Review by Kelsea McNaughton -- In Hindsight

[Kelsea McNaughton]

[Following is a volunteer review of "In Hindsight" by Sharon Bonanno and Lisa Scott.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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In Hindsight: The Story Of How Two Sisters Hurt, Hindered, And Healed Each Other, is a beautifully written memoir told through the eyes of two sisters, Sharon Bonanno and Lisa Scott. The alternating perspectives provide an in-depth look at how each sister handled the trials and tribulations that they faced throughout their childhoods and well into adulthood; a dysfunctional relationship with their father and stepmother, addiction, a chronic illness, childhood trauma, and so much more. Although the sisters handle these issues in different ways and head in opposite paths that place a strain on their relationship, In Hindsight shows how strong the sisterhood bond truly is.

I found the openness and honesty of this book to be captivating; thus, it was a very quick and easy read. It provided an excellent look into how our adult behaviors and relationships, whether positive or negative, are deeply impacted by our childhood traumas. While Lisa and Sharon had the same experiences growing up and both harbored similar feelings of sadness, anger, doubt, and fear, they had vastly different ways of handling it. I loved that this book showed that even though people tackle their difficulties in different ways, in the end, they are feeling the same feelings and wanting the same things. In Hindsight provides readers with strength and hope.

While this book was very well-edited and I didn't notice any errors, I found some aspects of it to be repetitive. For example, on page 30, "Janet's children from her previous marriage" was said, although it was already well known that the children were from a previous marriage as it had been mentioned several times in prior pages. While this is more of a personal preference, I did notice some similar repetitiveness throughout the book. Aside from this, this book didn't have any negative aspects.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has experienced addiction, a chronic illness, feelings of self-doubt, strained relationships, or childhood trauma, whether first hand or through a loved one. While the subjects are of a sensitive nature, the book was written in a way that was uplifting and provides hope. Addiction is a large focus of In Hindsight, but I think on a deeper level it is about familial relationships and how our experiences impact the way we treat one another and how we treat ourselves. Even if someone has not struggled with addiction or the aforementioned subjects, this would be a great read for anyone that is looking for an inspiring memoir that highlights how our struggles can make relationships come out stronger in the end.

I rate In Hindsight 4 out of 4 stars. It was relatable, healing, and easy to emotionally connect to. The two perspectives flowed well together and provided a stronger understanding of how these difficult topics impact a family as a whole.

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In Hindsight
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