What do you think?
Rate this book
Custom Made Straight Jacket
You are more than the innocence that was taken from you.More than the blood stains nestled between the fibers of your sheets,or the smell of sweat that won't wash off your skin.Your silenced voice is stronger than the loud grunts, echoing in your ears.Your life is more than the nightmares you see with your open eye, or shadows that haunt you at night. One day, you will be more than the dreams you have closed your eyes to, or laughter that has been stolen, cursing you with eternal tears. And your life won't always be the trauma that has been your story…...
403 pages, Paperback
Published December 31, 2020
10 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 1, 2021
This riveting biography will tear at your heartstring, as you read numerous counts of abuse...mental, physical and sexual. To see a girl so young experience so much, then blossom into the beautiful young woman known as Johnna B, will inspire some young woman to PUSH THRU THE PAIN.
I must be honest and admit that I had to put the book down a few times, because the content was too heavy. I found myself apologizing for things unknown and wanting to protect this precious flower.
I highly recommend this 💎💎💎💎💎 book to any woman who has experienced a traumatic loss of a loved one and/or been a survivor of abuse.
I’m so proud of you @johnnabsheweites.
I must be honest and admit that I had to put the book down a few times, because the content was too heavy. I found myself apologizing for things unknown and wanting to protect this precious flower.
I highly recommend this 💎💎💎💎💎 book to any woman who has experienced a traumatic loss of a loved one and/or been a survivor of abuse.
I’m so proud of you @johnnabsheweites.
December 23, 2024
Plain spoken. Hard hitting story that's so real!
I got this book well over a year at an Urban fiction writers mini-con at the public library. I met the author and knew that : 1) I wanted to own this book; 2) I didn't want to read it. Why? I have trouble reading about child abuse, especially sexual abuse. It makes me incredibly angry and sad. I didn't pick the book back up until a year after buying it and reading the author's inscription to me.
THIS IS A POWERFUL BOOK. It's written in a very basic, plain spoken style mostly- like she's across the table from you or sitting in the car with you just telling it all. There are moments of poetic prose, usually in the form of song lyrics or movie references because she and her mother enjoyed both. But mostly, this is a fast paced, confessional about trauma and abuse and confusion in a family and in relationships. The author lets you know how she felt about her traumas, her theories about why things happened, and who is responsible. But, she keeps it moving just like a fast talker sitting nearby. It's left up to you to decide if you agree with her or if you think she just needs to believe what she believes. No matter, she's not stopping for you. It's her story and she's moving on with it. You can feel her unpacking it all , taking a deep breath, describing it and the feelings....the results, and them tossing it across the room to move on to the next. She doesn't take any part of her life casually. When you read the book, you'll understand that would be impossible. But she's clearly getting it all out and putting it away as much as she can. That pace and forward momentum helps abit with so much of the parts of her life that just seemed brutal or unnecessarily dysfunctional (adults shouldn't "love " that way, marry that way, conmunicate that way).
I greatly enjoyed this book.
I got this book well over a year at an Urban fiction writers mini-con at the public library. I met the author and knew that : 1) I wanted to own this book; 2) I didn't want to read it. Why? I have trouble reading about child abuse, especially sexual abuse. It makes me incredibly angry and sad. I didn't pick the book back up until a year after buying it and reading the author's inscription to me.
THIS IS A POWERFUL BOOK. It's written in a very basic, plain spoken style mostly- like she's across the table from you or sitting in the car with you just telling it all. There are moments of poetic prose, usually in the form of song lyrics or movie references because she and her mother enjoyed both. But mostly, this is a fast paced, confessional about trauma and abuse and confusion in a family and in relationships. The author lets you know how she felt about her traumas, her theories about why things happened, and who is responsible. But, she keeps it moving just like a fast talker sitting nearby. It's left up to you to decide if you agree with her or if you think she just needs to believe what she believes. No matter, she's not stopping for you. It's her story and she's moving on with it. You can feel her unpacking it all , taking a deep breath, describing it and the feelings....the results, and them tossing it across the room to move on to the next. She doesn't take any part of her life casually. When you read the book, you'll understand that would be impossible. But she's clearly getting it all out and putting it away as much as she can. That pace and forward momentum helps abit with so much of the parts of her life that just seemed brutal or unnecessarily dysfunctional (adults shouldn't "love " that way, marry that way, conmunicate that way).
I greatly enjoyed this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2021
Still Standing🙌🏾
Custom Made Straight Jacket
By Johhna B
Whew, ion even know how to put this review in words to describe this memoir. All I know is Johnna held back NOTHING as she took us on a whirl wind of events that happened in her life. Demons that she came face to face with and fought everyone of them bastards the best she knew how👊🏾 How this girl is still mentally sane, I will never know.🤷🏾♀️
I constantly rewind my mind to the three most hated characters in this book: Him, who I call Snake. Wayno, the got damn devil himself and the Lil. friend who I can't stand!
Him, who doesn't deserve a name, I had to pray for my thoughts on what I had planned up in my head for his demise. Wayno's evilness came through the harshness in his words. His understanding for his wife suffering was UNFORGIVABLE! And the Lil Bihh, I mean friend🤬, she had the word friendship all messed up and constantly came off as a bitter hoe whose objective was to make sure someone was hurt because she was so unhappy within herself.
I've only read a couple of memoirs and by far, this is the best one that has come into my path when it comes to "holding nothing back" I would greatly recommend that you take the journey and welcome it in your path also. You will not be disappointed but you will feel sorrow, happiness, anger and maybe even confused about her choices, but disappointed in the book itself, YOU WILL NOT!
The flow through me off a bit but I'm just finding out when writing memoirs there is no rule for a particular flow. Still, it didn't stop me from turning not nan page, believe that! All of the things I thought I went through, after reading this book, I realize, ion been through shyt!
5*
P. S. This cover is dope AF!
Custom Made Straight Jacket
By Johhna B
Whew, ion even know how to put this review in words to describe this memoir. All I know is Johnna held back NOTHING as she took us on a whirl wind of events that happened in her life. Demons that she came face to face with and fought everyone of them bastards the best she knew how👊🏾 How this girl is still mentally sane, I will never know.🤷🏾♀️
I constantly rewind my mind to the three most hated characters in this book: Him, who I call Snake. Wayno, the got damn devil himself and the Lil. friend who I can't stand!
Him, who doesn't deserve a name, I had to pray for my thoughts on what I had planned up in my head for his demise. Wayno's evilness came through the harshness in his words. His understanding for his wife suffering was UNFORGIVABLE! And the Lil Bihh, I mean friend🤬, she had the word friendship all messed up and constantly came off as a bitter hoe whose objective was to make sure someone was hurt because she was so unhappy within herself.
I've only read a couple of memoirs and by far, this is the best one that has come into my path when it comes to "holding nothing back" I would greatly recommend that you take the journey and welcome it in your path also. You will not be disappointed but you will feel sorrow, happiness, anger and maybe even confused about her choices, but disappointed in the book itself, YOU WILL NOT!
The flow through me off a bit but I'm just finding out when writing memoirs there is no rule for a particular flow. Still, it didn't stop me from turning not nan page, believe that! All of the things I thought I went through, after reading this book, I realize, ion been through shyt!
5*
P. S. This cover is dope AF!
January 4, 2021
Custom
The first chapter of this book will hit you like a tornado. The emotions and visuals this author wrote while writing was so intense you felt it from deep down. This author put everything in this book and I wouldn’t want to imagine even going through the things she went through and my heart goes out to her. The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star was because the timeline jumped from so many different scenes, it felt like she remembered something then went write it and then wrote another scene to squeeze in that scene. This book triggered me so much because I was mad almost the whole book. I highly recommend but will also make sure the reader read the disclaimer.
The first chapter of this book will hit you like a tornado. The emotions and visuals this author wrote while writing was so intense you felt it from deep down. This author put everything in this book and I wouldn’t want to imagine even going through the things she went through and my heart goes out to her. The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star was because the timeline jumped from so many different scenes, it felt like she remembered something then went write it and then wrote another scene to squeeze in that scene. This book triggered me so much because I was mad almost the whole book. I highly recommend but will also make sure the reader read the disclaimer.
January 8, 2021
Diamond in the rough
Whew! This review is based on the story alone and I don't even know where to begin. This author poured her heart and soul out for the world to see. Knowing her struggles with abuse, trauma, depression, self doubt and so many other things that I could go on and on about. For her to be able to come out of all that she has endured and be able to become the person that she has become is remarkable! To read her story and feel her plight is to know and understand her. To understand why she is still standing and in those deep cements of the trenches called life, she is that diamond in the rough
Whew! This review is based on the story alone and I don't even know where to begin. This author poured her heart and soul out for the world to see. Knowing her struggles with abuse, trauma, depression, self doubt and so many other things that I could go on and on about. For her to be able to come out of all that she has endured and be able to become the person that she has become is remarkable! To read her story and feel her plight is to know and understand her. To understand why she is still standing and in those deep cements of the trenches called life, she is that diamond in the rough
January 13, 2021
I gave this book a 5 star rating for the simple fact that the author was able to go back to these dark places to recall all the things that took place in her life that could've torn her to shreds. But she was able to continue on with her life. Not without its struggles but she's here.
I don't even pretend to know about none of the things she's had to deal with or overcome. But I was touched by so much of it & had to put this book down several times because it was so heavy. This is one that I won't soon forget.
I don't even pretend to know about none of the things she's had to deal with or overcome. But I was touched by so much of it & had to put this book down several times because it was so heavy. This is one that I won't soon forget.
July 9, 2022
Amazing Journey
My heart hurts with you as I lost my dad suddenly November of 2014. I remember reading it and just unbelievable pain. I had held off reading this because I know how hard this was for you to write this. But I said I'm going to read this in honor of her mother. Thank you for your courage, strength, and willpower to keep going. I know your mother is smiling all over you. I feel blessed to know, love and laugh with you. Thank you for being JOHNNA!
My heart hurts with you as I lost my dad suddenly November of 2014. I remember reading it and just unbelievable pain. I had held off reading this because I know how hard this was for you to write this. But I said I'm going to read this in honor of her mother. Thank you for your courage, strength, and willpower to keep going. I know your mother is smiling all over you. I feel blessed to know, love and laugh with you. Thank you for being JOHNNA!
February 21, 2021
Shocking
All I can say is, you never can tell what someone has been through by just looking at them. Took me a while to finish however, I couldn’t stop reading the story that many women have lived through but are afraid to share.
All I can say is, you never can tell what someone has been through by just looking at them. Took me a while to finish however, I couldn’t stop reading the story that many women have lived through but are afraid to share.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews