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You Are Not Broken
The Split gives voice to women who have faced pain, loss, the dissolution of their marriages, and challenges of long-held beliefs. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This book wanted to be written. Another collaborative book was not in my plans and yet, the idea came to me in a moment of frustration as I heard yet another person reference families of divorce as ‘broken’. I pushed it off and the idea wouldn’t let go, so I knew it needed to be shared. The women I know that have gone through divorce are not ‘broken’ and neither are their families. As we discuss in the book, something is arguable broken before divorce happens. Divorce is the and the answer to a problem where no other solution has worked. Letting women know that the end of a marriage or relationship is not the end of the story, simply the end of a chapter is extremely empowering. Having gone through divorce mostly alone, I know the power of having a group of women guide you in the process is priceless.
With so many authors involved in the making of The Split, I would imagine the collaboration process was complex. Can you share with us a little about the writing process?
Surprisingly, it was more difficult getting women to join the book than it was to have them write! So many women that were interested in writing self selected out before the process really began. To choose to share a story, especially one as raw as divorce, one has to be ready to share. You want to share what you’ve learned along the way and if you’re not quite there yet, the story simply won’t come. Being ready was the most challenging part. Once the women said they were in, the writing happened and the deadlines were (mostly) met without much fuss. The Split is now a beacon in the dark for those that need it.
Did you learn anything about yourself while putting this book together?
I learned the seeds of my divorce (and so many others) were planted long before marriage was even a consideration. From a young age, our families of origin and society share a particular message of happiness, without providing a lot of room for curiosity. I realized that when I began to become seriously curious about my life and the future I wanted, I found out the story I had been told I wanted isn’t what I actually wanted.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from The Split?
I hope the readers understand that the idea of divorce is not one they need to explore alone. It can be a tough journey and I hope this book provides a guiding light and the authors in it become a part of the readers’ support system. I hope they connect with the authors that resonate with them the most and continue their healing journey.
Did you hear? They’re getting divorced.
We have a broken family.
We’ve all heard these phrases whispered in hushed tones—words laced with judgment, pity, or shame. But what if they’re wrong?
The Split: Tales of Family Renewal and Female Resiliencechallenges the narrative that divorce equals failure. These powerful, deeply personal stories reveal that splitting isn’t the breaking point—it’s the breakthrough. In these pages, women share how they reclaimed their voices, rebuilt their lives, and redefined what family, love, and strength can look like after endings that became beginnings.
This anthology dismantles generations of stigma around divorce and womanhood, replacing it with a message of renewal, courage, and collective healing. These are not broken women. They are bold, audacious, and resilient—choosing themselves, their peace, and a new path forward. Splitting isn’t the end; it’s a rebirth.
Contributors: Brandee Melcher, Dr. Katherine Humphreys, Carol Britton, Lesley Goth, PsyD, Carolina Cifuentes, Sierra Melcher, Christen E. Bryce, MS RN, Allison Banegas, Dr. Erica Anne Love, Summer Jean, LaToya Burdiss, and Jen Kennedy, MPA
The Split
The Split gathers the voices of women who faced the unraveling of marriages, families, identities, and long-held beliefs. Across these stories, the writers look directly at pain, loss, and the complicated paths toward freedom. Instead of treating divorce or separation as a collapse, the book reframes each ending as a turning point where women choose themselves, rebuild their lives, and honor the truth that wholeness can follow even the hardest breaks. By the final pages, the collection stitches together a message that is steady and hopeful. These women are not broken, and they are becoming something stronger.
Reading their words, I felt an ache in my chest more than once. The writing is striking in its honesty, and the stories breathe with real life. Brandee Melcher’s chapter opens with the raw confusion of childhood and grows into a powerful reclaiming of self, and her voice shook me because of how clear and grounded it becomes. Her journey from chaos to confidence made me root for her, and it reminded me how childhood patterns can shadow adulthood until we finally name them. I also found myself lingering on Sierra Melcher’s reflections on choosing peace over performance. Her reminder that children do not need perfect homes, they need healthy adults, resonated with me personally. The stories impact in different ways, but all of them bring a unique emotional punch.
Some chapters hit harder than others, and the shifts in tone from one writer to the next made the book feel unpredictable in a way I genuinely enjoyed. That variety gave the collection its energy. I especially appreciated the moments when the authors stepped back from the trauma and wrote about joy creeping in again. Those small wins felt huge. They made the book less about loss and more about rebuilding something real. At times, I wished a few stories went deeper into the “after” rather than the “during,” but even that unevenness felt honest. Healing rarely moves in a straight line, and the structure of the book mirrors that reality.
The Split would be a meaningful read for anyone standing at the edge of a major life change, especially women navigating separation, divorce, or the quiet breaking points that do not always have names. It would also help friends, partners, and professionals who want to understand what these experiences actually feel like from the inside. The book sits with the hard parts, and it also leaves space for light. I would gladly recommend it to anyone who needs a reminder that endings do not mean failure. They mean a new chapter is ready for you, and you get to decide what it becomes.
Pages: 144 | ASIN : B0G274WVFH
Unbroken: A Survivor’s Journey After Sexual Assault
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
LITERARY TITAN 