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Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood
A bicultural child of a Malaysian mother and an Indian father, Amelia Zachry was different from the get-go, never quite fitting in. In this raw, inspiring memoir, she chronicles the long, winding journey that brought her from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Kentucky, USA--the place she and her family now call home.
Amelia was nineteen years old, her future wide open, when a fellow student from her Kuala Lumpur university spiked her drink and sexually assaulted her. After that night, she felt sullied--and convinced that what had happened was her fault. In the months and years that followed, she spiraled, first into isolation and then into promiscuity, as she attempted to try to take back some of the power that had been stripped from her that night. Eventually, she met the man who would become her husband and greatest advocate, Daniel, and began to emerge from that dark place--but even he couldn't fight her demons for her. In her late twenties, Amelia was diagnosed with PTSD and bipolar II disorder, both of which would go on to shape her adult life as an individual, a wife, and a mother.
A memoir of trauma and healing, mental illness and resilience, culture shock and new beginnings, devastation and triumph, Enough is one woman's story of learning to make peace with the fact that things are as they should be, even if she sometimes wishes they were different--and of discovering that however far away it may seem, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Amelia was nineteen years old, her future wide open, when a fellow student from her Kuala Lumpur university spiked her drink and sexually assaulted her. After that night, she felt sullied--and convinced that what had happened was her fault. In the months and years that followed, she spiraled, first into isolation and then into promiscuity, as she attempted to try to take back some of the power that had been stripped from her that night. Eventually, she met the man who would become her husband and greatest advocate, Daniel, and began to emerge from that dark place--but even he couldn't fight her demons for her. In her late twenties, Amelia was diagnosed with PTSD and bipolar II disorder, both of which would go on to shape her adult life as an individual, a wife, and a mother.
A memoir of trauma and healing, mental illness and resilience, culture shock and new beginnings, devastation and triumph, Enough is one woman's story of learning to make peace with the fact that things are as they should be, even if she sometimes wishes they were different--and of discovering that however far away it may seem, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
280 pages, Paperback
Published October 18, 2022
11 people are currently reading
1817 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 30, 2022
Far from a female-targeted book, Enough is a must-read for everyone regardless of gender and should be considered required reading especially for young people (late teens to 20s).
Amelia has captured the essence of what it means to be a young adult, struggling with the after effects of sexual assault and mental illness, leading her to contemplate suicide on multiple occasions. These topics are all-too-often taboo and only aid to shun those who need help the most, as evidenced in her book by her victim-shaming friends who are quick to turn their backs.
We follow the author from a child growing up in Malaysia, to university where her most traumatic experiences unfold, to falling in love, to moving to the US and raising a family. The reader goes along for the ride with her as the new role of motherhood brings on new and unexpected challenges, forces her to confront past demons, but ultimately leads her to regain her power.
The author faces difficult subjects, head-on in this brave and beautifully written memoir. Despite the darkness, this book shines as a beacon of light to anyone who has gone through a difficult time. There is hope. There is a way forward.
The kind of book that will stick with you long after the final page, Enough will have you reflect on your own perceived "mistakes" and realizing that you, too are "enough."
Amelia has captured the essence of what it means to be a young adult, struggling with the after effects of sexual assault and mental illness, leading her to contemplate suicide on multiple occasions. These topics are all-too-often taboo and only aid to shun those who need help the most, as evidenced in her book by her victim-shaming friends who are quick to turn their backs.
We follow the author from a child growing up in Malaysia, to university where her most traumatic experiences unfold, to falling in love, to moving to the US and raising a family. The reader goes along for the ride with her as the new role of motherhood brings on new and unexpected challenges, forces her to confront past demons, but ultimately leads her to regain her power.
The author faces difficult subjects, head-on in this brave and beautifully written memoir. Despite the darkness, this book shines as a beacon of light to anyone who has gone through a difficult time. There is hope. There is a way forward.
The kind of book that will stick with you long after the final page, Enough will have you reflect on your own perceived "mistakes" and realizing that you, too are "enough."
August 23, 2022
I loved reading Enough. It touched my heart in so many ways. Amelia did a great job of pouring her heart out. I couldn’t put the book down. This book is not just about the hurt and the heart ache but it also is about we have the power to change or control our life. There’s always light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel may seem very dark and endless, however, we have to be persistent and willing to keep going. Very inspiring indeed.
June 27, 2022
Its hard when you have no place to really call home. This memoir was one that I could not stop reading until I was done. It opened my heart to Amelia and her situation and really just makes you think. I enjoyed reading about her life and where it all went. And was very excited to see how it all ended.
October 1, 2022
Amelia Zachry takes the reader into the heart of her personal nightmare. It is a journey into the dark recesses of the mind and back out into the stunning brightness of a new day. Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood is not a typical treatise on mental illness. It reads more like a day-to-day narrative, a person doing ordinary things and reflecting on the challenges she faces—and how those challenges impact the lives of those around her. The author’s bravery in laying all the cards on the table is on par with her ability to construct a readable narrative. If this weren’t so raw, and real, it would almost feel like the inner monologue of a fictional character.
The author begins her tale with a moment of reflection, vacationing in Sedona, Arizona. As she enjoys the solitude of her surroundings, the time with her loved ones, and the tranquility of sitting on a mountain top, she lets the reader know that hers was a difficult journey. She begins her reflection with the peace of mind of someone on the mend—not totally free from the melancholy burdens of her mind but in a much better place. This serves to let the reader know that the narrator is going to be fine. She is not where she is meant to be, but she is most assuredly not where she was.
The narrative jumps back to her youth, to the first stirring of the traumas that will plague her throughout her life. Her first trauma was being separated from her parents at an early age. Sent to live with her grandmother, Amelia had to adjust to a new environment, a new school, and new friends. The author then outlines a life of unexpected reversals, sudden changes, and new stresses that had a profound impact on her mental health. The narrative that follows is a tale of compounded anguish leading to bouts of melancholy. There is no specific breakdown moment or dramatic mental collapse. Rather, the author is describing a mental death of a thousand cuts. The author is not a generally unhappy person, but she cannot control the things that have happened to her.
Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood is not a gritty examination of mental breakdowns or suicide attempts. It’s not over-the-top in its exploration of the topic. It is a relatable story. We are all the sum of our experiences and after a while even the strongest mind must bend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The author begins her tale with a moment of reflection, vacationing in Sedona, Arizona. As she enjoys the solitude of her surroundings, the time with her loved ones, and the tranquility of sitting on a mountain top, she lets the reader know that hers was a difficult journey. She begins her reflection with the peace of mind of someone on the mend—not totally free from the melancholy burdens of her mind but in a much better place. This serves to let the reader know that the narrator is going to be fine. She is not where she is meant to be, but she is most assuredly not where she was.
The narrative jumps back to her youth, to the first stirring of the traumas that will plague her throughout her life. Her first trauma was being separated from her parents at an early age. Sent to live with her grandmother, Amelia had to adjust to a new environment, a new school, and new friends. The author then outlines a life of unexpected reversals, sudden changes, and new stresses that had a profound impact on her mental health. The narrative that follows is a tale of compounded anguish leading to bouts of melancholy. There is no specific breakdown moment or dramatic mental collapse. Rather, the author is describing a mental death of a thousand cuts. The author is not a generally unhappy person, but she cannot control the things that have happened to her.
Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood is not a gritty examination of mental breakdowns or suicide attempts. It’s not over-the-top in its exploration of the topic. It is a relatable story. We are all the sum of our experiences and after a while even the strongest mind must bend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 18, 2022
Enough is a beautiful and bravely written memoir of Amelia Zachry's experience with abandonment, sexual assault and mental illness. We follow Amelia from her tumultuous childhood in Malaysia, to her life at a university in Kuala Lumpur where she is raped by a fellow student, and subsequently shunned by those who she thought were friends. She spirals into self-destructive behavior, self-blame, suicidal ideation and alcohol abuse. As Amelia finds love and stability, she receives the help she needs and is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD. She moves to Japan and then the US with her husband, struggling to find a sense of belonging. She must learn to navigate motherhood with bipolar disorder and to fight for her children and herself.
