(I want to thank NetGalley, W. Brand Publishing, and the authors for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.)

This memoir tells the story of David, which is a roller-coaster. The story starts with Broken David. He was a child whose innocence, confidence, and self-worth were stolen from an early age. He suffered from abuse by his step-father, which led him to foster care. As he grew up, he started using drugs and alcohol until he became addicted to the momentaneous relieve those substances gave him. This lifestyle made him extremely vulnerable as several times he was homeless and worked as an escort in dangerous situations (during the confusing discovery and rise of AIDS and HIV, a new mortal decease at that time). He even got involved in white-collar crimes, so he was in jail for a while. However, this is also the story of Amazing David, who rose above everything after his spiritual awakening. He learned how to heal and see himself as the complete, wonderful being that he is. He realized that his life mission was to help others to love themselves, and he became an entrepreneur with a powerful message of hope, resilience, and gratitude.

What I liked: This book is well written, as it is easy to picture the comings and goings of the main character, and the authors managed to explain in a clear and moving way why David behaved the way he did and made the decisions that led him to some complicated periods of his life. I valued every single page because I couldn't stop thinking about the great courage that is necessary for him to remember and revive several parts of his past and share these experiences with the public. I appreciate this very much, and I believe it helps the style to feel personal and captivating. I think it was very interesting to learn about addiction and recovery, there was a lot of new information for me and I believe that learning from others' experiences is extremely important. And, obviously, I enjoyed reading about David's healing process, it was uplifting and exciting. I have always been very critical about the self-help movement and their tools, but if it worked for David, I guess there's no harm in trying. So, he opened my mind a little bit, and reminded me of the importance of gratitude and believing in myself.

What I did not like: There are some parts of the story in which I believed things were getting better, but suddenly something happened and David relapsed. These broken expectations of definitive improvements were very hard for me, even when I understood that this is actually a positive element of the narration because it shows how David felt those ups and downs. I guess that, since I work with people in vulnerable situations every day, reading this book after work could have too much. But, regardless of the fact that sometimes it was tough to read about David going through some intense and painful experiences, I think the book is worth it and I am glad I continued reading.

THIS BOOK WAS GENEROUSLY PROVIDED FOR FREE VIA REEDSY DISCOVERY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

David P. Wichman – author, speaker, sexual healer, and entrepreneur -- has written a riveting recovery memoir with co-author Heather Ebert, a life story teeming with deep despair and ultimate triumph. Wichman’s memoir is a gritty and grotesque depiction of the deep wounds a lifetime of abuse and trauma, drug and alcohol addiction, and debilitating life choices can leave on a person.

The memoir hits the ground running with Wichman’s foreboding incarceration, opening a rock-bottom chapter in his life when the laundry list of illegal and destructive acts of his past finally catch up with him. Wichman writes “My life pivoted sharply in September 2005, and after decades of struggle and failure, I found my way to freedom from my addictions, as well as an abiding gratitude for the wonder of my own existence.”

He tells the story of a troubled soul, a lost boy whose life was forever altered by catastrophic events outside his control. He spends decades trapped in desperate situations, most of them initially inflicted by others – but many of them self-inflicted as he grows into a displaced adulthood, physically and emotionally. There are moments when the reader might feel overwhelmed, but Wichman’s experiences and perspectives are well worth exploring until the last page.

The seamless balance of light and dark frees this often-heavy memoir from being potentially morose. The content itself is far from pleasant, but the writing is substantive and beautifully poised. Best of all, the reward for riding this roller coaster is a man’s eventual spiritual discovery, personal and professional enlightenment, and hard-won optimism for life over death. This story is brutal, but it is vital.

NOTE: This book is replete with sensitive topics and events. The descriptions of childhood sexual abuse, adult sex work, and drug use might be overwhelming for some readers.

I cried, laughed, and my heart raced with this book. It should be illegal for someone to write so well. This is a painfully human and spiritual story about how the abuse and hell that drug addicts live can become a blessing, about how sex can become a weapon and a Holy Grail to heal those who need it most. It is the testimony of a survivor.

"One Truth Remains - love is all that matters. Only love is real."

Every Grain of Sand by David P. Wichman is a memoir like none other I have read. At the beginning of the year, I decided that I want to diversify my reading experience, which is why I was looking forward to reading this. This book is a poignant reminder of the hardships that many people experience as drug addicts and abuse victims, and how the struggle with the consequences can last for decades before they either can move on or succumb. This book took my emotions for a roller coaster ride. Sex workers have such a bad reputation and this book helps shine a different light on them. This book was shorter than I first expected but it was definitely worth the read.

TW: This book contains contents of child abuse, child molesting, alcohol and drug addictions.

I am so sorry that Wichman had gone through what he did in his childhood and youth. The first 60% or so of the book was so heavy and dark I felt pained just to read it. I couldn't even begin to imagine the lives of those who never made it; the stories never heard. Wichman had a horrible past life but eventually turned the table. The rest of the book was beautiful and therapeutic, giving positive voices to sex workers and brimming with great love. It goes without saying just how precious he is as a person.

The book flowed wonderfully. Each story mentioned made sense and fit together, painting a picture of Wichman's life as we revisit memories with him. It took Wichman immense courage to share his life story, and I thank him for also sharing his love.

This memoir is for every lost soul out there who wants to be found.