My Pretty Baby: Seeking Truth and Finding Healing―A Memoir

by Wendy B. Correa

For fans of Educated and The Glass Castle, a former music industry insider’s journey of healing—from childhood trauma through spiritual practices and self-discovery to a place of peace—with some incredible celebrity encounters along the way.

A transformative memoir chronicling Wendy Correa’s journey to heal from childhood traumas, including the death of her father, emotionally distant siblings, and a violent, alcoholic stepfather, My Pretty Baby is a story of not belonging and, ultimately, of the healing that comes from building a chosen family.

After escaping her turbulent home life, Wendy’s path of self-discovery takes her through Buddhism, meditation, plant medicine, yoga, Native American spirituality, 12-Step programs, and psychotherapy. Along the way, she has extraordinary singing “Give Peace a Chance” on the Rose Bowl stage with rock ’n’ roll royalty, attending AA meetings with legendary musicians while working at A&M and Geffen Records, and meeting her musical hero, Joni Mitchell. Native American sweat lodge and vision quest ceremonies further strengthen her sobriety and mental well-being.

Her life takes a new turn when she moves to Aspen and becomes a radio DJ and assistant to gonzo writer Hunter S. Thompson. There, she meets her future husband and begins to build the family she always longed for—but despite her newfound peace, she is repeatedly drawn back into her family’s dysfunction. It’s only after her mother’s death that Wendy uncovers a painful family secret that finally answers her lifelong  What really happened to my family?

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

Wendy B. Correa is a writer, yogi, hiker, as well as a licensed massage therapist. She has worked in the film, television, multimedia, and music industries in Los Angeles and later as a radio DJ in Aspen, Colorado. She holds bachelor’s degrees in psychology and theater arts and has contributed articles to Mothering magazine.

A wife and mother, she resides in Denver, Colorado, and loves traveling to magical destinations with her family. My Pretty Baby is her debut book.

Reviews

[Armando Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a stepfather who met my now 21-year-old stepson when he was just two years old, and as an older dad to a spirited four-year-old, My Pretty Baby: Seeking Truth and Finding Healing by Wendy Correa resonated with me on a deeply emotional level. This memoir encouraged me to pause and truly reflect on the relationship I’ve built with my stepson, questioning whether I’ve done all I can to provide a loving, stable foundation for him to grow into the person he’s becoming.Wendy Correa’s story invited me to confront some of my own fears, especially the ever-present thought that, at 54, I may not be around for as long as I’d like to guide my youngest. Reading about the author’s grief and resilience after losing her father at a young age struck a powerful chord. It reminded me of the lasting mark a parent’s love, or absence, can leave on a child’s heart.This memoir isn’t just a story of healing; it’s a mirror for parents, showing us how vital our presence, affection, and honesty are in shaping our children’s emotional worlds. I now see this book as more than a memoir, it’s a teaching tool. It’s helped me find new ways to express love, build stronger bonds, and ensure my children always know, no matter what happens, how deeply I cherish them.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a courageous and inspiring memoir. I especially felt a connection to this book as I have dealt with childhood trauma myself, and can totally empathize with anyone who has also been through it. I loved reading about how Wendy ultimately dealt with, and overcame her trauma. She is one determined woman and did not give up, even as hard as it could feel. She is very lucky to have had the opportunities that she did to overcome a troubled past. I found this to be quite an uplifting memoir, and enjoyed reading it. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jess Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Get Red PR, She Writes Press and the author for the advanced reader copy of this memoir.

This is one of the most well written memoirs I have ever read. Wendy's writing is well structured, compelling and thought provoking. She takes you on a journey through her family trauma/abuse and her resulting search for answers. She tries many different avenues in her self discovery process including yoga retreats, Buddishm, tribal ceremonies, 12 step programs and many philosophical studies. Her process of trial and error throughout her journey, ultimately resulting in an end to the generational trauma and healing was cathartic.

