Crying Wolf: A Memoir

by Eden Boudreau

It's a tale as old as time. Girl meets boy. Boy wants girl. Girl says no. Boy takes what he wants anyway.

After a violent sexual assault, Eden Boudreau was faced with a choice: call the police and explain that a man who wasn't her husband, who she had agreed to go on a date with, had just raped her. Or go home and pray that, in the morning, it would be only a nightmare.

In the years that followed, Eden was met with disbelief by strangers, friends, and the authorities, often as a result of stigma towards her non-monogamy, sex positivity, and bisexuality. Societal conditioning of acceptable female sexuality silenced her to a point of despair, leading to addiction and even attempted suicide. It was through the act of writing that she began to heal.

Crying Wolf is a gripping memoir that shares the raw path to recovery after violence and spotlights the ways survivors are too often demonized or ignored when they belong to marginalized communities. Boudreau heralds a new era for others dismissed for "crying wolf." After all, women prevailing to change society for others is also a tale as old as time.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Queer, Audiobook, Biography Memoir

232 pages, Paperback

First published March 22, 2023

About the author

Eden Boudreau is a proud maritimer, born and raised in a small rural area just outside Halifax, Nova Scotia. Later in life Eden, her husband and three sons relocated to Toronto, Ontario at which time, she chose to finally pursue her life long dream of a career in writing. Using her own life experiences as a bisexual, polyamorous woman who has survived her fair share of adversity as inspiration, Eden’s essays have been published in major publications such as Flare, Today’s Parent, and Runner’s World.

Her debut memoir CRYING WOLF is set to be published with Book*Hug Press in Spring 2023, which follows her difficult road to recovery after a violent sexual assault, with disbelievers at every turn due in part to her non-traditional lifestyle.

As someone who has openly battled mental health issues her whole life, Eden was inspired during the isolation of the pandemic to launch her own show - THE LONELY WRITER PODCAST - that aims to remove the stigma surrounding the mental, emotional and even physical struggles that come with the process of writing - before, during and after the book deal.

Eden is represented by literary agent, Samantha Haywood of Transatlantic Agency and in her (minimal) free time, spends it with her family and menagerie of pets at their home in Georgina, ON.

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eden Boudreau. You are so incredibly brave. It takes strength and a hell of a lot of courage to speak your truth. Thank you for sharing your story.

Crying Wolf is a very difficult read and cuts deep. The violence at the beginning of this memoir was hard to read. I just kept thinking, I'm only reading this, Eden experienced this. That broke my heart.

This is a book that will stay with me for a very long time.

My thanks to Book*hug Press for this review copy.

Content Warnings: Violent Sexual Assault/Drug & Alcohol Abuse/Attempted Suicide

[Kaylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crying Wolf is a raw, powerful account of trauma and healing. Eden Boudreau writes captivatingly and honestly about her sexual assault and the difficult, winding path to healing in the aftermath. Boudreau is unflinching in her confrontation of her own assault as well as the culture of shame and judgement - both external and internalized - that survivors face. Her writing is personal and vulnerable and so compelling.

I was hooked from the description and this book delivered.

Major CW for description of rape, drug and alcohol use, suicide attempt

Thanks to NetGalley and Book*hug Press for an advance copy of this book.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crying Wolf *TRIGGER WARNING REGARDING SA*

After being brutally assaulted after a first date, Eden is confronted by an apprehensive world. ‘Are you sure you were raped?’ ‘Did they misunderstand you?’ ‘Maybe they thought you liked it.’ Already regarded with doubt, Eden’s polyamorous lifestyle exposes her to ridicule and disbelief from onlookers and herself, setting forth her path towards self-destruction and recovery.

This memoir really broke my heart. Boudreau's bravery to confront her trauma and publicise her story is a type of courage I can only be envious of. We learn that healing is not a linear process, that it really isn’t someone else’s job to fix us, but only ourselves. Whilst Boudreau’s story is not unique, akin to many other harrowing stories that women share every day, Boudreau highlights her unique position existing within a polyamorous relationship, and how that exposes her to a different type of victim-blaming, from herself and other people.

Whilst not a particularly nice topic to read about, Boudreau’s writing is captivating in its candid, succinct style, driving you to read on. As a result of this style, it makes it an incredibly accessible text, one that demands to be read.

