It’s well-written, which means Jen Knox knows how to string words together into comprehensible sentences. And her ‘voice’ is honest, unapologetic and – vital! – likeable. In other words, she’s like the Apostle Peter in the Bible. She’s a weak, frail, vulnerable human being, who makes lots of mistakes. Which means – thank God – that she is human. Which means that despite all her flaws and failures, she is not a fraud or a charlatan. She’s not pretending to be someone who has their ‘shit’ together.

Jen and most of her family are gloriously dysfunctional – just like most families. And they have a tendency toward mental illness. And – shockingly – she talks about it. Which is what makes her story and her book so wonderful. It’s downright refreshing to read a book that acknowledges what most people know is true, but are afraid to confess: Most people are one brick short of a load. Which is what makes them and life so interesting.

Jen tells the poignant, no holds barred story of her tormentulous journey from a runaway at age 15 to adulthood, and her uphill climb to establish her own identity.

You will follow along in Jen’s attempt to understand her choices and consequences, and how they ultimately shape her as a person. She finds out that she has more in common with her Great Grandmother, Glory, than first realized. One difference is that Glory ran away from family, while Jen’s running brought them back together. It tugs at your heart at the loss of innocence and childhood. Family history plays a bigger part in our being than we realize.