “You’re going to turn out just like your mother.”
Sondra attempts to establish a sober and separate identity, but tensions between her and her mother further increase when she marries someone new—a man who displaces her mother as the epicenter of her life—and her mother’s seventh marriage ends. During this time, traumatic childhood memories suddenly surface and a seismic shift occurs, freeing Sondra from her need for maternal connection. But establishing a life independent from her mother proves far more complicated than she could have imagined.
Beginning at the age of five, Sondra spends decades auditioning for the role of her authentic self. Her dazzling mother casts her as confidante and co-conspirator in her affairs and serial marriages. Sondra vacillates between fierce anger toward her mother—who does nothing to protect her from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse—and a desperate need for her love and approval.
As an adult, Sondra enters into and stays in a toxic marriage for years, engaging in affairs with married men rather than divorcing. When therapy and AA eventually propel her out of the sense-deadening haze of alcohol and cigarettes, she summons the courage to tell her husband she plans to leave him. He reacts by playing on her biggest fear, telling her, “You’re going to turn out just like your mother.”
Sondra attempts to establish a sober and separate identity, but tensions between her and her mother further increase when she marries someone new—a man who displaces her mother as the epicenter of her life—and her mother’s seventh marriage ends. During this time, traumatic childhood memories suddenly surface and a seismic shift occurs, freeing Sondra from her need for maternal connection. But establishing a life independent from her mother proves far more complicated than she could have imagined.
Product Details
- Publisher: She Writes Press (March 4, 2025)
- Length: 256 pages
- ISBN13: 9781647427672
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Raves and Reviews
“A frank, raw, and often complex memoir that is tense and gripping throughout.”—BookLife Review
“A cathartic rallying cry to not be afraid to voice one’s own story.”—US Review of Books
“Not Good Enough Girl presents a courageous and raw look at one woman's experiences with familial dysfunction and its lasting impact on individual choices. The testament of a skilled writer is to make painful experiences somehow transcend the page and connect to readers who may not have had similar experiences. Brooks does this. The writing is persuasive, drawing readers into Brooks' journey of self-discovery and healing, making this memoir an affecting reminder of the enduring scars left by childhood trauma, and the path toward healing. Very highly recommended.”—Readers' Favorite Reviews
“A complex memoir about innocence interrupted, Not Good Enough Girl articulates a struggle with a volatile mother-daughter relationship.”—Foreword Clarion Reviews
“Not Good Enough Girl describes Sondra R. Brooks’ harrowing experiences in a dysfunctional, abusive family.... This is a well-written work that deftly draws readers into the author’s emotions as she navigates her turbulent life, filled with cruel and shocking events. As with works by Jeanette Walls, readers will find themselves immersed in the story. Providing a respite to her troubled narrative, Brooks also wields humor like a knife. Not Good Enough Girl has a “can’t look away” quality that will keep readers riveted throughout.”—Blue Ink Review
“Deftly moves from the hilarious, to the shocking, to the saddest betrayals and losses. A gripping, heart-wrenching story of abandonment, cruelty, chaos, and longing for love.”—Andrea Robin Skinner - Meditation Facilitator at Horse Discovery and Advocate for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
“A complex memoir about innocence interrupted, Not Good Enough Girl articulates a struggle with a volatile mother-daughter relationship.”—Foreword Clarion Reviews
“Simultaneously heartbreaking and healing—a memoir of neglect, abuse, perseverance, and hope.”—Independent Book Review
“Not Good Enough Girl is an all-encompassing memoir about a woman’s struggle to survive and create a life of happiness. From a volatile mother-daughter relationship to one of an abusive stepfather and then a broken marriage, Author Sondra R. Brooks’ experiences remind us that we all have a story to tell. Beautifully written in the voice of a fighting spirit, readers follow her through the trenches to stop the patterns and end the chaos.” —Kathryn Dare, Seattle Book Review
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