Marcia Abboud

Every Shitty Thing by Marcia Abboud sets out to remind everyone that sometimes the hardest of our trials sets us up for our greatest moments. Marcia learned at a young age that the men in her life could not be trusted, for anything other than disappointment and pain. Growing up in 1970s Sydney, she learned fast that the only place she could really find peace was in food. Marcia had every reason to lie down and let the shit that happens in life steamroll over her as it had since she was a child. Except as it would turn out, Marcia had one thing to fight for in the end, something that could have truly pushed her over the edge but instead was a foundation of rebuilding; her daughter.

I will openly admit that I chose to read this book because the title was something that I could relate to. The moment I read the title I said to myself, “Well, ain’t that the truth - looks like a straightforward story here,” and I was not disappointed. Marcia is a straight shooter who does not sugarcoat anything and that is something I find so relatable. Her story seems to leap off the pages as you read and you can feel yourself walking along the path her life takes as if you are her invisible friend, observing or at least listening to her spin the story instead of reading about it. To me, those are the best stories, the ones that make you feel part of them.

This is a very real look at life and how it can kick all of us any time it wants, whatever age we are. However, I came away from this book with a message of hope and survival. That no matter how hard life kicks us in the shins, we have to get back up and make the best of things. That when we set about making the best of things, sooner or later we will realize that the life we built is a million miles away from the pain and hardship that nearly dragged us down to where we couldn’t get up anymore. Marcia shows herself as a true warrior and I want to thank her for sharing her story. Then I want to encourage each and every woman who gets the chance to read this book. Take your own empowerment away from Marcia's story. This is a story filled with betrayal and hardship but shows a 'never stay down' kind of rallying cry as well. I would say, in this day, we all need a little reminder that no matter how bad it gets, we can make it through and see the sunshine again.

Kathryn Bennett – Readers’ Favorite

Every Shitty Thing by Marcia Abboud is an autobiographical memoir about the author's life, filled with unimaginable hardship and, ultimately, redemption. The book starts with the suicide of Abboud's brother, Tony, backtracking from there into her Australian childhood and memories of her brothers, then dancing between marriage, family, pregnancy—all littered along the way with heartbreaking details of deception, abuse, and everything one never hopes to come across in a single life. In this sense, Abboud makes the reader feel like she's lived half a dozen lives, but is somehow able to weave her life story with grace, humor, and an authentic voice.

Every Shitty Thing is definitely one of the better memoirs that I've read, although it is certainly one of the hardest as well. Reviews of autobiographical memoirs can be tricky as it often feels like judgment is being passed on more than just the writing, but for all of her past troubles, Marcia Abboud is also a highly gifted and exceptionally skilled writer. There is a grit to the narrative that makes sure we do not forget that it is written by a woman who has been there, done that, and not just survived...but flourished. This is balanced with prose that is beautiful and complex, leaving me with the feeling that she has found the path she was meant to be on. I love a good tale of a woman who overcomes every obstacle thrown in front of her, and what Abboud delivers in this book couldn't be more engrossing even if it was fiction.

Asher Syed – Readers’ Favorite

Every Shitty Thing by Marcia Abboud is the heartbreaking and triumphant journey of a woman who grew up in Sydney in the 70s and experienced emotional turmoil. At a very early age she suffered betrayal, abuse, and gradually learned to hate herself. She found an escape in food, always dreaming of running off someday. In this memoir the author captures with ruthless clarity her experience of a lifetime of betrayal and deception, lifting the veil to let readers see her pain and captivating them as she makes the passage from despair to hope, finally finding love along the way.

Marcia Abboud speaks from her pain and from the very center of her vulnerability, a place she's learned to receive both joy and heartache. It is interesting to see the transformation she undergoes, refusing to be defined by her pain. In this memoir she explores themes of family, abuse, brotherhood, the quest for happiness, self-acceptance, and solitude, sharing raw emotions with readers and presenting them with a heart in pain. But this is also a story of hope, a memoir with a strong message, one that encourages readers to never stop loving themselves, to let their wounds open because then healing flows into other areas of their life. The prose is beautiful and the scenes are vividly described and focused. Every Shitty Thing: One Woman's Journey Through Brothers, Betrayals and Botox will uplift you and increase your hope for a better tomorrow. Inspiring and gripping!

Christian Sia – Readers’ Favorite