I hope this is not the last time I read her work.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This powerful, raw account of Eden Bourdeau's violent assault and the aftermath left me hanging on her every word.

This was an interesting read - Eden Bourdeau adds an important perspective missing from the trauma memoir (of which our society sadly has an abundance). That perspective is that of a married, polyamorous woman surviving and recovering after being raped by a man with whom she was willingly on a date. Non-monogamy continues to mystify folks, and Eden Bourdeau does an excellent job reminding people that this was not her fault, and educating readers about the reality of non-monogamy.

Eden's journey was heartbreaking, but I cheered during her triumphs. This was a moving memoir. I would recommend to fans of memoirs and gender/sexuality studies.

Thanks to netgalley and bookhug for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

|| CRYING WOLF ||
#gifted/@bookhugpress
✍🏻
An incredible memoir, raw and powerful on recovery after trauma, shame culture, internalized and externalized judgment, and survival.

This will go down as one of my favorites of the year! A bold statement since were only three months in I know but Boudreau has given us a captivating and relevant perspective that I will not soon forget.

CRYING WOLF hits hard, I had to remind myself that this was memoir not fiction, this was someone's lived experience. It made for an emotional reading experience to say the least. Her honesty and bravery is admirable and empowering. I'm so grateful she shared her story with us. Out this week, I can't reccomend it enough!

For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong

[DarkAngell192 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Crying Wolf: A Memoir
Rate 5/5 🌟
Literature: Non-fiction

I have to say it has been a while since I haven't posted. As I read and decided to look for an opportunity, thank you NetGalley for giving me a chance to rate this book. I have to say is one of my best selections yet!

I have been waiting for a while for something to bring out my feelings in a solid writing. Something to relate with, and show vulnerability and understanding of some things. This book had it for me.

*This book contains sensitive topics.*

One of the best books I read this year! THANK YOU @edenboudreau
For writing this piece.

[Shelby Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Thank you to NetGalley and Book*hug Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

This is one of the best books I have read so far this year, and it's a story that needed to be written, that needed to be shared with the world.

The memoir opens mid rape, as Eden describes some of the details of what is happening to her. She tells us that she has been raped not once, but TWICE in her life already, at only 37 years old. One of the biggest factors that will come into play is the fact that she is a bisexual, polyamorous woman, which just brings on extra judgment on top of everything.

Eden tells us about her first date with Liam, the man who would later sexually assault her at the end of the night. They met up at a local sports bar, and almost immediately he asks her go to upstairs for more privacy, where he picks a booth in a far corner. At this point Eden is starting to feel a little uneasy, as his grip on her hand had been forceful and his choice of booth questionable. She tells us about the unofficial rules of girlhood that all women grow up hearing, but that sometimes men know them too and they know their way around them. Men are being taught how to succeed and woman are being taught how to survive, she says. He took her phone out of her hands, and seemed intent on getting her drunk. She spent the rest of the night trying to figure out how to leave. Once she does, Liam follows her on the way to her car, grabs her, and forces her into the passenger side of his car, where he proceeds to rape her.

As Eden arrives home, she is in a lot of pain, and bruises have started to show. All she wants to do is take a shower, but no matter how much she tries to scrub everything, she still feels dirty. She eventually goes to the hospital, where she first encounters a nurse, tells her about what happened, and is met with judgment about her polyamory. Doctors are nurses are not supposed to pass judgment about anything; their job is to help the patient regardless. She described the nurse as being detached and she wonders if this is such a common thing that she has been desensitized to it. The doctor gives her some medications just in case she had been exposed to anything.

As the days go by, she is frightened by sounds, doesn't like changes to her routine, or being alone. She dyes her hair, only wears non-revealing clothing, and she always has a pair of boots in the car. All of the places she and Joe used to hang out at are now too loud, busy, or dark, and if she does go somewhere, she makes sure her back is to the wall where she was sitting. She doesn't sleep, eat, laugh, or have sex. She doesn't want to be touched by anyone.

We are told about the time her and her husband, Joe, went to therapy after he cheated on her multiple times. In fact, it was their therapist that suggested they open their marriage and be polyamorous in the first place.

Speaking of therapists, Eden is assigned a therapist, Farrah, to help her with the aftermath of the rape. She explains to her what happened and Farrah tells her that it sounds like she has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She eventually asks about options if she did want to file a report, and Farrah gets in contact with a detective who comes to her office to talk to Eden. The detective asks her what happened. So, this will now be the third person she has told the story to and had to relive the trauma yet again. (This reminds me of the Netflix series Unbelievable, where Marie has to tell her story to a police officer, a detective, a nurse, the detective again, then she has to write it out, and then she has to tell the story again.) It must be exhausting. The detective was even more detached than the nurse. The detective says that she should consider reporting, but then describes what will happen if she does, including only a 4% chance of a conviction after going through everything. That's enough to make most women think, why bother?

Eden kind of goes way off track after that, drinking and doing coke. One night she contemplates suicide by taking a bunch of sleeping pills while drinking, but ultimately decides against taking enough to die. She does eventually go back to seeing Farrah.

One day she is at the library with her sons and the man there tells her about a writers' retreat, so she submits and application, and gets accepted. While there, one of the girls tells her about pitch writing and gets her to submit a story about taking her son to a pride parade, since he had been questioning his sexuality. She also submits a writing piece about her rape to another magazine, and getting back to running after her rape to yet another.

Much of the time, the way Eden described the scenes, I felt like I was there with her, feeling what she was feeling. It was like reading a thriller, only unfortunately it actually happened to a real person. There is also a discussion throughout the book about her childhood and her relationships with her parents and sister.

I do hope that the formatting gets fixed though, because this e-copy was missing the beginning part of every sentence starting each chapter, and all throughout the book, there were letters missing from a bunch of words on every single page. This made figuring out what words they were supposed to be difficult at times. This did not take away from the story, but it was quite annoying to deal with.

[Lindsay (lindsaysalwaysreading) Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it might be a tale as old as time, Eden Boudreau does two unique things as she shares her sexual assault and recovery. Firstly, she gives an unflinching recount of the attack. While talking about sexual assault has, slowly, become more commonplace, it is typically done so in a way that glosses over the nitty-gritty in order to make it palatable. But it is never palatable, and more people need to be brought into those real moments in order to truly understand the impact they have. Eden doesn't hold back, and the effect is palpable.

Eden also drives home the critical point that it doesn't matter if a woman 'puts herself out there', it doesn't equal consent. Just because she chose to be polyamorous and go on a date, in no way shape or form means she should have expected something bad to happen. It should go without saying, but unfortunately is a point that needs to be made again and again. It doesn't matter if she was drinking, if she wore a short skirt, if she walked home along, if she ran with headphone in... it shouldn't happen to anyone. By being open with her less traditional lifestyle, Eden helps drive this point home for the collective good.

I heard Eden interviewed on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast and knew this was a book I needed to read. I was fortunate to receive an ARC and moved it to the top of my TBR. While this book comes with an obvious trigger warning, I think for most it will do more good than harm, as it's so easy to find bits of your own experience in it.

Eden is a talented writer, and it was fun to read insights into her journey to becoming a writer. Parts of this book were hard to read, not just the assault itself but the drinking and drug use while home alone with her children, but it was a story that required uncensored honesty to tell.

Who should read this book? Every woman, every human who has ever had to suffer at the hands of a man who felt he deserved something, and any man who might benefit from seeing the consequences of his actions.

Thank you to NetGalley, Book*hug Press and Eden Boudreau for this ARC.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was filled with an honesty that was heartbreaking and powerful all at the same time. I could really feel all of the emotions that our author expressed, and it made me very sad for her as a person in this horrible situation. This book was all about our main character and her horrible attack that she suffered at the hands of her date. I can’t even imagine having to go through something so terrible, but our author was able to write about it without turning it into something that (unfortunately) has been talked about a million times. The descriptions in this book were fantastic and I loved how most of it was written on what she was thinking at the time and how could she have changed it (not that she could) instead of being focused on the attack. This was very different than other books I’ve read similar to this because it seemed more personal like I was being told the story by a friend and not a complete stranger. I can’t imagine the strength it must have taken to write about this horrible experience and relive it all over again with her thoughts replaying in everyone’s head but that is exactly why this book was so good it put you in the victim’s shoes and allowed you to really feel the trauma that people have to live with after something like this happens to them. Another thing that was very different about this book was our main character Eden was married at the time of her attack. She and her husband had an open relationship and when people discovered what happened to her it was very sad to see them become judgemental instead of sympathetic. This book shows all of the pain that Eden went through during and even after her attack and after reading everything she went through I understand why sometimes the victims don’t come forward. The aftermath of something so horrible shouldn’t be just as bad as the attack itself yet unfortunately sometimes it is. This book was amazing and really lit a fire in me that made me very sad and very angry at the same time. This book will pull the reader in and make you want to protect her. I’m so glad that I was able to check this book out, don’t’ be turned off by its strong subject this is one that will get everyone talking.

