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The Light from a Thousand Wounds: A Mother's Memoir of Finding Beauty in Life's Darkest Moments
AMAZON BESTSELLER
Corey Hatfield never imagined that motherhood would lead her through such extraordinary depths of joy and suffering.
In her poignant and unflinchingly raw memoir, this mother of five navigates the overwhelming challenges of raising a violently autistic child and grappling with her oldest son’s heartbreaking substance abuse. When a devastating rollover accident leaves her son in a coma, she and her husband are thrust into a foreign world of traumatic brain injuries and their child’s slow, uncertain recovery. The cumulative weight of one harrowing event after another threatens to destabilize their marriage and everything they cherish.
Yet, amid relentless trials and grief, Corey discovers an ancient tradition of faith that inspires her to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery. After years of drowning in despair, she encounters goodness, beauty, and resilience where she least expects it—obscured within the darkness. Corey gently invites her family to journey alongside her as she heals, and their gradual rebuilding proves that even the deepest wounds can give rise to abundant light and life.
The Light from a Thousand Wounds is a lifeline of solidarity for anyone who has felt broken beyond repair. It is a powerful testimony to hope, love, and the human spirit’s capacity to endure and grow through—and perhaps even because of—adversity.
Corey Hatfield never imagined that motherhood would lead her through such extraordinary depths of joy and suffering.
In her poignant and unflinchingly raw memoir, this mother of five navigates the overwhelming challenges of raising a violently autistic child and grappling with her oldest son’s heartbreaking substance abuse. When a devastating rollover accident leaves her son in a coma, she and her husband are thrust into a foreign world of traumatic brain injuries and their child’s slow, uncertain recovery. The cumulative weight of one harrowing event after another threatens to destabilize their marriage and everything they cherish.
Yet, amid relentless trials and grief, Corey discovers an ancient tradition of faith that inspires her to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery. After years of drowning in despair, she encounters goodness, beauty, and resilience where she least expects it—obscured within the darkness. Corey gently invites her family to journey alongside her as she heals, and their gradual rebuilding proves that even the deepest wounds can give rise to abundant light and life.
The Light from a Thousand Wounds is a lifeline of solidarity for anyone who has felt broken beyond repair. It is a powerful testimony to hope, love, and the human spirit’s capacity to endure and grow through—and perhaps even because of—adversity.
- GenresNonfictionMemoir
Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 22, 2025
As a young girl, I never anticipated to connect so deeply with a memoir about motherhood, but I finished this book feeling more seen than ever. Even though we’re in very different stages of life, Corey’s story reached me in such unexpected ways. As a sister, a daughter, a Christian, someone part Japanese, an empath, I saw myself in so many of her experiences. That’s what makes this memoir so special: it’s not written for one type of reader. The vulnerability, her willingness to show us the messy, tender, complicated parts of her life, open the door for anyone to find themselves in her words. No matter who you are, this book is meant for everyone.
I couldn’t put this book down. I read it on the plane, in class, during lunch.. anywhere I could squeeze in another chapter. And even though I wanted to read slowly, to underline and absorb every detail, I just couldn’t stop turning the pages. That’s how captivating it is. And even now I keep going back to reread it, each time letting myself really savor her words, take in the little details, and appreciate all the labor put into each page.
Corey has created something that’s so much more than a memoir. It’s a piece of art. A love letter to family, to resilience, to motherhood, and to life itself. It’s the best memoir I’ve ever read, and by far the most touching. I hope with all my heart that this book goes far and reaches the people who need it most. It has absolutely left a mark on me, and I know it will do the same for so many others.
I couldn’t put this book down. I read it on the plane, in class, during lunch.. anywhere I could squeeze in another chapter. And even though I wanted to read slowly, to underline and absorb every detail, I just couldn’t stop turning the pages. That’s how captivating it is. And even now I keep going back to reread it, each time letting myself really savor her words, take in the little details, and appreciate all the labor put into each page.
Corey has created something that’s so much more than a memoir. It’s a piece of art. A love letter to family, to resilience, to motherhood, and to life itself. It’s the best memoir I’ve ever read, and by far the most touching. I hope with all my heart that this book goes far and reaches the people who need it most. It has absolutely left a mark on me, and I know it will do the same for so many others.
April 29, 2025
The entire time reading this book I just wanted to jump in and give Corey a big hug and a shoulder to lean on. The struggles that not only she lived through but her entire family. I can’t pretend to know an inkling of what she had to endure. But as a mom you want to do what you can to protect your babies. Sometimes one needs more protection than the others. Sometimes we don’t realize after the damage is done what has happened. Reading this book put me through the wringer with emotions but it gave me a glimpse of what families go through when dealing with struggles and obstacles with their children. A def must read just to get a glimpse of what some go through on a daily basis. This is why when I see an adult struggling in public with their child I try not to judge because at the end of the day you don’t know what they are going through.
September 6, 2025
A brave and unflinching memoir from a mom who has been through more than many of us could ever imagine. I am generally not a fan of memoirs--often they are too much personal information for me--but I learned so much from how she handled and approached her children with love and understanding even in their worst times.
July 28, 2025
A hard book to read, as I'm sure a hard book to write and a difficult life to have lived. I cannot begin to understand the challenges the mother faced, or the decisions made, or feelings had. I cannot place myself in her shoes, but I can sit with what I read and with gratitude and grace go forward with my own life.
May 24, 2025
This was a hard book for me to get through. It is filled with unrealized dreams and so much trauma. Perhaps, because I am not a mother, I see the story differently. After marrying the love of her life and having 5 children in quick succession, Corey starts to feel as if her life isn't her own. Their 4th child is violently autistic and due to first, their religion, then to Arin trying to support the family, raising the children is mainly left to Corey.
Handling a violent, autistic child is almost all consuming. When Arin takes a job that keeps him away for weeks at a time, and still keeps his mind away even when home, Corey's life is, to her uncontrollable. All her parenting efforts go into the autistic child, mostly leaving the other 4 to raise themselves. Living her life to be the perfect wife and mother, she doesn't convey to Arin that she needs help.
All 5 of the kids end up severely affected by her parenting or lack of it. Failing school, alcohol and drugs, and cutting are some of the issues encountered as they enter their teenage years. Although I felt sorry for Corey with what she went through, I felt even worse for the emotional trauma inflicted on her non-spectrum kids. How could the parents not see what was happening?
The story is well written, with a lot of self reflection. One can easily see the damage that religion, as opposed to faith, can have on a person, a marriage, and a family. It's easy to see, from this side of things, that holding everything in is never the answer. To me, this was not a feel good book. From the outside, it's easy to see thee mistakes made, but I am sure as they are happening, it's impossible to identify them, especially when you are just trying to get through the day.
Handling a violent, autistic child is almost all consuming. When Arin takes a job that keeps him away for weeks at a time, and still keeps his mind away even when home, Corey's life is, to her uncontrollable. All her parenting efforts go into the autistic child, mostly leaving the other 4 to raise themselves. Living her life to be the perfect wife and mother, she doesn't convey to Arin that she needs help.
All 5 of the kids end up severely affected by her parenting or lack of it. Failing school, alcohol and drugs, and cutting are some of the issues encountered as they enter their teenage years. Although I felt sorry for Corey with what she went through, I felt even worse for the emotional trauma inflicted on her non-spectrum kids. How could the parents not see what was happening?
The story is well written, with a lot of self reflection. One can easily see the damage that religion, as opposed to faith, can have on a person, a marriage, and a family. It's easy to see, from this side of things, that holding everything in is never the answer. To me, this was not a feel good book. From the outside, it's easy to see thee mistakes made, but I am sure as they are happening, it's impossible to identify them, especially when you are just trying to get through the day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2025
I got this book as an early read through a Goodreads giveaway. I'm not entirely sure why I entered it at first because normally memoirs are not something I read.
However, pretty instantly I realized I related so much to the things Corey experienced and lived through. As a mother going through life trying to navigate my relationship with my husband, God, realizing I have a child who is under the special needs umbrella, and just everyday life, so much of what she wrote resonates with what I'm in the middle of now.
So much of her silent pain and anger at herself mirrors what I feel often. We as mothers often times blame ourselves for everything that is happening in our familes. Every shortcoming, every issue, every stressor is somehow our fault...whether we're doing the blaming or someone else is doing it. Reading her struggles made it feel a little less lonely, but yet also sad to know that so many probably feel this way.
Corey's writing showed that no matter what it looks like from the outside, we don't know the turmoil and stress going on in someone's home. That no matter how hard you try, there's never enough time or hands to juggle every obstacle that will come your way, especially as a parent. I spent many tears on these pages feeling both heartbroken for Corey, but also so proud of watching her overcome so much and still standing.
In the end, I'm so glad I read this book that would normally be outside my comfort zone. I'm so honored to have been given a glimpse into her life and struggles and see that there is the ability to get to the other side, even if weary and tired.
However, pretty instantly I realized I related so much to the things Corey experienced and lived through. As a mother going through life trying to navigate my relationship with my husband, God, realizing I have a child who is under the special needs umbrella, and just everyday life, so much of what she wrote resonates with what I'm in the middle of now.
So much of her silent pain and anger at herself mirrors what I feel often. We as mothers often times blame ourselves for everything that is happening in our familes. Every shortcoming, every issue, every stressor is somehow our fault...whether we're doing the blaming or someone else is doing it. Reading her struggles made it feel a little less lonely, but yet also sad to know that so many probably feel this way.
Corey's writing showed that no matter what it looks like from the outside, we don't know the turmoil and stress going on in someone's home. That no matter how hard you try, there's never enough time or hands to juggle every obstacle that will come your way, especially as a parent. I spent many tears on these pages feeling both heartbroken for Corey, but also so proud of watching her overcome so much and still standing.
In the end, I'm so glad I read this book that would normally be outside my comfort zone. I'm so honored to have been given a glimpse into her life and struggles and see that there is the ability to get to the other side, even if weary and tired.
August 1, 2025
I was captivated by her descriptive, emotion-filled writing but could not relate or learn from some of her “missteps” or explorations. Her struggles with some controlling religions turned me off and some of those beliefs trapped her for much of her life. While I could relate to some of her struggles as a parent, I just couldn’t relate to her responses. Many memoirs inspire me or teach me about myself or the world but not this one. I cringed at some of her thoughts and responses and just couldn’t relate to her conservative religious experiences. Again, much of her writing style is rich with texture and drew me in initially but the content was a constant push and pull for me. This is someone’s lived experiences and I believe she was honest and true in her writing but it amounted to a one-sided therapeutic review of her life that didn’t inspire or teach me and left me feeling at times that I was rubber-necking at an accident scene.
May 20, 2025
This book was amazing and such a great read. If you’ve ever dealt with special-needs kids, tough behavior stuff, your own depression, or questions about spirituality, so much of it really hits home. It was super relatable and honestly hard to put down. To me, it wasn’t just a memoir—it was one of those books you just get completely pulled into
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March 2, 2026Wow did this book take me forever to read!! A lot of reasons play into why it took SO LONG!
The first 25% was fairly engaging, setting the scene for the main story. And then it dove into the biggest chunk of the book, Corey's experiences as a mother to an autistic child. Which of course was a huge part of her life, so it makes sense it was a huge part of the book. I slowly started to lose excitement reading and it was very hard for me to push through. After reading others reviews (and some spoilers, if you could call them that??) I decided to keep reading to learn more about Corey's life. Towards the last 80%, Corey shares more about her life and her other 4 children, "I had five children, but four of them were motherless". Woof, lots to unpack in the last 20% of the book. I think I thought about this book and Corey's life 10x longer than I actually spent reading it. It's not my place to comment on the decisions of others, so I won't.
I rarely rate memoirs, how am I supposed to rate the way someone chooses to tell their life story? Where is the line between rating someone's experiences, the choices they make, or the way they choose to retell it? Can I hate the writing style without judging the lived experience of someone? I don’t think I can, so I don't try. Memoirs truly are my favorite because I get a small glimpse inside the life of people, and get to learn from what they are willing to share with the world.
Overall, I’d recommend this book if you like memoirs and are okay with heavier, more emotional topics. A lot of it focuses on the author’s experiences raising an autistic child, along with other struggles involving addiction and mental health. There are also quite a few Christian quotes and faith-based reflections throughout, so it’s a better fit if you don’t mind strong religious themes being part of the story.
The first 25% was fairly engaging, setting the scene for the main story. And then it dove into the biggest chunk of the book, Corey's experiences as a mother to an autistic child. Which of course was a huge part of her life, so it makes sense it was a huge part of the book. I slowly started to lose excitement reading and it was very hard for me to push through. After reading others reviews (and some spoilers, if you could call them that??) I decided to keep reading to learn more about Corey's life. Towards the last 80%, Corey shares more about her life and her other 4 children, "I had five children, but four of them were motherless". Woof, lots to unpack in the last 20% of the book. I think I thought about this book and Corey's life 10x longer than I actually spent reading it. It's not my place to comment on the decisions of others, so I won't.
I rarely rate memoirs, how am I supposed to rate the way someone chooses to tell their life story? Where is the line between rating someone's experiences, the choices they make, or the way they choose to retell it? Can I hate the writing style without judging the lived experience of someone? I don’t think I can, so I don't try. Memoirs truly are my favorite because I get a small glimpse inside the life of people, and get to learn from what they are willing to share with the world.
Overall, I’d recommend this book if you like memoirs and are okay with heavier, more emotional topics. A lot of it focuses on the author’s experiences raising an autistic child, along with other struggles involving addiction and mental health. There are also quite a few Christian quotes and faith-based reflections throughout, so it’s a better fit if you don’t mind strong religious themes being part of the story.
January 21, 2026
Corey Hatfield really gets raw and vulnerable and as real as one would love to find in an ally of heartache, faith building, and refining without hardening her heart towards herself, others, and in general. Corey's story is one that every mother will feel to her core, even if we don't have an autistic son like she does, but the pain and lonliness of feeling alone, adrift, and abandoned while still having to move one foot forward BECAUSE of our love for our children, and not in spite of it. She does not show you the glittery fake awesome perfect side, but the realness underneath of her life and experiences, and the fallout of hard choices in the best interest of one child and the aftermath of what happened to the other children. A family that isn't whole, isn't perfect, isn't shiny and unreachable, but a family that loves fiercely, holds together because of their love for one another, and admits where their own faults are. Beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Worth reading and sharing. Highly highly recommend!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*
June 26, 2025
“For I am a life constructed of moments—the JoyfulSorrows, the PainfulBeauties—all flip sides of the same coin. In so many ways, I am a walking contradiction.”
Corey Hatfield’s memoir is at once a beautiful and painful memoir of the challenges of motherhood. In these pages, she describes her journey through her son’s autism, another son’s addiction issues, and her own emotional struggles.
The book is nothing short of beautiful. It’s a book any mother can relate to. From the long hours of motherhood to the stresses of misbehavior, this book rings true in every word.
I really appreciated the psychological and theological thought interspersed throughout the book. Hatfield managed to relay the ways that lived experience and motherhood truly are holy. It made for a gorgeous read.
I took off one point just because the ending of the book felt a little abrupt.
A very good memoir.
4 stars.
Corey Hatfield’s memoir is at once a beautiful and painful memoir of the challenges of motherhood. In these pages, she describes her journey through her son’s autism, another son’s addiction issues, and her own emotional struggles.
The book is nothing short of beautiful. It’s a book any mother can relate to. From the long hours of motherhood to the stresses of misbehavior, this book rings true in every word.
I really appreciated the psychological and theological thought interspersed throughout the book. Hatfield managed to relay the ways that lived experience and motherhood truly are holy. It made for a gorgeous read.
I took off one point just because the ending of the book felt a little abrupt.
A very good memoir.
4 stars.
June 9, 2025
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. This is my honest review.
I really did like this book and it was very well written. Corey Hatfield bares her soul as she relives so many family memories and emotions. As a mother to a severely autistic child, I empathasized and felt many emotions as she shared about her autistic’s son’s challenges with elopement and running away as well as aggression. She also shared a lot about her oldest son who struggled with substance abuse and later a horrible truck accident. Through it all she shared how previously she stuffed or repressed emotions but is later healing and processing through it all. Her relationship with God and her husband are there throughout even though at times both felt distant and detached. This book is emotionally heavy but also hopeful.
I really did like this book and it was very well written. Corey Hatfield bares her soul as she relives so many family memories and emotions. As a mother to a severely autistic child, I empathasized and felt many emotions as she shared about her autistic’s son’s challenges with elopement and running away as well as aggression. She also shared a lot about her oldest son who struggled with substance abuse and later a horrible truck accident. Through it all she shared how previously she stuffed or repressed emotions but is later healing and processing through it all. Her relationship with God and her husband are there throughout even though at times both felt distant and detached. This book is emotionally heavy but also hopeful.
September 24, 2026
Amazing Writing
#GOODREADSGIVEAWAY I knew to be expecting Some sad parts of this book when I saw the title. But, There are wonderful parts also.
Things I liked are the author's amazing writing, The quotes mentioned throughout the book, Corey's resilience and attitude, Learning about her AMDR therapy And in the epilog finding out what all the children are doing now!
Things I did not like include the 1st chapter being about Grayson's 6th birthday , The back and forth in the book between present and past and future, and I have to admit I was a little annoyed at her husband who was gone for a lot of the time working in the oil fields so that she had to raise the children.
I would recommend this book for teachers, police officers, parents who have autistic children and other public personas Who need to learn about the full spectrum of autism.
#GOODREADSGIVEAWAY I knew to be expecting Some sad parts of this book when I saw the title. But, There are wonderful parts also.
Things I liked are the author's amazing writing, The quotes mentioned throughout the book, Corey's resilience and attitude, Learning about her AMDR therapy And in the epilog finding out what all the children are doing now!
Things I did not like include the 1st chapter being about Grayson's 6th birthday , The back and forth in the book between present and past and future, and I have to admit I was a little annoyed at her husband who was gone for a lot of the time working in the oil fields so that she had to raise the children.
I would recommend this book for teachers, police officers, parents who have autistic children and other public personas Who need to learn about the full spectrum of autism.
May 14, 2025
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Greenleaf Book Group for choosing me.
I have always thought mothers are invincible, this book solidifies that belief. This is a beautifully written memoir of a woman facing quite a bit of obstacles and how she persevered and was able to keep on going. Every. Single. Time. Even when she felt like all she could do was give up (when most would give up) she always found a way to keep going. For her children. For her husband. For herself. Whatever the reason was she always kept going. It was inspiring to read and I'm sure I will be thinking of her and her family for a long time.
I have always thought mothers are invincible, this book solidifies that belief. This is a beautifully written memoir of a woman facing quite a bit of obstacles and how she persevered and was able to keep on going. Every. Single. Time. Even when she felt like all she could do was give up (when most would give up) she always found a way to keep going. For her children. For her husband. For herself. Whatever the reason was she always kept going. It was inspiring to read and I'm sure I will be thinking of her and her family for a long time.
May 15, 2025
This book captivated me. It's beautifully written and my favorite kind of memoir. Corey Hatfield writes in a way that allows you to picture each moment with such detail. That is equally matched by her authenticity. It will both break your heart and have you cheering on this beautiful family. I appreciated her candor of her deep bond with her autistic son along with the challenges of raising him, their lives being uphended by substance abuse, a near tragedy and other life events along the way while raising five kids. Woven throughout is her search for meaning found through her faith and becoming awake to the beauty in and around her. I highly recommend it!
June 11, 2025
Corey Hatfield’s The Light from a Thousand Wounds is a haunting and beautifully crafted novel that delves into trauma, resilience, and the long shadows cast by personal and generational pain. With raw, lyrical prose, Hatfield captures the emotional fractures of his characters while weaving a narrative that is both intimate and universally resonant. The storytelling is unflinching yet compassionate, offering no easy answers but plenty of insight.
June 23, 2025
Corey did a good job writing this book and she shared so many raw emotions. Her life must have been so difficult many times but she found ways to fight through the adversity and shared her story with us. It must have been very emotional reliving all those painful times. Thankfully, the family seemed to grow stronger from this and all seem to be doing well now. I enjoyed reading this and felt a lot of sympathy for Corey.
Thanks for the free book.
Thanks for the free book.
May 14, 2025
This book is a must read and page turner! I couldn’t put it down! It is so beautifully written and is about a mother’s love, struggle, and journey to find the light amidst the darkness. I laughed, cried, and felt my heart leap with compassion. I feel inspired and changed from reading - buy this one!!!
June 4, 2025
Beautiful and Gut-wrenching
I thought this book was so beautifully written. Although I am not a mother myself, I thought this book truly embodied what it felt as a mother to deal with both the constant struggles of motherhood, wife hood, and overall livelihood.
I thought this book was so beautifully written. Although I am not a mother myself, I thought this book truly embodied what it felt as a mother to deal with both the constant struggles of motherhood, wife hood, and overall livelihood.
August 8, 2025
Although I appreciate the courage and resilience shown by Corey and mothers like her who face the challenges of special needs children, I found the book mostly sad and depressing. I struggled to finish it.
May 11, 2025
Amazing!!! This book is so raw, real, and relatable. It is a book that will be read over and over in my house.
June 2, 2025
An inspirational book to enjoy.
June 4, 2025
📚📚📚📚📚
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2025
Raw & beautiful
July 17, 2025
Stunning raw emotional memoir. Beautifully written. Loved it so much. A must read.
July 30, 2025
(Giveaway win)Good book, very heartfelt.
August 13, 2026
The Light from a Thousand Wounds: A Mother's Memoir of Finding Beauty in Life's Darkest Moments by Corey Hatfield is a deeply emotional reflection on motherhood, pain, resilience, and the search for beauty when life feels overwhelmingly difficult.
The title itself captures the book's central promise: wounds may leave lasting marks, but they can also become places from which compassion, wisdom, and hope emerge. Hatfield's memoir appears to invite readers into an intimate journey through hardship while refusing to let darkness have the final word.
What makes the book especially compelling is its emphasis on finding meaning without denying pain. The Light from a Thousand Wounds offers the kind of honest and hopeful perspective that can resonate with readers who have experienced loss, adversity, or profound life changes.
The title itself captures the book's central promise: wounds may leave lasting marks, but they can also become places from which compassion, wisdom, and hope emerge. Hatfield's memoir appears to invite readers into an intimate journey through hardship while refusing to let darkness have the final word.
What makes the book especially compelling is its emphasis on finding meaning without denying pain. The Light from a Thousand Wounds offers the kind of honest and hopeful perspective that can resonate with readers who have experienced loss, adversity, or profound life changes.
May 24, 2025
This was my first memoir and I think it set the bar pretty high. It’s captivating, raw, real and beautifully written. The detail of every memory was mind blowing to me and made me pick up my pen to write in my journal after years of putting it down.
Not only is the book motivating but it’s gut wrenchingly beautiful. Corey doesn’t hide the ugly parts of life or carelessly gloss over them, but allows herself and you to feel them in such a way that your heart beats for the situation. She laid it all out there and many could judge her choices, but in the end you learn to appreciate the struggles of life, not just as a mother, but as a human being. I related to Corey’s story in so many different ways it was uncannily eerie.
I chose to read this book at the perfect time in my life and it inspired me in more than one way. Corey help me to remember that people (especially my own children) just long to be heard, seen, understood and appreciated. We all carry our own struggles, burdens, and fears, and we can choose to bring light into others darkness as well as allow light into our own. We don’t have to be afraid to feel or scared to experience the challenges of life, and pushing them aside is quite possibly the most dangerous thing we can do.
I also love the way that Corey included her faith journey along the way. It challenged me to evaluate my own deeply rooted beliefs and perspectives in a healthy way. Overall this book was a profoundly impactful read, more than I ever expected when picking it up. It’s one I would highly recommend for anyone- whether you are currently going through a tough time for not!
Not only is the book motivating but it’s gut wrenchingly beautiful. Corey doesn’t hide the ugly parts of life or carelessly gloss over them, but allows herself and you to feel them in such a way that your heart beats for the situation. She laid it all out there and many could judge her choices, but in the end you learn to appreciate the struggles of life, not just as a mother, but as a human being. I related to Corey’s story in so many different ways it was uncannily eerie.
I chose to read this book at the perfect time in my life and it inspired me in more than one way. Corey help me to remember that people (especially my own children) just long to be heard, seen, understood and appreciated. We all carry our own struggles, burdens, and fears, and we can choose to bring light into others darkness as well as allow light into our own. We don’t have to be afraid to feel or scared to experience the challenges of life, and pushing them aside is quite possibly the most dangerous thing we can do.
I also love the way that Corey included her faith journey along the way. It challenged me to evaluate my own deeply rooted beliefs and perspectives in a healthy way. Overall this book was a profoundly impactful read, more than I ever expected when picking it up. It’s one I would highly recommend for anyone- whether you are currently going through a tough time for not!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2025
I have no words after finishing this moving, powerful memoir. This book came into my hands because the author is a friend of a friend, but I hope it reaches a wide audience. Although I don’t have an autistic child, Corey’s struggles as a mother, the fear and shame, as well as the intensity of love resonated deeply and I so often saw myself in her story. I often find faith based books preachy, but Corey writes about the darkness inside her (and all of us) with unflinching courage. So when she also writes vulnerably about the beauty, light and love of God that transformed her suffering it gave me hope in my own struggle. This book certainly speaks to any mother grappling with how to love her children well, but I think it will inspire and humble anyone who wants to live and love authentically.
April 21, 2025
A spectacular read for moms especially but really anyone struggling through life looking for some light and guidance along the way. This book doesn't attempt to make things better or give a silver lining but comes alongside you in the trenches to walk with you in the darkness. This book stayed with me for so long after I closed it, and I went back to read parts over and over to absorb them more. The story within this memoir is heart wrenching but the writing is so beautiful and poetic that I could have read it even without a plot to follow, something missing in current literature and memoirs. Do not miss this book and read it SLOWLY, savoring the depth and beauty of her writing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews