What do you think?
Rate this book
Blackout Girl: Tracing My Scars from Addiction and Sexual Assault; With New and Updated Content for the #MeToo Era
In this brutally honest and compelling memoir, Jennifer Storm revisits the trauma of her childhood rape and ensuing addiction and how she channeled her pain into a healing life of advocacy.
Sexual assault, addiction, and other traumatic experiences can leave both physical and emotional scars. For Jennifer Storm, these scars serve as a reminder--both of the darkness and suffering she once experienced, and of how far she has come. When she was first assaulted at age twelve, Jennifer turned to alcohol to dull the emotional pain. After a string of childhood traumas, she fell into crack use and self-harm. Once Jennifer finally found treatment after surviving the last of multiple suicide attempts, she discovered that it was possible to heal her shame. She could start to recover by uncovering the secrets she had kept hidden for years. Blackout Girl is the heartbreaking, enlightening, and inspiring story of Jennifer’s narrow escape from her own self-destructive instincts when all of the odds, and systems, were stacked against her.
Since Blackout Girl was first published in 2008, Jennifer has seen the #MeToo and Times Up movements empower countless brave survivors to reveal the truth of their experiences. Yet, our society is only just beginning to truly understand and support victims and recognize the importance of trauma-informed care. Now more relevant than ever, Jennifer’s story and professional insights expose the societal failures these victims have endured, and how we can all help each other heal. If you are still experiencing or recovering from victimization, Jennifer’s story shows you are not alone. For those struggling to understand a loved one’s experience of addiction and trauma, Jennifer’s recovery provides hope. This new edition of Blackout Girl includes additional chapters with more details of Jennifer’s story, new insights on the societal changes of the past decade, and a powerful foreword by survivor advocate and founder of the End Rape Statute of Limitations movement, Caroline Heldman, PhD. Blackout Girl is a must-read both for those looking to learn about the personal effects of widespread sexual assault and addiction and for those who already hold these issues dear.
Sexual assault, addiction, and other traumatic experiences can leave both physical and emotional scars. For Jennifer Storm, these scars serve as a reminder--both of the darkness and suffering she once experienced, and of how far she has come. When she was first assaulted at age twelve, Jennifer turned to alcohol to dull the emotional pain. After a string of childhood traumas, she fell into crack use and self-harm. Once Jennifer finally found treatment after surviving the last of multiple suicide attempts, she discovered that it was possible to heal her shame. She could start to recover by uncovering the secrets she had kept hidden for years. Blackout Girl is the heartbreaking, enlightening, and inspiring story of Jennifer’s narrow escape from her own self-destructive instincts when all of the odds, and systems, were stacked against her.
Since Blackout Girl was first published in 2008, Jennifer has seen the #MeToo and Times Up movements empower countless brave survivors to reveal the truth of their experiences. Yet, our society is only just beginning to truly understand and support victims and recognize the importance of trauma-informed care. Now more relevant than ever, Jennifer’s story and professional insights expose the societal failures these victims have endured, and how we can all help each other heal. If you are still experiencing or recovering from victimization, Jennifer’s story shows you are not alone. For those struggling to understand a loved one’s experience of addiction and trauma, Jennifer’s recovery provides hope. This new edition of Blackout Girl includes additional chapters with more details of Jennifer’s story, new insights on the societal changes of the past decade, and a powerful foreword by survivor advocate and founder of the End Rape Statute of Limitations movement, Caroline Heldman, PhD. Blackout Girl is a must-read both for those looking to learn about the personal effects of widespread sexual assault and addiction and for those who already hold these issues dear.
- GenresMemoir
328 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2020
21 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Storm
9 books105 followersSurvivor. Author. Advocate. Victim’s Rights Expert. Having worked many high profile cases including helping victims of; Jerry Sandusky, Bill Cosby, Catholic Clergy victims and thousands of other cases in her twenty year long career as a victim advocate, Jennifer Storm is often times the first call media make when stories break.
Governor Tom Wolf recently re-appointed Mrs. Storm for a 2nd six year term as the Victim Advocate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvnaia in December 2019. Governor Tom Corbett had previously nominated her as Commonwealth Victim Advocate on Nov. 8, 2013, and she was unanimously confirmed by the state Senate on Dec. 10, 2013. As Victim Advocate, she is responsible for representing the rights and interests of crime victims within the Commonwealth. She is the President Elect of the National Crime Victim Law Institute in Portland Oregon.
