Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy

by Tiffany Graham Charkosky

When a hereditary cancer threat echoes her mother’s journey, one woman chooses to rewrite her story—crafting a radiant memoir about embracing life’s precious moments and finding strength in the infinite power of family love.

Tiffany Graham Charkosky was eleven years old when her mother, Julie, died. Eighteen years later, she discovers that the genetic mutation that took her mother has been passed down to Tiffany herself. But with this devastating news, Tiffany finds a certain strength in hope, resilience, and knowledge. She will fight for her family’s future.

In this intimate memoir, Tiffany shares her challenging journey forward, mapping out a plan for preventative screenings, genetic testing, and surgeries, as well as a reflective journey into the past as traumatic memories of her mother’s illness and death resurface. Memories, too, of an indomitable love that informed Tiffany’s adolescence, and her own motherhood, and would give Tiffany an optimistic understanding of just how precious even the smallest moments in life can be.

Now, thriving years beyond the age that claimed her mother, Tiffany embraces each day with fierce intention—her path illuminated by vigilant self-care, deep gratitude, and a family bond that proves the human spirit can transcend its darkest fears.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

223 pages, Paperback

Published October 21, 2025

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be the most beautiful memoir cover I've ever seen. It looks like art for the most gorgeous historical romance you can imagine, the heroine's face turned away from the reader, inviting you to turn, instead, to the compelling story rather than just gaze on her lovely face.

But that's not how I found her. The author did a compelling post on the blog of Jane Friedman, publishing industry Thought Leader, revealing how an analysis of memoir publishing inspired her to keep writing, keep pursuing her dream. https://janefriedman.com/all-others-t...

Tiffany, a fellow Ohioan, former journalist, and current Director of Arts & Culture for the Cleveland Public Library, reveals in her memoir the gobsmacking impact of learning that her mother had a genetic mutation that took her life when Tiffany was just eleven. The recommendation to the family was to be genetically tested, with possible other tests and procedures suggested if members had the same mutation.

I'm talking about the possibility of preventive mastectomies, hysterectomies, even in one case a decision to have one's colon removed. The gravest recommendations, which Tiffany and her family meet head on with fierce bravery.

Tiffany unscrolls her story in a cinematic style that reads like the best fiction. We learn who is tested, who has the lethal mutation, and what she and her family members decide to do.

I dare you to put this poignant, powerful story down once that stunning cover heroine propels you to the first page. You JUST CAN'T release it, and I found myself ignoring my darling husband, our precious calico kitten, and scarfing down meals while light-speeding it to the end. Highly, highly recommended!

Thanks to author Tiffany Graham Charkosky, Amazon Publishing, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

[Rachel Bonsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book encompasses so much of what I have gone through and will need to go through with Lynch syndrome. Great read and a local author!!

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living Proof is a beautiful memoir that reflects on what it’s like to live with the genetic disorder Lynch Syndrome. For those unfamiliar, Lynch Syndrome means one or more of your genes are mutated, compromising your body’s ability to repair DNA. This puts you at a significantly higher risk for developing cancers such as colon, ovarian, stomach, and more. I also have Lynch Syndrome, which is why this book resonated with me on a profound, personal level.

What I Liked About Living Proof:
My favorite part of Charkosky’s book is her honesty! I related to so much of her book that I found myself constantly highlighting sections and saying in my head, “Yes, that is so true.” When she found out that her mom had colon cancer, her life turned upside down. She was only 11, and she went from having her mom be a total participant in her and her sibling’s lives to watching her struggle through the stages of cancer.

What makes this memoir so compelling is how Charkosky structures it, alternating between her childhood, spent watching her mother struggle with cancer, and her adult life as a mother herself living with the same genetic disorder. This dual perspective is incredibly effective. She shares her worries, joys, and fears with such honesty that anyone who has dealt with illness, loss, or a chronic health condition will instantly relate.

Favorite Quotes About Living With a Parent Who Has Lynch Syndrome:

“I became afraid to ask my mom for anything, of doing something wrong, making her worse, of having any needs at all.”

If you have ever had someone sick in your household, you will be able to relate.

“A sick mother changes the entire biome of her family, with everyone around her adapting in their own ways to a new environment.”

I was 13 when my mom had colon cancer. It was one of my biggest life-changing events. Throughout her chemotherapy, she was sick after each treatment and then lost her hair. She truly tried to make things normal for her kids, and looking back, I am thankful and realize how strong she really was during that time.

Favorite Quotes About Living With Lynch Syndrome:

“It was lonely having a mutation I’d never heard of and, it seemed, hardly anyone else had either.”

Even though statistics show that one in 300 people have it, most people don’t know that they carry this gene mutation. It is hereditary, but generations can pass before the mutation is discovered through genetic testing.

“I didn’t want the people I knew in real life to associate me with this mutation.”

I don’t speak about having Lynch Syndrome very often. I picture myself like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle when I talk about my gene mutation. I’m starting to realize, though, that I should. The more people that have genetic testing done, the more people that can be saved with their new knowledge.

“I didn’t comprehend until that day that cancer isn’t just one disease, nor is cancer of a certain organ one disease. Cancer is a collection of thousands of different diseases, each operating in its own way to edge out a body’s healthy cells.”

My doctor explained that having Lynch Syndrome is like missing the “spell check” on a word document. I liked that analogy.

“These annual appointments were part of the Plan and they put me on edge, making me question every twinge.” “…the reality was that a lot of my plan was about finding cancer early, not stopping it altogether…” “…we didn’t talk about the ongoing emotional toll this information might have one us.”

If you have Lynch Syndrome, you know the amount of yearly tests to screen for cancer is exhausting. However, I feel so fortunate to have this knowledge. I feel blessed that my doctors get me in right away with something seems “off” on my skin or how I’m feeling. I agree with Charkoski when she talks about the anxiety that leads up to these tests and how it has almost turned her into a hypochondriac when almost anything seems wrong.

“…we want to remain healthy for ourselves and we need to respect the fear and anxiety our cancer risks instill in the people we love, particularly our spouses, who have chosen to love and build futures with us.”

Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in our life and health, that we forget what it also does to our family members. My husband is incredibly supportive, but I know it takes a toll on him as well. I did laugh at her experiences with her husband after each colonoscopy.

“It was living your life with the clear acceptance of what it was and not being destroyed by what it wasn’t.”

I want to remember this quote. I think it’s impactful advice for everyone. Live your life and try not to worry about what hasn’t happened yet.

Final Thoughts on Living Proof:

As you can see, I really enjoyed this memoir. It will speak to so many people. Even if you don’t know anyone with Lynch Syndrome or you haven’t had someone die that is close to you, you will still appreciate this memoir. The writing is honest and it pulls at your heartstrings. It also gives you hope!

Where To Buy Living Proof and More:
Purchase Living Proof: https://amzn.to/4nWMJH8 (It’s also on Kindle Unlimited right now)

If you liked this book, I also recommend these other memoirs for your next read:

The River’s Daughter by Bridget Crocker
My review: https://judiholst.com/bridget-crocker...

This American Woman by Zarna Garg
My review: https://judiholst.com/discover-zarna-...

Killer Story by Claire St. Amant
My review: https://judiholst.com/killer-story-by...

Read more of my book reviews: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/
Missed my Top Books of 2024? Find them here: https://judiholst.com/top-20-books-th...

Thank you to NetGalley, Little A Publishing, and Tiffany Graham Charkosky for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Now, I’d love to hear from you: What inspires you to live each day to the fullest?

[Melissa Fraterrigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read at nights and for the past few evenings, I've been eager to go to bed so I could return to LIVING PROOF! This is a beautiful book that makes the angst of the narrator's genetic diagnosis real for the reader. The way she writes about her mom while also mothering her sons struck me by its grace and presence. Even if you do not have chronic illness in your family, you will find this memoir heartwarming and inspiring.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the author, I also live with lynch syndrome. I learned I have one of the genes a few years ago and it turned my world completely upside down. I really wish this book existed then because I certainly would have felt less alone. So many of the thoughts, feelings, fears and ways I coped initially made me feel isolated, alone, and at times, ashamed, but after reading Tiffany’s memoir I realized that it wasn’t just me. Tiffany’s candor is this memoir is both refreshing and appreciated. She feels like a mentor, teacher, and friend through the pages of this book.

Thank you so much Tiffany for writing such a beautiful memoir that perfectly captures the anxiety and fear of living with lynch, the tough decisions that one will grapple with often at young ages (from fertility to screenings to surgical menopause and more), and the hope that comes with continued medical advances! While getting annual screenings, especially colonoscopies, will never be easy, having a book out there that can be shared widely to help people with and without lynch understand what it might be like is incredibly helpful. And even if you don’t have lynch or another genetic condition, you will find this memoir beautiful and relatable about the greater context of the human experience.

Definitely a 5 ⭐️ read for me! A huge thanks to Tiffany for the ARC!

[Cindy Einhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m grateful for authors like this who know how to effectively share their deeply honest feelings about difficult medical experiences so that others who have experienced the same thing will know they are not alone.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a beautiful book. Absolutely loved it. Will try to be fairly brief, as I want to avoid spoilers and also had my eyes dilated today and am still a little blurry. In a nutshell, her Mom died young when author was just 11, and much later they found out that Lynch Syndrome ran in the family. A good bit of the book concerns author's struggle (and those of her siblings) concerning whether to get tested and find out whether she had the associated genetic mutation (50% chance), emotional aspects of getting all the screening and [if needed] preventive interventions for the various cancers associated with the syndrome, whether to have a second child, complex emotions in the immediate and extended families, and much more.

GREAT writer. Really brought to life simple scenes/incidents like prepping for a colonoscopy or chaotic life working from home during COVID with two tween/teen sons in the house, as well as more abstract/poignant reflections such as feeling guilty for having been mad at her sick/dying Mom for needing so much help from author's younger self.

I'm not a big crier for the most part, but I was moved to tears a number of times by this one, sometimes in a narcissistic fit of remembering having cancer when our kids were little and just praying I could live till they were each at least 18 (mission long since accomplished!). As the author put it "It wouldn't matter if I had one more day with them, or a century. It will never be enough time. I still have so much to teach them, so much to learn from them. How would anyone ever be able to say goodbye?" (p. 204).

I see from her website that the author is now working on a novel. When it comes out I might have to violate my own personal policy "No reading books about things that didn't actually happen".

At the risk of being that guy who makes everything about politics..........we still have till October 1 to stop misguided (IMO) OMB proposed rule to inject (even more) political oversight into grants for scientific research. From my quick scan it looks as if Lynch Syndrome research is propped up to some extent by rich people who've had it in their families (ex. new-in-2026 $10 million donation for a center at Penn devoted to it). And that's great; God bless those donors. But stable long-term funding in sufficient amounts to attract creative young investigators needs to come from government, in this case NCI. There are apparently some promising vaccines progressing through trials now. For the sake of families like the author's, let's invest in the best work without regard to whether it happens at a university that has kissed the behind of the administration.

End of rant/sermon. Independent of any of that......really great read.

[MaxieJane Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiffany Graham Charkosky’s Living Proof is a luminous testament to what it means to carry both loss and legacy in your DNA. The story opens with the devastating truth that the same genetic mutation that took her mother also lives in her. And yet, instead of being paralyzed by fear, Charkosky faces her future with strength, intentionality, and love. Her personal response to terrifying circumstances informs her gorgeous narrative voice.

Her writing is deeply honest and beautifully balanced. She weaves together losing her mother during her childhood with the more medically focused reality of her adulthood: genetic testing, difficult medical decisions, and the heavy knowledge that this kind of illness brings.

One of the most compelling parts of this memoir is Charkosky’s dual timeline structure — alternating between her memories of her mother and her own journey as a mother. We witness her grief that she somehow turns into a courageous, hopeful story infused with the light of love.
What stands out most, though, is this very love. Charkosky takes the plot points of genetics and illness and turns them into a love story about family, connection, and choosing to live fully in spite of uncertainty. Through exams, difficult experiences, and moments of grief, Charkosky’s gratitude and fierce intention shine through.

Everything about this very specific memoir feels universal, not just medical. Anyone will relate to her experience.

In short, Living Proof is a beautifully written, deeply human memoir. It’s a book that keeps resonating long after we close its pages — the narrative is a reminder that while we can’t control our inherited risks, we can choose how we face them. Charkosky believes in kindness and love. Highly recommend.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It’s a gorgeous, powerful piece of work, and I am so thankful that Tiffany wrote it. Her story moved me deeply — both for its raw honesty and for the way she turns unimaginable pain into something luminous and full of hope.

Tiffany’s writing is intimate and brave, weaving together memory, science, and emotion with such grace. Through her story, she gives voice to what it means to live with knowledge of genetic inheritance, to confront fear head-on, and to still choose love, gratitude, and joy. I found myself completely immersed in her world — grieving with her, celebrating with her, and ultimately feeling inspired by her resilience and intention.

Living Proof isn’t just a memoir; it’s an act of generosity. Tiffany has offered us a roadmap for how to live fully, even when the future feels uncertain. I’m so grateful for this book and will be recommending it to everyone I know.

[Anna Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of Living Proof is heart wrenching: daughter inherits the same genetic mutation that led to her own mother's early death.

But Living Proof isn't just a story about grief, motherhood, and illness. This book is compelling because the author, Tiffany Graham Charkosky, is both earnest AND witty. She's unflinchingly honest, admitting to the emotions we all share but may not care to admit to.

Reading this book felt like listening to the secret, sincere thoughts of a mother desperately longing to remain healthy for her children. You know how people often tell the cleaned up story in small talk, but if you were to peruse their Google searches, you would learn about the real stuff? This book gives you the real stuff. It's such a smart, important memoir, and you should order a copy today.

[Mary Ardery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is about the narrator's experience with genetic testing and counseling after learning the illness that killed her mother far too young is a genetic condition that the narrator may also have inherited. What I especially appreciated about the book is how it shows how this experience ripples outward--inevitably affecting her siblings, spouse, children, etc. Such careful attention is paid to internal weather and family dynamics, articulating complicated situations with the nuance they deserve. This is the kind of book that can only be written by living an honest life and doing a lot of soul-searching. I imagine this book was far from easy to write, which makes it all the more rewarding to read.

Structure/pace: The book is written in short vignettes and I found it compulsively readable. I read it in 24 hours.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC, and it was such an emotional and inspiring read. Living Proof is a deeply personal memoir that explores grief, fear, resilience, and the incredible strength that can come from love and family. Tiffany Graham Charkosky shares her story with honesty and vulnerability, making it impossible not to feel emotionally connected to her journey.

What touched me most was the way the author balanced heartbreaking moments with hope and determination. The discussions surrounding hereditary illness, motherhood, and learning to live fully despite fear felt incredibly raw and real. You can truly feel the love she has for her family in every chapter.

This memoir serves as both a reminder of how fragile life can be and how powerful the human spirit is. Emotional, courageous, and heartfelt, this was a moving read that stayed with me long after I finished it.

[Jacque Gorelick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living Proof is a beautiful, deep dive into the lasting impact of early mother loss on girlhood, womanhood, and motherhood set against the shadow of genetics. Tiffany Graham Charkosky’s gripping and poignant prose resonated deeply with me after losing my own mother at eight. Though this memoir is about the genetic legacy the author carries, it is also about how profoundly early mother loss impacts a woman, and the echo of grief that comes with aging and becoming a motherless mother. With grace and honesty, the author examines what it’s like to build a family against a backdrop of the seemingly faulty genetics lingering within our own bodies. I highly recommend this memoir to everyone, but especially those who have experienced mother loss or motherless motherhood.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy is an honest and heartfelt memoir that explores what it means to live under the shadow of inherited illness while still choosing joy and connection. Tiffany Graham Charkosky writes with striking vulnerability about losing her mother young, discovering her own genetic risk, and navigating motherhood with both fear and determination.

The book shines brightest in its emotional clarity—Charkosky’s reflections on love, legacy, and resilience feel authentic and deeply relatable. At times the pacing slows with medical details, but her insight and warmth keep the story grounded.

What stands out most is Charkosky's refusal to let tragedy define her. Instead, she reclaims her story, showing how understanding our past can help us build a more loving future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Brilliance Audio for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Critter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC.

This book is well written and the author really delves into her own life in this book. I really enjoyed reading what she shared about her life and her reflections. This book really delves into the uncertainty of health and those scary feelings surrounding health. I myself am having to go thorough some genetic testing and all the uncertainty that goes with it. This book is very touching and is also a bit comforting at the same time.

[Cathy Frantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully honest memoir. It deals with a lot of heavy topics but there's also so much perspective and appreciation for life. I know people say this all the time, but I was constantly reminded how much goes on in people’s lives that we know nothing about. We're all just figuring things out in our own ways. It left me with a stronger sense of how much we all share (self-doubt, fears, regrets, but also small wins, moments of self-reflection, growth), even in very different circumstances.

[Barbara Conlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir hit close to home.
Living with Lynch syndrome, so many of the author's thoughts and emotions felt incredibly familiar. She captured the weight of the screenings, procedures, cancer scares, and the uncertainty that comes with living with an inherited cancer syndrome.
What I didn't expect was how much this book would help me see the experience through my husband's eyes. It also touched on one of the hardest parts of Lynch syndrome as a parent, the fear of passing this gene on to your children.
This book made me feel seen.

[Sonja N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazing book takes a heartfelt, unflinching look at family, life, and how much we cannot control about our bodies. Charkosky writes with brutal honesty about her mother's death and all the emotions that come with the uncertainty of medical issues surrounding the rest of the family. She is a warrior who immerses the reader into her triumphs and heartbreaks. A truly must-read book for anyone who has experienced loss, love, or wants to learn more about rare medical conditions.

[Heather Sweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this powerful and insightful memoir by Tiffany Graham Charkosky, readers are given a behind-the-scenes look at genetic testing and the aftermath of the results that includes heart-wrenching decisions that involve not just an individual, but an entire family. Beautifully written, vulnerable, brutally honest, and filled with hope, Living Proof is a page-turner that you won’t want to end. I highly recommend this memoir!

[Jocelyn Jane Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book broke my heart and stitched it back together again. Beautifully told, with so many gorgeous passages. I was rooting for Tiffany and feeling her pain. Along the way, I learned about genetic mutations, and the strength that can come from testing. This book made me think about health and love and the complications in life that so many of us endure. It reconfirmed for me that knowledge can kick up difficult decisions but can ultimately provide power. I highly recommend.

[Maryanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exquisitely written memoir that allows the reader to follow the author’s experiences of love, grief, fear and conviction from childhood to present day. Cleverly paced, her insights into the implications of undergoing genetic testing and the nature of genetic counseling are relevant to the general population as medical advances continue. Beautifully told and felt.

[Caitlin Magner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author’s beautifully descriptive words made me feel I was experiencing life right along with her. I literally held my breath through so much of this book, the apprehension of awaiting medical test results was palpable. Is it a spoiler to say this gorgeous memoir is bittersweet? Ultimately it left me with tremendous hope and admiration for the author.

[Jaime Chanter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so incredible!! It was super difficult to put down and kept me up late because I had to finish it. What a gift to others who may be going through similar struggles. The author writes beautifully and is very relatable. Highly recommend!!

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

unique and interesting memoir that tells Charkosky's story really well and doesn't shy away from darkness and tension. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

[David Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Day at a Time

At first I thought the book slow, dark, and tedious. By the end it left me hopeful, though I didn’t feel close to the protagonist.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio 4.5 stars - a really lovely memoir (and loved the local references of course)

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

So relatable as a fellow Lynchie.

[Liralen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charkosky was eleven when her mother died of cancer. It was a tragedy, and it tore her life apart—but cancer is common, and Charkosky and her family found ways to move forward as best they could. But decades later, when she and her husband were trying for their second child, Charkosky got news that turned everything upside down again: There was a good chance that Charkosky's mother's cancer stemmed from a genetic condition that made certain cancers almost inevitable, and if she'd had it, there was a 50-50 chance that Charkosky and each of her siblings had inherited it.

Almost two years passed between that car ride and actually losing her. The part that seems the cruelest is that my memories of her sickness have eclipsed most of my memories of her life. (loc. 263)

I read this partly because I read A Fatal Inheritance not too long ago. In A Fatal Inheritance, the author describes a different genetic quirk that made cancer run rampant through his family, and he dives into the science behind it and the quest to figure out just what went wrong. It's both fascinating and devastating.

Living Proof doesn't go so much into the science (Inheritance is part memoir, part reportage; Proof is straight memoir), but it's equally devastating to consider all the factors that Charkosky had to consider, starting with the simplest: get tested or not? Testing doesn't change the facts, but it might change the outcomes; knowing that you have a gene that predisposes you to major medical things can mean regular, targeted testing in the interest of catching things before they're a problem. It also means upheaval, and complications like suddenly being ineligible for life insurance, and deciding whether to have preventive surgeries, and wondering whether your own children have gotten the gene. And for Charkosky, it wasn't just herself—she had two siblings who had the same chances of inheriting the gene that she did, and they had to make their own decisions about whether or not to get tested, and what to do with the information either way.

It's a lot to wrestle with. Charkosky does a good job of unpicking those things, which are of course further complicated by the grief of having lost someone to the same thing you're now facing. I hate the subtitle, perhaps irrationally so ("how love defied genetic legacy" reads to me as "how love cured a gene mutation", which of course is not what it means, but still), but it's otherwise an interesting read, especially if you're curious about the ways genetics can get tricky.

[Britni Theofilos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing glance into the life of someone facing the challenges of genetic testing and living with loss. “Living Proof” will absolutely be a profound comfort, reassuring, inspirational and perspective giving to anyone who reads it, Lynch Syndrome or not, as it was for me. Tiffany’s writing is perfection. Her impeccable details made reading her words such a pleasure. I was captivated by the way Tiffany’s illustration of emotion penetrated my heart. It surely will help everyone who reads it to feel seen and loved. She is beyond brave for sharing her story in effort to help others in her same space in life and she has done it so eloquently.

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning memoir. The book is full of small, vivid details that are unique (I especially loved all of the Cleveland references), but it also captures the universal and deeply relatable swing between grief and gratitude in response to the randomness of life. The book also does a great job of capturing this wild moment we’re in with genetic testing, when we’re gaining more and more access to previously hidden information about our bodies, and with it comes both the good (prevention!) and the hard (decisions! anxiety!). Plus, the structure made it such a page-turner! I truly had a hard time putting it down. Ok, go read it!