2.5 stars

I wanted to like this book but I have to agree with the other reviewers, the story just jumps all over. It's very confusing to follow and the author repeats stories several times. I do understand what she was trying to accomplish, but she lacked the professional advice to achieve it. ( )

“Your father never wanted you.”

“I wish you had died at birth.”

These are the words that Julie Coons heard on a regular basis from her abusive narcissistic mother. Words like these have so much capacity to damage the self-esteem and emotions of a little child of five years old.

Her father always said, “THIS DOES NOT LEAVE THIS HOUSE.” Everything that went on in their abusive home was to be kept a secret. Until now….

Author Julie Coons opens up in this honest pragmatic retelling of her childhood and life. Filled with abuse and sorrow, this story is one that needs to be told. Her desire is to encourage and motivate others to heal their own lives and break the cycle of abuse, and to help those that have lived a life of torment due to being treated badly.

In it, she describes her life growing up with a mentally disturbed mother that is constantly telling her that she is going to kill herself. She tells Julie that she is worthless and that she is unwanted. She also recounts the nuns at her catholic school and how they physically and emotionally abused her and the other children at school.

Later, in college she gets raped and must endure the trauma and suffering that such a violation brings. Then, the cycle of abuse continues when she marries an abusive man who threatens to kill her if she leaves him.

Determined to break the cycle of abuse, Julie Coons, showers her own daughter with love and acceptance. She learns that the power of forgiveness is for her own good and begins to be set free as she forgives those that have abused her.

In “This Does Not Leave This House,” Julie Coons guides others that have experienced the same type of abuse to healing. Through her lessons and experience she helps others to overcome their own childhood and adult lives that have been filled with the torments of abuse and pain.

She bravely opens up to tell of her own life story and the effects that such abuse can have.

In this candid and important retelling of Julie Coons’ life story, many will be touched and inspired. She brings hope to the reader and gives them a sense of strength. Strength to forge ahead and break their own cycles of abuse, to overcome low self-esteem, and to ultimately have a life filled with peace, joy and hope.

This Does Not Leave this House is an easy to read story filled with drama and emotion. It is well written and a praiseworthy work of nonfiction. I highly recommend it! ( )