She was born and raised near Allentown, PA and attended Northampton High School. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from The University of Phoenix. She studied Conflict Resolution and Dispute Management at The ILR School of Cornell University.
Her media appearances are vast, and include frequent appearances on all major networks including, ABC, FOX, NBC, NPR, CBS and PBS as the county spokesperson for victims rights. She has appeared on The Today Show, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, CBS 48 Hours Live to Tell program and E! News online. In 2002, Mrs. Storm also publicly debated Oliver North live on his syndicated talk show Common Sense with Oliver North regarding LGBTQ rights.
She has been profiled or appeared in the following publications; The New York Times, People Magazine, Business Week, The Washington Post, LA Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The New Yorker, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Marie Claire Magazine, Curve Magazine, The Advocate, Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, WE Magazine, Women Magazine and many more.
Mrs. Storm has traveled the country giving keynotes, lectures, workshops, and panel discussions regarding victims’ rights, LGBT rights, addiction and recovery, and civil rights.
Jennifer lives at home in Camp Hill PA with her wife, they are foster parents and adoptive parents of a son.
Mrs. Storm is very comfortable giving interviews, both taped and live. Jennifer is the author of four critically acclaimed books on addiction, recovery and victimization. Echoes of Penn State: Facing Sexual Trauma, Picking Up the Pieces Without Picking Up: A Guidebook Through Victimization for People in Recovery, Leave the Light On: A Memoir of Recovery and Self-Discovery and Blackout Girl: Growing Up and Drying Out in America. She is available for all speaking engagements, including keynote presentations, workshops, panel discussions, and book signings.
Jennifer is currently filming a documentary based on her first memoir, Blackout Girl.
If you are interesting in booking Mrs. Storm for presentations, workshops or anything related to her books or film please visit this page to learn more.
If you are interesting in speaking with Mrs. Storm in her role as Victim Advocate, please contact her assistant at rebressler@pa.gov.
Governor Tom Wolf recently re-appointed Mrs. Storm for a 2nd six year term as the Victim Advocate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvnaia in December 2019. Governor Tom Corbett had previously nominated her as Commonwealth Victim Advocate on Nov. 8, 2013, and she was unanimously confirmed by the state Senate on Dec. 10, 2013. As Victim Advocate, she is responsible for representing the rights and interests of crime victims within the Commonwealth. She is the President Elect of the National Crime Victim Law Institute in Portland Oregon.
She was born and raised near Allentown, PA and attended Northampton High School. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from The University of Phoenix. She studied Conflict Resolution and Dispute Management at The ILR School of Cornell University.
Her media appearances are vast, and include frequent appearances on all major networks including, ABC, FOX, NBC, NPR, CBS and PBS as the county spokesperson for victims rights. She has appeared on The Today Show, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, CBS 48 Hours Live to Tell program and E! News online. In 2002, Mrs. Storm also publicly debated Oliver North live on his syndicated talk show Common Sense with Oliver North regarding LGBTQ rights.
She has been profiled or appeared in the following publications; The New York Times, People Magazine, Business Week, The Washington Post, LA Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The New Yorker, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Marie Claire Magazine, Curve Magazine, The Advocate, Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, WE Magazine, Women Magazine and many more.
Mrs. Storm has traveled the country giving keynotes, lectures, workshops, and panel discussions regarding victims’ rights, LGBT rights, addiction and recovery, and civil rights.
Jennifer lives at home in Camp Hill PA with her wife, they are foster parents and adoptive parents of a son.
Mrs. Storm is very comfortable giving interviews, both taped and live. Jennifer is the author of four critically acclaimed books on addiction, recovery and victimization. Echoes of Penn State: Facing Sexual Trauma, Picking Up the Pieces Without Picking Up: A Guidebook Through Victimization for People in Recovery, Leave the Light On: A Memoir of Recovery and Self-Discovery and Blackout Girl: Growing Up and Drying Out in America. She is available for all speaking engagements, including keynote presentations, workshops, panel discussions, and book signings.
Jennifer is currently filming a documentary based on her first memoir, Blackout Girl.
If you are interesting in booking Mrs. Storm for presentations, workshops or anything related to her books or film please visit this page to learn more.
If you are interesting in speaking with Mrs. Storm in her role as Victim Advocate, please contact her assistant at rebressler@pa.gov.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 11, 2025
Excellent. One of the best and most comprehensive books about addiction and trauma I’ve ever read.
September 15, 2020
"Blackout Girl" is a true roller coaster of a ride! it is amazing that the author, Jennifer Storm, is still alive to tell her story. But I am forever grateful that she is.
Not only will this memoir help other victims of trauma and addiction, it will help parents and victim advocates. A lot of the messages contained in this book go far beyond traditional 12 step programs. Sure, those help you get sober, but they don’t dig into the severe psychological impact that trauma has on a person.
I've read many "quit lit" books in my nearly four years of sobriety. And this one is memorable! For a while, I felt Jennifer would never get sober. It’s amazing how much she can remember from her past, despite all the drinking and drugging she did. It's not only raw and honest (she holds nothing back), but it covers so much ground.
“Blackout Girl” is now being republished more than a decade after its first launch. It offers a bright, shining light into huge topics. Some of the biggies include: sexual trauma, rape, self-loathing, shame, suicide, theft, death and abandonment. The relaunch is especially poignant now since the #MeToo movement has shined a light on the connection between alcohol and sexual abuse. (Um, hello. No matter the level of inebriation, it is NOT OKAY to be violated in any way, shape or form).
Throughout Jennifer's teens into young adulthood, we witness a TON of trauma. And walk through all the ways she detaches from her fear and pain. "If something even remotely struck me as scary or unsafe, I simply detached. I detached out of total lack of self."
Even though alcohol was her drug of choice, she also used and abused people (love), cocaine, crack and pot. "I couldn't find happiness on my own, so a chemically generated high that made me smile was just fine with me. It made me forget the pain, the memories, the hidden bad things that lingered, and it just let me laugh. Except, of course, for the times that it didn't."
Anything that could help her check out or give her an adrenaline rush (e.g., skipping school and shoplifting), helped her avoid her true feelings. "I couldn't be in my own skin and sober long enough to sustain a full day."
When talking about her suicide attempt, she wrote: "He knows I am a mess; he had seen the cuts on my arms, the ones I haphazardly attempt to cover Because while I don't want people to know that I do at night to quiet the pain, I desperately need someone, anyone to pay attention to me, to understand on some level the darkness that has taken up residency in my soul. ... It wasn't that I really wanted to die; I just didn't have the first clue how to live with these feelings inside me?"
Gratefully, this memoir ends well. And Jen realizes that her secrets are what is making her sick. "In order to become a better person, to obtain this 'recovery' that people talked about, I had to rid myself of my past."
Toward the book's end, Jennifer finds a recovery program voluntarily. That's when she realizes she had to free herself from her baggage. "It wasn't about the drink or the drug; it was about the reasons behind them. It was the shame and guilt that made us want to drink and drug in the first place..." The hardest part is realizing she's powerless and needs to finally come to terms with her feelings and emotions.
Not only will this memoir help other victims of trauma and addiction, it will help parents and victim advocates. A lot of the messages contained in this book go far beyond traditional 12 step programs. Sure, those help you get sober, but they don’t dig into the severe psychological impact that trauma has on a person.
I've read many "quit lit" books in my nearly four years of sobriety. And this one is memorable! For a while, I felt Jennifer would never get sober. It’s amazing how much she can remember from her past, despite all the drinking and drugging she did. It's not only raw and honest (she holds nothing back), but it covers so much ground.
“Blackout Girl” is now being republished more than a decade after its first launch. It offers a bright, shining light into huge topics. Some of the biggies include: sexual trauma, rape, self-loathing, shame, suicide, theft, death and abandonment. The relaunch is especially poignant now since the #MeToo movement has shined a light on the connection between alcohol and sexual abuse. (Um, hello. No matter the level of inebriation, it is NOT OKAY to be violated in any way, shape or form).
Throughout Jennifer's teens into young adulthood, we witness a TON of trauma. And walk through all the ways she detaches from her fear and pain. "If something even remotely struck me as scary or unsafe, I simply detached. I detached out of total lack of self."
Even though alcohol was her drug of choice, she also used and abused people (love), cocaine, crack and pot. "I couldn't find happiness on my own, so a chemically generated high that made me smile was just fine with me. It made me forget the pain, the memories, the hidden bad things that lingered, and it just let me laugh. Except, of course, for the times that it didn't."
Anything that could help her check out or give her an adrenaline rush (e.g., skipping school and shoplifting), helped her avoid her true feelings. "I couldn't be in my own skin and sober long enough to sustain a full day."
When talking about her suicide attempt, she wrote: "He knows I am a mess; he had seen the cuts on my arms, the ones I haphazardly attempt to cover Because while I don't want people to know that I do at night to quiet the pain, I desperately need someone, anyone to pay attention to me, to understand on some level the darkness that has taken up residency in my soul. ... It wasn't that I really wanted to die; I just didn't have the first clue how to live with these feelings inside me?"
Gratefully, this memoir ends well. And Jen realizes that her secrets are what is making her sick. "In order to become a better person, to obtain this 'recovery' that people talked about, I had to rid myself of my past."
Toward the book's end, Jennifer finds a recovery program voluntarily. That's when she realizes she had to free herself from her baggage. "It wasn't about the drink or the drug; it was about the reasons behind them. It was the shame and guilt that made us want to drink and drug in the first place..." The hardest part is realizing she's powerless and needs to finally come to terms with her feelings and emotions.
March 9, 2021
"Our secrets keep us sick" - can you relate or understand these five words? Jennifer provides an amazing story of her journey, telling her truth. Her truthful life episodes, frankly, will touch readers, because many of her life points may actually bring light to secrets and truths of others. You may find yourself going along with her emotionally. Jennifer provides a light of hope with her journey in recovery. She is kind and generous with her knowledge, offering insights, wisdom, and resources. These resources can be tools for anyone (family, self, friends, colleagues). The version I have includes a discussion guide - which would make it appropriate for a book club (that is seeking wisdom, truth and understanding), a teen - young adult group (church, school, college) , or self inspection and reflection. Jennifer’s story will enlighten the reader - putting a healing light and her lessons about the role of trauma in addiction and recovery. Jennifer is a brave light in this world, and the reader should sit down with a cup of bravery when reading her story. I have seen reports that the COVID-19 uncertain times have magnified this crisis of addiction, trauma and life struggles. Depending where one lives, the local impact is overwhelming. Blackout Girl is a story of hope, inspiration for the victims. It also offers hope to their family or friends. She turns on light in the darkness resulting from assault and addiction. The light comes in: “Our secrets keep us sick.” Don't wait for the film version - read this now, taking time to reflect on her truth and recovery.
May 13, 2020
This is my second time reading this book. I originally read it when it first came out and was curious to reread it as I did not like it all that much the first time.
Well, I am glad I did. This second reading made me discover some aspects of Storm's story that I can now appreciate a lot more .
Her depiction of her addictions is harrowing and that is, by far, the best part.
Once again, the recovery part is the weakest part. Unfortunately, she makes it all sound so easy....she gets a spiritual awakening almost instantly and that is not necessarily everyone's experience. I am sure it was super hard, but she makes it sound soooo easy.
The addition to this book is also not particularly interesting. She speaks in generalities and that deters from the book.
Otherwise, this is a great read.
Well, I am glad I did. This second reading made me discover some aspects of Storm's story that I can now appreciate a lot more .
Her depiction of her addictions is harrowing and that is, by far, the best part.
Once again, the recovery part is the weakest part. Unfortunately, she makes it all sound so easy....she gets a spiritual awakening almost instantly and that is not necessarily everyone's experience. I am sure it was super hard, but she makes it sound soooo easy.
The addition to this book is also not particularly interesting. She speaks in generalities and that deters from the book.
Otherwise, this is a great read.
August 4, 2020
Typically, I don’t feel comfortable rating nonfiction or memoirs, but this I felt necessary. Overall, the story told was important, hard, triggering, and serious. The topics discussed in here are of great interest to me. But it was a tough read, not necessarily because of the content (which is very intense on all levels), but because of the writing. It was very all over the place and confusing at times. Things were often repeated multiple times. Some things felt like they were just thrown in there out of nowhere. Everything felt very convoluted. At the end of the day though, this was an important story and can be extremely helpful for those who may read it. As someone who has interest in mental health, trauma, and addiction, this gave me a lot of information. It taught me quite a bit of new things.
***ARC received from publisher in exchange for an honest review***
***ARC received from publisher in exchange for an honest review***
September 24, 2025
Basically read this book in one sitting. Weeping tears for all of us tough girls (boys and theys) that have suffered and endured. I hate the magnitude of similarities across our many stories. I love that I am not alone but despise that I'm in a world with so many predators. How simple it is for some people to completely derail a young person's life with no care or second thought. I'm really grateful for your words and how they've allowed space for so many things to shine like thick scars in the sun. Healed but not forgotten.
March 5, 2023
I think this book was so good, but I could understand why some people may not like it as it is very triggering and descriptive. I think it's really good in the way that the author is very brutally honest when speaking about her addiction and what it did to her. It also shows just how quickly partying can easily lead to developing an addiction. I think this book was great.
March 1, 2022
I have had the pleasure to meet with Jennifer Storm and she is a fierce, down to earth, passionate, and amazing woman. This book shows immense bravery through her trials and I am just in awe of her....her purpose...and this brilliant memoir.
January 4, 2021
This book is great. It makes you want to cry, scream and not put it down. You have to walk away at times though or it gets to you (at least it did me). So glad I read this one.
July 22, 2021
Couldn’t put the book down. 10/10
Would recommend!!
Would recommend!!
October 19, 2021
read this book for a class, it was honestly really good. really sad but really good.
March 2, 2022
Authentic. Raw. Eye opening.
January 3, 2023
this book was amazing and so well written. Jennifer’s story is so sad and the way she conquered through it. is just amazing.
July 20, 2024
Utterly speechless, just wow. This is definitely something I think everyone should read, the world needs to know this.
January 16, 2024
Just finished the book and I absolutely loved it. Only issue I have is it isn't longer. Thank you for telling your story of pain, anger, love, and triumph. Inspiring to say the least.
January 25, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and respected and valued the honesty of the author. I had difficulty reading this book, as the first few chapters are highly triggering due to the parallels I was able to draw between me and the author’s history. It was inspiring reading how far the author has come, and the work she is now doing to make a difference in young victim’s lives. I don’t particularly enjoy books where the solution is to turn to a specific religion, as it may not always be relatable for me, personally, but I am happy the author was able to use this to find her peace.
February 18, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was reading it as a side-side read to 2 other books, and I just couldn't put it down and finished it in under 24 hours.
Jennifer Storm tells her story. It is very raw and powerful. An emotional rollercoaster that really takes you in.
Not a fan of memoirs but this one was different. Definitely my favorite memoir (at the time of writing this) and recommend it to others.
(Also, started-finished dates are probably inaccurate. idk when I started reading and finished the book, but it was at the beginning of the month).
Jennifer Storm tells her story. It is very raw and powerful. An emotional rollercoaster that really takes you in.
Not a fan of memoirs but this one was different. Definitely my favorite memoir (at the time of writing this) and recommend it to others.
(Also, started-finished dates are probably inaccurate. idk when I started reading and finished the book, but it was at the beginning of the month).
June 14, 2020
Wow! This was such a powerful and emotional read! While this a brutally honest memoir of Jennifer Storms experience with trauma, rape, and addiction, it actually read much like a book of fiction because it flowed so well. I don’t often read memoirs because I find that they jump around a lot, but I had no trouble following along in this book; it was very well written.
I can’t even begin to imagine how painful it was for Jennifer to revisit her past while writing this, but after everything she has been through and seeing how far she has come, I am so proud of her. She is the embodiment of strength and perseverance. I’m even more amazed that having gone through what she has, she was able to in turn advocate for other victims and help professionals understand the connections between traumatic events and the subsequent behaviors victims experience so that victims can receive the proper intervention and treatment. I am truly amazed by Jennifer and thankful she has helped so many people through her work and her words.
I also love the meaning behind her tattoo. It’s both beautiful and inspiring.
This is an absolute must read!
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
I can’t even begin to imagine how painful it was for Jennifer to revisit her past while writing this, but after everything she has been through and seeing how far she has come, I am so proud of her. She is the embodiment of strength and perseverance. I’m even more amazed that having gone through what she has, she was able to in turn advocate for other victims and help professionals understand the connections between traumatic events and the subsequent behaviors victims experience so that victims can receive the proper intervention and treatment. I am truly amazed by Jennifer and thankful she has helped so many people through her work and her words.
I also love the meaning behind her tattoo. It’s both beautiful and inspiring.
This is an absolute must read!
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
June 2, 2021
I read this book a while back and it is still my favorite book. I can’t believe I’m only writing a review about it now.😭 I’m not really much of a biography or life story kind of reader but this book definitely changed my mind. I absolutely fell in love with her story and how it was unapologetically written, not holding anything back, every detail made for the readers to relate, understand, or even just feel more of her story. I’m not really good with reviews but I want to give this book one as it is one that greatly impacted me, made me more aware of the struggles that people can go through, made me understand more about myself and others, and really let me know that you can never fully understand someone. I love this authors story, writings, and what she does for other people. Would I recommend this book? Absolutely yes (to the right people of course because of the sensitive topics)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews