Saving My Sister

by Nicole Woodruff

On June 13, 2019, Nicole Woodruff got the call she had been dreading for years. Her sister, Amanda, had suffered a fatal overdose.

Amanda had become addicted to heroin as a young woman. For five years, Nicole and her family struggled to help as Amanda cycled through the process of getting clean, starting to recover, and falling back into using.

Saving My Sister is a memoir about navigating addiction told through a sister’s love, sharing the fear, hope, disappointment, stress, frustration, and ultimate loss that all too often finally ends the cycle, leaving families wondering what else they could have done—or whether they did enough.

If you have experienced addiction firsthand, or if you love someone who has, Saving My Sister is a poignant reminder that addiction affects not just individuals but families, that you’re only human, that you’re all going to need help, and that you’re not alone.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

222 pages, Paperback

Published May 24, 2022

Reviews

[hayley Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for sharing Amanda's story.

While this book was incredibly hard to read, as I walked an eerily similar road with my sister, I think the goal of sharing Amanda's story is so important for others to read. Addiction lives all around us, is within our family and friend circles, etc. And there is some very useful information in this book for what it can look like to be a family member of someone with addiction. Thank you for your willingness to share, and also Amanda's willingness while she was alive and wanting to write this book with you. From one sister to another- You are so brave.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of books on addiction and they are rarely written from the point of view of the family.

It's heartbreaking to read. Addiction socks for EVERYONE. The desire to pretend it's not as bad as we know it comes through loud and clear especially when it comes to mom.

Nicole has been so honest and I don't know what I would have done..judging is easy when it's not happening to you.

[Jane Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a difficult task to write a book depicting your only sister and her addiction; a topic that needs to be in the open so we can make progress in treatment. A well written story with emotions so raw my heart hurt for all involved.

[Melenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very readable book; although, the story is difficult to read at times. Even though I knew it was coming the last couple of chapters were difficult to make it through. Well worth the read though.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Her story is not mine and my story is not hers, but they share so much in common. Addictions look different on everyone, but the themes underneath are almost always the same. Drugs, alcohol, eating food, not eating food, gambling, the list goes on. All seeking to control what feels uncontrollable, and losing control completely in the process. It was so interesting to read the perspective of a family member, one that I haven’t been able to experience. I have a new love and appreciation for my family that tried their best to navigate a disease they knew nothing about. She writes so effortlessly to pull you in beside her with her walk through the highs and lows, celebrations and frustrations. The dialogue was written incredibly well and I loved seeing her grow and learn throughout the book. Despite the sadness of losing a loved one, Nicole showed how you can take care of yourself to best be able to support someone suffering. And she clearly turned her grieving into something beautiful. What a lovely and insightful read. Would recommend, just read the trigger warnings :) !
Also, my moment of the month is meeting Nicole and finding out she does what I want to do. It was one of those coincidences that didn’t feel like a coincidence.

[Debbie Schiedel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to goodreads! This is a touching story of addiction told through the eyes of a loving sister. This viewpoint is both heartfelt but also distant, a very unique perspective. I appreciated the timeline at the end of the book. Although I have not had any real involvement with addiction, I was drawn in and found the story relatable.

[Nic · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book so hard to read. The author jumps around and repeats themselves quite a lot with the exact same information, but presents it like it is new information. I found it really irritating. Messy writing. It is from her personal view about her sister's life with substance abuse, but it is from afar & with second hand info from her family as she spends years without seeing her sister in person.
I was expecting this to be a first hand experience that I could relate too as I've been through the same with my sister, but I just couldn't relate to It much.
There's a lot of definitions from medical dictionaries of what things/diseases/prescriptions are, but it all felt a little impersonal if I'm being honest. Lots of info of her feelings and how her sister's behaviour was ruining her life from afar, and info from her point of view.
Was expecting a lot different.

[Emily Sorensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it very interesting to see the impact of addiction from this perspective. Thank you to the author for sharing this important story.

I did receive an advanced reader copy via a Goodreads giveaway.

[Misty Loreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author did such a beautiful job bringing such an honest, raw and personal story to these pages. This story is so deeply personal and intimate but it also echos our own stories. For everyone of us with our own Amanda, for those that have lost their battle, for those who have won their battles and for those who did not share the addiction but shared in its destruction and aftermath. For those of us who read this book through multiple lenses: the sister, son/daughter, the parent, and the addict.
This book was emotional, deep and well written.
I will be purchasing multiple copies for family members.

[Claire Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and Raw

This story is one that family members of people with substance abuse disorders experience over and over again. As someone who is both a family member of an addict and worked in addiction, I have seen some snippets of these same stories myself. I agree with Nicole that these stories can help change the way we view the process of addiction and ultimately loosen the stigma and provide a safer environment for people to seek help.

I was riveted by this story. I felt Nicole’s frustrations and hope. I cried for Nicole and Amanda, because this is not something someone chooses. Overall a quick but fantastic and enriching read. Highly recommend!

[Rebecca Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so validating and cathartic to read. Nicole and Amanda’s story mirrored my and my sister’s so closely that I had to put it down at times. I felt like I was reading my own family’s experiences. Reading another sister’s account of nearly everything I went through helped me understand my own loss more. Anyone who loses a loved one to addiction should read this. And, there are so few books on sibling loss. This fills a sadly necessary spot.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving memoir about sisters, family, addiction, love and loss.
Nicole shares deep insight into what loving a family member living with addiction is like, through all the wins and hardships. In order to work to find cures to the disease of addiction, there must be an inside knowledge and voice, breaking the stigmas and assumptions; Nicole does just that. This book is a must read!!