[Sionainn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.85
Wait wait waaait
She met Margaret. She talks about that. And I fairly certain there was no voice over, but it suspiciously sounded just like Margaret…
She covered lot of healing into this, and I really liked that. Therapy, writing.. running! But rock picking! Only as a child?!

[ashley marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the toughest books I've read through, in the same way that Chanel Miller's Know My Name was. Powerful, engaging, and devastating, Boudreau takes you through her experience as she processes having been sexually assaulted on a date. While I knew this would be hard to get through, I did not realize how many times the struggles and hardships would create really tense and intense moments for her, leaving me as the reader feeling all of those emotions. I did have to put the book down a few times in order to make it through. I appreciated all of the honesty in this book and Boudreau's life. She was able to never shy away from the choices she made for herself and her relationship by having an open marriage, often discussing the value and intimacy it offered her and her husband. It created a deeper layer of complication in the case, but allowed us to see sides of a story we often don't.

Boudreau's writing was straightforward, but filled with contemplative emotion. Because we're experiencing the hardship with her, in seemingly real-time, the jerky movements of her life were truly felt in the text. You can experience the highs and easy moments, just as much as you're stuck in the quicksand of those sinking moments. The various relationships she is in are also difficult at times because you feel for her, but also those who are thrown into the storm with her. I really appreciated the inclusion of her therapist and the journey they took together; it was nice to see a realistic representation of that struggle. The gaining of trust, the avoidance, the movement to find life again.

I would definitely recommend this, but it would come with a deep warning. The descriptions and language is graphic. There is no barrier between what happened and the reader. Instead, Boudreau makes sure to present a true picture of her experience and journey. This is going to make it something not everyone will be able to handle. I'm definitely glad I read the book, but it is not for the faint of heart. Because of this, I'm rating it 4 stars, but just from personal stop and go and intensity, rather than due to content. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Trigger Warning for topics surrounding SA*

I rarely find myself engrossed in non - fiction and memoir type books. They tend to be my more causal reads that I pick up for a commute or a relaxing day. However, this story was so important and I am so happy that this book was published. Eden Boudreau is a bisexual woman in a polyamorous relationship. I haven’t come across many non - fiction books of a person’s experience in this type of relationship. It was so refreshing to read about a person who benefits from this type of relationship. However, there is a downside to being in this type of relationship and going through a SA. Society has certain expectations for people when it comes to the type of situation they find themselves in. Often victims of SA are blamed for their actions leading up to the SA instead of blaming the perpetrator themselves. As a women in a polyamorous relationship. Eden faces many biases and societal scrutiny when talking about their SA. Eden’s experience brings attention to the lack of support that people face in the aftermath of SA when they live lifestyles that are not always accepted in society,

This memoir shows all the bumps and curves when it comes to recovering oneself after a traumatic experience. Eden’s path to finding herself is not easy and the ones around her also are struggling. As she learns to be herself once again, the people around her also heal. I feel so bad that Eden was unable to get the support she needed from authorities. However, it seems finding her passion for writing again and counselling seemed to allow her to live in the present. This memoir talks a lot about living your life and not just surviving. Being in a constant flight or fight mode can be so exhausting. Even if someone has never experienced SA in their own life, Eden’s memoir gives the reader a glimpse of what it is like for her day to day.

I would recommend this book for those who have gone through a similar experience as Eden. It included many epiphanies the writer had as she went through counselling that may help guide people to recovery. This book does include some graphic content and so the reader must make sure they read with caution and know they are ready to read this type of memoir.

Thank you NetGalley and Book*hug Press for arc.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Within the first ten pages, my perceptions began changing.

How did the book make me feel/think?

Eden Boudreau is anything but selfish.

Boudreau was raped, filling her soul with self-doubt as she questioned everything in her life.

Is Boudreau courageous? Absolutely.

Something people who dive into their own vulnerability, often because of the vitriol thrown their way, downplay because, in Boudreau’s case, being in a non-monogamous, polyamorous relationship opened her up to venomous barbs from those amongst us who believe they have a right to have opinions about the lives of others which have no impact on their own.

How can any of us know what’s right for someone else?

Each of us needs to expose ourselves to reading different experiences.

I crack, Crying Wolf open. Greeting me is non-monogamous and polyamorous. I’m ready to judge.

Within the first ten pages, my perceptions began changing. I want to be a better person. Boudreau shares her pain. It’s devastating and heart-wrenching. I feel her pain; her suffering. What happened to her is wrong. FULL STOP. For all of those who think otherwise: Get over yourself.

Our only responsibility is to offer support and understanding when atrocities inflict those walking amongst us. FULL STOP.

Why?

If you have ever suffered a violation, the constant criticism of others can make you withdraw within yourself, causing you to doubt everything and blame yourself, eating away at your core. You, the one judging, are only making the pain worse, even though it has nothing to do with you.

Thank you, Boudreau, for sharing your pain. I have an inkling you’ve helped countless hurting souls by offering a salve of vulnerability and bravery.

WRITTEN: 5 March 2023

[Billie Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not giving a trigger warning on this. This is literally a book about sexual assault. If you read the description, then you should know this book is about a woman's rape and her recovery from it. It should be apparent that if SA triggers you, then a book about it will, in fact, be a trigger. It should also be pretty obvious that a review about a book about rape is going to talk about rape.

This was an important book. Beautifully written. Inspiring. Searing. Also extremely depressing. An indictment of the Canadian justice system. In 2017, the author was brutally and savagely raped. Her injuries were well-documented at the hospital (and I think they were severe) with a rape kit and the whole thing. It was clear to the author and to the detective she later spoke with at her therapist's office (to discuss what it might look like if she chose to report the crime) that her rapist had done this before and would continue to do it to more women. And yet, even though the rapist continued to harass and threaten the author by phone and text, the detective she spoke with (who was a female) made it seem as though it was completely pointless to report the rape to police or try to press charges (or whatever it's called in Canada), telling Eden even if she went through the 2-5 year torture of trying to bring charges (which may or may not even go to trial) there was only a 4 percent chance that her violent, sadistic, experienced rapist would see the inside of a prison cell. Holy %^. I mean this detective kept saying, "You should consider reporting" but then would tell Eden a dozen reasons why reporting was completely pointless.

I know that the fact that the author was in an open marriage and on a date with another man when she was raped is a big focus of this book (although in this day and age, I don't think people should be shocked by polyamory. It's really not a big deal) and I get that that issue complicated things for her in terms of reporting it (the detective made that abundantly clear) and even though every woman knows this is complete horse crap (it should not matter what the circumstances are, you should get to dictate who you have sex with and who you do not have sex with but of course, that is not the world women live in) the thing I found the most disturbing in this book was the absolute lack of justice for rape victims in Canada. A four percent chance of conviction? I could barely concentrate on most of the rest of this book because all I could think about was it's been five years. How many women has this man raped since then because the Canadian justice system hates women and is a complete and utter joke? I mean the US system is clearly not much better although from a search, for reported rapes that are prosecuted, there is a 58% chance of conviction. That's a lot higher than 4 percent. Also, this piece of garbage was harassing the author. Imagine if she had pressed charges. You just know he'd come after her and probably her family--for the five years it took to maybe go to trial--and then what if he wasn't in the 4 percent who got convicted? He'd be after the author and probably her family for the rest of their lives. Good lord. Is this really what Canada is like? This is terrifying.

It's just so depressing to think that, post-Me-Too in the developed world, a woman's right to be safe from sexual assault and to have justice when she is assaulted is still basically non-existent. There are many reasons women don't report but this is a pretty huge one and no matter how much "progress" is made, this isn't improving. Which is another reason I think this book is hugely important. I really do think there is something to be said for dragging these ugly truths out into the light so the world can see just how horrible it is to women.

