Official Review: Even If Your Heart Would Listen

[Brenda Creech]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Even If Your Heart Would Listen" by Elise Schiller.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Three weeks after her maternal grandmother died, Giana Natali died of a heroin overdose. It was January 2014. She was thirty-three. Giana is the youngest child of Elise Schiller, the author of Even if Your Heart Would Listen: Losing My Daughter to Heroin. In the book, Schiller tells the heartbreaking story of her youngest daughter's battle to conquer her OUD (Opioid Use Disorder) and her struggles with anorexia, bulimia, and depression, and anxiety disorder. Schiller exposes her own raw emotions and inner struggles over Giana's death while still grieving the death of her mother.

Giana was an accomplished competitive swimmer from a young age, often competing above her age group and winning. She was beautiful and intelligent but had low self-esteem. Giana loved animals and rescued several dogs throughout her thirty-three years. She struggled for years with anorexia and was in the hospital several times to conquer the disease. Her drug use started with marijuana and progressed to the use of heroin despite being in drug rehab multiple times. She also battled depression and anxiety disorder. Giana's romantic relationships were inexpedient as her partners were also drug users. Schiller supported Giana and made every effort to help her turn her life around. The author's grief is palpable, and every mother who reads this book will feel her pain as she struggles to accept what she could not change. This book will touch the reader deep in their soul as they follow Giana's life journey and see addiction's reality and the impact on an entire family.

I commend Elise Schiller for sharing the story of her youngest daughter's battle with heroin addiction. After Giana's death, the author went through her medical records and personal papers to discover why her drug rehab was ineffectual. Schiller began researching everything she could find on OUD and recovery. There are medications to prevent using heroin; however, Giana was never given anything on a long-term basis. In Giana's papers, there was a lot of information about relapse, but the one thing missing was that medication is the best way to prevent relapse. The rehab facilities offered minimal one-on-one counseling. Schiller got angry at the inadequacy of treatment she found as she went through Giana's records.

What I liked most is that Schiller details what is lacking in drug abuse rehab. Although the most effective means of preventing relapse is medication, many think it is trading one drug for another. As she reviewed her daughter's medical records, Schiller also found a minimal emphasis placed on mental health. There is some counseling, but it is not adequate. All of the rehab centers Giana was in use the Alcoholic Anonymous 12 Step Program, which emphasizes finding "a higher power" and using "g-d" (they can no longer use the word God) as the focus. That was a problem for both Elise and Giana, who are Atheists.

There wasn't anything I disliked about this book. I believe it had professional editing as there are only a few minor errors, such as misspelled words that do not interfere with the reading experience. There is only one curse word in the book. Due to professional editing and the powerful message in Even if Your Heart Would Listen by Elise Schiller, this book deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.

Everyone from teenagers to seniors should read this book. The better educated we all are about the effects of opioid use, the more we can help someone whose use turns to addiction. It can happen at any age to anyone. More people need to be aware of those who lost their battle with addiction and its impact on those who love them.

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Even If Your Heart Would Listen
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[AnnOgochukwu]

This is a very emotional story. I hope this book serves it's purpose, to help people who suffer drug addiction.
Beautiful review.

[123Esther]

Both sad and educative story. the review is well detailed. Thank you!

[Ellylion]

Sounds like an engaging and very powerful read. I am glad to learn it can be helpful for those fighting addiction. Thank you very much for this great review!

[Reitumetse_R]

Sensitive topic. I wish she could have managed to save her daughter. I have to have this book. When it comes to this kind of topic, prevention is better than anything else. We really thank her for sharing with us so that we can try and avoid her situation.
Thank you for the review

[Tbull1981]

Sad emotional story u never really know what people go through.

[Ada Ling]

It must be very hard for the author to write this book emotional. Thank you for bringing this book to our attention.

[Njokime]

This is a very detailed review. The story seems so sad and emotional.

[Mukukamm30]

It is very unfortunate that the author had to grief her mother and her daughter within a short space of time. Writing the book will most definitely help those struggling with drug addiction as they will know exactly what they ought to do to stay alive.
Nice and informative review.

[Aurelia_2020]

It is encouraging for Elise Schiller to share her daughter's struggles with the world. She must be a very strong woman and loving mother determined to help people. I know the book is a great read but I would skip reading it because I will get too emotional. The review is superb.

[AntonelaMaria]

This is really heard hitting book. It is also very important. Fantastic review B. I will have to pass for now as one has to be in right mood to read such a emotional book.

[Phelicia Gloria]

The author seems to had loved the daughter so much, sometimes parent do go through a lot when upbringing the children. This very emotional book though educative. Thanks for the great review.

[Irene_A]

Quite sad! I sympathize with the author and glad that she got to share her daughter’s story and bring awareness on how to help victims of drug addiction. Thanks for the review.

[Brenda Creech]

This is a very emotional story. I hope this book serves it's purpose, to help people who suffer drug addiction.
Beautiful review.

I hope so too! Thanks for your comments!

[Brenda Creech]

Both sad and educative story. the review is well detailed. Thank you!

Thanks for stopping by and commenting!