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Even If You're Broken: Bodies, Boundaries and Mental Health
Read the IPPY-Gold-winning book that Washington Post bestselling author Kelly Harms calls “moving, vital, and hopeful.”
In this clear-eyed, incisive, and often funny book, Katie Rose Pryal, a bipolar-autistic author and law professor, introduces readers to the convergence of mental health and sexual assault. Using both personal stories and analyses of public events, Pryal explains the ways bodily boundaries are abused and the mental harm that follows.
Included are a surreal, quick-witted tale of Pryal’s report of a past sexual assault to her college’s Title IX office—after being hired there as a professor. A grim yet comical story of manipulation by a married professor while Pryal was a student that nearly cost her her degree. A Kafkaesque account of finding herself in a video installation at a major art museum after secretly being recorded by the artist.
Also included are smart analyses of high-profile events where sexual assault and mental health are front and center, including the uncovering of Larry Nassar’s abuse of gymnasts, the hearings of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and the perennial mistreatment of survivors with mental health struggles by the justice system.
The relatable stories in Even If You’re Broken take readers on a journey of courage and hope and help move us toward a more humane society.
The 2023 revised and expanded edition features a new introduction and six new chapters.
In this clear-eyed, incisive, and often funny book, Katie Rose Pryal, a bipolar-autistic author and law professor, introduces readers to the convergence of mental health and sexual assault. Using both personal stories and analyses of public events, Pryal explains the ways bodily boundaries are abused and the mental harm that follows.
Included are a surreal, quick-witted tale of Pryal’s report of a past sexual assault to her college’s Title IX office—after being hired there as a professor. A grim yet comical story of manipulation by a married professor while Pryal was a student that nearly cost her her degree. A Kafkaesque account of finding herself in a video installation at a major art museum after secretly being recorded by the artist.
Also included are smart analyses of high-profile events where sexual assault and mental health are front and center, including the uncovering of Larry Nassar’s abuse of gymnasts, the hearings of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and the perennial mistreatment of survivors with mental health struggles by the justice system.
The relatable stories in Even If You’re Broken take readers on a journey of courage and hope and help move us toward a more humane society.
The 2023 revised and expanded edition features a new introduction and six new chapters.
- GenresNonfictionMental Health
246 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2019
24 people are currently reading
300 people want to read
About the author
Katie Rose Guest Pryal
34 books136 followersKatie Rose Guest Pryal, J.D., Ph.D., is a bipolar-autistic author, keynote speaker, neurodiversity-affirming writing coach, and expert in mental health and neurodiversity. Before turning to writing full time, she worked as a university professor with a research focus in disability studies.
She is the author of many books on mental health and neurodiversity, including:
Your Kid Belongs Here: An Insider's Companion to Parenting Neurodiverse Children (Johns Hopkins 2025)
A Light in the Tower: A New Reckoning with Mental Health in Higher Education (Univ. of Kansas Press 2024), winner of the 2024 IPPY Bronze medal in Education
Life of the Mind Interrupted: Essays on Mental Health and Disability in Higher Education (Blue Osprey Books 2017, Blackstone Audio 2022)
Even If You’re Broken: Bodies, Boundaries, and Mental Health (Blue Osprey Books 2019, revised and expanded edition 2023), winner of the IPPY Gold Medal in women's issues.
Her newest nonfiction book is forthcoming from Johns Hopkins University Press, Navigating Neurodiverse Pregnancy.
Her fiction includes the Hollywood Lights series of standalone linked novels:
Entanglement
Chasing Chaos
Fallout Girl
Take Your Charming Somewhere Else, Winner of the IPPY Gold Medal for Romance
Dr. Pryal attended Duke University for her undergraduate studies before earning her master’s degree in creative writing from the Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars, where she attended on a fellowship. She then earned her law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law and continued on to a federal clerkship. While practicing law, she earned her doctorate in rhetoric from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she attended on a fellowship. After finishing her studies, she began her full-time teaching career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she remains adjunct faculty.
She writes frequently for national publications, is a columnist for Psychology Today, and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. For keynote talks, she is represented by BrightSight Speakers.
Dr. Pryal’s first name is Katie Rose; her middle name is Guest; and her last name is Pryal (which rhymes with “trial”). Her pronouns are she/her.
She is the author of many books on mental health and neurodiversity, including:
Your Kid Belongs Here: An Insider's Companion to Parenting Neurodiverse Children (Johns Hopkins 2025)
A Light in the Tower: A New Reckoning with Mental Health in Higher Education (Univ. of Kansas Press 2024), winner of the 2024 IPPY Bronze medal in Education
Life of the Mind Interrupted: Essays on Mental Health and Disability in Higher Education (Blue Osprey Books 2017, Blackstone Audio 2022)
Even If You’re Broken: Bodies, Boundaries, and Mental Health (Blue Osprey Books 2019, revised and expanded edition 2023), winner of the IPPY Gold Medal in women's issues.
Her newest nonfiction book is forthcoming from Johns Hopkins University Press, Navigating Neurodiverse Pregnancy.
Her fiction includes the Hollywood Lights series of standalone linked novels:
Entanglement
Chasing Chaos
Fallout Girl
Take Your Charming Somewhere Else, Winner of the IPPY Gold Medal for Romance
Dr. Pryal attended Duke University for her undergraduate studies before earning her master’s degree in creative writing from the Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars, where she attended on a fellowship. She then earned her law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law and continued on to a federal clerkship. While practicing law, she earned her doctorate in rhetoric from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she attended on a fellowship. After finishing her studies, she began her full-time teaching career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she remains adjunct faculty.
She writes frequently for national publications, is a columnist for Psychology Today, and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. For keynote talks, she is represented by BrightSight Speakers.
Dr. Pryal’s first name is Katie Rose; her middle name is Guest; and her last name is Pryal (which rhymes with “trial”). Her pronouns are she/her.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 1, 2020
An important and liberating read
I read this on pub day, and found it so good I bought a copy for a friend. It’s for fans of Lindy West and Roxanne Gay, thinking readers who want to see change in the world for our young women and men, and anyone with sexual traumas. I highly recommend.
I read this on pub day, and found it so good I bought a copy for a friend. It’s for fans of Lindy West and Roxanne Gay, thinking readers who want to see change in the world for our young women and men, and anyone with sexual traumas. I highly recommend.
October 29, 2019
If only every person who’s ever started a sentence with “Why didn’t she?” would read Even If You’re Broken. But this brave and necessary book is just as important for survivors of sexual violence and anyone else struggling to make sense of why rape culture persists. Sharing her personal experience as well as her professional expertise, Pryal deftly unpacks the way both individuals and institutions fail survivors—and clearly explains how we can all do better. Touching on recent events ranging from Kesha’s legal battle to Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearing, and detailing how higher education policies all but designed to fail the staff and students they purport to serve, Pryal wisely asks, ‘How can we ever tell when we are safe?’
June 24, 2020
This is a remarkable book - a book that begins in the intensely personal stories of the author's sexual assaults, and which ends with reflections on how campuses are handling assault (badly), and what survivors realistically can and cannot do to change it. I appreciated the honesty so much, and the deep dives into law - they felt empowering. As a survivor, I felt seen, and I felt hope in reading this book - that for all that stands in the way of survivors gaining real justice, there is still much we can do for ourselves and, if we have the spoons, for others. I'm grateful this book exists.
November 20, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced Arc I appreciate it so much.
All opinions in this review are my own.
Reading this book was a bit of a eye opener for me about how the American system is in universities & how SA is seen over their especially though the eyes of someone who's been through it. I was shocked to see that if u have been SA that you will have ur mental health/disabilities used against you .... not going to lie this shocked and sickened me at the same time to know that this is the treatment.
Hearing the author share her story I found to be so brave and reading it though kindle I toke onto two chapters at a time, I hope that this book stands as a way for others to come out and share their stories.
I am a SA survivor myself and its not something easy to talk about nor get over.
I only put a rating because of being asked to but I don't like normally rating people biographies or real life memories etc that are shared, I believe no ones life can be scored
All opinions in this review are my own.
Reading this book was a bit of a eye opener for me about how the American system is in universities & how SA is seen over their especially though the eyes of someone who's been through it. I was shocked to see that if u have been SA that you will have ur mental health/disabilities used against you .... not going to lie this shocked and sickened me at the same time to know that this is the treatment.
Hearing the author share her story I found to be so brave and reading it though kindle I toke onto two chapters at a time, I hope that this book stands as a way for others to come out and share their stories.
I am a SA survivor myself and its not something easy to talk about nor get over.
I only put a rating because of being asked to but I don't like normally rating people biographies or real life memories etc that are shared, I believe no ones life can be scored
October 25, 2019
In essays based both on personal experience and high-profile sexual assault cases, Pryal writes with palpable exasperation about the overwhelming amount of sexual harassment and abuse women continue to endure--even when they are in (supposedly) safe spaces. Her case studies, coupled with research on trauma and sexual assault, reveal the complex nature of sex-related crimes--a unique status frequently ignored by those charged with handling them. Her essays also address issues of privacy, autonomy, and protection (or lack there of), and she aptly illuminates the myriad ways a person’s autonomy can be violated. She indicts individuals and institutions who refuse to take accountability for these violations, and she demands change from social, legal, and educational spheres.
Speaking as a law professor and sexual assault survivor, Pryal situates much of her commentary on the short-comings of higher education, particularly the protections that FERPA should (and often does not) provide. She shares stories of professors who abuse their positions of power, and notes that they are never alone in their misconduct; those who protect or turn a blind eye are culpable as well. She calls out universities for putting their reputations before the needs of their students, and she calls for reform both from individuals and from higher education as a whole.
Pryal identifies the painfully typical patterns of abuse that always include a power imbalance, and she reminds readers that abusers seek out victims who are, for whatever reason, afraid or vulnerable. Abusers calculate and they prey. Even in 2019, the blame is still often put on the victim (for making a scene, as she says in one chapter), but the focus belongs on abusers who seek out individuals to exploit. The pattern tells a story, and as Pryal writes, “my stories are awful, but they are not unique.”
In addition to her personal narrative and analysis, she also speaks directly to survivors, reminding them, “your story belongs to you.” She says that its not easy to write about sexual assault because there will always be backlash and because others will always try to dictate the parameter’s of a survivor’s identity. In response, she offers the deeply gratifying reminder that, “you are more than your story of survival.”
These essays offer a lot. There’s empowerment for women who are searching for ownership of their bodies, their lives, and their stories. There’s academic analysis, informed by Pryal's legal expertise and personal experience. There’s the great wave of #metoo and what it has done to fell many men who thought themselves untouchable. And while many Brett Kavanaughs still enjoy their “bubble of of nonaccountability,” things are changing. Pryal writes at length about a survivor from the University of Oregon who helped change FERPA laws so students can be better protected while at school. And though these changes are not perfect, as Pryal points out, they do give hope.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Speaking as a law professor and sexual assault survivor, Pryal situates much of her commentary on the short-comings of higher education, particularly the protections that FERPA should (and often does not) provide. She shares stories of professors who abuse their positions of power, and notes that they are never alone in their misconduct; those who protect or turn a blind eye are culpable as well. She calls out universities for putting their reputations before the needs of their students, and she calls for reform both from individuals and from higher education as a whole.
Pryal identifies the painfully typical patterns of abuse that always include a power imbalance, and she reminds readers that abusers seek out victims who are, for whatever reason, afraid or vulnerable. Abusers calculate and they prey. Even in 2019, the blame is still often put on the victim (for making a scene, as she says in one chapter), but the focus belongs on abusers who seek out individuals to exploit. The pattern tells a story, and as Pryal writes, “my stories are awful, but they are not unique.”
In addition to her personal narrative and analysis, she also speaks directly to survivors, reminding them, “your story belongs to you.” She says that its not easy to write about sexual assault because there will always be backlash and because others will always try to dictate the parameter’s of a survivor’s identity. In response, she offers the deeply gratifying reminder that, “you are more than your story of survival.”
These essays offer a lot. There’s empowerment for women who are searching for ownership of their bodies, their lives, and their stories. There’s academic analysis, informed by Pryal's legal expertise and personal experience. There’s the great wave of #metoo and what it has done to fell many men who thought themselves untouchable. And while many Brett Kavanaughs still enjoy their “bubble of of nonaccountability,” things are changing. Pryal writes at length about a survivor from the University of Oregon who helped change FERPA laws so students can be better protected while at school. And though these changes are not perfect, as Pryal points out, they do give hope.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 11, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced Arc.
Such an amazing book!
The book starts with the personal experience of the author who was very brave to share her story of sexual assaults. She explains the individual trauma and mental suffering that result from the violent act of rape.
The writer carefully explains the journey that accompanies any survivor and what he can do and can’t do. This is so important for survivors of sexual violence and for all women.
If you are asking the question « why many people don’t report rape? “Then you will find the answer in this book.
I wish this book encourages other survivors to speak up and share their stories. This is a must-read for any woman.
May 29, 2019
Wow. Amazing book. I loved it. Good for you for speaking up and letting the truth out. You took your power back as a woman. It's atrocious the amount of damage that is done to women daily. Most people don't see it as damage, but when you're in a powerless situation fighting for the one thing you should have a choice over, it's damaging.
December 26, 2023
Exceptional and Genre Bending
Illuminating and insightful journey through mental health and higher education through the lens of the author's own experiences. I learned new things about FERPA and Title IX and am encouraged that voices like Katie's are part of the current dialogue.
Illuminating and insightful journey through mental health and higher education through the lens of the author's own experiences. I learned new things about FERPA and Title IX and am encouraged that voices like Katie's are part of the current dialogue.
November 23, 2023
A honest and at times hard read about a woman’s views and experience around sexual assault. This is an open and honest essay about her experience and views around this topic. A really interesting read.
January 24, 2022
Both educational and cathartic
May 22, 2022
I’ll be thinking about this one for a very long time.
July 6, 2025
me too 💔
January 28, 2024
An honest and raw collection of essays of the author's personal experiences of sexual abuse. Often hard to read in parts, but a necessary read to help find answers to the most common questions surrounding this topic. Why are so many instances unreported. The later section of the book continues to highlight the failings of individuals and institutions in supporting individuals, again told with such bravery and open honesty of the author who is a legal professor.
July 15, 2025
✨ ARC Review ✨
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just wrapped up this ARC and I have some thoughts! It had its moments, and there’s definitely more to unpack. Stay tuned for my full review coming soon!
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just wrapped up this ARC and I have some thoughts! It had its moments, and there’s definitely more to unpack. Stay tuned for my full review coming soon!
February 17, 2020
A brave and important book. I’m proud to know Katie Rose Guest Pryal.
January 28, 2020
There’s a lot of remarkable writing in this slim collection of essays, all of which deal with sexual assault and harassment. The first half deals with author Katie Rise Guest Pryal’s personal experiences with rape, and is the most most heartfelt and painful part of the book. The essay “Who’s Kay,” isn’t something you’re likely to forget. She writes with tremendous clarity, insight, and even humor, though her subject matter is often harrowing and tragic. The latter part of the book contains essays on the law surrounding campus rape reports, disclosure, and harassment, and is particularly valuable given her work as both an attorney and law professor. For those looking for clear, in-depth writing that shows why so many women don’t report rapes, and what happens when they do, this is an excellent place to start.
August 14, 2025
Even If You’re Broken: Bodies, Boundaries, and Mental Health by Katie Rose Guest Pryal is a heartfelt and empowering look at how our bodies, boundaries, and mental health all connect. Drawing from her own experiences with chronic illness and mental health struggles, Pryal shares her story with honesty and vulnerability, making it easy to relate to her journey.
What really stands out is how she mixes personal stories with practical advice. From navigating healthcare and advocating for yourself to setting boundaries in relationships, Pryal gives tips that are both realistic and empowering. Her focus on self-compassion and radical acceptance is refreshing—she challenges society’s narrow ideas of worth and encourages readers to embrace themselves as they are.
The writing is approachable and engaging, making even tough topics feel accessible. By sharing her experiences so openly, Pryal creates a sense of connection and solidarity that sticks with you. Whether you’re dealing with chronic illness, mental health challenges, or just want to be kinder to yourself, Even If You’re Broken is a book that leaves you feeling understood, inspired, and a little more whole.
What really stands out is how she mixes personal stories with practical advice. From navigating healthcare and advocating for yourself to setting boundaries in relationships, Pryal gives tips that are both realistic and empowering. Her focus on self-compassion and radical acceptance is refreshing—she challenges society’s narrow ideas of worth and encourages readers to embrace themselves as they are.
The writing is approachable and engaging, making even tough topics feel accessible. By sharing her experiences so openly, Pryal creates a sense of connection and solidarity that sticks with you. Whether you’re dealing with chronic illness, mental health challenges, or just want to be kinder to yourself, Even If You’re Broken is a book that leaves you feeling understood, inspired, and a little more whole.
December 4, 2019
Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "Even If You're Broken, Essays on Sexual Assault and #METOO" by Katie Rose Guest Pryal
Katie Rose Guest Pryal, author of "Even If You're Broken, Essays on Sexual Assault and #METOO" has written an eye-opening, memorable, and informative book. The Genres for this book are Nonfiction and Educational Essays.
I appreciate that the author has courageously shared many of her personal experiences, and explains the individual trauma and mental anguish that accompanies the violent act of Rape. She also goes into the legal steps of reporting, and possible consequences of dealing with the law.
Katie Rose Guest Pryal is an Attorney as well as a College Professor. I felt so frustrated in reading how women are not treated equally as men are. in an academic environment. Even though the #MeToo Movement, which is discussed in this book, has been helpful in protecting women, there are many more laws that have to be changed.
This is a significant and important book that I recommend for all women to read.
Katie Rose Guest Pryal, author of "Even If You're Broken, Essays on Sexual Assault and #METOO" has written an eye-opening, memorable, and informative book. The Genres for this book are Nonfiction and Educational Essays.
I appreciate that the author has courageously shared many of her personal experiences, and explains the individual trauma and mental anguish that accompanies the violent act of Rape. She also goes into the legal steps of reporting, and possible consequences of dealing with the law.
Katie Rose Guest Pryal is an Attorney as well as a College Professor. I felt so frustrated in reading how women are not treated equally as men are. in an academic environment. Even though the #MeToo Movement, which is discussed in this book, has been helpful in protecting women, there are many more laws that have to be changed.
This is a significant and important book that I recommend for all women to read.
January 24, 2020
EVEN IF YOU’RE BROKEN: ESSAYS ON SEXUAL ASSAULT AND #METOO by Katie Rose Guest Pryal is an intensely honest look at a subject that is all too often not taken seriously or swept under the rug. This book is a must-read for any woman, as it shines a light on more than just sexual assault.
Pryal delves into this subject, courageously sharing her own experiences, as well as using her professional experience to break down and walk the reader through several high profile cases that give more insight on how they ended up where they did and you realize how much of an uphill battle women face in dealing with all types of harassment and assault.
It will make you frustrated and angry, but, at the same time, so proud of Pryal and all the other women who are courageous enough to stand up for all women. The content is difficult and Pryal doesn’t sugar-coat any of it. This is an important work that shouldn’t be missed.
#evenifyouarebroken #katieroseguestpryal #metoo #TallPoppyReviewer
Pryal delves into this subject, courageously sharing her own experiences, as well as using her professional experience to break down and walk the reader through several high profile cases that give more insight on how they ended up where they did and you realize how much of an uphill battle women face in dealing with all types of harassment and assault.
It will make you frustrated and angry, but, at the same time, so proud of Pryal and all the other women who are courageous enough to stand up for all women. The content is difficult and Pryal doesn’t sugar-coat any of it. This is an important work that shouldn’t be missed.
#evenifyouarebroken #katieroseguestpryal #metoo #TallPoppyReviewer
November 20, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
TW: SA, injustice in legal system
As always, please check trigger warnings before picking up a new read. If you require support after reading a book like this, please also research local hotlines.
If you are looking for a book that serves as fantastic inspiration to begin in your own mental health journey towards healing post SA, this is the one for you. As a practicing mental health practitioner, this is a book I will be purchasing to have on-site as a resource to reference with my clients. I will also be recommending they purchase the book themselves, should they wish to go deeper outside of the therapy room.
Thank you for providing a resource, Katie. I recognise and applaud how vulnerable you were while writing this. It was beautiful.
TW: SA, injustice in legal system
As always, please check trigger warnings before picking up a new read. If you require support after reading a book like this, please also research local hotlines.
If you are looking for a book that serves as fantastic inspiration to begin in your own mental health journey towards healing post SA, this is the one for you. As a practicing mental health practitioner, this is a book I will be purchasing to have on-site as a resource to reference with my clients. I will also be recommending they purchase the book themselves, should they wish to go deeper outside of the therapy room.
Thank you for providing a resource, Katie. I recognise and applaud how vulnerable you were while writing this. It was beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews