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This Sick Little Heart of Mine: A Memoir of Love Gone Wrong

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Marcus falls in love with Erin twice. The first time, he doesn't know she is married. The second time, he doesn’t know it is her. In her memoir, This Sick Little Heart of Mine, Erin Passons recounts this fascinating true story of love and fixation.

It is November 2008 when Erin first meets Marcus at an Austin, Texas concert venue. He thinks he has met the perfect girl. She thinks he’s the one to have an affair with, a side dish of happiness to offset the toxicity of her marriage. After three months of bliss, Marcus goes missing without a word, leaving Erin with a broken heart and an obsession only he can heal.

Erin creates a fake Facebook account to stalk her lost love. When Marcus finally accepts “Sienna’s” friend request on Facebook, the next chapter of their bizarre relationship begins.

Erin, as Sienna, now learns what happened the day Marcus ditched her. But as the truth of his disappearance begins to surface, so does Erin's real identity. When Marcus becomes obsessed with meeting Sienna, stopping at nothing to meet his "dream girl," Erin becomes the one who is stalked.

Before it's over, predator becomes prey—for nothing will stop a sick heart trying to break free from its pain.

315 pages, Paperback

First published January 20, 2015

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About the author

Erin Passons

8 books80 followers
Erin Passons lives in Austin with her kids, two cats, and a lawyer. You should probably visit www.erinpassons.com if you want to know anything else.

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5 stars
34 (65%)
4 stars
13 (25%)
3 stars
4 (7%)
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1 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Erin Passons.
Author 8 books80 followers
January 26, 2015
She seems like a psychopath, but somehow I understood her.
Profile Image for Katherine Phillips.
89 reviews8 followers
January 31, 2015
I read this book on Kindle, so I was able to get it early.
Don't be misled by the synopsis which is the bare bones of this book. Passons' memoir is not just a "love gone wrong" account of the garden variety. Although it will strike different readers in a variety of ways, I saw it as a tale of caution, as a journey of a young woman's psyche to answer the age old question "who am I?"...and finally as a "tangled web" of Shakespearean proportions.
Although some of the author's memoir is borderline devious, dire, and desperate...enough of the alliterations!...there are quite a few LOL moments. You will think Thelma and Louise...as well as Lucy and Ethel.
Extremely well written, TSLHOM is richly peppered with an abundance of literary devices. The story moves along at fast clip and
quickly becomes a page turner....a characteristic not often found in nonfiction.
My only problem is I can't share this book with anyone under 21 or over 65. Younger people...it's just too graphic. Older people...well, I just don't want to be responsible for someone's coronary.
Profile Image for Hollee Hammond.
1 review2 followers
January 21, 2015
This book is seriously amazing. The raw honesty, and the moments of humor could not have been executed through words more brilliantly. Anyone who has ever had a broken heart, or wished for their phone to ring will understand. Also makes the reader think , be careful what you wish for! Love, love, love this book
Profile Image for Amy.
57 reviews1 follower
January 20, 2015
Loved this book. Anyone who has had their heart broken can relate to her pain. She sums up major life lessons in beautiful little phrases and makes you laugh with her witty dialogue. And she did some crazy shit during this dark time in her life, which makes it quite entertaining!
Profile Image for Terri Bertelsen.
10 reviews
May 14, 2016
This book needs to be a movie!!

I haven't read a story this riveting in a very long time. It has colorful,memorable characters , and the writing is fresh and original. I loved every page.
138 reviews1 follower
July 27, 2017
I'm usually excited about reading a memoir--at first. Then, halfway through I decide that I just don't care anymore because the author is just unlikeable. Usually, I find them to be condescending with a side of unchecked egotism. But lately I've been on a lucky streak of great memoir. I saw this book mentioned on Facebook and my interest was piqued. It turned out to be my favorite memoir - ever. Erin is unflinchingly honest and raw in this book. I cringed at a lot of it and was thoroughly wrapped up in the story, holding my breath at the parts about the Salt Lake City trip and the car chase. This story was so compelling, so beyond the usual MTV Catfish fuckery. This story will stay with me for awhile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
20 reviews
January 26, 2020
A very different kind of memoir

Had trouble putting this book down, in spite of its dark story of codependence. There is a desperation in us all, I am certain, but the difference for each of us is the degree of our self-torture. This book is skillfully crafted, and Ms. Passons candidly reveals her weaknesses in such a way that reminds me of my own.
Profile Image for Amy MacNeil.
21 reviews1 follower
October 8, 2020
I found this book at a used booked store. It isn’t the typical type of books I read but I’m so glad I did. This memoir reads just like a thriller. You knew how it would end, but it was fun read how she got there. Well written, great book, for sure under rated!
Profile Image for Amy Lola.
6 reviews2 followers
February 1, 2019
Riveting. Once you read this book, your thoughts will return to the story over and over again. I loved it!
Profile Image for April.
78 reviews5 followers
February 11, 2017
Exceptional.

I could NOT put this book down. The story was enthralling. The writing was beautiful. The emotions were intense. I'm grateful that the author was willing to open herself to sharing this experience. Bravo.
Profile Image for Doug Jennings.
1 review1 follower
February 10, 2015
Painfully honest, beautifully written, and hard to put down. Passons reveals herself in a way few of us could (or would) ever do -- the difficulty of living with an abusive husband, her internal struggles as she pursues an affair, and the depths of her despair when Marcus disappears from her life. The book is gorgeously written, but it can still be a difficult read. I'd venture that this is because the author presents herself honestly and without apology -- warts and all -- something most of us aren't accustomed to in this age of social media, where we display our shiny vacation photos to others and make pains to hide all of our darkness. It's a credit to Passons that the reader isn't asked to buy in to her decisions, isn't expected to pat her on the back, but is simply asked to observe and try to understand what drives her desperation. Well done, and a great read.
Profile Image for Heather.
9 reviews1 follower
January 3, 2016
I read this book in a matter of about 6 hours. Once I started it, it kept me interested and I was up until 4 am before I finished. This is a pretty twisted tale about heartbreak, suicide attempt, and catfishing for payback. I personally can not understand her situation, as I have never been there myself. She cheats on her husband, who is basically a controlling prick, and falls for this guy who then just disappears out of her life, she tries to kill herself and ends up in the hospital, a lot of the book are journal entries as she tries to make sense of what has happened, why he did this, what she did wrong. And if I remember correctly, although she feels she gets her own sense of "justice", you never find out why he stopped talking to her. Definitely an interesting read.
Profile Image for Kristal Hite.
9 reviews1 follower
April 19, 2017
Good read. Interesting. Still not quite sure why Marc stopped communication in the beginning, but enjoyed the cat and mouse of Sienna.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews