Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me with an Audio ARC of Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

Ashley C. Ford has the most soothing and melodic voice. I could have listened to her narrate the phone book for another 6 hours. Her story was heartfelt and heartbreaking. Raised in poverty by a single mother, the secret of her father’s incarceration loomed large throughout her childhood. Ashley’s mother had two sides: “mama”- a fun loving, gregarious woman or “mother”- a frazzled, violent, mean tempered, detached presence. Luckily for Ashley, she was blessed with an amazing grandmother who showered her with unconditional love, stability and support. Her grandmother’s strength fostered Ashley’s confidence and fortitude to succeed.

I admit, I was not familiar with Ashley prior to listening to her memoir but now I can see why she is an inspiration and role model to her legions of fans. Her memoir was honest, approachable, empowering and authentic.

My audio copy contained an interview with author Ashley C. Ford and her friend and fellow writer Clint Smith. I enjoyed their conversation about their writing experience, current world events, Black History, American History, memory, and reckoning with the past.

I've never heard of Ashley before. Apparently she has a podcast and has a huge following on social media. When requested to listen to this book, I did because the synopsis sounded relatable to me,

The book is read by the author and I really enjoyed it. Ashley tells her story without being angry or bitter. As a person who was highly influenced by their grandmother and did not have a relationship with her mom, I totally die identified with her.

I am really happy for her that she was able to overcome the obstacles she was faced with besides the ones in her home. She held her head high and learned from them vs using them as an excuse.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me listen to this audio book in exchange for my honest opinion.

5 stars

What a fantastic memoir!

Ashley C. Ford narrates her own memoir in this audiobook version, which I highly recommend. Here, Ford takes readers on a journey from her early life to the recent past. The defining factor is in the relationships versus the events, and this approach is so compelling. Ford's relationships with her (now formerly) incarcerated father, her complicated mother, and her evolving grandmother are all highlights, but there are a number of additional meaningful connections that also stand out. The style is approachable and intimate, and Ford provides anecdote upon anecdote from what could be mundane moments in her life but in fact combine to tell a rich story about who she is and why.

I loved the audio version. It's meaningful to hear Ford narrate for the obvious reasons, and it's an added bonus that she has a fantastic voice. The interview at the end with Clint Smith is a worthwhile added bonus.

TW: rape, sexual assault, molestation (all ages)

Absolutely recommended.

Thanks NetGalley for the advanced audiobook!

I've been looking forward to Ashley Ford's book for a while and I'm so happy it's here. Heavy book that deals with important issues.

First I’d like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Ashley Ford.

My review.

I listen to the audiobook of somebody’s daughter, I’m not sure if it’s because I didn’t read it but I felt as though I never really got to know who Ashley was. There wasn’t anything about hobbies, no long conversation about her and what she loved. I felt like I didn’t know her as I should have.

The book is itself isn’t straight forward, it doesn’t start at a young age and go to adult hood , it goes from age 6 then 2 then 5 years old. ( it doesn’t go from one age to another, it bounces around a bit) Then it will talk about meeting a boy and talking on the phone to going to see her dad for a visit. I wish it was a little more clean, and had more information about who Ashley was rather then how her mom and grandma treated her.

This is a sad story, Ashley went through a lot of abuse and was raped. In the end she survived , made her left better for herself and finally got what she wanted.

I wish there was more to the ending of the book ( don’t want to spoil it) I wanted to know how was their relationship? How was life after hm coming into Ashley’s life? It was a cliffhanger.

Thank you Ashley for sharing your story, your truth and I am glad you were strong enough to fight the fight!

( posted to goodreads)

All the stars, all the nods, and all of the things for Ashley C. Ford. I’ve never felt so connected to a memoir in a way that nowhere mirrored my childhood, teenage years, or adult life. Listening to Ford’s story felt like we were sitting and talking with her taking the time to finally answer my “what’s up” or “are you okay?” questions she’s been avoiding.