It was very inspiring the way that the author handled her recovery, especially the way she used writing to find her way back to herself. I hope she writes a ton more books because she was clearly born a writer. It's something that is just in her, part of her makeup, and she was meant to do this.

And this is probably super nit-picky of me but I took off a star because in the section where she talks about telling her parents about the rape, she says they naturally wondered why she didn't report to the police and instead of going through the obvious reasons, she instead says that she's got 3 boys and because of that, she doesn't worry about them being raped (although she does worry about other violence befalling them) and as the mother of all girls, I wondered what she meant by that. If she had had daughters, would she have felt differently about reporting? Was she implying that she didn't need to concern herself with other women being raped because she's got boys and not girls? I mean I get what she was saying that as a parent, you always think about everything through the filter of your children and that that is where her parents were coming from but why bring up the fact that she has boys and so rape isn't really a consideration for her? She clearly knows how traumatic it is--it should not only matter if it can happen to your kids. It should matter, full stop. I mean, what about women who DO have daughters? I'm not saying she should have reported--I support what she did. Pressing charges would have put her and her entire family at risk and would likely have been pointless. It's not her fault the Canadian justice system sucks. But I wish she would have clarified that statement.

[audie · Rating 3 out of 5]

eden girl i am so sorry about the editorial team you were given wtf were they doing

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crying Wolf is a memoir by Canadian writer Eden Boudreau. Eden lives in a polyamorous marriage and was raped by a man, who was not her husband, on a date. If this statement bothers you or it is too blunt then you might not be the reader for this book.

Eden begins the book with a very disturbing and graphic account of what happened to her on a date. It is raw and unflinching and unfortunately all too common for many women. Eden has found catharsis in writing and shares what happened, how she managed and sometimes didn’t manage the aftermath of being sexually assaulted. Fortunately Eden was able to access some help from a professional who helped her understand how it wasn’t her fault, how her lifestyle did not mean that she in anyway deserved to be hurt and gave her tools to work towards recovering from the trauma.

Taking on rape culture, justice system failures, and society’s expectations of how women should behave, Crying Wolf offers other women who have experienced sexual trauma validation for their feelings, acts as a calling to change makers to take women seriously, and opens the lens on non traditional love relationships.

Boudreau is a talented writer who speaks succinctly and with clarity. Triggers for sexual assault, suicide, drug and alcohol use.

Thank you to @bookhugpress for reaching out to me to be an early reader of this book and share my honest opinions. Crying Wolf publishes March 22, 2023.

[kbreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It's a tale as old as time. Girl meets boy. Boy wants girl. Girl says no. Boy takes what he wants anyway."

Wow. Standing ovation for this poignant memoir. I feel honored to have received an advanced reader’s copy - this book is on the same level as Chanel Miller and Stephanie Foo. I thoroughly enjoyed the honesty related to distrust of the criminal justice system and the tumultuous road to recovery. Societal conditioning of acceptable female sexuality silenced Boudreau to a point of despair, leading to addiction and attempted suicide. I loved how she healed through writing and felt inspired by her journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and Book*hug Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Run to wherever you buy your books to purchase this on 3/22/23.

[eliza liner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir (heavy trigger warning) hit me straight in my soul. I have never experienced a SA like Eden has, but I know deep in my heart that I’ve had to heal from traumas as well and she deeply encapsulates the difficulties of coping. This book has somewhat of a Me Too spin to it, in that I feel it was decidedly published to bring awareness and a call to action. It is a very powerful memoir in which maybe you don’t agree with the authors life style but you absolutely know 100% that nothing that happened to her was her fault. This book should be read by anyone who feels the need to blame women, or revictimize them. As a woman who will one day do important work like Farrah in this book, I take deep inspiration from the story told.

[Taylor Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eden Boudreau, thank you for writing this book. For being as resilient and forthcoming as you were about an extremely traumatic time in your life. Thank you for sharing. You have no idea the difference your story makes.

This book is gut-wrenching and honest, and will probably make you feel more emotions than you are prepared for. But read the book, because people need to see the reality of sexual assault and rape. Not only the brutality and statistics, but the aftermath too.

Also I hope people take into account that not everyone’s relationship is the same, and that’s okay. Because what works for some, doesn’t have to work for others.

Thank you to Netgalley and Book*hug for the digital arc of this book!

[Samantha Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes an incredibly brave, special writer to lay her soul bare. Eden Boudreau is that writer. In her raw, vulnerable, at times gut-wrenching, and always inspiring memoir, CRYING WOLF, Boudreau details her violent sexual assault and her painful journey toward healing. An openly bisexual, polyamorous woman, Boudreau anticipates every negative judgment and the blame others will place upon her because she is her own harshest critic. Yet, through deep soul-searching, therapy, and the power of the pen, she finds her path toward self-acceptance and gives a voice to those unable to share their own stories of violence and terror. CRYING WOLF is a tale of strength, sorrow, and authenticity, and a lesson to be ourselves, because we have only one life to live.

[Nish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rating is in an effort to direct audiences to the book so it receives the traction it deserves otherwise this memoir is beyond rating. I laud Eden Boudreau for her courage. This is not an easy read but definitely calls out in solidarity to women all around who have had similar experiences. The grief and toll Eden experiences mentally and physically and the impact it has on the self and those around - it is just raw and real. A voice and light that challenges the darkness of isolation, to tell others they are not alone in this. A powerful and formidable account. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest unedited review.

[Rhonda Lomazow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn in from the first pages the fear the terror as the author was attacked again and again her description of the man assaulting her .Her desperation to get away to safety away from this man she had met on line agreed to meet him at a bar drove her own car so she could come & go safely.The author brings her story alive she shares her raw intimate at times horrific story.A book women will pass from one to the other as a warning to each other be careful be cautious.A book I will not forget.#netgalley #cryingwolf

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. Where to begin. This was heartbreaking and hopeful. Tough to read, but flowed. So relatable and terrifying.

It is so hard to read a first hand account of assault. Of the aftermath, the pressures and the way it weeds its way into totally unrelated aspects of your life.

Boudreau bravely shares her story and allows space for others who have experienced trauma to learn from and find solace in her journey. A beautiful but sometimes difficult read, Boudreau will have you sobbing, laughing and rooting for her each step of the way.

[Elizabeth Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boudreau’s writing is powerful and engaging, full of tight prose and effective language that does not shy from either the ugly or the serendipitous moments of her recovery. Her identities as a bisexual, polyamorous woman add nuance to her experience as a survivor of sexual assault and as someone navigating her sexuality. I found the book easy to read, despite the heavy topic, due to how well it was written and the strong through-line leading to the hopeful ending. This memoir is not for the faint of heart, but I commend its strength and purpose.

[Sarah’s Shelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

in a word: brilliant.

I’m in awe of Eden Boudreau for sharing her SA survival story with so much real and raw emotion. I was in tears by the end of it. I know that she is helping so many survivors (like me) by sharing her experience and I can only hope that she knows that and can feel that support in her vulnerability.

With that being said, if any talk of SA is a trigger for you then I would advise you to steer clear of this book or maybe just come back to it when you are in the right headspace. There is graphic detail, on page, of the r*pe so PLEASE take my warning if you need it.

[cece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Closer to a 3.5 but I don’t want that to take away from the powerful message of this book. It was a raw and real look at trauma and how to overcome the stigma behind it. She left everything on the table and I was very moved by the words. I finished this fast because I just wanted to hear more and more. Lovely writing and am glad she spoke about her experiences to make other women feel confident to speak about theirs.

[Kelly Pramberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Five stars! This book captured my attention from the first page. The writing is so good. It’s descriptive and captivating. The story is heartbreaking but Eden is resilient and brave.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy for the purpose of this review. I really enjoyed it even if it was difficult to read at times due to the subject matter.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so grateful when I read such vulnerable stories like this one. I found the absence of her mentioned published articles a bit disruptive in my reading flow; I would have liked to read them in the text. And as a runner who writes (or a writer who runs, depending on the day), I really appreciated learning about her creative and healing process.

[lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eden is beyond brave for putting her trauma and assault into writing. I wish nothing but peace for her in her life. This is a great read due to the fact that women know that they are not alone.

My favorite part from the book was when the woman from the bar decided to walk Eden back to her hotel room because “if we don’t protect each other, then who will?”