This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
Because You're You: A True Story by Nina Guilbeau and Dorothy Del Valle chronicles Dorothy’s life, born in Caguas, Puerto Rico in 1975. She has happy recollections of her childhood, but at the age of eleven, she had already grown tired of living. The narrative opens with the tragic statement that evokes a powerful sense of pathos in the reader: “I was 11 years old the first time I tried to take my life. Most days I try not to think about it, or about all the other attempts. I don’t want to dwell on the 25 years of psychiatric treatment and the thirteen pills a day I had to take to remain normal. Most days I just try to focus on the fact that God saved me when I couldn’t save myself.” In this memoir, the authors share her story and expose the painful path of a stripper, an alcoholic, a drug addict, and a prostitute. She suffered sexual abuse and had developed a very negative self-image of herself.
But this book is not about her debauchery or her stints with psychiatric treatment. It’s a gift, a story of grace, a narrative that testifies how God saved her when she couldn’t save herself. As I read the story of Dorothy, I experienced all kinds of conflicting emotions, but the powerful message of the book is unmistakable and reassuring. Because You're You: A True Story is written in a tone that is compassionate without failing to be ruthlessly honest. The personal journey of the protagonist will encourage readers not to lose hope but rather seek God in the midst of their darkness. Dorothy is able to open her wounds before readers and allows them to see the light of God shining through those wounds and bringing new life into her.
