This wonderful, funny memoir made me laugh, cry, and reflect on both the wonderful and truly, deeply hurtful parts of my life. I immediately found myself so similar to author in her early hopes and crushes and in the feelings of being repeatedly crushed. This book, and her words, make me feel so seen and give me hope. 

While it is primarily about author Kiersten Lyons’ experiences with love, loss, and the interminable lessons we experience in between, whether we want to or not, Crushed fundamentally offers readers a story on healing, and recognizing that grief and our own recovery isn’t linear, but it is possible. I was pulled in immediately by the premise, noting the similarities in things I experienced both growing up (is there something in the water in MD?), and to this day, in Kiersten’s words. Her humor lightens the darkness of the situations she goes through, and it truly seems as though you have a caring older sister commiserating with you as you read through her own non-linear journey to her unexpected, but perhaps more meaningful, present. 

Thank you so much for this one, Kiersten. I may not have loved Jonathan Taylor Thomas like you did (I was more of the age of Orlando Bloom and Heath Ledger), but to know that someone was brave enough to tell their story—and show that loving someone is always a good choice, even if they don’t or can’t love you back. 

And many thanks to NetGalley and Regalo Press for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!