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One Sunny Afternoon: A Memoir of Trauma and Healing
From the bestselling author of Love Lives Here, a deeply personal memoir about facing life-long trauma head on, and bravely healing the scars that endure.
For writer and human rights advocate Amanda Jetté Knox, the inspiring story of her family’s journey of love and acceptance, when both her child and partner came out as transgender one after the other, was the hopeful beginning to their new lives. Their tale, shared in her memoir Love Lives Here and embraced by readers everywhere, quickly found its way to the top of bestseller lists.
Yet in the spring of 2020, Jetté Knox began to experience targeted attacks on social media, and she soon became the subject of a small but very vocal group that criticized her book’s success and her advocacy work. The intensity of the backlash grew and drove Jetté Knox to contemplate suicide. But instead of taking her life, on one sunny afternoon, she went to the hospital to seek help.
One Sunny Afternoon is a searing testament to Amanda Jetté Knox’s extraordinary reckoning with her past and present, to find hope in her future. Triggered by the online harassment, she wades through her personal history and details the incidents of violence, addiction, and sexual assault that have haunted her. When Amanda eventually receives a diagnosis of Anxiety Disorder and Mood Disorder (also known as complex PTSD) and dedicates herself to recovery, she emerges with newfound strength, resiliency, and confidence.
One Sunny Afternoon is a profoundly moving and candid account of how trauma can shape us, but not define us, and reveals how even in our darkest moments—and on our most hopeless days—light can find its way in.
For writer and human rights advocate Amanda Jetté Knox, the inspiring story of her family’s journey of love and acceptance, when both her child and partner came out as transgender one after the other, was the hopeful beginning to their new lives. Their tale, shared in her memoir Love Lives Here and embraced by readers everywhere, quickly found its way to the top of bestseller lists.
Yet in the spring of 2020, Jetté Knox began to experience targeted attacks on social media, and she soon became the subject of a small but very vocal group that criticized her book’s success and her advocacy work. The intensity of the backlash grew and drove Jetté Knox to contemplate suicide. But instead of taking her life, on one sunny afternoon, she went to the hospital to seek help.
One Sunny Afternoon is a searing testament to Amanda Jetté Knox’s extraordinary reckoning with her past and present, to find hope in her future. Triggered by the online harassment, she wades through her personal history and details the incidents of violence, addiction, and sexual assault that have haunted her. When Amanda eventually receives a diagnosis of Anxiety Disorder and Mood Disorder (also known as complex PTSD) and dedicates herself to recovery, she emerges with newfound strength, resiliency, and confidence.
One Sunny Afternoon is a profoundly moving and candid account of how trauma can shape us, but not define us, and reveals how even in our darkest moments—and on our most hopeless days—light can find its way in.
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2023
22 people are currently reading
653 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
September 8, 2023
Wow. What an incredibly brave, powerful and vulnerable memoir from the bestselling author of Love lives here. In their previous book, Rowan (formerly Amanda) detailed their partner's transition story from a cis man to a trans woman and the effect it had on their family.
In this new book, Rowan talks openly about their mental health crisis, suicide attempt, therapy, early childhood trauma, addictions and drug abuse and later in life their struggles with social media trolls, transphobia, depression, body dysmorphia and so so much more.
The final chapter is particularly revelatory as they share their own transition story embracing themselves as Rowan, a trans man, and the struggle they had coming to accept this part of themselves. Another standout, not to miss memoir!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and Libro.fm for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!! Highly recommended, especially for fans of books like Elliot Page's Pageboy or Geena Rocero’s Horse Barbie.
In this new book, Rowan talks openly about their mental health crisis, suicide attempt, therapy, early childhood trauma, addictions and drug abuse and later in life their struggles with social media trolls, transphobia, depression, body dysmorphia and so so much more.
The final chapter is particularly revelatory as they share their own transition story embracing themselves as Rowan, a trans man, and the struggle they had coming to accept this part of themselves. Another standout, not to miss memoir!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and Libro.fm for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!! Highly recommended, especially for fans of books like Elliot Page's Pageboy or Geena Rocero’s Horse Barbie.
September 6, 2023
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Rowan Jette-Knox is back with his second book, a memoir of trauma, healing, and poignant vulnerability. Rowan shot into the spotlight in 2019 with his first book, "Love Lives Here: A Story of Thriving in a Transgender Family". As with this first book, Rowan gets extremely vulnerable with readers about his life and experiences, while protecting the privacy of his loved ones. In "One Sunny Afternoon" Rowan recounts his experience with suddenly becoming a public figure and how past traumas combined with that experience to create a perfect storm, resulting in him seeking mental health assistance one sunny Saturday afternoon in the spring of 2020.
After everything that has happened to him, it's incredibly courageous to stand up and publish a book like this knowing that helping even one person is worth the vulnerability. Rowan is frank and unfailingly honest in this book, and I think a lot of people will resonate with his story. For those of us who do not directly sympathize with what he has gone through, I think it will help us empathize with others around us and be better support systems. At its very core, this book asks us all to think about what others may be going through, and tells us how to be better safe spaces. In addition, it draws attention to the life-long trauma that can be caused by bullying, a word many people say is overused and has lost its meaning. Bullying, whether it be on the playground or on social media, has life-long effects that can compound with other traumas, resulting in crises later in life. It never loses its hold on its victims, and Rowan reminds us all that it takes nothing to be kinder and more compassionate.
*Please note that since the printing of this new book, Rowan has come out as transgender, changing his name to "Rowan" and using he/him pronouns. This review reflects that change, despite the deadname on the cover of the published book. The publisher is working to correct this in subsequent reprints and digital editions.
Rowan Jette-Knox is back with his second book, a memoir of trauma, healing, and poignant vulnerability. Rowan shot into the spotlight in 2019 with his first book, "Love Lives Here: A Story of Thriving in a Transgender Family". As with this first book, Rowan gets extremely vulnerable with readers about his life and experiences, while protecting the privacy of his loved ones. In "One Sunny Afternoon" Rowan recounts his experience with suddenly becoming a public figure and how past traumas combined with that experience to create a perfect storm, resulting in him seeking mental health assistance one sunny Saturday afternoon in the spring of 2020.
After everything that has happened to him, it's incredibly courageous to stand up and publish a book like this knowing that helping even one person is worth the vulnerability. Rowan is frank and unfailingly honest in this book, and I think a lot of people will resonate with his story. For those of us who do not directly sympathize with what he has gone through, I think it will help us empathize with others around us and be better support systems. At its very core, this book asks us all to think about what others may be going through, and tells us how to be better safe spaces. In addition, it draws attention to the life-long trauma that can be caused by bullying, a word many people say is overused and has lost its meaning. Bullying, whether it be on the playground or on social media, has life-long effects that can compound with other traumas, resulting in crises later in life. It never loses its hold on its victims, and Rowan reminds us all that it takes nothing to be kinder and more compassionate.
*Please note that since the printing of this new book, Rowan has come out as transgender, changing his name to "Rowan" and using he/him pronouns. This review reflects that change, despite the deadname on the cover of the published book. The publisher is working to correct this in subsequent reprints and digital editions.
2023
October 15, 2025Memoir March TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Viking
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Viking
March 30, 2023
Absolutely adored love lies here, So there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to read one Sunny afternoon. Knox had me crying right at the beginning because this book hits so close to home, Although not myself I was sitting in the hospital with 2 of my children during covid at different times and more then I would have liked, with mental health issues wondering if I was gonna have a family at the end of covid. a story like this is so hard to give a star rating to, someones life and struggles so raw but captivating. Mental health, recovery, life, Knox is one incredible human. Amazing at putting her words to paper
May 26, 2024
3.5 stars, interesting read after Love Lives Here, for the most part I like the authors writing style and appreciated hearing updates since the first book.
June 8, 2024
Honestly read this because I have followed and been interested in Rowan Jetté Knox since LLH (⚡️my favourite parasocial relationship ✨) but I actually ended up highlighting quite a bit of the book, very interesting, educational and useful. Healing IS hard work, AND healing is worth it !! I read half of this book in Santa Marta, and the rest in a hammock in Minca. It reminded me of Roxane Gay and Kiri Allen - similar ways of expressing ideas around mental health, trauma, and bodies. Structure and pacing was really good. Smart of the author, even unintentionally, to finish a memoir with the reader knowing there surely has to be another instalment because of the new journey. Four stars: required a stronger proofread, and the final chapter about trust was INSANE and tainted the preceding chapters and my trust in the author’s narrative.
April 21, 2025
I enjoyed Rowan Jette Knox's memoir, in the same spare writing style he uses in his previous memoir, love lives here. The story revolves around his childhood experiences of bullying, which led to sexual violence, and substance abuse, and how his PTSD came back to haunt him after he experienced an online pile-on from both inside and outside of the trans community. This mental health crisis brought him close to ending his life. The book is really good at showing how trauma throughout a life can compound, and lead a person to be vulnerable to further victimization. It is also, sadly, the story of how marginalized communities can turn on their own, and the importance of showing each other grace, but also of holding boundaries even with people we care about and relate to.
My one criticism of the book is in the latter part of the book, as Jette Knox focuses on his healing, the book veered into self-help territory, which felt like a sudden departure from the memoir format. He goes from telling us how he healed to telling us how we should take care of our mental health. I felt like the story would be stronger sticking with the specifics of his story, rather than offering pretty basic and well-worn mental health advice. Otherwise, it was an engaging read I breezed through quickly.
My one criticism of the book is in the latter part of the book, as Jette Knox focuses on his healing, the book veered into self-help territory, which felt like a sudden departure from the memoir format. He goes from telling us how he healed to telling us how we should take care of our mental health. I felt like the story would be stronger sticking with the specifics of his story, rather than offering pretty basic and well-worn mental health advice. Otherwise, it was an engaging read I breezed through quickly.
June 26, 2025
This is Rowan’s memoir where she shares about her traumatic life. In the beginning of the book it's discussing that she was considering taking her own life but instead decided to seek help for this. When she was young she had extreme dissociation where she wouldn't know who she was or where she was. To dull her anxieties she started drinking heavily. She had multiple life threatening situations including a gun to her head and rapes until her parents put her in a rehab. After she wrote a book about one of her children and her spouse becoming transgender she started getting attacked online. She couldn't make everyone happy. This led to her going to the hospital because she wanted to kill herself. After this she starts working hard on herself. She has one friend that lied to her and said that she had cancer multiple times but it turned out that she never had it to begin with. She had another friend/therapist, Maya, that said they were qualified with many degrees but then she realized that this person was lying and had no qualifications. In the end, she survives and decides to live as a trans male going forward.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2023
This book was a very emotional read - no surprises there. The author has such an engaging writing style that I devoured this book across three evening sessions. Although I can count myself lucky not to have been through even half as much as Jette Knox, I did relate to a lot of his insecurities and problems/roadblocks on the way to get better. It made me think and reflect on myself - and gave me hope for a more positive future. Absolutely recommended for people struggling with mental health and seeking to connect with someone who's found ways to cope and heal.
February 8, 2024
Oh my goodness what a powerful book. So much to think about as you read and so much to learn. One of the best books I have ever read. I also loved Love Lives Here and will be sharing and recommending both of these books. If I could I would rate this book with 5 plus. Thanks to Rowan for writing this book.
September 24, 2023
This was really wonderful and also so very hard. Thank you, Rowan, for sharing your story.
October 9, 2023
I love anything written by Rowan Jette Knox. He is such a force to be reckoned with. A beautiful book❤️
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February 7, 2024I can't in good conscience give this book a bad rating, given the issues it covers, but...
...I felt this is a narrative that skates over subject matter without being truly vulnerable about it. Maybe that's intentional - maybe Jette Knox doesn't want readers to be too troubled, considering the subject is trauma.
Still - this feels like friendly pop psychology. I didn't connect with Jette Knox, and it felt like reading a lot of events where nothing is actually delved into.
I suppose that makes it accessible, but it's also not deep enough. If readers are looking for some light in the dark, I think there are more effective, moving, and helpful memoirs to spend your time on.
...I felt this is a narrative that skates over subject matter without being truly vulnerable about it. Maybe that's intentional - maybe Jette Knox doesn't want readers to be too troubled, considering the subject is trauma.
Still - this feels like friendly pop psychology. I didn't connect with Jette Knox, and it felt like reading a lot of events where nothing is actually delved into.
I suppose that makes it accessible, but it's also not deep enough. If readers are looking for some light in the dark, I think there are more effective, moving, and helpful memoirs to spend your time on.
November 14, 2023
2.5 stars. I really enjoyed and learned a lot from Rowan's first book 'Love Lives Here'. Although the experiences shared in this second book are equally insightful and heart wrenching, I felt the writing and overall book itself wasn't as cohesive as his first book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2023
I really enjoyed Rowan’s first book “love lives here” but I just couldn’t fully get into this one unfortunately, there was still great information and life lessons in it but just not the book for me this time around unfortunately
September 27, 2023
I don't normally read memoirs for the most part, but this book I read for work reasons. I'm also not sure I'm the target audience -- although everyone I believe has mental health struggles to some degree, I do not have experience with childhood & young adult trauma, so I wasn't reading this book to find something of myself in it, to seek solace.
If you're reading this and you DO want to hear the voice of someone who's been through an unbelievable amount of trauma, and come out the other end a better person, then Jette Knox is an engaging voice. It's clear his goal here is to provide hope to other people who may wonder if they'll ever be ok, and I think he largely succeeds.
But sometimes, while reading, I wondered about the purpose of the book, about how it straddles straight-up memoir and a smidge of self-help without fully committing to the latter. There are some brief explanatory passages (about, for example, suicide rates, or about the validity of the term "breakdown"), but they are not fully fleshed-out enough to be considered an authoritative voice on trauma recovery in a general sense. I also struggled with how Jette Knox breezes over some life events and choose to detail others. Sometimes I believe it's for privacy reasons, which I respect, but then other sections spell out specific traumatic incidents (e.g. a rape) in hard-to-read, very precise detail. There's some repetition of concepts throughout the book, too, when it comes to psychology.
Overall, I think this book could indeed be a comfort to some, although it's incredibly triggering along the way, if you as a reader have experienced sexual assault, addiction, or suicidal ideation. It does end with hope, however, which is really nice to read after all the author has gone through. Will it give hope to you, too? I'm not sure. I wish the book had balanced its mix of memoir and essay-style advice better, but it's still a brave piece of work.
If you're reading this and you DO want to hear the voice of someone who's been through an unbelievable amount of trauma, and come out the other end a better person, then Jette Knox is an engaging voice. It's clear his goal here is to provide hope to other people who may wonder if they'll ever be ok, and I think he largely succeeds.
But sometimes, while reading, I wondered about the purpose of the book, about how it straddles straight-up memoir and a smidge of self-help without fully committing to the latter. There are some brief explanatory passages (about, for example, suicide rates, or about the validity of the term "breakdown"), but they are not fully fleshed-out enough to be considered an authoritative voice on trauma recovery in a general sense. I also struggled with how Jette Knox breezes over some life events and choose to detail others. Sometimes I believe it's for privacy reasons, which I respect, but then other sections spell out specific traumatic incidents (e.g. a rape) in hard-to-read, very precise detail. There's some repetition of concepts throughout the book, too, when it comes to psychology.
Overall, I think this book could indeed be a comfort to some, although it's incredibly triggering along the way, if you as a reader have experienced sexual assault, addiction, or suicidal ideation. It does end with hope, however, which is really nice to read after all the author has gone through. Will it give hope to you, too? I'm not sure. I wish the book had balanced its mix of memoir and essay-style advice better, but it's still a brave piece of work.
July 24, 2024
4 Stars, which I will leave at 4 stars.
I picked up this book after reading the first book by Rowan "Love Lives Here". I devoured the first book and expected the same reaction to this book. However, it was not there. That is not to say that I did not enjoy it; I just enjoyed the first book more.
To start, I felt like I was skipping pages in the beginning. Perhaps because I had just read "Love Lives Here" I knew quite a few of the stories Rowan presents here. Some are the same stories, some are ones that were briefly touched on in the first book but were now included with more details. That is fine because, I bet some people would not read the first book from this book but, for me, especially since I just finished the first book, I found those part boring. I was looking for more information about the story; that did not start until around page 107.
The rest of this book was going through Rowan's mental health experiences. I found parts of this very informative and interesting, especially being a fellow Canadian, just in a different province. I think this book would be very important to read by mental health professionals, so they can see what it is really like to be on the other side. Also, maybe by people who are also living with mental health like Rowan.
That is really the reason for my 4 star review. "Love Lives Here" was 5 star, hands down. This is 4 stars because of the repeated stories but it included some really good, solid mental health experiences and information
I picked up this book after reading the first book by Rowan "Love Lives Here". I devoured the first book and expected the same reaction to this book. However, it was not there. That is not to say that I did not enjoy it; I just enjoyed the first book more.
To start, I felt like I was skipping pages in the beginning. Perhaps because I had just read "Love Lives Here" I knew quite a few of the stories Rowan presents here. Some are the same stories, some are ones that were briefly touched on in the first book but were now included with more details. That is fine because, I bet some people would not read the first book from this book but, for me, especially since I just finished the first book, I found those part boring. I was looking for more information about the story; that did not start until around page 107.
The rest of this book was going through Rowan's mental health experiences. I found parts of this very informative and interesting, especially being a fellow Canadian, just in a different province. I think this book would be very important to read by mental health professionals, so they can see what it is really like to be on the other side. Also, maybe by people who are also living with mental health like Rowan.
That is really the reason for my 4 star review. "Love Lives Here" was 5 star, hands down. This is 4 stars because of the repeated stories but it included some really good, solid mental health experiences and information
February 4, 2024
A deeply personal memoir about facing lifelong trauma and healing the scar, the writer and transgender advocate Amanda Jetté Knox, showed us what a brave and encouraging journey she been through. After writing a book about how to support the loved ones in her trans family, the book became a success and also brought the positive influence to transgender community. But in the spring of 2020, some different voices and targeted attacks showed up on Amanda’s social media, she had a breakdown mentally and almost admitted to a suicide. This book is about opening up some wounds from life traumas and recover from them.
Amanda is brave and she is a real fighter. Her life wasn’t an easy journey for her so far
(I probably should use they/their because nonbinary)
Being a reader, it’s impossible for me to like every single book I read. Everyone has their own preference. It’s absolutely okay to not like some one’s book. However, I believe that the art or book the author created is in no association with what kinds of person they are. The book maybe not be your favourite, but it doesn’t mean the author is a bad person. ??? It’s sad to see sometime people left hurtful comments online to attack other ones.
September 21, 2023
I discovered Love Lives Here totally randomly, without knowing its author and was very surprised by how well this memoir was written. Since then, I've followed Rowan on social media and it was a kind of very different experience to read that second book because I witnessed a lot of what he talks about in it.
Trauma and C-PTSD are things that I share with Rowan. I also share a mean to heal from it : I read a lot about it, educated myself about it and ended at a point where I could have made it my professional path, that's how much I learned about it. So when I say that this book is a good book about trauma, I say it while having read so many books about it already. And I feel like Rowan is very good at navigating the balance between telling his experience and talking about trauma and healing from it in general. I feel like this book would have helped me a lot when I was at my lowest. But even today, it gave me something.
Trauma and C-PTSD are things that I share with Rowan. I also share a mean to heal from it : I read a lot about it, educated myself about it and ended at a point where I could have made it my professional path, that's how much I learned about it. So when I say that this book is a good book about trauma, I say it while having read so many books about it already. And I feel like Rowan is very good at navigating the balance between telling his experience and talking about trauma and healing from it in general. I feel like this book would have helped me a lot when I was at my lowest. But even today, it gave me something.
November 3, 2023
Having read Rowan Jette Knox's book, I knew this one would stretch my mind, and it did. I know I will get the pronouns wrong in this review, as this book begins with Amanda, cis woman, and ends with Amanda, non-binary person, and then by the time of publication Amanda had become Rowan, trans man, thus making three sets of pronouns applicable if possibly not correct. This book tells of a dark time in Amanda's life, when internet bullying caused her to almost commit suicide, and in the process of recovering and healing from that event, to confront traumatic events from her past that were destroying her mental health. The subject matter is difficult, but the writing style is easy to read, and the openness with which the story is told is very brave, and to be commended. Knowing what has transpired since the end of this book, I know there is another book in Rowan's future that will also challenge my preconceptions, and I can't wait to read it.
November 8, 2023
I tiptoed through this one carefully. While I absolutely love Rowan and his 1st book, Love Lives Here, I knew this book would be different. This one would hit home more. While it's fantastic and one everyone should read, it's hard to read about the trauma of others while you, yourself, are dealing with mental health issues. While our traumas are not the same, Rowan and I do have a lot of similarities, so I felt seen reading this memoir. Some trigger warnings I must lay out here. There is talk of suicide and sexual assault and other abuse. If those things are triggers or super hard for you, just be aware or skip this one. I do have to say, I don't think I've highlighted more in a book than I did with this one, over 100 highlights, according to Goodreads! There is a lot of fantastic information and tools to help heal people. I'm so very thankful that Rowan chose to live to share more of his story with the world.
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November 9, 2023I'm not going to rate this one, because I don't think my inability to finish it is a reflection on the book.
I read Love Lives Here, and loved it, and I follow Rowan on social media...so I am a supporter. But this just didn't land for me. It felt a bit repetitive, and at times a bit preachy, but also like he was trying to convince himself that he knows who he is, and is so much more comfortable and self aware than he used to be....except the book is written when Rowan was still Amanda. (And I only deadname here because he refers to himself as Amanda the entire book).
I wholeheartedly support his right to be whoever he wants to be, and love whoever he wants to love, but knowing where he is in his life now compared to the person who wrote the book...it just doesn't feel right. I think he has a lot more learning and growing and self discovery to go, and I just am not sure putting it in a memoir form right before he came out as trans was the right timing.
I read Love Lives Here, and loved it, and I follow Rowan on social media...so I am a supporter. But this just didn't land for me. It felt a bit repetitive, and at times a bit preachy, but also like he was trying to convince himself that he knows who he is, and is so much more comfortable and self aware than he used to be....except the book is written when Rowan was still Amanda. (And I only deadname here because he refers to himself as Amanda the entire book).
I wholeheartedly support his right to be whoever he wants to be, and love whoever he wants to love, but knowing where he is in his life now compared to the person who wrote the book...it just doesn't feel right. I think he has a lot more learning and growing and self discovery to go, and I just am not sure putting it in a memoir form right before he came out as trans was the right timing.
August 17, 2024
5/5 Stars
I loved reading love lives here which was also written by this author, so I had no doubts in my mind that I would also love this memoir by him, and it was absolutely no exception. I listened to this book n audiobook, and listening to memoirs is just a whole other level of vulnerable in my opinion. Hearing the author speak of these hard topics, especially topics spoken about in this book, makes it so much closer to the heart. Well done, Rowan, you will never know the impact your book has had, and the lives it has changed sharing your story of resilience.
I will not comment on this story as it is the authors own, but what a brave and vulnerable story to tell. And for everyone who pre-ordered the book (like me) be sure to change the authors name on your copy, as he has transitioned, and your copy may have his dead name on it!
I loved reading love lives here which was also written by this author, so I had no doubts in my mind that I would also love this memoir by him, and it was absolutely no exception. I listened to this book n audiobook, and listening to memoirs is just a whole other level of vulnerable in my opinion. Hearing the author speak of these hard topics, especially topics spoken about in this book, makes it so much closer to the heart. Well done, Rowan, you will never know the impact your book has had, and the lives it has changed sharing your story of resilience.
I will not comment on this story as it is the authors own, but what a brave and vulnerable story to tell. And for everyone who pre-ordered the book (like me) be sure to change the authors name on your copy, as he has transitioned, and your copy may have his dead name on it!
November 15, 2023
I loved listening to this title!!
While it has a few “self-help-ish” moments, this is most definitely NOT anything near a “self-help” book. This is a powerful - and powerfully written - memoir, where we join with the author - feeling very much like we are walking side by side with them - on their journey of healing and self-discovery.
There are so many moments that will resonate with any reader… Lots of great universal takeaways.
I also have a copy of the e-book on my Libby and I am about to go scrolling through it to find a few things to keep for myself for posterity.
I’m quite liking having an e-book available at the same time as I have an audiobook, so that I can go on the hunt for specific content during, or after, listening!
Highly recommended.
While it has a few “self-help-ish” moments, this is most definitely NOT anything near a “self-help” book. This is a powerful - and powerfully written - memoir, where we join with the author - feeling very much like we are walking side by side with them - on their journey of healing and self-discovery.
There are so many moments that will resonate with any reader… Lots of great universal takeaways.
I also have a copy of the e-book on my Libby and I am about to go scrolling through it to find a few things to keep for myself for posterity.
I’m quite liking having an e-book available at the same time as I have an audiobook, so that I can go on the hunt for specific content during, or after, listening!
Highly recommended.
July 4, 2024
I couldn’t decide between 3 or 4 stars. This book had many stories needed to be told and put into the world for those who read it to tear down shame or maybe give inspiration to seek out different avenues of help should they need it. I read this over a span of a few months. Usually that’s a sign of me not connecting with the writing; however, I did connect. I took the time to read what was within these pages so that I would not get overwhelmed but also because I wanted to take what I learned and sit with it. Jette Knox really allows us to sit with ourselves and look inward. Both books written by Rowan really helped me better navigate the world by seeking knowledge while also being gentler with myself.
September 13, 2023
I loved Rowan’s previous book and so looked forward to this one. And while I did like this one, I missed the informal and folksy way the first book interacted with the reader. This book was a bit more technical and even a little preachy. Not really in a bad way, just more removed. I believe the book will have widespread interest and appeal with the parts that discuss online bullying. Clearly it’s a huge problem and understanding the disastrous effects is a something we can all relate to. I look forward to reading Rowan’s next book. I was gifted this book by NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest feedback.
November 14, 2023
Beautifully written
Rowan poured his heart into this book, just as he did with Love Lives Here. He wrote profoundly about trauma and mental illness and how hard these things can be, about hitting rock bottom and surviving. I'm so proud of Rowan. That he is still here. That he's now living authentically. That he fought and continues to fight through the hard things. I'm thankful for this book. Read it, find what you need from his words, and share it. But also take breaks if needed because it gets heavy, don't let that discourage you though (but stop if its too much right now.) The world definitely needs more Rowans, I'm forever thankful it didn't lose my favorite one.
Rowan poured his heart into this book, just as he did with Love Lives Here. He wrote profoundly about trauma and mental illness and how hard these things can be, about hitting rock bottom and surviving. I'm so proud of Rowan. That he is still here. That he's now living authentically. That he fought and continues to fight through the hard things. I'm thankful for this book. Read it, find what you need from his words, and share it. But also take breaks if needed because it gets heavy, don't let that discourage you though (but stop if its too much right now.) The world definitely needs more Rowans, I'm forever thankful it didn't lose my favorite one.
May 17, 2024
This book is part memoir, part mental health guidebook. It's definitely Rowan's mental health story, and it's told in an honest and compelling way. Some of the book - particularly the first part covers the same stories as his first memoir, but with a different slant. There was not as much about the family as I'd hoped, although I respect that, particularity after all the drama the first book opened up. I was hoping to find out about Rowan and Zoe becoming poly, but that's either for another book or none of my business!
I'm glad Rowan stayed, I'm glad he's working on being happy I'm glad I read this book, narrated by the author.
I'm glad Rowan stayed, I'm glad he's working on being happy I'm glad I read this book, narrated by the author.
August 19, 2023
Rowan has a beautiful way with words and a remarkable ability to articulate the most complex of human emotions in the written word.
Many aspects of this memoir were relatable. I learned a lot about myself while reading Rowan’s candid retelling of his traumas and life experiences.
This memoir is raw and real evoking a wide range of emotions from tears of sadness to tears of happiness. Rowan's unwavering bravery in baring his soul and recounting deeply intimate experiences is truly commendable, making this memoir an immensely impactful and sincere narrative.
Many aspects of this memoir were relatable. I learned a lot about myself while reading Rowan’s candid retelling of his traumas and life experiences.
This memoir is raw and real evoking a wide range of emotions from tears of sadness to tears of happiness. Rowan's unwavering bravery in baring his soul and recounting deeply intimate experiences is truly commendable, making this memoir an immensely impactful and sincere narrative.
May 12, 2023
Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read an ARC.
So many verbs to describe this brave., insightful, honest and raw. All the messy bits. Therapeutic. Mx Knox peeled back layers of truth to rewrite their story. I'm dealing with my own trauma therapy, I learned something about myself from the book. I hope therapists/caregivers read this to learn more from those dealing with heavy histories. Thank you, Amanda.
So many verbs to describe this brave., insightful, honest and raw. All the messy bits. Therapeutic. Mx Knox peeled back layers of truth to rewrite their story. I'm dealing with my own trauma therapy, I learned something about myself from the book. I hope therapists/caregivers read this to learn more from those dealing with heavy histories. Thank you, Amanda.
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