Lesley Goth’s UNBROKEN is a raw, honest, and deeply personal guide for survivors of sexual assault, told through a blend of professional expertise and lived experience. Each chapter addresses tough, often unspoken questions survivors carry. Questions about guilt, bodily autonomy, trust, pleasure, and healing. Goth uses stories, affirmations, and exercises to help readers reconnect with themselves and shed the shame and self-blame they’ve carried. With her compassionate tone and direct guidance, she offers a clear path through the fog of trauma toward hope and recovery.

Goth doesn’t just write like a psychologist; she writes like someone shining a light for those climbing out of their emotional trenches. Her language is simple and heartfelt, never preachy or clinical, which makes it feel like sitting with a wise, loving friend. What hit hardest for me were the sections that dealt with feeling complicit. “What if I liked it?” and “What if I gave consent?” They break open the myths we often use to silence ourselves. She tackles these grey zones without judgment, which is rare and brave and necessary. The real-life stories she includes aren’t sanitized, and that’s what makes them powerful.

I also appreciated the practicality of the book. Goth doesn’t leave the reader with just emotions and theory; she gives you tools. Exercises, guided imagery, breathing techniques, and even journaling prompts–all doable. I tried some of them while reading and was surprised by how quickly they brought up things I hadn’t realized I’d buried. She encourages you to move at your own pace, and that permission alone feels like healing. The tone of the whole book is soft but firm. She doesn’t coddle, but she always has your back. I found myself highlighting entire paragraphs and whispering, “yes,” more than once.

This is not an easy book to read, but that’s the point. It’s for survivors who are ready to stop pretending and start facing the pain, confusion, and sometimes even twisted memories of their trauma. It’s for people who’ve felt lost in therapy, or who haven’t yet found the words for what happened. It’s also a guide for those supporting survivors, partners, friends, and family who want to understand without intruding. UNBROKEN would be especially helpful for anyone navigating the messy aftermath of assault while still trying to function in everyday life.

Pages: 134 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CZYBCRMC