In addition to her healing story, Wendy also sprinkles in little snippets of her career in the music industry and time spent with famous artists.

I highly recommend this memoir.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

“My Pretty Baby” is one of the most impactful books I’ve read in a minute. Wendy’s vulnerability, beautiful writing, and raw honesty was breathtaking. It was such an honor to read her story and bear witness to the power of inner child healing, community, and love. There were so many nuggets of wisdom woven throughout this book (you will absolutely need a highlighter, journal, and flags) and incredible examples of the human experience - the good, the bad, and the ugly. This stunning memoir will stay with you well beyond the last page.

A huge thank you to Wendy Correa, Get Red PR, and She Writes Press for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book.

Disclaimer: I received a free review copy of this book from She Writes Press. All reviews and opinions are honest and my own.

[Brandy D. Vignali · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a memoir about "seeking truth and finding healing" For this author, her truth is tied up in what everyone else thinks about her and wanting peace for herself, but offering none for others. Good for her for telling her story, and everyone's trauma is horrific for them. I just did not connect. It felt like a lot of whining and seeking approval from others instead of from within. There is no lesson to take away from this book.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't you wonder if Truth can be stranger than Fiction? Wendy B. Correa, the Author of "My Pretty Baby" "Seeking Truth and Finding Healing", has written an intriguing, unique, captivating, memoir and nonfiction book. In this well written memoir, Wendy B. Correa, describes her toxic and dysfunctional family, and often feels that she doesn't know where she belongs. Her father passes away when she is only 7 years old, and her quirky and unstable mother remarries a man with a volatile temper, and a "Dr.Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde" personality. Her older sister radiates jealousy towards Wendy, and is sarcastic and acts like a bully. Her brother seeks religion, and moves away emotionally and physically from the family. Wendy realizes that she wants her stepfather's love, and attention and shows acceptance. There are times when her mother wants to protect her.

Wendy recognizes that this situation isn't normal, and tries different ways to leave, and learn and discover herself. Wendy's self discovery does come at a cost of both pain and healing. She does embark on therapy, and has also tried many other approaches such as meditation, Buddhism, yoga, Native American spirituality, and an AA meetings and a 10 step program. Wendy enjoys music and sings, and realizes that she enjoys working in the music industry.

I had the feeling when I was reading this non-fiction, memoir, that it often gave the vibes of a fictional book. I was captivated, and read this in one seating. I admire the courage and tenacity that Wendy exhibited throughout her life. Wendy also discovers dark deep secrets, when her mother passes away. I highly recommend this thought-provoking and heartfelt book

[Karla Rendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book completely moved me. My Pretty Bay is one of those rare stories that feels deeply personal yet universal a journey through pain, healing, and self-discovery that lingers long after the last page.

Wendy’s story is raw, honest, and beautifully told. From loss and trauma to finding peace through spirituality, music, and love, her path reminds us that healing isn’t linear but it’s always possible.

I couldn’t put it down. If you’re drawn to emotional memoirs that inspire hope and self-reflection, this one is a must-read.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written literary memoir. Wendy’s vulnerability and honesty shines through on every page. Wendy’s story will stay with mw for years to come.

[Katie Parkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

She definitely has an interesting life! And the resources at the end are generous offerings to whoever reads it when healing can feel so overwhelming!

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: My Pretty Baby: Seeking Truth and Finding Healing―A Memoir by Wendy B. Correa
Rating: 4.5/5

Full Disclosure & Personal Impact
I began this memoir after dinner and found myself still reading at 3:17 AM—a testament to Correa’s gripping narrative alchemy that blends trauma, stardust, and spiritual grit. The bedside lamp stayed on well past reasonable hours as her story became my own sleepless reckoning with family ghosts.

Analysis & Thematic Depth
Wendy B. Correa’s My Pretty Baby is a raw, multilayered memoir that transcends the typical trauma-to-triumph narrative. While drawing comparisons to Educated and The Glass Castle, Correa distinguishes her story through its unique blend of music industry glamour and spiritual seeking. The memoir’s greatest strength lies in its unflinching exploration of not belonging—a theme that reverberates from her chaotic childhood (marked by parental loss and abuse) to her later quests for identity through Buddhism, plant medicine, and 12-Step programs.

However, the narrative occasionally struggles with tonal consistency. Chapters detailing celebrity encounters (e.g., singing with rock legends or assisting Hunter S. Thompson) sometimes overshadow deeper psychological work, leaving her spiritual transformations feeling underexplored. The late-revealed family secret, while impactful, arrives with rushed emotional processing that could benefit from more page space.

Reader Reactions & Emotional Impact
As someone drawn to memoirs of resilience, I found Correa’s descriptions of Native American sweat lodges and vision quests moving—their earthy authenticity contrasted sharply with the glittering but hollow music industry anecdotes. A passage where she describes hearing Joni Mitchell’s voice for the first time mirrored my own experiences of art as salvation, though I wished for more such introspective moments.

The memoir’s middle section, detailing her Aspen reinvention, evoked both admiration and frustration. Her hard-won peace felt fragile, and I often scribbled marginalia like - Why return to toxic family patterns?—a testament to Correa’s ability to provoke reader engagement even when her choices perplex.

Constructive Criticism
-Pacing: Celebrity anecdotes disrupt the emotional throughline; tighter thematic grouping would help.
-Spiritual Depth: Practices like plant medicine and psychotherapy deserve more nuanced reflection.
-Structural Clarity: The nonlinear timeline occasionally confuses causal relationships in her healing.

How I would describe the book:
- A memoir that sings like a Joni Mitchell ballad—raw, poetic, and hauntingly true
- For readers who loved Educated but crave more rock ‘n’ roll with their redemption
- Proof that healing isn’t a straight line—it’s a sweat lodge, a recording studio, and a mountain vista

Personal Remarks
Reading this ARC, having weathered many a family crisis, I was struck by Correa’s description of building a chosen family—a concept I have applied to my own life over the years. The advanced print edition’s cover became a tactile reminder that memoirs can be lifelines.

Gratitude
Thank you to She Writes Press/Simon & Schuster and Goodreads Giveaways for the beautiful print ARC. This is a memoir that lingers, imperfect but profoundly human.

Final Verdict
A 4.5/5—Correa’s vivid prose and hard-won wisdom outweigh structural flaws. While not every note lands perfectly, My Pretty Baby crescendos into a symphony of survival worth hearing.

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captivated me from the very beginning. Books like this make me remember why I love reading memoirs.

Reading about her childhood was sad but it helped to explain a lot of why she was the way she was. The trauma that she went through allowed her to become stronger and want to break the cycle.

Reading about the death of her father and how it affected her felt very close to home for me. I lost my mother as an adult but I think whether you're a child or an adult, losing a parent affects you. Then having what you hope will be a substitute parent come into your life only to know that it results in chaos and violence is so painful.

Wendy's writing was captivating and mesmerizing. The rawness in her writing and how she exposed herself in this book was such a joy to read even when reading about the most difficult aspects of her life. It evoked so many emotions.

Watching her realize that life could easily spiral out of control for her and seeing her really go down that road to starting over and recovery from her past trauma's was beautiful.

If you love me more then you definitely want to add this one to your must read list. I gave this five out of five stars.

[Amanda Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy pub day to Wendy B. Correa whose memoir called My Pretty Baby comes into the world today! I am a sucker for a good memoir and this one didn’t disappoint. This is a story full of childhood trauma that would have taken out most people, but regardless of all of the pain that Wendy dealt with, she always fought back and tried new and different coping mechanisms to help her heal. Wendy always came back to her nuclear family and wondered why they couldn’t all be closer. No matter how many times she was hurt by them, she always tried one more time to find the connection she yearned for. Her life shaped how she would conduct and treat her own family one day. It was nice to see someone break the stigma instead of getting caught up in the pattern of trauma. This book is heavily peppered with a lot of hard topics, so check your trigger warnings, but I highly recommend it!

[Living My Best Book Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping memoir about belonging, facing trauma, choosing your found family, and learning to heal. Wendy B. Correa's writing is the reason I enjoy reading memoirs. Her words were affecting, captivating me from the very beginning. She details her childhood trauma to show not to just show how ugly and scary life was, but to express her feelings and why she had the strength and courage to break the cycle.

Wendy grew up with a loving family and felt that perfect image shifted after the sudden/tragic passing of her father. That day changed her life because at a young age she began thinking about mortality, adding anxiety, pressure, and worry to her thought processes and she saw how it effected those closest to her, especially her mother. Her family life began to go downhill, noticing her mother not showing up when she planned and staying over at friends/families houses for longer than expected. When Wendy's mother began a new romantic relationhip with Paul, this is when things stepped into complicated territory.

Paul was supposed to be the 'father figure' she needed and could count on. And while they did have good times together, they were erased when Paul would get in his moods. The moods often led to physical and emotional violence, terror, and trauma. As Wendy started getting older, she learned how to navigate around him, trying her best not to incite his emotions. Her mother normally made excuses for him, making Wendy feel like she was less important and should find her own way to deal with things. And then when she was 18, she knew she had to escape.

On a journey of self-discovery, she found herself in the Hollywood lifestyle. She rubbed arms with some of the most elite and presitgious A-listers. While she felt happier at times, she also felt despondent. If she didn't find her place, she would quickly give in to the wild and troublesome lifestyle. This is when she made the decision to seek help. She would try anything including spiritual practices, meditation, psycotheraphy. Anything to finally belong. And I applaud Wendy because she had the courage to want to break the cycle she became so accustomed to.

Once she made time for her mental and spiritual health, she began to see through the clouded veil. She loved her mother but realized that most of her trauma came because her mother couldn't stand up for her or herself. And she knew that Paul had some demons of his own that he needed to tackle. But she never gave up hope on the possibility of change.

I loved getting to read about Wendy meeting her husband and them starting her family. I felt so happy to see her find her person and find her sense of belonging. And I believe he helped her in forgiving those closest to her like her mother, Paul, and even her siblings. While I can't pretend to have known her trauma, I do understand her heart and always seeking love from her family no matter what. I think that's something we all want; to be loved and accepted by our families. I think Wendy's ability to forgive and move on speaks volumes about her character. She expereicned so much heartbreak, heartache, and emotional trauma that she could have easily chose hate. But she learned how to set boundaries, accepet faults, and make decisions that were best for her and her found family.

Overall, My Pretty Baby is a must-read memoir. It will pull at readers emotions, make you feel, and ultimately learn that it's never too late to find our place in life.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Pretty Baby is Wendy B. Correa’s tender and searching memoir about growing up inside loss, neglect, alcoholism, and family secrecy, then spending a lifetime trying to turn that pain into understanding. The book begins with a child’s bewildered grief after her father’s death, deepens through her mother’s relationship with a volatile alcoholic stepfather, and follows Wendy into music, Buddhism, therapy, sobriety, Native American ceremony, yoga, motherhood, and marriage. Along the way, she brushes against extraordinary cultural moments, from the Beatles on Ed Sullivan to Joni Mitchell’s living room to Aspen and Hunter S. Thompson, but the real heartbeat of the book is quieter and more intimate. It’s the lifelong question beneath everything: what happened to my family, and how do I survive what I inherited?

What moved me most was how vividly Correa writes from inside the body of her younger self. She doesn’t just tell us she was afraid, she lets us feel the air leave the room. The closing of her father’s casket, the stench of carnations, the Christmas tree hurled to the floor, the child trying to protect her mother from a man who has become suddenly terrifying, these scenes have a terrible immediacy. I admired the way she keeps returning to sensory memory without making it ornamental. Smell, music, weather, smoke, lilacs, cold water, mountain air, all of it becomes part of the emotional architecture. Sometimes the book’s detail is almost overwhelming, but I think that’s also part of its honesty. Trauma doesn’t arrive in tidy summaries. It comes back as fragments, textures, songs, rooms, and smells you can’t quite wash out of your mind.

Correa is writing about healing, but she’s not selling some glossy version of transcendence. Her Buddhism, AA meetings, therapy, sweat lodges, vision quest, yoga, and eventual work with birth and body care all feel like attempts to live more fully inside a self that was once trained to disappear. I liked that the book allows love and anger to coexist, especially in her complicated feelings about Paul, who is frightening and damaging, yet also later tender with her son Mateo. That moral grayness gives the memoir real weight. The final DNA revelations could have felt melodramatic in another writer’s hands. Here, they feel like the last hidden door opening in a house she’s been wandering through all her life.

By the end, I felt that My Pretty Baby had earned its hope. It carries the sprawl of a real life, with its repetitions, ruptures, misreadings, longings, and late-arriving mercies. Correa’s writing is most powerful when she trusts the lived scene and lets the ache speak for itself, and her central idea feels hard-won: the truth may not repair the past, but it can finally let a person breathe. I’d recommend this book to readers who appreciate intimate memoirs about family trauma, recovery, spiritual seeking, complicated forgiveness, and the slow, brave work of becoming whole.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
📖 enjoy memoirs
❤️ believe in the healing power of love
👟 want to take a walk in someone else’s shoes
✍🏻 appreciate good writing

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Wendy Correa’s childhood is characterized by various traumas: the death of her father, emotionally distant siblings, a loving but frequently neglectful mother, and a violent, alcoholic stepfather. After escaping that turbulent life, Wendy’s path of self-discovery takes her through Buddhism, meditation, plant medicine, yoga, Native American spirituality, 12-Step programs, and psychotherapy. Native American sweat lodge and vision quest ceremonies further strengthen her sobriety and mental well-being.

As her inner world begins to open up, so does her outer world. Wendy finds herself regularly encountering extraordinary circumstances: singing on stage with rock ’n’ roll royalty at the 1982 inaugural Peace Sunday concert, attending AA meetings with legendary musicians, working at A&M and Geffen Records, and spending time with her musical hero, Joni Mitchell.

Wendy’s life takes a new turn when she moves to Aspen and becomes a radio DJ and assistant to gonzo writer Hunter S. Thompson. There, she meets her future husband and begins to build the family she’s always longed for—but despite her newfound peace, she is repeatedly drawn back into her family of origin’s dysfunction. It’s only after her mother’s death that Wendy uncovers a painful family secret that finally answers her lifelong question: What really happened to my family?

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

What a moving memoir! The author has a true gift for writing, and I enjoyed following along with her story. She is a force to be reckoned with. From losing her father at such a young and impressionable age, to dealing with a drunk and abusive step father, I so wanted to step through the pages and turn back time to help this little girl. No one deserves to go through such trauma in their lives. While I didn’t always agree with how she chose to try and make amends with her past, I loved her fearsome and passionate attitude. She never gave up, and it shows. I think my favorite part was when she found her husband and he was able to help her defeat her generational trauma once and for all. The author even includes resources in the back of the book if you, too, are fighting any of the same battles.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of finding healing from your childhood, forgiveness, and most of all, wanting to feel loved by your family. It’s a story that you may read and appreciate for the things Wendy experienced, or you may read it and relive some of those moments yourself. She has had an eventful life, but a lot of her experiences are probably shared by readers in one way or another. And she has spent her whole life trying to heal and find love.

“And I meditate on forgiveness. Not for them but for me. For my own well-being and mental health, for my own heart.”

Wendy’s story brought me to tears several times. I cried for some hard moments, but mostly I cried for the beautiful moments. Her writing is lovely, as if every phrase in the book is a piece of poetry. The way she described her feelings was raw and real, and you can tell how much she was affected by each event. The way she wove all of the timelines, people, memories, and spiritual practices from her life together felt flawless.

In the end of the book, she includes recommended reading and resources, which is really cool, as well as her playlist from when she worked as a radio DJ.

I listened to the audiobook, which I always love to do with a memoir because the author typically narrates it. It was wonderful listening to Wendy’s voice telling her own story because it made it feel that much more real. I reached a point in the book when I couldn’t put it down because I was so enraptured by the new developments in her story. It was a beautiful listen.

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wendy's memoir is so well written, I felt like she was telling me the story of her life during an afternoon coffee visit. Having lost her father at an early age, and seeing a lot of death (JFK, MLK Jr. and Vietnam war soldiers) and history in the 1960's, she never really got over the death of her father and the fear of death. Her much older sister always seemed to resent her and she never could understand why she'd make the comments that she'd make or seem like Wendy was this terrible person. After having to endure an abusive alcohol step-father, she herself started to go down this path as well, but was strong enough to recognize the signs. Wendy really was able to experience a lot in life, and was willing to try different things and experience cultures to better understand life. I really enjoyed that Wendy didn't use this as a poor me or look how strong I am, but has used her childhood and experiences as a way to understand her life, her mothers choices, her sister and ultimately who she really is. I also really enjoyed reading this in that it also helps me to understand a time of when my parents were raised and what life was like back then with things still not being talked about openly and you just dealt with what life handed you. Thank you to the author for sharing your story and for the complementary novel. Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the tour invite. I always find there is something I take away from memoirs, whether it's a better understanding of people, various life backgrounds or history and life in general during that time.

[Cleveland Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Pretty Baby by Wendy B. Correa stayed with me long after I finished it. As a psychotherapist who works with survivors of abuse—and as the author of my own memoir on resilience, Waiting for White Jesus—I was struck by the honesty and depth of Wendy’s storytelling. Her vivid recollection and emotional transparency pull you right into her journey. She doesn’t just revisit her pain; she transforms it into something meaningful and profoundly human.

What moved me most was how courageously she confronted her past—childhood trauma, family secrets, and the long, messy process of healing. I’ve spent years walking alongside survivors in Washington Heights who carry those same invisible burdens, and I recognized in Wendy’s story the same strength and grace I see in them every day. Her journey reminds us that healing isn’t about erasing the past but reclaiming power from it.

My Pretty Baby is raw, painful, and ultimately redemptive. It’s a book about facing truth without losing hope. Wendy’s message of self-reclamation and faith in the possibility of renewal deeply aligns with both my personal and professional path. I wholeheartedly recommend this memoir to anyone seeking to understand the long road from trauma to transformation.

— Cleveland G. Oakes Jr., MHC-LP, Author of Waiting for White Jesus

[Kendal Lyon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I had a hard time staying with this book, and it wasn't until I got about halfway through that I began to feel engaged with the characters. The last quarter of this memoir was more rewarding to read, as this was where things began to change for the narrator and where I saw more reflection on her part. The narrator has lived an interesting life, shadowed by the death of her father when she was a child and the abuse of her stepfather when her mother remarried. What makes this memoir unique when compared to other family trauma memoirs I've read is how the narrator spins gold out of straw as she gets older, meeting celebrities, and taking full advantage of connections that came her way in the music industry to build career opportunities. I found myself admiring her approach to life, despite her emotionally temperamental step-father, and a mother who, though loving, failed to stand up for her daughter as often as she should have. I won't give away the ending, but it was uplifting and made me glad I'd read all the way to the end. Given that there are many resources provided at the end of the book for people who are recovering from emotional abuse, you could read this book as one woman's healing journey and as encouragement on your own path to finding your truth and healing.

