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Raised by Addiction
Nevaeh never had a childhood—she had a survival story. Raised in chaos, addiction, and abandonment, she grew up fast in a world that never gave her a chance. While other kids were worried about curfews and crushes, she was dodging CPS, boiling water for baths, and trying to keep her mama alive one high at a time.
But Nevaeh wasn’t weak. She turned her pain into hustle and her silence into strength. From a broken little girl to a bossed-up young woman, she created a life nobody thought she could. Love, betrayal, survival, and sacrifice — she saw it all. But just when her new life was finally beginning, the one person she thought she’d left behind came back with a vengeance…
Raised by Addiction is raw, emotional, and unfiltered urban fiction that’ll grab your soul and not let go. If you’ve ever had to be the strong one, this one’s for you.
But Nevaeh wasn’t weak. She turned her pain into hustle and her silence into strength. From a broken little girl to a bossed-up young woman, she created a life nobody thought she could. Love, betrayal, survival, and sacrifice — she saw it all. But just when her new life was finally beginning, the one person she thought she’d left behind came back with a vengeance…
Raised by Addiction is raw, emotional, and unfiltered urban fiction that’ll grab your soul and not let go. If you’ve ever had to be the strong one, this one’s for you.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 3, 2025
96 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 20, 2025
Whew Child
From the first page, this book had me. To read from the child’s perspective on having a parent that has an addiction. You felt the pain you cried with this child that had to endure the abuse of a mother that was addicted to a drug. Let’s be real children can be so cruel to other children and when you read this book you feel all of that ! This was a very good read. I shall read more from this author.
From the first page, this book had me. To read from the child’s perspective on having a parent that has an addiction. You felt the pain you cried with this child that had to endure the abuse of a mother that was addicted to a drug. Let’s be real children can be so cruel to other children and when you read this book you feel all of that ! This was a very good read. I shall read more from this author.
October 11, 2025
i'm literally still crying. the ending chapter and the few chapters before that absolutely killed me. but the end? wow. beautifully written and absolutely gut-wrenching. cried my eyes out.
nevaeh finally got peace, just not how I wanted and zaria, fUCK SAKE that hurt just as much. easy 5 stars.
broke. my. heart.
'you protected people who would've watched you burn. you gave to people who never gave back. you survived on a world that was designed to break you.'
'as she walked through the gates, she felt it all leave her: the abandonment, the betrayal. the heartbreak, the lies. the anger, the hurt. she wasn't just dead.
she was finally free.'
S O B B I N G.
nevaeh finally got peace, just not how I wanted and zaria, fUCK SAKE that hurt just as much. easy 5 stars.
broke. my. heart.
'you protected people who would've watched you burn. you gave to people who never gave back. you survived on a world that was designed to break you.'
'as she walked through the gates, she felt it all leave her: the abandonment, the betrayal. the heartbreak, the lies. the anger, the hurt. she wasn't just dead.
she was finally free.'
S O B B I N G.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2025
Awesome read!!
I enjoyed reading this book. My mother is an addict. I can relate to some of the scenarios. I did not have a good life with my mother. She is still an addict at the age of 76. I am grown but this hits hard because it is my mother. She is dealing with dementia and being an addict. Addiction is real. I thank you for sharing your writing and giving your audience a look into what addiction can do to a person.
I enjoyed reading this book. My mother is an addict. I can relate to some of the scenarios. I did not have a good life with my mother. She is still an addict at the age of 76. I am grown but this hits hard because it is my mother. She is dealing with dementia and being an addict. Addiction is real. I thank you for sharing your writing and giving your audience a look into what addiction can do to a person.
September 28, 2025
Great read
People that say they care watch and pay attention to what they do words don't mean anything action do that why you have to be careful who you put your trust in this is the first book I have read by you but is was very good and I can't wait to read your next book
People that say they care watch and pay attention to what they do words don't mean anything action do that why you have to be careful who you put your trust in this is the first book I have read by you but is was very good and I can't wait to read your next book
December 22, 2025
Wow. I’m speechless. This book was amazing. I’m not sure what I was expecting going into it, but damn!! I literally read this book in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. The story is sad, beautiful, gut wrenching.. please check the trigger warnings.
Nevaeh is STRONG! Like imagine growing up with an addict for a mom that cares more about the next fix than taking care of her own daughter. Her mom treated her like trash and it broke my heart. But what broke my heart the most was.. no matter how badly she was treated by her mom she STILL had a soft spot for her and helped her. I don’t know a lot of people who would’ve done the same. There were so many times that Nevaeh could have shit on her mom, but she didn’t and after finishing the book… it made me realize exactly what type of person she was. I will never forget Nevaeh. No matter how many books I read after today, she will always have a special place in my heart. I was rooting for her from start to finish.
Her and Zaria’s relationship was beautiful but I kinda figured things would end the way they did. I wanted to love Zaria… I really did but there was something about her. I seen it all coming fr. You can’t trust anyone!! Through everything tho.. what did Nevaeh do, STILL had her back. The ending had me hot! The last few pages almost made me cry. Baby girl finally at peace. I loved this book so much.
One question tho? The author never said who was anonymously messaging her? Was it Zaria? I need answers lol. The pacing, the character development, the plot… 10/10. Shay Marie, you did ya thang.
Quotes that stuck with me:
“If I ever believed in angels, Zaria was the closest thing to one.”
“Because in my world, you had to hold onto love and food like they both had expiration dates.”
“Why do I love somebody who hate me so much?”
“But people don’t always show up when you need them to. Especially the ones you’ve done the most for”
“Why wasn’t I ever enough for anybody?”
Nevaeh is STRONG! Like imagine growing up with an addict for a mom that cares more about the next fix than taking care of her own daughter. Her mom treated her like trash and it broke my heart. But what broke my heart the most was.. no matter how badly she was treated by her mom she STILL had a soft spot for her and helped her. I don’t know a lot of people who would’ve done the same. There were so many times that Nevaeh could have shit on her mom, but she didn’t and after finishing the book… it made me realize exactly what type of person she was. I will never forget Nevaeh. No matter how many books I read after today, she will always have a special place in my heart. I was rooting for her from start to finish.
Her and Zaria’s relationship was beautiful but I kinda figured things would end the way they did. I wanted to love Zaria… I really did but there was something about her. I seen it all coming fr. You can’t trust anyone!! Through everything tho.. what did Nevaeh do, STILL had her back. The ending had me hot! The last few pages almost made me cry. Baby girl finally at peace. I loved this book so much.
One question tho? The author never said who was anonymously messaging her? Was it Zaria? I need answers lol. The pacing, the character development, the plot… 10/10. Shay Marie, you did ya thang.
Quotes that stuck with me:
“If I ever believed in angels, Zaria was the closest thing to one.”
“Because in my world, you had to hold onto love and food like they both had expiration dates.”
“Why do I love somebody who hate me so much?”
“But people don’t always show up when you need them to. Especially the ones you’ve done the most for”
“Why wasn’t I ever enough for anybody?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2025
The Rise and Fall of Your Life
I did not know what to expect when I seen this book on Facebook in an advertisement, and it did not disappoint at all!!!…
Those last few statements wrapped this book all the way up!!!…
You protected ppl that would have watched you burn…You gave to ppl that never gave back!!!…You survived in a world that was designed to break you!!!…
Nevaeh was a 12 year old girl, looking for someone to truly just genuinely love and care for her when the woman that gave birth to her despised her mere existence!!!…Nevaeh wanted peace and comfort, she wanted a clean mother and a loyal friend and again she was let down and left to do things on her own!!!…She matured at an amazing rate to be out here on her own!!!…
She loved her mother and hoped she would finally get it together!!!…
Zaria became her friend, they loved and confided in each other and then Zaria, switched up on her because of the loss of her family and life started happening!!!…
The tragedy in all this is 2 young girls were forced to grow up in a world that was not kind or welcoming to 2 lost children!!!…
When life’s beginning is a tragedy and the ending is just as tragic!!!…
I did not know what to expect when I seen this book on Facebook in an advertisement, and it did not disappoint at all!!!…
Those last few statements wrapped this book all the way up!!!…
You protected ppl that would have watched you burn…You gave to ppl that never gave back!!!…You survived in a world that was designed to break you!!!…
Nevaeh was a 12 year old girl, looking for someone to truly just genuinely love and care for her when the woman that gave birth to her despised her mere existence!!!…Nevaeh wanted peace and comfort, she wanted a clean mother and a loyal friend and again she was let down and left to do things on her own!!!…She matured at an amazing rate to be out here on her own!!!…
She loved her mother and hoped she would finally get it together!!!…
Zaria became her friend, they loved and confided in each other and then Zaria, switched up on her because of the loss of her family and life started happening!!!…
The tragedy in all this is 2 young girls were forced to grow up in a world that was not kind or welcoming to 2 lost children!!!…
When life’s beginning is a tragedy and the ending is just as tragic!!!…
September 13, 2025
Wow
This was actually a good read .
When I first started reading this book I thought this was going to be a long drawn out story. This story took me ways first the lowdown dirty shady crack head mama and then the once ride or die best friend who really pissed me off being a shady broad. This girl had a hard life and just wanted better for herself, but a shady ass mama and a dusty ass ex friend wouldn't let her be. I hate the ending... Sad...
This was actually a good read .
When I first started reading this book I thought this was going to be a long drawn out story. This story took me ways first the lowdown dirty shady crack head mama and then the once ride or die best friend who really pissed me off being a shady broad. This girl had a hard life and just wanted better for herself, but a shady ass mama and a dusty ass ex friend wouldn't let her be. I hate the ending... Sad...
September 25, 2025
Excellent Read
Trigger warning, if you can’t handle childhood trauma, substance abuse, and the struggle to survive….. don’t read. I nearly cried reading the first 3 chapters. I just knew Navaeh was going to finally get her peace. I guess she did get it, just not on earth. I truly hate the way Zaria went out. I wanted the best for both of them. This was one of the best books I’ve read in a while.
Trigger warning, if you can’t handle childhood trauma, substance abuse, and the struggle to survive….. don’t read. I nearly cried reading the first 3 chapters. I just knew Navaeh was going to finally get her peace. I guess she did get it, just not on earth. I truly hate the way Zaria went out. I wanted the best for both of them. This was one of the best books I’ve read in a while.
February 3, 2026
wow…
This was a completely different story than I anticipated and in the best way. I was so enthralled in this book I kept thinking it needs to be rereleased with a different title because I almost passed it up because of what I thought it was about. For sure there’s addiction, but there are so many more life lessons in this book. Overall it was seriously remarkable.! Well done Ma Shay Marie👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
This was a completely different story than I anticipated and in the best way. I was so enthralled in this book I kept thinking it needs to be rereleased with a different title because I almost passed it up because of what I thought it was about. For sure there’s addiction, but there are so many more life lessons in this book. Overall it was seriously remarkable.! Well done Ma Shay Marie👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
September 22, 2025
Good read.
This was a good read. However, I gave it 4 stars bc I felt like a lot of the chapters could've been combined.
The storyline was good. Despite Neveah's trials and tribulations, she pushed through. This book reminded me that some folks are in your life for a reason, others for a season. And sometimes there's a gray line between the reason and season.
This was a good read. However, I gave it 4 stars bc I felt like a lot of the chapters could've been combined.
The storyline was good. Despite Neveah's trials and tribulations, she pushed through. This book reminded me that some folks are in your life for a reason, others for a season. And sometimes there's a gray line between the reason and season.
September 13, 2025
Great read
Wow, this book is definitely a page turned. I could not put it down. A lot of times, I could relate to it all. She was so strong at a young age and turned it all around. Absolutely wonderful....
Wow, this book is definitely a page turned. I could not put it down. A lot of times, I could relate to it all. She was so strong at a young age and turned it all around. Absolutely wonderful....
September 27, 2025
Sad
They always say you can’t take everyone with you. Neveah really tried with Zaria and her momma. Zaria hurt me the most because she should have known better. This was a good story
They always say you can’t take everyone with you. Neveah really tried with Zaria and her momma. Zaria hurt me the most because she should have known better. This was a good story
January 28, 2026
I fell in love with Vae- Zaria was very ungrateful!
I didn’t think this book would end this way.. broke my heart but I enjoyed every minute of it…. This book held my attention- I could barely put it down!!
I didn’t think this book would end this way.. broke my heart but I enjoyed every minute of it…. This book held my attention- I could barely put it down!!
September 11, 2025
emotional
This book was…. Unbelievable. I’m in tears because of the emotions it evoked . I just wish there was a happy ending.
This book was…. Unbelievable. I’m in tears because of the emotions it evoked . I just wish there was a happy ending.
September 19, 2025
10/10
Omg it was so emotional, but very good I hate that happen to Vee!! Job well done I loved it
Omg it was so emotional, but very good I hate that happen to Vee!! Job well done I loved it
September 27, 2025
Such a good read
I couldn't put this book down. I was cheering for the girls all the way to the end. Now I'm crying like a baby
I couldn't put this book down. I was cheering for the girls all the way to the end. Now I'm crying like a baby
October 16, 2025
Candiyamz55
I really enjoyed this book. I will be reading more books by this author. This was very very good I loved it💯
I really enjoyed this book. I will be reading more books by this author. This was very very good I loved it💯
October 17, 2025
wow
I truly LOVED this book! I will not spoil it but this is truly must read. I will be checking out more of this Author’s work!
I truly LOVED this book! I will not spoil it but this is truly must read. I will be checking out more of this Author’s work!
October 18, 2025
Absolutely, YES
This book had me in tears in the end . Such a great read . Very motivating! I’m pretty the end everyone who reads this novel needed to hear that . Thank you
This book had me in tears in the end . Such a great read . Very motivating! I’m pretty the end everyone who reads this novel needed to hear that . Thank you
October 19, 2025
a wonderful book
This book was good but also sad. I wish everything turned out different.poor naeveah she had a rough life. Moms should do better
This book was good but also sad. I wish everything turned out different.poor naeveah she had a rough life. Moms should do better
October 19, 2025
Loved it!
This book is really good, and this is my first time reading your book. I will most definitely be reading more of your books.
This book is really good, and this is my first time reading your book. I will most definitely be reading more of your books.
October 22, 2025
Deep!!
Baby…this was deep! Hella deep! Thinking of what Vae has to say sure at the hands of her mom and then her best friend…the determination she had…her wanting more…baby…whew
Baby…this was deep! Hella deep! Thinking of what Vae has to say sure at the hands of her mom and then her best friend…the determination she had…her wanting more…baby…whew
October 29, 2025
a must read
Didn’t take me long to get thru. This book was so good. I read for hours each time I read it
Didn’t take me long to get thru. This book was so good. I read for hours each time I read it
November 11, 2025
Amazing read
The conclusion was a doozier. It was hard to put this book down, it kept pulling me in, great read.Definitely recommend.
The conclusion was a doozier. It was hard to put this book down, it kept pulling me in, great read.Definitely recommend.
November 26, 2025
You could just feel the rawness of this book
I felt every chapter every thought every action. I read this book in a day I could not stop reading
I felt every chapter every thought every action. I read this book in a day I could not stop reading
December 1, 2025
Read literally in one day
A very well written, clear and precise "page- turner!" A look into a believably hard life-based on addiction and the consequences caused by it...
A very well written, clear and precise "page- turner!" A look into a believably hard life-based on addiction and the consequences caused by it...
December 25, 2025
Good read
Awesome book loved it. Wish it was on audible books. Author stayed on point with the characters. Will be adding this author to favorites.
Awesome book loved it. Wish it was on audible books. Author stayed on point with the characters. Will be adding this author to favorites.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews