This book was beautifully written: bleak, raw, brimming with emotion. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the author’s backstory, about her less than conventional childhood in the Appalachia and what could have possibly led to this outcome. I enjoyed this book because of the writing, which was intentional, poetic and quietly powerful. It possessed honesty and an insight into the American small town opioid crisis through the telling of her own personal and tragic story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and University Press of Kentucky for the arc in exchange for my honest review

Side not for Netgalley, if a book isn’t available for Kindle, I would like to know before requesting, the netgalley reader is a nightmare. I do not regret requesting this book though, because this was beautiful

We hear a lot about addicts from Appalachia, but we don’t often hear from them and that’s a damn shame. This is a book about grief mostly, about the people the author lost, especially her cousin Eric. I knew this was coming because she starts the book with the news that he’s dead, but his death was just so sad.

I don’t know much about being an addict, like many people I like to say that we’re all addicted to something but let’s be real coffee and books are very unlikely to kill me, so this was an interesting journey through the author’s eyes. Again I read a lot about the way Purdue pharma was operating, especially in those area of the US, but it’s very different to actually have first hand testimony of it.

Incredibly touching and well written, it made me happy to know that the author is still doing well with her recovery