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Monique
Sex, Drugs and Violence are all in a night's work for Monique. Kelly-Anne dreams of sharing an idyllic life with her daughter, Cherie, in spite of the cruel hand that life continually deals her.
Unsettled from a young age by the dissolution of her parents' marriage, Kelly-Anne is expelled from school at age 16 and soon finds herself kicked out of her mother's house. This begins a years-long fight to find her way in the world, while being reliant on the "kindnesses" of others who see Kelly-Anne as little more than chattel. First, she steals from shops in order to support herself. Soon, though, she falls prey to two sisters who offer her up sexually to men, to settle their own debts. As her life careens further and further out of her control, she is forced into the perverse world of prostitution by her abusive and sadistic boyfriend.
Kelly-Anne flees after discovering that she has become pregnant, hoping to escape her sordid past and build a bright and secure future for her child. As her daughter is born, so is "Monique." But can Kelly-Anne / Monique ever truly break free?
"Monique" is the autobiographical account of one woman's struggle to emerge from the dark and seedy world of drug-trafficking and prostitution. In an honest tell-all voice, you will hear of one woman's rise from a cycle of false friendships, sexual abuse, drugs and violence and her transformative story of hope, determination and survival.
Unsettled from a young age by the dissolution of her parents' marriage, Kelly-Anne is expelled from school at age 16 and soon finds herself kicked out of her mother's house. This begins a years-long fight to find her way in the world, while being reliant on the "kindnesses" of others who see Kelly-Anne as little more than chattel. First, she steals from shops in order to support herself. Soon, though, she falls prey to two sisters who offer her up sexually to men, to settle their own debts. As her life careens further and further out of her control, she is forced into the perverse world of prostitution by her abusive and sadistic boyfriend.
Kelly-Anne flees after discovering that she has become pregnant, hoping to escape her sordid past and build a bright and secure future for her child. As her daughter is born, so is "Monique." But can Kelly-Anne / Monique ever truly break free?
"Monique" is the autobiographical account of one woman's struggle to emerge from the dark and seedy world of drug-trafficking and prostitution. In an honest tell-all voice, you will hear of one woman's rise from a cycle of false friendships, sexual abuse, drugs and violence and her transformative story of hope, determination and survival.
- GenresNonfiction
230 pages, Paperback
Published December 25, 2015
6 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Fox Emerson
16 books31 followersWhile rain trickled down my windows during my childhood, I curled up on a cushioned sofa with a hot drink, a new adventure and I waited impatiently to grow up.
Several years later, I'm still waiting to grow up. In the meantime, grab a drink and jump on board and come on a journey with me. I promise you it will be different.
The ride might be the sordid or gritty story of a North London prostitute, or it might be the dystopian/apocalyptic terrorism fighting hero.
I've also started writing as Adam Norty, so don't be confused by the alias. Fans of A Boy Called Q will enjoy the Adam Norty smut side of things.
Fox Emerson
Several years later, I'm still waiting to grow up. In the meantime, grab a drink and jump on board and come on a journey with me. I promise you it will be different.
The ride might be the sordid or gritty story of a North London prostitute, or it might be the dystopian/apocalyptic terrorism fighting hero.
I've also started writing as Adam Norty, so don't be confused by the alias. Fans of A Boy Called Q will enjoy the Adam Norty smut side of things.
Fox Emerson
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 1, 2016
Monique was one of the most difficult reads I have experienced. At times, I literally wanted to cringe and cover my eyes. It's a difficult story to read, in part because this woman's life is so shocking and tragic, and in part because her story doesn't shy away from any topic whether it be the issue of sex trafficking, drug use, or physical abuse.The lead "character", is the true life tale of one woman and her struggle to survive a horrific existence.She makes some incredibly silly decisions early on.I wanted to scream through the book "why are you doing that?", especially when she ran away and naively trusted people who were virtual strangers. If she had just bided her time at her childhood home and went on to college,everything could have been different.
Unfortunately, that's not what she did. I have to applaud Mr Fox Emerson for being so raw with his depiction of Monique and her life story. It could not have been an easy story to tell. Something else that I find incredible about this book is that it shines a light on the unfortunate lives some young girls are forced into. I was traveling this week, and saw a poster about sex trafficking plastered on a bathroom stall.It listed the average age at just 13 years old, and then listed some of the signs of someone who is being exploited. I could have pictured her there, right in front of me.
It's incredible that she was able to find hope and meaning after everything that she went through.I won't give anything away, but I guarantee that you can't guess how this book ends. The plot is almost unbelievable, without the knowledge that this is a real person and their real experiences, artfully recounted. The pace of the book is quick, and Emerson's writing is superb. I love that the author is shining the light, not just on this woman's story, but on the topic of abuse. Women are especially at risk for physical exploitation and sexual abuse. In this book, one woman found her voice.I wouldn't recommend this book to just anyone. It is violent and explicit at times, but if you're looking for a character study about someone who overcomes incredible odds, this one might be for you. 4 out of 5 stars!
Unfortunately, that's not what she did. I have to applaud Mr Fox Emerson for being so raw with his depiction of Monique and her life story. It could not have been an easy story to tell. Something else that I find incredible about this book is that it shines a light on the unfortunate lives some young girls are forced into. I was traveling this week, and saw a poster about sex trafficking plastered on a bathroom stall.It listed the average age at just 13 years old, and then listed some of the signs of someone who is being exploited. I could have pictured her there, right in front of me.
It's incredible that she was able to find hope and meaning after everything that she went through.I won't give anything away, but I guarantee that you can't guess how this book ends. The plot is almost unbelievable, without the knowledge that this is a real person and their real experiences, artfully recounted. The pace of the book is quick, and Emerson's writing is superb. I love that the author is shining the light, not just on this woman's story, but on the topic of abuse. Women are especially at risk for physical exploitation and sexual abuse. In this book, one woman found her voice.I wouldn't recommend this book to just anyone. It is violent and explicit at times, but if you're looking for a character study about someone who overcomes incredible odds, this one might be for you. 4 out of 5 stars!
March 31, 2016
I received a copy of this book as part of the Goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.
This has a very hard book to read. Probably one of the hardest of all the many diverse books I've read. Most of this book broke my heart and made me sad, it also made me very angry, something that you sometimes can't help when your on the outside looking in.
Monique is one womens story of a very hard life of abuse, prostitution, and manipulation. This book is not for everyone. It deals with very harsh situations that may serve as a trigger for some and can be somewhat gross to put it plainly.
This is a great book. It truly is. All of the things that Kelly-Anne went through were enough to bring one to tears and wonder how she got through it. I could not image living with constant physical abuse and living a life of prostitution and having no control over my life. I almost couldn't believe it. But it is enough to open your eyes. It can be hard being a women and possibly being taken advantage of. Monique was a victim. I think that this book can help enlighten people or even help someone in this very same predicament. I warn you that this book will make you mad at the choices Monique made, but at the same time you have to understand what she was going through and how it was easy for her to fall in the same traps. But there is happy ending and that's what I loved the most.
This has a very hard book to read. Probably one of the hardest of all the many diverse books I've read. Most of this book broke my heart and made me sad, it also made me very angry, something that you sometimes can't help when your on the outside looking in.
Monique is one womens story of a very hard life of abuse, prostitution, and manipulation. This book is not for everyone. It deals with very harsh situations that may serve as a trigger for some and can be somewhat gross to put it plainly.
This is a great book. It truly is. All of the things that Kelly-Anne went through were enough to bring one to tears and wonder how she got through it. I could not image living with constant physical abuse and living a life of prostitution and having no control over my life. I almost couldn't believe it. But it is enough to open your eyes. It can be hard being a women and possibly being taken advantage of. Monique was a victim. I think that this book can help enlighten people or even help someone in this very same predicament. I warn you that this book will make you mad at the choices Monique made, but at the same time you have to understand what she was going through and how it was easy for her to fall in the same traps. But there is happy ending and that's what I loved the most.
May 18, 2016
I just finished this book, and all I can say is WOW! It is based on an actual person's life. At times I found myself shaking my head in disbelief that a person could make such bad decisions in their life, and at other times I found myself cheering for her, hoping she could defy the odds stacked against her. This life story displays the tenacity of the human spirit to overcome horrible situations that a person can find themselves in, when they feel powerless to change, and it also shows the reader how a child can eternally alter and impact a mother's life. The woman who lived this life is a survivor, and her story is told straight out, brutally honest, at times repulsively so. Definitely a good read, a well-told story.
June 3, 2016
Couldn't put it down, very well written and tragic book. Happy to see that it ends well though.
Be warned, very gritty!
Be warned, very gritty!
January 29, 2016
Fox Emerson's
Monique
Review
This is a rollercoaster of a life story that was almost too heart rending to read. A first person account of a young girl's sorry and abused upbringing which breeds a total rebelliousness that inevitably leads to a precarious existence without roots. Predictably relying on being befriended by a series of manipulative characters who bring her to a state of total subservience and control, into a life of prostitution and drug abuse, she tells her story with striking rawness that leaves the reader with a feeling of being dirtied as an intruder in her degradation.
This not a story for the fainthearted and I was left frustrated at the silly girl's stupidity which would appear to be a major factor in her dreadful existence, but at my age I realise this, apparently true story, is in no way an exceptional one. The writer achieves the objective of graphically recounting the devastation of some young girls' lives and how there is some possibility they may find a sort of salvation. The language is direct carries you along with the storyline very convincingly. Well worth reading if you have sentiment.
Douglas
Monique
Review
This is a rollercoaster of a life story that was almost too heart rending to read. A first person account of a young girl's sorry and abused upbringing which breeds a total rebelliousness that inevitably leads to a precarious existence without roots. Predictably relying on being befriended by a series of manipulative characters who bring her to a state of total subservience and control, into a life of prostitution and drug abuse, she tells her story with striking rawness that leaves the reader with a feeling of being dirtied as an intruder in her degradation.