Enough is honest, raw, relatable and the clearest depiction of what it is like to have bipolar disorder that I've ever read. It is a story of strength, healing, resilience and finding light in the darkness. Everyone should read it. Thank you to BookSparks, Amelia Zachry and She Writes Press for a copy to review. @BookSparks @BrownGirlCrazyWorld #EnoughMemoir #AmeliaZachry #BookSparks #SheWritesPress #FallPopUps
Enough is honest, raw, relatable and the clearest depiction of what it is like to have bipolar disorder that I've ever read. It is a story of strength, healing, resilience and finding light in the darkness. Everyone should read it. Thank you to BookSparks, Amelia Zachry and She Writes Press for a copy to review. @BookSparks @BrownGirlCrazyWorld #EnoughMemoir #AmeliaZachry #BookSparks #SheWritesPress #FallPopUps
August 30, 2022
Enough takes you on a journey through abandonment and loss of self. The author lives through lingering pain from her childhood, and is shocked into trauma when she is sexually assaulted while in college. This pain proves to be insurmountable at first as she deals with it in promiscuity and drink. You cannot help but empathize with Zachry when she falls into the traps of suicidal ideation and further choices that hurt her and her sense of self.
The story takes a turn when she learns to love and be loved, and finds the will to step into recovery. Her diagnosis of PTSD and bipolar disorder explains the choices as readers we wish she wouldn’t have made. Zachry’s evocative and enthralling writing pulls you in, gets you invested in her healing and growth. The realities of living with a mental illness so clearly depicted in raw and honest prose. A vivid description of bipolar disorder and the state of mind someone with the disorder lives with was eye-opening to say the least.
Motherhood eventually reveals the power she has gained from healing when she battles the norms that did not fit her profoundly gifted child. Here, we see the strength, courage and determination the author portrays for the love of her children.
Enough made me laugh, cry and curse at various points, a mark of a well written book that provokes emotion and thought. An inspirational story of overcoming inescapable hurdles in life and still coming out with inner peace and acceptance of her history and future.
The story takes a turn when she learns to love and be loved, and finds the will to step into recovery. Her diagnosis of PTSD and bipolar disorder explains the choices as readers we wish she wouldn’t have made. Zachry’s evocative and enthralling writing pulls you in, gets you invested in her healing and growth. The realities of living with a mental illness so clearly depicted in raw and honest prose. A vivid description of bipolar disorder and the state of mind someone with the disorder lives with was eye-opening to say the least.
Motherhood eventually reveals the power she has gained from healing when she battles the norms that did not fit her profoundly gifted child. Here, we see the strength, courage and determination the author portrays for the love of her children.
Enough made me laugh, cry and curse at various points, a mark of a well written book that provokes emotion and thought. An inspirational story of overcoming inescapable hurdles in life and still coming out with inner peace and acceptance of her history and future.
October 9, 2022
“Enough” is a gritty-honest memoir penned by Amelia Zachry of BrownGirlCrazyWorld fame. Amongst the trials are abandonment, rape, and mental illness—but don’t let that make you think it’s all doom and gloom. Ms. Zachry takes the reader on a fascinating journey of self-discovery as she eventually names her mania (literally). She also traverses the globe chasing love. I can’t say much more without requiring a spoiler alert, but this memoir will hit home in some way or another for almost every person alive. And it is done in flowing prose with an open-heart and, occasionally as needed, humor. You’ll feel better about the world after you read this book!
October 10, 2022
I read this in one day as I couldn't put it down. Amelia has a way with words that draws the reader in. It is painful and uncomfortable at times but that is reality. This book is written with love, vulnerability, compassion, passion and empathy.
I laughed, cried (happy and sad tears), felt anger, related to some experiences and felt hopeful!
I admire and respect Ameilia's tenacity and courage and hope others will gain from her lived experience and insights.
I highly recommend this book.
I laughed, cried (happy and sad tears), felt anger, related to some experiences and felt hopeful!
I admire and respect Ameilia's tenacity and courage and hope others will gain from her lived experience and insights.
I highly recommend this book.
November 14, 2022
Zachry's excellent writing and compellingly haunting story kept me turning the pages. Her description of how mental illness kept her from making good choices led me to the best understanding I've ever had of it. I wept when she succumbed to its power, and cheered for her as she found the helpers and slowly healed.
Want to read
October 3, 2022I very much enjoyed reading this book. I couldn’t put it down! I loved reading about Amelia’s life.
August 3, 2022
Loved this book! I could not put it down! She discusses such the important topic of trauma and healing. She taught be so much in this book without ever feeling like I was reading a self help book. She guided me through her experience with trauma and how to make it out on the other side.
October 20, 2022
From feelings of abandonment to finding her home, Amelia Zachry shares so much of herself in Enough: A Memoir Of Mistakes, Mania And Motherhood.
I found a lot of comfort and solace in this memoir; never have I felt so connected to anothers life in this way. I simply love reading memoirs to be reminded of the similarities that exist between us.
Zachry so clearly shows how mental illness is not easily patched by one good thing coming into your life. In the same way, through her own experiences, she continues to share that there is no one "quick solution" - nor is this “now” solution necessarily going to work for you later on, at a different time in life. There is no blanket remedy, (even for the same person), that will always work.
I love that there are a couple chapters setting up and taking down (so to speak) Zachry’s life. There is something so beautiful about these chapters that aren’t as focused on what this book deeply resonates with. These chapters are both so hard, but are equally uplifting and hopeful.
I connected to so much of what was shared by Zachry, but especially the aspects related to motherhood. I found myself being reminded what it truly means to be a good mother and how it is okay to not be like others, as we all have our own boundaries we must abide by.
There is just one thing I need to stand up on my soapbox for: the “mistake” in the title is not Zachry’s to admit, but it is how society failed her. It is our mistake, not hers.
Although I am not easily triggered by what I read, this is one of the hardest books I have come across; I had to put it down a few times as it is a lot to take in. Trigger warnings include: abandonment, racial insecurity, sexual assault, rape, mental illness, PTSD, suicide ideation and racism (although I am sure I have missed something here).
I want to say that everyone should read this memoir - because it is incredibly well written - but I know it is not one that everyone can or should read. If you do, know that it is okay to set it down when it gets tough.
Thank you Book Sparks for the complimentary copy to read and review.
I found a lot of comfort and solace in this memoir; never have I felt so connected to anothers life in this way. I simply love reading memoirs to be reminded of the similarities that exist between us.
Zachry so clearly shows how mental illness is not easily patched by one good thing coming into your life. In the same way, through her own experiences, she continues to share that there is no one "quick solution" - nor is this “now” solution necessarily going to work for you later on, at a different time in life. There is no blanket remedy, (even for the same person), that will always work.
I love that there are a couple chapters setting up and taking down (so to speak) Zachry’s life. There is something so beautiful about these chapters that aren’t as focused on what this book deeply resonates with. These chapters are both so hard, but are equally uplifting and hopeful.
I connected to so much of what was shared by Zachry, but especially the aspects related to motherhood. I found myself being reminded what it truly means to be a good mother and how it is okay to not be like others, as we all have our own boundaries we must abide by.
There is just one thing I need to stand up on my soapbox for: the “mistake” in the title is not Zachry’s to admit, but it is how society failed her. It is our mistake, not hers.
Although I am not easily triggered by what I read, this is one of the hardest books I have come across; I had to put it down a few times as it is a lot to take in. Trigger warnings include: abandonment, racial insecurity, sexual assault, rape, mental illness, PTSD, suicide ideation and racism (although I am sure I have missed something here).
I want to say that everyone should read this memoir - because it is incredibly well written - but I know it is not one that everyone can or should read. If you do, know that it is okay to set it down when it gets tough.
Thank you Book Sparks for the complimentary copy to read and review.
December 17, 2022
*Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) from Reedsy Discovery in exchange for an honest review.
Content warning: bipolar disorder, rape, relationship abuse, substance abuse, suicidal ideation.
The word “enough,” when attached to certain situations, can leave one feeling either unfulfilled or perfectly content. In the span of one person’s journey, “not [fill in the blank] enough” can transfigure itself over time and lots of introspective work into “I am enough.” In her eponymous memoir, Enough, Amelia Zachry shows us the full spectrum of what this one word can contain within us and what it can leave behind.
The book’s subtitle is apt—Amelia breaks down each chapter of her life into three parts. “Mistakes” pertains to her youthful pursuit of heavy drinking and partying in college, leading up to the night she was raped by a colleague who used his reputation to sully her name and ostracize her from campus. From “Mistakes” buds “Mania,” a slew of chapters dedicated to Amelia’s crests and falls in the aftermath of her assault, and when she gets diagnosed with bipolar disorder. And from “Mania” blooms “Motherhood,” an exploration of the tenuous relationship Amelia has with bipolar and her desire to raise children with her (loveable, wonderful!) husband.
Enough takes on quite a lot, from familial separation at an impressionable young age to falling in love after a series of abusive relationships. Not to mention the incredible settings that Amelia’s writing brings to life: the cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur, the industrial hub of Nagoya, and the complicated charm of the American South. I was first and foremost drawn to Amelia as a fellow mixed-race person who also experienced traumatic relationship abuse in the past. I cannot express enough (no pun intended) how essential Amelia’s story is for folks experiencing bipolar disorder and/or PTSD from sexual assault and relationship abuse. There are so few stories written by the ones who make it to motherhood and beyond. Many of us are afraid to make that decision to bring children into a world that has wounded us. Amelia’s story recognizes that we shouldn’t be seeking the model minority of a bipolar or sexual assault success story to tell us how to survive and carry on. She shows us the ugly and the beautiful sides of her world as well as her persistence to not let the past and her mental illness define her and her family today.
Amelia’s story embodies the nuances of life at large and reminds us that "enough" can mean so much more. We learn from Enough that, despite our scars, our existence is just the beginning of how we can define ourselves, replant our roots, and flourish.
Content warning: bipolar disorder, rape, relationship abuse, substance abuse, suicidal ideation.
The word “enough,” when attached to certain situations, can leave one feeling either unfulfilled or perfectly content. In the span of one person’s journey, “not [fill in the blank] enough” can transfigure itself over time and lots of introspective work into “I am enough.” In her eponymous memoir, Enough, Amelia Zachry shows us the full spectrum of what this one word can contain within us and what it can leave behind.
The book’s subtitle is apt—Amelia breaks down each chapter of her life into three parts. “Mistakes” pertains to her youthful pursuit of heavy drinking and partying in college, leading up to the night she was raped by a colleague who used his reputation to sully her name and ostracize her from campus. From “Mistakes” buds “Mania,” a slew of chapters dedicated to Amelia’s crests and falls in the aftermath of her assault, and when she gets diagnosed with bipolar disorder. And from “Mania” blooms “Motherhood,” an exploration of the tenuous relationship Amelia has with bipolar and her desire to raise children with her (loveable, wonderful!) husband.
Enough takes on quite a lot, from familial separation at an impressionable young age to falling in love after a series of abusive relationships. Not to mention the incredible settings that Amelia’s writing brings to life: the cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur, the industrial hub of Nagoya, and the complicated charm of the American South. I was first and foremost drawn to Amelia as a fellow mixed-race person who also experienced traumatic relationship abuse in the past. I cannot express enough (no pun intended) how essential Amelia’s story is for folks experiencing bipolar disorder and/or PTSD from sexual assault and relationship abuse. There are so few stories written by the ones who make it to motherhood and beyond. Many of us are afraid to make that decision to bring children into a world that has wounded us. Amelia’s story recognizes that we shouldn’t be seeking the model minority of a bipolar or sexual assault success story to tell us how to survive and carry on. She shows us the ugly and the beautiful sides of her world as well as her persistence to not let the past and her mental illness define her and her family today.
Amelia’s story embodies the nuances of life at large and reminds us that "enough" can mean so much more. We learn from Enough that, despite our scars, our existence is just the beginning of how we can define ourselves, replant our roots, and flourish.
November 15, 2022
Enough is an ideal book for anyone who has ever felt crushed by the weight of the world, wondering if they have the strength to live again. Dealing with issues of mental health, trauma, class, race, identity, and motherhood, it takes a deep dive into the mind of an unhappy woman who is learning to find grace and peace within. Zachry doesn’t hold back, letting the reader into the darkest parts of her life with generosity and honesty. She chronicles her struggles, and it isn’t a journey for the weak of heart, as she lays bare the indignities she suffered as well as the effect they had upon her psyche. Zachry tells a heartfelt story of resilience, hope in the most harrowing of times, and what success in America means to her. The book deals with serious issues such as rape, suicidal behavior, and depression, among others. Some may feel triggered by the contents of this book, and should take that into consideration before reading. Spun through accessible prose that lays out her story in a non-linear but easy-to-follow fashion, Zachry reminds us that nothing is truly impossible, and that we are all stronger than we remember. This book is an unflinching and courageous memoir, and a worthy read for men and women alike.
October 18, 2022
A brutally honest story about a young women facing and surviving sexual assault and mental illness. Written in a straight-forward narrative that is easy to follow and understand. At times very difficult to read (Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault & Suicide) and yet unable to close the book, because you become involved in Amelia's life. I found myself crying, laughing, yelling at her, and cheering her successes throughout the book. One woman's true story that explains the life of someone suffering from bipolar disorder and helps bring to the light the struggles and pain [that millions] dealt with on a daily basis. Amelia's powerful story of life through darkness and light is a beautiful path of hope that encourages everyone, that no matter their struggles and difficulties they can work through them and thrive.
Amelia Zachry
Amelia Zachry
December 30, 2022
Enough took me on an emotional journey as the author bravely recounted her experiences with sexual assault, bi-polar disorder, suicidal ideation, and racism - topics with a stigma that typically hinders vital discussion.
Her desire to provide hope to others and a better world for her daughters prevailed over any hesitation to share her most personal and traumatic experiences. She captured a tight grip on my heart right from the beginning, broke it to pieces with the trauma, and slowly put it back together by the end of the book with her vivid, powerful prose.
Her memoir involves intense and disturbing content. It also contains endearing, lighthearted and fun moments. And it introduces a love story full of unwavering commitment. The emotional roller coaster ride Amelia takes the reader on arrives at hope and ends with enough.
Her desire to provide hope to others and a better world for her daughters prevailed over any hesitation to share her most personal and traumatic experiences. She captured a tight grip on my heart right from the beginning, broke it to pieces with the trauma, and slowly put it back together by the end of the book with her vivid, powerful prose.
Her memoir involves intense and disturbing content. It also contains endearing, lighthearted and fun moments. And it introduces a love story full of unwavering commitment. The emotional roller coaster ride Amelia takes the reader on arrives at hope and ends with enough.
March 11, 2023
Zachry has given us a beautiful and brilliant memoir. She tells her story with such honesty and integrity. The power of personal resilience and a supportive community shines through the hard times and good times. Zachry covers all she promises in the title: mistakes, mania, and motherhood. And she goes further into not only how she has made it on her own journey, but also encourages and recognizes her readers with an authentic and informative voice. For a reader who has experienced sexual assault, depression, bipolar, and/or other challenges, this memoir does something that I rarely have seen: you recognize your self. You see your similarities more than your differences. You see what is possible. You see hope.
April 20, 2025
Enough is the kind of memoir that deserves to exist, that should exist, and that matters: it matters that the author wrote it, and it matters that people read it. But for me, I didn’t love it. Not because of the subject matter (yes, it’s hard), but because I found it not particularly well-written, a little saccharine, and a whole lot annoying.
While the background setting for mental illness is relevant, and while Zachry’s background, including her Malaysian childhood, is interesting, it feels too long-winded and lends itself to skimming. The sexual assault is horrific, but what is especially awful is that Zachry never really seems to realise that SHE is not the person at fault.
Her relationship with her husband is wildly codependent, and her approach to parenting is incredibly victimised. Her narrative is filled with airs of knowing better, of being outcast because of that, and a lack of willingness to see a different point of view. Near the end of her memoir, she becomes positively vitriolic in some of her recollections - and not in a subtle, almost artful way.
I’m sure Enough has value for some readers, but I could not find it for myself.
Thank you to Netgalley and She Writes Press for this eARC.
While the background setting for mental illness is relevant, and while Zachry’s background, including her Malaysian childhood, is interesting, it feels too long-winded and lends itself to skimming. The sexual assault is horrific, but what is especially awful is that Zachry never really seems to realise that SHE is not the person at fault.
Her relationship with her husband is wildly codependent, and her approach to parenting is incredibly victimised. Her narrative is filled with airs of knowing better, of being outcast because of that, and a lack of willingness to see a different point of view. Near the end of her memoir, she becomes positively vitriolic in some of her recollections - and not in a subtle, almost artful way.
I’m sure Enough has value for some readers, but I could not find it for myself.
Thank you to Netgalley and She Writes Press for this eARC.
February 22, 2023
Thank goodness there are strong writers like Amelia Zachry who are unafraid of writing the truth about their experiences. Enough, a memoir of Mistakes, Mania and Motherhood is an immigrant's story that explores the lifelong impact of childhood abandonment. A wonderful survival story, I was especially moved by Zachry’s connection to her roots in Malaysia, her supportive, loving relationship with Daniel, and the way she advocated for her children. This is a heartfelt memoir that was hard to put down.
August 24, 2022
Enough was incredibly well written account chronicling the challenges of dealing with trauma, mental illness, and the quest to find peace and happiness. The author wonderfully places you in her world, takes you on the ups and downs, and makes you feel what she feels. For anyone dealing with the pains of a mental illness, or anyone who knows or supports someone who does, this is a must read!
October 16, 2022
This autobiography is not an easy read. There might be a lot of triggers for some people. The hopeful ending isn't enough to make the reader feel better, because there's not really a way out, just a way to cope with reality, and I'm not sure that's enough. I hope for the author that it's enough for her.
October 22, 2022
This book is a must read! Amelia takes us though her journey of family, abandonment, excitement, betrayal, sexual assault, love, kids, mental illness and so many peeks and valleys.
There are so many takeaways for me. I am so proud that Amelia had the courage to write about her journey. It will help so many women find their voice.
There are so many takeaways for me. I am so proud that Amelia had the courage to write about her journey. It will help so many women find their voice.
June 28, 2023
I bought this book over the weekend and finished three days later! It was amazing how open she was with ALL of her struggles for her readers after having kept such secrets for a long time. Inspiring to see how she worked through the daunting tasks with the help of therapy and friends/family to try and get herself to the other side!
August 31, 2022
Amelia Zachry’s writing is raw, real, and relatable. This storyteller takes us along in her emotional journey, exploring the challenging topics of sexual assault, mental health, love, motherhood, and personal acceptance, all with vulnerability and tenacity. We laugh, cry, and swear with her as she recalls her most intimate moments with those she loves - her best friends, her children, her husband, her father oceans away. She takes us through her struggle to find a sense of home and belonging, from Malaysia with her parents and, ultimately, with her husband and daughters in Kentucky, USA. She does not mince words; she is, at once, direct and lyrical. Through it all, she acknowledges profound gratitude for her family and for her strength to persevere in spite of so many heartaches and hurricanes. Whether you struggle with mental health or trauma or you know someone who does, Enough will help you make sense of the confusion.
September 21, 2022
A truthful, raw and personal depiction of a life lived with trauma and mental illness. The themes of resilience and healing are present throughout, and along with the beautiful prose, make this work a must read.
October 30, 2022
There should be several trigger warnings for this autobiography. The author’s writing about her life and experiences is unflinching, and heartbreaking to read. It was a difficult read for me, but Amelia’s resilience shines throughout her story, and leaves the reader with a sense of hope.
June 1, 2025
School assigned read. A good tell into the mind of someone with mental illness- specifically bipolar 2 disorder.
October 21, 2022
This was an incredibly difficult memoir to read, but I am grateful that I did. Part of the hand-to-my-throat factor for me was how close Zachry’s experiences were to my own. Like her I am a Malaysian woman, one who entered the slipstream of migration and has become a transcultural, transnational creature with feet and hands in multiple worlds.
I also recognized the gaslighting and the gendered physical and psychological violence embedded in Malaysian culture. I recognized the gaslighting and gendered violence she experienced embedded in human society everywhere.
This was hard, so hard, to read at so many points. I had to put this book down multiple times. But the discomfort it caused was also what forced me to return to it. The kind of emotional disturbance Zachry’s memoir inflicts is that which can only be excised by pushing through all the way to the end.
I am glad I returned to it, acknowledged her pain my own (caused by reading it) and kept going in spite of all that. There is more than suffering in this memoir. Zachry illuminates a healing path too.
Zachry’s memoir is not a Malaysian one, although this is a cultural aspect of her experience that cannot be brushed aside. In this I recognized Zachry’s heritage as akin to my own; women told to swallow their pride, their pain, their voices. It is a world in which women remain — and are expected to remain — invisible. And this is true across Malaysia’s many cultures, ethnicities, and religious communities. For all the lovely tropical lushness of Malaysia, it is not a paradise for everyone; feminism is throttled by legal manipulations, feminists ostracized as social pariahs (even when Western-style feminism is eschewed in favor of local versions of feminism.)
But, I digress; Enough is not a memoir of a culture. Zachry’s experience is one that is all too familiar and common across cultures and in all societies. It is an extraordinary story of a crime that is horrendously ordinary. Hers was a life lived by many people; that’s what makes Enough so memorable, so relatable, so important to read.
Zachry’s memoir begins at her beginning, with childhood, then takes the reader into her teenage and early adult years. It is then that Zachry’s life is altered by an event that haunts her (even now after she has found ways to manage it). The bulk of this memoir is devoted to Zachry’s struggle with the trauma of this event, her path to a recovery, and it ends with a substantial section on her present life which shifts the focus to the traumas of migration and the development of her transcultural identity. Zachry’s journey to a happy place is not one filled with woo-woo cures or unattainable magic pills. Zachry documents how hard work, emotional work punctuated by slips and backslides is the tried and true path; one accessible to all of us, at least in theory.
This is a memoir for all women because this is a story we all know, first-hand, second-hand, or otherwise.
I also recognized the gaslighting and the gendered physical and psychological violence embedded in Malaysian culture. I recognized the gaslighting and gendered violence she experienced embedded in human society everywhere.
This was hard, so hard, to read at so many points. I had to put this book down multiple times. But the discomfort it caused was also what forced me to return to it. The kind of emotional disturbance Zachry’s memoir inflicts is that which can only be excised by pushing through all the way to the end.
I am glad I returned to it, acknowledged her pain my own (caused by reading it) and kept going in spite of all that. There is more than suffering in this memoir. Zachry illuminates a healing path too.
Zachry’s memoir is not a Malaysian one, although this is a cultural aspect of her experience that cannot be brushed aside. In this I recognized Zachry’s heritage as akin to my own; women told to swallow their pride, their pain, their voices. It is a world in which women remain — and are expected to remain — invisible. And this is true across Malaysia’s many cultures, ethnicities, and religious communities. For all the lovely tropical lushness of Malaysia, it is not a paradise for everyone; feminism is throttled by legal manipulations, feminists ostracized as social pariahs (even when Western-style feminism is eschewed in favor of local versions of feminism.)
But, I digress; Enough is not a memoir of a culture. Zachry’s experience is one that is all too familiar and common across cultures and in all societies. It is an extraordinary story of a crime that is horrendously ordinary. Hers was a life lived by many people; that’s what makes Enough so memorable, so relatable, so important to read.
Zachry’s memoir begins at her beginning, with childhood, then takes the reader into her teenage and early adult years. It is then that Zachry’s life is altered by an event that haunts her (even now after she has found ways to manage it). The bulk of this memoir is devoted to Zachry’s struggle with the trauma of this event, her path to a recovery, and it ends with a substantial section on her present life which shifts the focus to the traumas of migration and the development of her transcultural identity. Zachry’s journey to a happy place is not one filled with woo-woo cures or unattainable magic pills. Zachry documents how hard work, emotional work punctuated by slips and backslides is the tried and true path; one accessible to all of us, at least in theory.
This is a memoir for all women because this is a story we all know, first-hand, second-hand, or otherwise.
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