The Me I Used to Be

by Jacquelin Thomas

SHE LOST HER HAIR.
SHE LOST HER MARRIAGE.

Now she's finding herself.

When Brielle Bowman is diagnosed with alopecia areata while divorcing her controlling husband, her world unravels. Stripped of the identity she built for herself, she's forced to ask the hardest question of

Who is she without the life she thought she needed?

With the support of her best friend and daughter, Brielle shaves her head, faces her fears, and learns that beauty was never the problem—believing it was is what almost broke her.

As she pieces herself back together, Brielle rediscovers long-buried dreams, pursues a new purpose, and builds a future on her own terms. But healing isn't linear, and letting go of the past isn't always easy.

HEARTBREAKING. EMPOWERING. UNAPOLOGETICALLY REAL.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 6, 2026

About the author

Jacquelin Thomas is an award-winning, best selling author with 94 titles published. Her books have garnered several awards, including two EMMA awards, the Romance In Color Reviewers Award, Readers Choice Award and the Atlanta Choice Award in the Religious & Spiritual category. Jacquelin was a 2005 honoree at the Houston Black Film Festival for the movie adaptation of her novel, Hidden Blessings. She was the first recipient to receive the Writers Achievement Award at the North Carolina Book Festival in Winston-Salem. She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times Magazine.

Jacquelin has published in the romance, women's fiction, inspirational and young adult genres. Her second book in the YA series, Divine Confidential was nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award.

Jacquelin is happily married to her best friend and is the proud mother of three children. Jacquelin and her family live in North Carolina.

Reviews

[Crystal]

I have loathed a lot of a books where the author narrates a story because I find they will be repetitive in their words. This book moved fast, was not repetitive and delivered on every point.
I felt Brielle knew herself from the moment she knew she had enough of Caleb’s mess. Even though she was struggling with everything she knew enough not to accept less from him. Every time he tried to land an uppercut it did not land the way he thought it would. Oh Sunni, what a friend we deserve.
Brielle’s mother straight worked My Last Nerve. I mean really, some parents deserve to be disrespected. What you gonna do slap me through the phone, try it 🙄😂.

[ivy Business]

I saw myself in this story

I loved the way she portrayed how it feels to have alopecia . I remember how I felt and what I went through when I was diagnosed. I remember feeling like I lost myself and I remember when I started to find myself in spite of. The words on these pages made me feel...."possibility" . The dating woes were familiar too. Chapter 41 was my favorite chapter though. The courage she had was beautiful. This book was sooooooo good . I'm going to have to buy a physical copy just for my bookshelf and a second read.

[MAQUITTA GOODLETT]

I LOVED this book!!!

OMG -- I knew this was the story I needed as soon as I saw the cover. Dealing with personal loss and not to yourself is a battle that takes a toll on your sanity. Sometimes, just making it through another day is enough to try and make it to the next one. I admire the inner strength, transparency and determination to continue living by Bree -- despite unforeseeable circumstances. This book speaks to me and I hope to do the same...

[Sherry Pitt]

The me I used to be

I'm a fan of Mrs. Thomas. This story was previous.

A lot of women are facing alopecia and I'm glad this was written elegantly and meaningful. I can identify with Brielle.