This not a story for the fainthearted and I was left frustrated at the silly girl's stupidity which would appear to be a major factor in her dreadful existence, but at my age I realise this, apparently true story, is in no way an exceptional one. The writer achieves the objective of graphically recounting the devastation of some young girls' lives and how there is some possibility they may find a sort of salvation. The language is direct carries you along with the storyline very convincingly. Well worth reading if you have sentiment.
Douglas
February 8, 2016
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.
"Monique" is at times a gut wrenching and heartbreaking story of not only how a woman can make naive mistakes in her life, but repeatedly make the same ones. The lead character, Kelly-Anne, seems to have a knack for finding the most exploitative and predatory people to crawl the earth, and this is an account of her slavery at their hands. It's graphic and at times confronting. I believe one other reviewer likens it to a car crash from which you can't look away, and this feels like an accurate description. This is the story of any mother's worst nightmare.
This book often makes frustrating reading in that it seems nothing more than a litany of abusive experiences of a young girl who can't seem to sense dangerous situations. I also felt it was uneven in tone and voice. The ending is one of the stronger parts of the book, with the reveal of Kelly Anne's current situation a bittersweet surprise. Overall a compelling, if not excellently executed, story.
"Monique" is at times a gut wrenching and heartbreaking story of not only how a woman can make naive mistakes in her life, but repeatedly make the same ones. The lead character, Kelly-Anne, seems to have a knack for finding the most exploitative and predatory people to crawl the earth, and this is an account of her slavery at their hands. It's graphic and at times confronting. I believe one other reviewer likens it to a car crash from which you can't look away, and this feels like an accurate description. This is the story of any mother's worst nightmare.
This book often makes frustrating reading in that it seems nothing more than a litany of abusive experiences of a young girl who can't seem to sense dangerous situations. I also felt it was uneven in tone and voice. The ending is one of the stronger parts of the book, with the reveal of Kelly Anne's current situation a bittersweet surprise. Overall a compelling, if not excellently executed, story.
February 13, 2016
Perfect depiction of the state of vulnerability.
Firstly, I only read this book because a work colleague recommended it, I wouldn't have normally picked it up.
Monique follows the story of a young woman who is victimized by manipulative people. A shocking, and somewhat heinous account of a mother trapped in an abusive world of drugs and the sexual trade. The book switches between various key points in Kelly-Anne’s life, this added a somewhat ‘Pulp Fictionsque’ vibe to the overall story. I enjoyed this aesthetic and commend the author’s creative approach to the plot structure. There were points in the novel where I was extremely frustrated with Kelly-Anne’s choices, however I believe this accurately depicted the psyche of a person in a vulnerable state. The characters are dynamic and relatable, throughout several moments of reading about Kelly-Anne’s family I envisioned characteristics of my own parents and siblings.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ending of the book and would highly recommend this novel to any drama enthusiast.
Firstly, I only read this book because a work colleague recommended it, I wouldn't have normally picked it up.
Monique follows the story of a young woman who is victimized by manipulative people. A shocking, and somewhat heinous account of a mother trapped in an abusive world of drugs and the sexual trade. The book switches between various key points in Kelly-Anne’s life, this added a somewhat ‘Pulp Fictionsque’ vibe to the overall story. I enjoyed this aesthetic and commend the author’s creative approach to the plot structure. There were points in the novel where I was extremely frustrated with Kelly-Anne’s choices, however I believe this accurately depicted the psyche of a person in a vulnerable state. The characters are dynamic and relatable, throughout several moments of reading about Kelly-Anne’s family I envisioned characteristics of my own parents and siblings.
I thoroughly enjoyed the ending of the book and would highly recommend this novel to any drama enthusiast.
March 20, 2016
Fox Emerson compassionately relates the story of Kelly Anne/Monique. Born in 1968 with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck, Kelly Anne had a rough start in life to say the least. Her parents split up when she was seven. She would sneak out of the house at night to avoid her mothers boyfriends continuous wrath. At nineteen her mother kicked her out of the house. Staying with friends, she survived by stealing. But soon her friends would turn on her. She endured savage beatings and rapes. She went on to fall in love with Bob who fathered her daughter Cherie. He turned Kelly Anne into an obliging prostitute, now called Monique. She managed to break away from Bob only to meet Cookie who was no better for her than Bob was. Through it all, she endeavoured and turned her life around. >> Included is a synopsis of MR. 303. Which sounds like another winner to me.>>> THANK YOU GOODREADS FIRSTREADS FOR THIS FREE BOOK!!!!!
September 25, 2016
Good
I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it . it was about such a brave woman who anybody would admire for her honesty .she had it hard but came out the other side such a strong and caring person .
I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it . it was about such a brave woman who anybody would admire for her honesty .she had it hard but came out the other side such a strong and caring person .
January 28, 2017
What a heart renching story. Felt her pain and wondered why she let so many people hurt her like that. Well written and deserves the stars.
April 12, 2017
who. your. man
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews