Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Tony V Bunion, Jr. recounts growing up in Havana, Florida, in a low-income family with an incarcerated father and a mother who worked while relying on government aid in Breakin Cycles. Exposed to crime and poverty, he became the first male in his family to graduate from college, attributing this to his mother’s stance on education and his own determination. Bunion describes early involvement in negative activities and legal troubles that led to setbacks, including leaving college temporarily. He speaks on faith in God, self-awareness, and patience as essential to breaking generational cycles, noting all as foundational to one's development. After personal tragedies and witnessing family incarceration, he chose a different path focused on resilience, goal-setting, and faith. He tells readers that breaking cycles requires strength, perseverance, and reliance on God to overcome challenges and create lasting change.

Breakin Cycles: The Power of my Testimony by Tony V Bunion, Jr. is a clear and honest account of transformation rooted in faith and determination. Bunion's style of writing is straightforward and conversational, with a singular voice that allows readers to follow along in his journey from difficult circumstances to a committed spiritual path. Bunion’s dedication to trusting divine timing is a genuinely thoughtful perspective that, while not entirely new, is framed in his own brand of narrative. As far as structure goes, he does well in pinpointing key moments that shaped his decisions, alongside providing practical lessons about the importance of mental and spiritual focus. I appreciate that Bunion doesn't talk “at” us as readers, and what he shares is handled with sincerity. Overall, this memoir offers an encouraging message about the power of faith, purposeful change, and perseverance, making it a valuable read for those interested in stories of overcoming adversity through spiritual commitment and intentional effort.