Title: Reverse Perfection: A Memoir
Author: Abby Redtree
Publisher: Westwood Books Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 978-1643612638
Pages: 88
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina

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Renown Indian industrialist N.R. Narayana Murthy once said, “Growth is painful. Change is painful. But, nothing is as painful as staying stuck where you do not belong.” In author Abby Redtree’s book Reverse Perfection: A Memoir, one young woman’s journey to find love, develop relationships, explore fantasies and maintain a stable life for her family all come full circle, leading to an unexpected conclusion.

This short novella follows Casey, a young woman who must navigate life trying to find herself while struggling with the image of her life that her parents and others have had for her, and showcases the events and relationships in her life that allowed her to grow and honestly explore who she was and what she wanted in life. This short fictional read will take readers through twists and turns that explore mental health struggles, sexuality and even the struggle one faces when discovering dark truths about those closest to us.

One thing that I must make note of is that readers may find instances of grammatical and spelling errors throughout the book. While a bit more editing could have been used, the few errors that readers may come across were never big enough to take me out of the novel entirely. What was really interesting about this book was the style in which the author wrote, completely negating dialogue of any kind between the characters and instead writing the story to be read like a memoir. It really made the narrative stand out and feel unique in its approach.

This is a novel for more adult and mature readers. Scenes depicting intimate encounters and exploring fantasies play out through the book and scenes depicting mental health struggles and suicide also play a role in the narrative. Readers are cautioned to be aware of these themes and situations, but anyone who enjoys quick reads and adult, memoir style narratives in the fiction genre will thoroughly enjoy this read.

Overall this was a fast paced, deep dive into a journey of life and discovering who you are. Showcasing what it means to define your life by your own standards and no one else’s, the story is one of love, loss, identity and discovery, and perfectly analyzes the ways in which our relationships with friends, family and loved ones affect our identity. If you enjoy quick reads and journeys of self-discovery, then pick up your copy of Abby Redtree’s Reverse Perfection: A Memoir today.