[Michael Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Pretty Baby is a deeply moving and emotionally courageous memoir that traces Wendy B. Correa’s lifelong journey from childhood trauma and emotional isolation toward healing, peace, and self discovery. Through vivid storytelling and remarkable honesty, Correa shares a life shaped by pain, resilience, spirituality, music, and the search for belonging.

What makes this memoir especially compelling is its emotional authenticity and layered humanity. Correa writes openly about grief, addiction, family dysfunction, and recovery while also capturing the transformative experiences that gradually help her rebuild herself. From encounters with legendary musicians and the music industry to spiritual practices, meditation, Native American ceremonies, and personal reflection, the memoir unfolds as both an intimate personal story and a broader exploration of healing.

At its heart, My Pretty Baby is about resilience, forgiveness, and the difficult process of uncovering truth while learning how to create peace within yourself. Correa’s vulnerability, wisdom, and emotional insight give the memoir a powerful sense of connection that will resonate deeply with readers navigating their own experiences with trauma, identity, and recovery. Honest, reflective, and inspiring, this is a memoir that lingers long after the final page.

[Jennifer Koskinen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendy Correa’s heart beats on every page of this book and at some point reached out to grab mine. From the staggering unfairness of a childhood disrupted to her jigsaw-puzzled journey of finding love, forgiveness and ultimately belonging, in writing this story she has captured the essence of what it means to be human… and of what it means to own your own story.

As I was moved to tears upon reaching the final, incredibly hopeful pages of this story, I was left thinking about the power of memoir. When someone invests the Herculean effort into writing through pain and trauma and humor and love — when they metabolize experience in the crafting of a story in order to understand, make peace, forgive and heal — they are giving the world the kind of priceless gift of honesty that can only delivered and understood in a book, communicated directly and uninterrupted from one mind and heart into another.

When this is done well, born of sweat, tears, vulnerability and risk, it becomes an incredibly generous gift of insight, wisdom, love, and the lived example that we can all aspire to better “suffer well” on the road to happiness.

By the conclusion of My Pretty Baby I felt overwhelming compassion and endless love for the child Wendy was, and the beautiful woman she has become.

[Lisa Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Trauma Ends With Me."

Let me start with the acknowledgement that the author was incredibly brave to publish a book about deep physical and emotional trauma. It has to be so frightening to lay bare the innermost thoughts and experiences you have had, in a public realm. I thought she captured the longing and need for connection quite well. Losing a father at such a young age definitely left her with long-lasting psychological trauma, which was then exacerbated when an abusive, inconsistent step-father enters the picture. I applaud her for seeking out various methods of healing throughout her lifetime to help alleviate the last effects of that abuse and inconsistent affection.

My biggest issue with this book was the repetition of the longing for a connected, loving family. I understand that need, from her perspective, and the angst she felt from not having a true connection to her own family. But so much of the book was devoted to this yearning, which tempered my enjoyment of the story.

I think the biggest benefit of this book was knowing that the author did manage to end the cycle of abuse by finding a loving husband who supported her unconditionally, and, as a result, she broke the generational trauma curse in her family.

[Kaitlyn Holderman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a powerful and deeply moving reflection on family trauma, healing, and the lifelong journey of reclaiming yourself. Through honesty and vulnerability, the author shares how she faced painful childhood wounds, navigated difficult truths, and endured the many twists life placed in her path. Yet she never gave up on herself. Her story is one of resilience, forgiveness, and inner growth, showing what’s possible when you choose healing even when it feels impossible. What makes this book so impactful is its hope. Despite everything she was given in life, she emerged stronger, grounded in self-awareness, and confident that she was destined for more. It’s a beautiful reminder that healing isn’t linear, but it is worth it. This book is for anyone who has experienced trauma or family hardship, anyone on a journey of healing, and anyone who needs reassurance that you can come out on the other side stronger, wiser, and more whole.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘶𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.” ~ sociologist Brené Brown.

Wendy, in her brave memoir, did exactly as this quote suggests (which she uses in her epilogue).

She shares with us her journey of family trauma and abuse, including the pain of losing her father at a young age and living with an alcoholic and sometimes violent stepfather, and the disconnect with her siblings. This sent her on a winding path, searching for answers and a chance for healing.

Wendy tells her story with both compassion and vulnerability. As secrets come to light, they do explain some things, but they do not excuse behaviors. I was impressed by how Wendy worked through her understanding of forgiveness and healing, seeking peace within herself.


Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @wendybcorreah for this gifted book.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir begins when Wendy is in 2nd grade and hears the news of JFK’s assassination.

Wendy shares in her memoir how family trauma and tragedy had her seeking constant validation. She shares the ways throughout her life she dealt with this stress. These ways were both unhealthy (addictive) as well as healthy (holistic healing).

Wendy’s memoir contains many stories of her professional life and the people (including famous ones) she met along her way.

I liked the way the book was laid out in a sequential line. That made it easy to see the what’s and how’s of Wendy’s years.

I think many people could benefit from reading about Wendy’s path to healing. It’s a read that like life has some twists and turns to it.

[Lala Grau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book. Read this book because your soul craves depth. Read this book if you’re lost and need a map home. Read this book if you don’t know where home is. Read it because Wendy has power in her words. She’ll teach you to breathe through your life while narrating the beautiful, terrible parts of hers. Read this book because you want the trauma to end with you. Read this book because you want to feel connected to whatever Gods may be.

I am so grateful Wendy wrote her story. Maybe her words will heal the pieces of you that feel unworthy of being loved. Maybe she’ll teach you what it means to forgive.

Wow.

Just read it.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendy’s childhood was filled with a fierce longing to understand herself and her family. She is a seeker of truth in a family of lies. Wendy simply wants to love and to be loved. Instead, she lives with a stepfather who has a violent and unpredictable temper. Wendy lives in hyper vigilance in an attempt to survive his outbursts. In spite of not growing up in a stable, healthy family, she forges her life and moves away to find herself. At every turn in her life, Wendy reaches for wisdom and truth that she can count on.
A deep quest to learn who she is and why her family is the way it is, “My Pretty Baby” exposes our deep need to belong and to be loved.

[Joan C. Comeau · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book wore me out

I am so different from the author that I simply find it difficult to empathize. My life has contained a multitude of trauma, heartache, sadness and a big, secret family skeleton in the closet revealed. Unlike the author, I have not spent my life going from one alternative cultish practice to another trying to soothe myself. Someone should have told her many long years ago to pray to God to help her stop dwelling and obsessing on the wrongs that her family inflicted. I chose to move forward and not dwell on the abuse and trauma the moment I asked Jesus to save my soul and heal me, and guess what? He did.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trauma?

I've read many books and autobiographies on people who have had extremely traumatic lives. I didn't find this life story any different to many people's lives who don't write about it. To be this obsessed with how your life went - well, many lives are far worse. Maybe it's s because I had just finished 'nobody's girl ' before this. What I did think was how lucky this author was to have the financial means to be able to get the endless help she got - therapy, mediation and yoga classes, books on trauma - the list was endless. She can write tho, and I'd definitely read anything else she wrote that wasn't so self obsessed...

[Rossana D'Antonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Pretty Baby is an unforgettable memoir in which Wendy Correa takes readers by the hand on a journey through family trauma, self-discovery, healing, and ultimately self-fulfillment. For anyone navigating their own path of self-discovery, this book offers both comfort and inspiration. Along the way, Correa shares a rich “menu” of ideas, practices, and influences that helped guide her transformation. Her honesty and courage shine through every page. For readers seeking a powerful example of strength and resilience, Correa stands as a remarkable role model. Bravo!