Shadow Street

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Books about domestic violence are always heartbreaking to read. This was one of them. I admire the author for sharing her story and I hope the writing process brought healing to her and her family. Survivors of domestic violence are inspirational as they break the bonds of abuse and start a new life. I'm so happy she found true love.

This was a great book to read and it was very hard to put down. It definitely had some emotional sections where it was hard to keep reading right away but overall I would recommend this book.

I haven’t read many memoirs and I’m not entirely sure what caused me to pick this one as I was browsing the “Read Now” category on NetGalley. A combination of the title, Shadow Street – A Memoir of Escaping a Psychopath, and the haunting cover caught my eye. “Escaping” was the key word there. This book promised to be a story of hope.

Laurie fell in love at a very young age. She grew up in a loving home with parents who modeled a loving relationship. They only wanted the best for their daughter. Being a defiant teenager, their concerns about her boyfriend only made her more determined to marry and start a life together with him as soon as possible. This was the first misfortune of many to come throughout the book.

James, Laurie’s husband, quickly grows controlling and manipulative, and it quickly escalates from there. To be perfectly honest – the story of their marriage and how Laurie was treated was very hard to read. I could have finished the book much quicker than I did, but I needed to step away physically and emotionally from the story. But one thing that holds true even through the hardest parts to read is Laurie’s never wavering love for her children and a hope for a brighter future. It’s that promise of hope that kept me reading.

Some of my favorite parts of the book were where Laurie describes some of the friendships she made throughout the years. Her connections with people outside of her marriage are bright spots in the story, as I’m sure they were in her life. You feel the love and concern these people have for her. It really is heartwarming in the core of a dark story.

This is a beautifully written book that can hopefully serve to encourage people with physically and/or emotionally abusive partners find the strength they need. I think it would be a huge benefit for the book to have a list of resources either at the beginning or end of the book for people in a similar situation.

This book was provided to me by NetGalley in return for my honest opinion. I’m thankful for the opportunity to read Laurie’s story and it will stay on my mind for a long time to come. I’m happy to give it four out of five stars.

*Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book*

I find it hard to rate a memoir. How do we justify judging someone's story? Shadow Street was the story of a girl who fell for a guy too fast and too young. I felt like I was reading a psychological thriller and had to stop several times when I remembered the author actually lived this torment. The story was both tragic and beautiful. Laurie Finucane shows a strength that is amazing. The stories of her friendships and finding love after surviving are poignant and fill even the most pessimistic among us breathe an air of hope. I give the author a ton of respect for sharing her story. Survivors of abuse may find it triggering but many will find a connection, a feeling of being seen. Very strong 4 stars from this reader.

Shadow Street: A Memoir of Escaping a Psychopath - Laurie D. Finucane - (2022)
In this candid debut memoir Finucane recalls her life experience of meeting James Hawkins in the early 1970’s when she was a high school student, her teen marriage, and the physical, emotional and sexual abuse that followed. After their two sons were born and while she was steadily working on her college degree, her husband was criminally charged, convicted and sent to prison.

Finucane’s story unfolds similarly to a true crime narrative. Despite her young age, with her concerned family's support, and the necessary psychological counseling (at exactly the right time) she emerged from this nightmare marriage with her college degree and ready for a new life (1985). This was truly her greatest accomplishment knowing on every level that her college education/degree was her ticket away the abuse and horror of her marriage. It was notable and remarkable that Finucane managed to avoid succumbing to debilitating depression and despair, she also credits the value of therapeutic writing. This is an inspiring story of survival for anyone facing similar circumstances. **With thanks to AIA Publishing via NetGalley for the DDC for the purpose of review.

An emotional story about a woman who becomes a wife and mother at a young age. A woman who endures so much and is determined to find a way out of a horrible situation. An educational story that shows the resilience of the human spirit. This is a wonderfully written story.

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this review copy, I received this review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Following a young, brave and ambitious woman as she tries to get out of the clutches of an abusive husband. I can't wait to see this book on the shelves of libraries and bookstores. I was hooked from start to finish. Every young woman needs to see this.

Excellent book, Memoir style and really enjoyed it, I would recommened this to anyone that likes this style of book. Can be triggering possibly to some people who might have lived a similar experience but I think this book would be a shame to miss!
Recommend this to all.

I love reading memoirs! I wish I had her bravery that it took to tell her tale. It is nothing less than courageousness. I was drawn into this story more because it was, at time, relatable. I did not go through anything close to what Laurie did but it was there. I was pulled in quickly and read the book in 3 days. Thank you for sharing your story and God Bless!

It's hard to rate a memoir, but I really enjoyed reading this book. Laurie gets married at a very young age to a boy she falls in love with in high school, who turns out to be a total scumbag-psychopath. Her life story is a turmoil of abuse emotional, physical, sexual, all of which she managed to bring to an end and leave.
I really liked Laurie, she never gave up hope in her education and men over all.
Considering everything she was going thru, she still had time to get her degree and make friends. And she didn't give up on love. There's a certain strength that shows thru in her that's very appealing and commanding.
I would definitely recommend this book especially to those who need a happy ending and a glimmer of hope.
Thank you NetGalley, publisher, and author for a free copy.