We Can Still Live An Amazing Life
In Scars and All, you emphasize the idea that the wounds we carry can either keep us prisoner or guide us toward helping ease similar pain in others. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The world is hurting at the moment and many people have either physical or emotional scars and I genuinely wanted people to know that because of (not despite) our scars, we can still live an amazing life.
Were there moments you hesitated to include because they felt too personal or raw?
Yes many, but then I pictured one woman sitting alone with her emotional scars and I held her in my heart and kept writing because it’s about HER… not me.
How important was it for you to include other voices and experiences alongside your own?
Very because I didn’t want people to not be able to relate to me and discount what I was trying to share so by adding in other people, it allows the reader to relate to someone real or fictional. Behind every fictional tale, is a real person somewhere in the world. I will be donating some books to domestic violence shelters in Australia and by showing a range of people in this book, these women may believe they will be ok too.What is one thing you hope readers take away from Scars and All?
That we all have scars in one way or another and if we remain humble and vulnerable, we can become strong again and live our best life… scars and all.
Author Links: Amazon | Website
There comes a moment in every woman’s life when she realizes she’s been surviving instead of living.
When the smile she wears no longer reaches her eyes.
When the things she thought would make her happy suddenly feel heavy.
If that moment has found you, you are exactly where you need to be.
Scars & All is for the woman who’s been through the fire, heartbreak, betrayal, loss, or the quiet ache of not being seen and is ready to stop pretending she’s fine. It’s for the woman who has built walls to protect herself, but deep down knows they’re also keeping her from feeling whole.
With honesty and compassion, Lara Portelli takes your hand and walks with you through the truth of healing, not the filtered version the world sells you, but the real, messy, beautifully human process of becoming. She shares her story, and the stories of women who have faced their pain head-on and turned it into power.
This isn’t a book about fixing yourself… because you were never broken.
It’s a guide to remembering who you are beneath the scars.
Inside, you’ll discover:
* How to make peace with your past without letting it define your future
* Why vulnerability is not weakness, it’s your greatest act of courage
* How to rebuild self-trust after it’s been shattered
* The steps to rewrite your narrative and create a roadmap for what’s next
* Daily reflections and gentle prompts to help you reconnect with your inner voice
Every chapter is an invitation to come home to yourself, the parts you silenced, the dreams you buried, the woman you were always meant to be.
Because the truth is, your scars don’t make you less.
They make you real.
They make you resilient.
They make you ready.
So take a deep breath, beautiful woman.
It’s time to stop hiding behind what hurt you and start building what’s next…
Scars and all.
Posted on March 20, 2026, in Interviews and tagged author, book, book recommendations, book review, book reviews, book shelf, bookblogger, books, books to read, ebook, goodreads, indie author, kindle, kobo, Lara Portelli, literature, nonfiction, nook, novel, personal development, read, reader, reading, Scars and All, self help, story, writer, writing. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.
Leave a comment
Comments 0