Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethwey is by all means, heartbreaking. It is the narrative of the authors life leading up to the murder of her mother, at the hands of her stepfather. Memorial drive is raw, intensely sad and an absolute eye opener in regards to the lives of domestic violence victims and their families.
•
Natasha’s writing is phenomenal. She left her heart on these pages by way of perfect prose and transparency. She serenades her sadness and keeps you actively engaged in the story. I literally did not want to put this down while reading! This story will stick with me for a very long time.
•
I strongly encourage everyone to grab their copy this summer. It releases July 28th, and I’ll for sure be picking up a copy for my shelf!
•
✨Thank you @netgally & @harpercollins for providing me with this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review✨

Wow! What a profoundly compelling and tragic memoir. There are points throughout that I found myself almost uncomfortable sitting in Natasha Trethewey’s grief, as it feels as though she is simultaneously writing and processing her own grief. As a survivor of domestic violence, this was such a powerful and impactful detailing of the power and control dynamics that exist in these types of situations and even though I knew exactly how this story would go, I couldn’t help myself in fighting against the reality, wanting to believe that Gwendolyn Grimmette could have been saved. This memoir was simply incredibly.

A very special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for sending me a copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

I almost feel inappropriate describing this book as I will, but Memorial Drive is a beautifully haunting chronicle of a family living through abuse, which ultimately lead to murder. At the same time, it is also a terrifying picture of someone who is severely mentally ill, and not seeking or recieving proper medical care. It is lovely and heart-wrenching tribute to the author's mother, and I felt honored to be reading something that felt so strongly like part of the grief she still carries. I imagine this book will be triggering for some, but for others, like me, it makes me ask the question of how I can help - how can I change someone's life by simply asking, "Do you need help?"