It’s amazing how Ford can look back and navigate her life. She’s able to pinpoint specific moments and how it’s shaped her to this day. From an emotionally abusive mother, to a grandma to lean on, generational trauma, to an incarcerated father, to being a Black female, sexual assault, body image, to being told she won’t go to college, and so much in between.

She does more than just touch on the topics I’ve listed above though. She’s able to deep dive into each layer while seamlessly transitioning to the domino effect her life had because of that bottom layer. Ford might be one of the most honest authors I’ve ever come across.

If you are able to listen to the audiobook, I highly suggest listening until the end. The last hour features an interview with Clint Smith that covers fascinating topics including how to be so transparent when writing a memoir.

Big thank you to Netgalley and Libro FM for this ALC!

This is an audiobook review; read by the author.

Somebody’s Daughter is a courageous memoir of a young woman coming of age in the mid-West with an incarcerated father, a single mother, and two younger siblings. From the beginning and throughout the memoir, love is the centralized theme - it is abundantly apparent that she loves her family, her family loves her, and we witness her discover self-love in poignant reflections of her journey into adulthood.

These recollections are honest and sometimes heart-breaking -- there are scenes that are difficult to listen to and I applaud her bravery to revisit some painful memories let alone her willingness to openly share them with the world. The writing is immersive and invoked empathy - I was invested in her welfare, inwardly hoping for her success and sympathizing when there were losses and disappointments. The renderings from her point of view provided a clear understanding of her choices and actions so when it came to pivotal moments in her life; for example, her purposeful distancing from her family to pursue her independence, the reader fully understands the reasons for the decision.

Thank you to Ms. Ford for allowing us a glimpse into her life. I sensed a cathartic vibe and I truly hope this work brings her peace and a step toward the healing and closure she seeks.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for allowing me to listen for an honest review.

When you pick up a memoir by someone you’ve never heard of and end up finishing it all in one go, you know you’ve found a winner.

People who live above rocks and not under them like me may already know Ashley C. Ford from her podcasts, hosting gigs, or writings for outlets such as BuzzFeed, The Guardian, Slate, and The New York Times. In her first book, Somebody’s Daughter, she set out to convey her experience growing up as a poor, Black girl with a father incarcerated for rape. Turns out, she couldn’t do that without focusing on what life was like with the one parent left to raise her - an emotionally detached and often physically abusive mother.

The power of this memoir comes from Ford’s commitment to her truth. These were her experiences, seen through her eyes, and felt by her body. The end result is a self-reflective and unapologetic look at coming of age feeling both drawn to and repelled by your lineage.

The audiobook includes a bonus conversation between Ford and one of her contemporaries, author/poet Clint Smith. This alone is worth the price of admission, as the two discuss fascinating topics like what it takes to write an honest memoir without compromising your reality for the sake of your relationships. For aspiring nonfiction writers in particular, I highly recommend listening. But humans interested in building empathy for others will be greatly served as well.

I received an advance review copy of the audiobook courtesy of Macmillan Audio through NetGalley.

Ashley C. Ford opens her memoir describing her apartment in Brooklyn. It’s a tiny one-bedroom that she shares with her boyfriend. Together, the couple build a cozy hideaway within their four walls, barricading them away from the hustle of the city.

This is also a beautiful metaphor for Ashley’s emotional and physical barricade that she built long ago. One that protects her from her family in Indiana. And more specifically, her mother.

Prior to releasing “Somebody’s Daughter,” Ashley tiptoes around her mother so as not to make ripples in smooth waters. That way, her mother won’t get hurt. But that means Ashley must sidestep her complicated relationships, memories, feelings, experiences and perceptions.
Sometimes Ashley wonders why she just doesn’t lower her walls anyway. That is, to be free to be herself. Then maybe her mother could lower her own walls.

“Then I end up blaming myself for not remembering to stick to the conversations paths, offering the least resistance,” Ashley explains. “Furious at myself for veering too far into the unexplored or exiled. Or worse, I’d be drawn into her fantasy that we were already close. If my mother and I shared anything without having carefully considered it, it was this undying ember of a dream that we will someday, somehow find ourselves reaping the bounty of a mother-daughter bond. The roots of which we both refuse to tend in the meantime.”

Despite this beautiful introduction, not all of this story revolves around Ashley and her mother. In fact, in an interview about the book, the author explains that she pitched the idea about her relationship with her father. A man who was incarcerated for raping two women. A man who Ashley hasn’t really seen in 25 years. But as she digs into the writing process, Ashley comes to terms with all of her memories. Many of which were about the women in her life.

In the audiobook, Ashley’s velvety smooth voice captures her developing emotional maturity and reckoning with her past. And I think she now trusts herself so she can be honest about the relationship with herself and her mother. She’s becoming a bonafide truth teller.

If you do download the audio, I highly recommend listening to the bonus conversation between the author and Clint Smith. It is excellent as it gives insight into Ashley’s writing process and self-discovery along the way.

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio and Flatiron Books: An Oprah Book for gifting me an advanced listener copy via the NetGalley app. This is my honest review.

This book was honest, heart wrenching, and poetic. There were a few themes that stood out to me. The first was generational trauma and how the experiences of your grandparents and parents become your own. The cycle of trauma is just passed down in Black families due to the systemic oppression we’ve faced throughout time. Thus, some of Ashley’s experiences felt almost inevitable just based on her mother and grandmothers experiences. It’s terrible to say but as a Black woman it often feels like we must anticipate what trauma comes next from an early age in life. Another topic explored is the abuse of Black women’s bodies which often occurs at a very young age. Not only does it discuss abuse but what it questions the policing of black women’s bodies even before an incident happens, often by loved ones. The family is so dead set on protecting us from possible abuse that they end up trying to control everything about ourselves from the way we dress, to the way we talk, to the way we walk. This results in not only a a deep set fear of potential abuse but also fear to express our personalities. That’s no way to live. One other topic of discussion in this book is how to set boundaries. Ashley’s relationship with her mother is fraught to say the least. But at the same time that doesn’t mean she doesn’t love her. However, as she grew up she became aware of the boundaries she needed to set with her mother in order to have a healthy relationship. That can be difficult with family but still all the more necessary. I also enjoyed the discussion on the different forms of love. As Ashley grows up she comes to realize that love comes in forms and it doesn’t all have to be romantic love. Platonic love is truly beautiful. Finally, I loved reading about Ashley learning to “adult” after high school. I’ll scream this to the high heavens but why do people think you’re supposed to have your whole life figured out in your 20s?! Quite the opposite if you ask me. Try one career or three, it’s a great time to explore what you want. I feel like as Black women there’s this expectation to be perfect and better at everything we do but that’s just not sustainable. We’re allowed to be messy and imperfect as well. Overall, I highly recommend checking out this memoir when it hits shelves on June 1st. You’ll be stepping into the lives of many Black girls and women across America.

I love a good memoir. Reading about a human experience other than my own? Sign me up. Ashley C. Ford recounts her childhood defined by her incarcerated father’s absence in SOMEBODY’S DAUGHTER.

Ford’s memoir explores body image, race, poverty, shame, and sexual assault. Complex yet beautiful familial ties are at the center of her story. With an emotionally detached mother and an abusive step-father, Ford’s childhood was far from perfect. Ford admits it was easy to romanticize her father and envision how his fierce loyalty would have protected her from devastating relational trauma as a child.

While I can’t relate to the experience of having a family member incarcerated, I can relate to her desire to discover life independently.

The audiobook was narrated by the author, which is my very favorite way to read a memoir! Listening to Ashley share her story added a personal layer I very much appreciated. Highly recommend!

A big thank you to NetGalley , Macmillan Audio and Flatiron Books (an Oprah Book imprint) for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review

Ok- I love Ms Ford to pieces so I devoured this audiobook with her reading her words aloud in her own voice. It felt less like a book in more like a long conversation with a close friend telling about how she became who she is. I binged listened as soon as it hit my self and had to pause and go back for several key parts. Required reader for everyone’s daughters.
Easy five.