Not Good Enough Girl

2025 Global Ebook Awards Gold Medal in Autobiography/Memoirs 2025 North American Book Awards Silver Medal in Autobiography/Memoir 2025 North American Book Awards Bronze Medal in Parent/Family “A frank, raw, and often complex memoir that is tense and gripping throughout.”—BookLife Reviews“A cathartic rallying cry to not be afraid to voice one’s own story.”—US Review of Books“Not Good Enough Girl presents a courageous and raw look at one woman’s experiences with familial dysfunction and its lasting impact on individual choices. The testament of a skilled writer is to make painful experiences somehow transcend the page and connect to readers who may not have had similar experiences. Brooks does this. The writing is persuasive, drawing readers into Brooks’ journey of self-discovery and healing, making this memoir an affecting reminder of the enduring scars left by childhood trauma, and the path toward healing. Very highly recommended.”—Readers’ Favorite “A complex memoir about innocence interrupted, Not Good Enough Girl articulates a struggle with a volatile mother-daughter relationship.”—Foreword Clarion Reviews“Not Good Enough Girl describes Sondra R. Brooks’ harrowing experiences in a dysfunctional, abusive family… . This is a well-written work that deftly draws readers into the author’s emotions as she navigates her turbulent life, filled with cruel and shocking events. As with works by Jeanette Walls, readers will find themselves immersed in the story. Providing a respite to her troubled narrative, Brooks also wields humor like a knife. Not Good Enough Girl has a ‘can’t look away’ quality that will keep readers riveted throughout.”—Blue Ink Review “Deftly moves from the hilarious, to the shocking, to the saddest betrayals and losses. A gripping, heart-wrenching story of abandonment, cruelty, chaos, and longing for love.”—Andrea Robin Skinner, meditation facilitator at Horse Discovery and advocate for survivors of childhood sexual abuse“Simultaneously heartbreaking and healing—a memoir of neglect, abuse, perseverance, and hope.”—Independent Book Review“Not Good Enough Girl is an all-encompassing memoir about a woman’s struggle to survive and create a life of happiness. From a volatile mother-daughter relationship to one of an abusive stepfather and then a broken marriage, Author Sondra R. Brooks’ experiences remind us that we all have a story to tell. Beautifully written in the voice of a fighting spirit, readers follow her through the trenches to stop the patterns and end the chaos.”—Kathryn Dare, Seattle Book Review

Sondra R. Brooks graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy as a ballet major, studied musical theatre at Carnegie Mellon University, and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Phoenix. She is a three-time award winner in the International Writers’ Digest Competition for her memoir/essays “Vincent,” “The Magic Tumor Theory,” and “Jimmy.” Brooks has served as judge in various writing competitions and is a member of Authors Guild of America, Story Circle Network, National Association of Memoir Writers, and North Carolina Writers Network. She lives in a log cabin in the woods with three cats and seven rescue dogs. Her husband of seventeen years considers himself to be a rescue as well. She enjoys cycling, beekeeping, forest farming, organic gardening, and caring for her botanical sanctuary. She presently makes her home in Pittsboro, North Carolina.

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