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Unreasonable Women: Three Stories of Violence, Imprisonment, and Extraordinary Survival
Win a free print copy of this book!
26 days and 07:28:47
5 copies available
U.S. only
A groundbreaking account of how the legal system punishes those it purports to protect, told through the deeply reported stories of three unforgettable women
When award-winning journalist Justine van der Leun first reported on the issue of criminalized survival, she was astonished to see how women were being imprisoned for protecting themselves against abuse. She wondered how often survivors are targeted for prosecution. To find out, she began an intensive, years-long investigation—traveling coast to coast and collecting more than a thousand personal accounts from women’s prisons.
In Unreasonable Women, van der Leun tells the propulsive, shocking, and intimate stories of three extraordinary women, caught in the direst circumstances, who had to kill to survive. Tanisha is a Michigan sex worker and fledgling entrepreneur determined to help detectives solve a cold case, whatever the consequences. Jema is a softhearted factory worker from Missouri, struggling to keep her family together as she navigates an increasingly dangerous relationship. TC is a bold Californian trying, along with her mother, to escape generations of trauma—and a toxic family environment. Each woman was abused in childhood, only to find that abuse replicated in adulthood, until they were ultimately forced to make an impossible choice.
A work of literary reportage that feels like the most dynamic crime novel, Unreasonable Women is the result of seven years of intensive, unprecedented research and on-the-ground reporting in prisons across the United States. It is the story of women and violence in America—and a wake-up call about a system that would rather condemn a woman to life behind bars than face its failings. It is also the moving story of three women who find hope and humanity in the unlikeliest of places.
When award-winning journalist Justine van der Leun first reported on the issue of criminalized survival, she was astonished to see how women were being imprisoned for protecting themselves against abuse. She wondered how often survivors are targeted for prosecution. To find out, she began an intensive, years-long investigation—traveling coast to coast and collecting more than a thousand personal accounts from women’s prisons.
In Unreasonable Women, van der Leun tells the propulsive, shocking, and intimate stories of three extraordinary women, caught in the direst circumstances, who had to kill to survive. Tanisha is a Michigan sex worker and fledgling entrepreneur determined to help detectives solve a cold case, whatever the consequences. Jema is a softhearted factory worker from Missouri, struggling to keep her family together as she navigates an increasingly dangerous relationship. TC is a bold Californian trying, along with her mother, to escape generations of trauma—and a toxic family environment. Each woman was abused in childhood, only to find that abuse replicated in adulthood, until they were ultimately forced to make an impossible choice.
A work of literary reportage that feels like the most dynamic crime novel, Unreasonable Women is the result of seven years of intensive, unprecedented research and on-the-ground reporting in prisons across the United States. It is the story of women and violence in America—and a wake-up call about a system that would rather condemn a woman to life behind bars than face its failings. It is also the moving story of three women who find hope and humanity in the unlikeliest of places.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published June 2, 2026
About the author
Justine van der Leun
3 books64 followersJustine van der Leun is an award-winning journalist and the author of several books, including Unreasonable Women and We Are Not Such Things. She is also the host of the podcast Believe Her. Her work has been published in The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, New York Magazine, Harper’s, and The Guardian. Van der Leun has received fellowships from New America, the Emerson Collective, Type Media Center, and PEN America, among others. She lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 3, 2026
This is your nonfiction read of the year. I promise.
Women’s Prisons are full of abuse survivors. Women, who in self defense, committed an act of violence to survive and protect themselves or their loved ones from harm. To author and journalist, Justine van der Leun’s surprise, there was no data to back this up. So she decided to gather itself. She wrote to 10,000 women in prison across America, and received more than 1,000 letters back. She then hand coded those letters to understand what were the pathways to women in prison and their histories. Her responses showed at least 30% of women in prison for murder or manslaughter are criminalized survivors, meaning we are locking away thousands of women in prison for just trying to stay alive.
Through the stories of three women that stood out to her, we learn how many women end up in this very predicament. I was in awe while reading their stories. Leun humanizes these women by starting out sharing the commonality of their personal history which is filled with trauma and abuse. With this we understand that the failure of the system to protect women starts from birth and violence perpetrated against women by men is encoded in our country’s DNA. The depth of the storytelling, the historical context, the research, and the real life accounts documented in this book make it such an excellent, engaging and propulsive read.
I don’t know if I really gave much thought to how woman are criminalized for trying to survive, but this book really made me think about the seriousness of toxic masculinity and patriarchy. This one of the grave consequences of our lack of action against men who hurt women and children. This is hard, but necessary read and wake up call.
Let me know if you plan on picking this up!
Women’s Prisons are full of abuse survivors. Women, who in self defense, committed an act of violence to survive and protect themselves or their loved ones from harm. To author and journalist, Justine van der Leun’s surprise, there was no data to back this up. So she decided to gather itself. She wrote to 10,000 women in prison across America, and received more than 1,000 letters back. She then hand coded those letters to understand what were the pathways to women in prison and their histories. Her responses showed at least 30% of women in prison for murder or manslaughter are criminalized survivors, meaning we are locking away thousands of women in prison for just trying to stay alive.
Through the stories of three women that stood out to her, we learn how many women end up in this very predicament. I was in awe while reading their stories. Leun humanizes these women by starting out sharing the commonality of their personal history which is filled with trauma and abuse. With this we understand that the failure of the system to protect women starts from birth and violence perpetrated against women by men is encoded in our country’s DNA. The depth of the storytelling, the historical context, the research, and the real life accounts documented in this book make it such an excellent, engaging and propulsive read.
I don’t know if I really gave much thought to how woman are criminalized for trying to survive, but this book really made me think about the seriousness of toxic masculinity and patriarchy. This one of the grave consequences of our lack of action against men who hurt women and children. This is hard, but necessary read and wake up call.
Let me know if you plan on picking this up!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thank you for choosing me to read and review this book. "Unreasonable Women" is an astounding, heartbreaking and an absolutely necessary book to read. These three women touched my heart. This world is so complicated, difficult and often unforgiving. Our legal system needs to be fixed. Everybody, please read this book.
June 2, 2026
Incredible book! This is a hard one to read but so important and I couldn't put it down. This book focuses on Tanisha, Jema, and TC, three women who were incarcerated for committing acts out of survival and protecting themselves. These women dealt with abusive relationships, child abuse, sexual abuse, poverty, and more. Their lives were threatened by these men and they committed necessary acts for their survival. However, because of the criminal justice system and the limited protections for women dealing with abuse, they are known as "criminalized survivors" and have to deal with lengthy prison sentences. Justine van der Leun also collected surveys from incarcerated women all over the country and over a number of years, to compile the stories and the statistics around criminalized survival for women.
The book is so well-reported and well-written, and it feels like the reader is right there with the women. I was pulled in from page one and so immersed throughout. I was rooting for these women and also had my heart in my throat. While there are some notes of hope, overall the book is exposing and criticizing the criminal justice system in allowing victims of domestic violence to be treated as criminals. The lack of protections and the loopholes are pretty enraging. This will be a standout read for me.
Thanks to Ecco and NetGalley for the ARC.
The book is so well-reported and well-written, and it feels like the reader is right there with the women. I was pulled in from page one and so immersed throughout. I was rooting for these women and also had my heart in my throat. While there are some notes of hope, overall the book is exposing and criticizing the criminal justice system in allowing victims of domestic violence to be treated as criminals. The lack of protections and the loopholes are pretty enraging. This will be a standout read for me.
Thanks to Ecco and NetGalley for the ARC.
June 2, 2026
Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley for honest review.
This is infuriating, heartbreaking, and brutal to read, but the experiences of the women featured in the story and what they have endured in the name of survival is essential reading. The author's research into criminalized survival was inspired by the case of Nikki Addimando, and knowing that was what made me pick up this book, as I had read about that case in her sister's book and found it also essential and enraging. The women's experiences covered in this book happen in different decades, but this goes to further show that there has been far too little advancement in the criminal justice system's understanding of the effects of abuse and trauma.
This is infuriating, heartbreaking, and brutal to read, but the experiences of the women featured in the story and what they have endured in the name of survival is essential reading. The author's research into criminalized survival was inspired by the case of Nikki Addimando, and knowing that was what made me pick up this book, as I had read about that case in her sister's book and found it also essential and enraging. The women's experiences covered in this book happen in different decades, but this goes to further show that there has been far too little advancement in the criminal justice system's understanding of the effects of abuse and trauma.
June 2, 2026
After eagerly anticipating this book since discovering the Believe Her podcast, it did not disappoint. I couldn't put this book down. The research is incredibly impressive and important, but it was the writing and storytelling that had me hooked from page one. The subject matter is so compelling. 10/10
May 30, 2026
I really, really recommend that people read this book. The subject matter is incredibly difficult to read through, but it is very well-written.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If I could rate this 10⭐️ I would. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley, reviews are solely mine based on reading this book.
I may never get over just how incredible this book is. When I have thought about systemic injustice, it’s usually about Black men. I never once considered how the system treats women, especially victims of abuse who stood their ground and defended themselves, saved themselves from further abuse and death.
Unreasonable Women explores the history of violence against women and how it’s perpetrated against them with the justice system. I spent most of the time reading with my fist pressed to my lips, tears sliding down my cheeks, and a rage I don’t know what to do with.
This book follows three women, TC, Tanisha, & Jema during their incarceration for murder. Justine shared their stories from birth to present day, how their childhood shaped how they moved and survived in this world, how generation trauma and abuse is passed down and how that affects every relationship they have.
Along with these women’s stories and histories, we learn of other women incarcerated for similar reasons, how more affluent white women are sentenced differently from BIPOC and underprivileged women, as well as the history of the very towns they are raised in & how it perpetuates their social standing and abuse.
The care Justine shows these women, and the thorough and in-depth research she does on not only their history but the history of violence against women and how the system itself continuously re-victimizes abuse survives is incredible. It’s gut wrenching, it’s eye opening, it’s heart breaking, and it’s rage inducing.
When this releases June 2 I will be buying a physical copy, gathering copies of other books she quotes, and researching how someone like me can work to help change the system from the bottom up.
I may never get over just how incredible this book is. When I have thought about systemic injustice, it’s usually about Black men. I never once considered how the system treats women, especially victims of abuse who stood their ground and defended themselves, saved themselves from further abuse and death.
Unreasonable Women explores the history of violence against women and how it’s perpetrated against them with the justice system. I spent most of the time reading with my fist pressed to my lips, tears sliding down my cheeks, and a rage I don’t know what to do with.
This book follows three women, TC, Tanisha, & Jema during their incarceration for murder. Justine shared their stories from birth to present day, how their childhood shaped how they moved and survived in this world, how generation trauma and abuse is passed down and how that affects every relationship they have.
Along with these women’s stories and histories, we learn of other women incarcerated for similar reasons, how more affluent white women are sentenced differently from BIPOC and underprivileged women, as well as the history of the very towns they are raised in & how it perpetuates their social standing and abuse.
The care Justine shows these women, and the thorough and in-depth research she does on not only their history but the history of violence against women and how the system itself continuously re-victimizes abuse survives is incredible. It’s gut wrenching, it’s eye opening, it’s heart breaking, and it’s rage inducing.
When this releases June 2 I will be buying a physical copy, gathering copies of other books she quotes, and researching how someone like me can work to help change the system from the bottom up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unreasonable Women is a difficult read, but an essential one. It’s the kind of book that sits heavy in your chest, not because it’s sensational, but because it’s unflinchingly real. Through three deeply researched cases, Justine van der Leun examines the lives of three women who killed men intimately connected to them. What makes this book so powerful isn’t the crimes themselves, but the context surrounding them. Van der Leun digs far beyond the headlines, tracing each woman’s history of abuse, neglect, systemic failures, and the long chain of moments where intervention could have changed everything but didn’t. The system failed these women at every turn.
A clear and unsettling pattern emerges: these aren’t isolated tragedies. They’re the result of legal, social, cultural policies that repeatedly failed to protect vulnerable women and instead punished them once they reached a breaking point. The narrative doesn’t excuse violence, but it demands that we understand it, and that distinction is what gives the book its force.
What hits the hardest is how recognizable these stories feel. The circumstances may be extreme, but the underlying dynamics of power, control, survival are not. They are the norm. That’s what makes this book so urgent. It asks you to confront the uncomfortable reality that these women are not anomalies; they exist on a spectrum that touches everyday life more than we’d like to admit. It’s heavy, yes. But it’s also clarifying, compassionate, and necessary. The kind of work that deserves to be widely read and loudly discussed.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Justine van der Leun, and Ecco for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
A clear and unsettling pattern emerges: these aren’t isolated tragedies. They’re the result of legal, social, cultural policies that repeatedly failed to protect vulnerable women and instead punished them once they reached a breaking point. The narrative doesn’t excuse violence, but it demands that we understand it, and that distinction is what gives the book its force.
What hits the hardest is how recognizable these stories feel. The circumstances may be extreme, but the underlying dynamics of power, control, survival are not. They are the norm. That’s what makes this book so urgent. It asks you to confront the uncomfortable reality that these women are not anomalies; they exist on a spectrum that touches everyday life more than we’d like to admit. It’s heavy, yes. But it’s also clarifying, compassionate, and necessary. The kind of work that deserves to be widely read and loudly discussed.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Justine van der Leun, and Ecco for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unreasonable Women is a powerful and deeply humane book about criminalized survivors and the impossible standards society places on abused women. Exploring the stories of three women from across the country, Justine van der Leun dismantles the myth of the "perfect victim" while showing how violence, trauma, poverty, and systemic failures shaped the lives of women who end up punished for surviving. Based on thousands of surveys and countless hours of interviews, Unreasonable Women is a heartbreaking and compelling read, and inspiring call to action.
June 2, 2026
This book was incredible. Difficult subject matter, but incredibly well-written. Everyone should read this book, and then listen to Justine's Believe Her podcast too -- it's how I got into the subject matter! 10/10
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews