I’ve read so much that it's not often nowadays that a book will have a deep and profound effect on me, but this book... this damn book... 

I felt this story on a on a feministic, emotional, social justice, and right in the ouch-y feels kind of level that I found myself actually sobbing at one point, but then, strangely, I was laughing only a few pages later. 

This is actually the first book where I fully annotated and wrote notes on my experience with the book through a series of colour sticky notes to show a visual representation of how I felt while I was reading. It wasn't until I finished the book and reflected on all those coloured tabs at just how much yellow (funny/feel good moments) and pink (romance and spice), were mixed in with the orange (red flags/ anger) and blue (sad). And, if not the actual content of the book itself, but I think the tabs made me realise that in relationships containing domestic/emotional abuse, there is also some very sweet, romantic, and happy times. It only served as a reminder of it not always bad... it's not always doom and demise... but that's why it's so challenging to leave a relationship like this. 

I stand with those who are experiencing domestic/ emotional abuse. I also stand with those who have broken the cycle and said 'it ends with us'.