Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Lucy's Story is a gritty tale of domestic and psychological abuse and survival by Lucy Spurlock. It is engaging, an emotionally rich narrative that explores themes of family, abuse, and a woman’s journey to inner freedom. The narrative begins with the words: “This story is true, in all its brutal honesty.” Briefly, she gives readers insights into her family background and how she was raised by young, poor, hardworking parents who instilled in her values of family. She then moves on to talk about how she met Ben and how their relationship evolved.

Signs that things were getting bad started when, trying to conceive, she suggested adoption and Ben said he won’t spend money on raising somebody else’s bastard. Lucy remarks that “He had a perverse propensity for using my vulnerabilities against me,” and he cut their best friends out of their lives after the birth of their first child. And things deteriorated when their second son was born, with Ben's behavior becoming darker and darker until he became a controlling freak. In this narrative, the author shares the horrible things she endured and her journey towards inner freedom and peace.

The narrative is punctuated by short paragraphs at the end of the chapters, titled “The Devil’s In the Details,” in which the author offers insights on relationships, on self-image, personal development, on symptoms of abusive behaviors. She shares her coping tips with readers, offering insights on the liberating power of one’s relationship with God and the healing therapy of keeping a journal. Lucy's Story is the story of many women who suffer in silence, and some suffer out of love for family. The tone is clear, the voice compelling and compassionate, and the writing deep and moving. I enjoyed the author’s perceptive way of looking at her story and the powerful lessons she draws from it for readers. This book is a gift that every woman should have.