I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
TRIGGER WARNING: THIS BOOK INCLUDES MATERIAL AROUND TOPICS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE, SUICIDAL IDEATION, AND EATING DISORDERS. READER DISCRETION ADVISED…
Author Denise Bossarte shares a personal tale of trauma, recovery, and healing in the face of sexual abuse in her self-help book, “Thriving After Sexual Abuse: Break Your Bondage to the Past and Live a Life You Love.”
The Synopsis
Indie Feature August 1, 2021 Kirkus Reviews
“A heartfelt and informative guide to recovery with searing literary recollections.” ~Kirkus Reviews
Nonfiction Book Awards GOLD AWARD winner
2021 Kindle Book Awards The Best of Indie semi-finalist
Quarterfinalist in the 2019 BookLife Prize Nonfiction Contest, Self-help Category
Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Review
Thriving After Sexual Abuse is an eloquent and empathetic self-development book laying out a blueprint for survivors to heal themselves. Denise Bossarte writes with fierce candor as she shares her own traumatic experience with childhood sexual abuse. Thriving provides tips and suggestions for readers to seek help, self-reflect, and pursue healing through a range of activities and practices and offers tangible strategies for readers to reclaim their lives and move forward to a life of Thriving.
“Bossarte reveals vividly personal, harrowing recollections from a long span of her young years, contrasting those dark years and their negative effect on her personal growth with a plethora of resources for accessing professional guidance and unlocking inner determination. While not glossing over how difficult a path this can be, her book proffers hope and pragmatic solutions to anyone recovering from severe trauma. In a book that is at once deeply honest and informative, Bossarte examines the most difficult of subjects with grace, sensitivity, and profound empathy for survivors, which makes this book an essential guide for the process of healing.” ~Self-Publishing Review
“Well-written, thought-provoking, and sensitive, Bossarte’s Thriving After Sexual Abuse is a guidebook for a wide audience of readers who will immediately recognize its value whether they are survivors themselves or know someone who is.” ~Nonfiction Book Awards
The Review
This was an incredibly powerful and moving read. It’s really hard not to get emotional reading this book, even if you yourself as a reader have not experienced this kind of trauma. The likelihood of knowing someone who has gone through this is high, whether it be a family member or close friend, and witnessing the pain someone you love is in due to this kind of trauma can be really difficult and heartbreaking to witness.
Yet it was the powerful message that the author’s book gave that brought hope and strength to this book’s theme and narrative. The author’s ability to relay her own traumatic experiences while speaking with an authoritative voice and expertise highlights the techniques that can help other survivors to move beyond the trauma and find the things that bring them joy again in the world. Even the message on forgiveness is such an important topic, as it relates to how to find forgiveness for yourself for the false faults you found within yourself and instead keep the blame where it belongs, with the abuser. The way the author writes also allows for the reader to work on these techniques themselves, giving them the tools and practices they need to find their own path to heal and regain happiness in their lives.
The Verdict
A heartfelt, emotional, and memorable read, author Denise Bossarte’s “Thriving After Sexual Abuse” is a must-read book for survivors and readers alike. The honesty and engaging way the author not only relays her story but balances that out with lessons and techniques found through experience to help those who have had to deal with this kind of trauma is truly incredible and amazing to see unfold, as it shows the strength and work that goes into overcoming trauma and coming out the other side on a brighter note. If you are looking for a nonfiction read that shares a tale of pain and triumph in the face of trauma, then you have to grab your own copy of this powerful read today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Denise Bossarte is an award-winning author, poet, and photographer and artist whose passion is sharing the worlds of her mind and camera. Her daytime job in IT helps to keep the household running.
She enjoys writing, teaching Miksang contemplative photography workshops, and going on photo shoots to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary world.
She teaches and photographs near her home in Texas.
Author Anthony Avina's Blog 