Not My Circus: Triumph Over Abuse, Trauma, & Family Secrets by Delicia Niami is the second installment of a planned three-volume memoir of her challenging life. Delicia was abused sexually, physically, and emotionally as a young girl. As she navigated her teenage and young adult years, her earnest desire was to get away from her Californian upbringing and explore not only the world but also herself. After saving enough money, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery in Europe, eventually ending up in Switzerland where she finds peace, acceptance, and love from her new friends. Eventually, though, homesickness will send her back to California and a reunion with her beloved mother. Immersing herself in the hedonistic lifestyle of Hollywood at the height of the AIDs epidemic, she finds love, acceptance, and heartbreaking loss as she attempts to deal with rape, the murder of her dear mother, and a debilitating mystery disease that leaves her constantly wracked with pain.

Not My Circus is raw, tough, gritty, and at times, intensely personal yet author Delicia Niami is prepared to open herself completely, honestly, and fearlessly to scrutiny and introspection. The author holds nothing back in her recounting of these tumultuous days and it is a credit to her resilience and spirit that she was not only able to survive her experiences but that she can be an inspiration to readers everywhere who are facing trials and demons. I was initially stunned at the naiveté she so often displayed on her overseas excursions as she frequently put herself in the path of potential danger. However, it became quickly apparent that despite her harrowing childhood, she was still extremely open to seeing the best in people and would rather give them the benefit of the doubt than think the worst of them. It was this openness undoubtedly that led her to develop enduring friendships and relationships wherever she went. Her determination to see justice served on her mother’s murderer was just another example of her doggedness and relentless search for what was right. The overlying theme of this story is undoubtedly the triumph of the human spirit over intense adversity, and the author displays this on many occasions. Her illness alone would have been enough to have flattened most people but somehow she always found the strength to rise one more time and carry on with life. This is an inspiring read and a story that will linger long in my memory. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next chapter of this gutsy woman’s life.

Not My Circus: Triumph Over Abuse, Trauma & Family Secrets - A Journey to Self-love, Pride and Remarkable Resilience is a work of non-fiction in the memoir, inspirational writing, and slice-of-life genres. It is best suited to mature adult readers owing to the potentially upsetting subject matter. In this harrowing and unfiltered tale of struggle penned by author Delicia Niami, the author recounts her journey of overcoming severe adversity, including drug abuse, sexual trauma, and homicide. The memoir delves into her tumultuous teenage and young adult years, highlighting the dangers of West Hollywood's nightlife during the AIDS epidemic. Through a chilling yet inspiring narrative, Niami shows her resilience and determination to heal, ultimately discovering self-love and inner strength.

Author Delicia Niami has crafted a profoundly moving and intense memoir that is a difficult but deeply worthwhile read. I was immediately impressed by the confident narrative style, and Niami's raw and honest portrayal of her traumatic past is both heartbreaking and inspiring with its vibrant and visceral wordplay. Her vivid descriptions of the challenges she faced, from the terror of sexual assault to the perilous nightlife of West Hollywood, drew me into her world and made me feel her pain and courage with every step as though I was hearing her speak in person. The narrative's unflinching look at seeking justice for rape and the frustration it entails was particularly poignant, shedding light on the systemic issues survivors face. Niami’s incredible resilience and her journey toward healing and self-love were deeply empowering. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that, no matter how dire the circumstances, people can rise and reclaim their strength with the right motivation and belief in themselves. Overall, Not My Circus is an essential read for anyone seeking inspiration and hope in the face of adversity.

Not My Circus is Delicia Niami’s second memoir, and I understand there is a third to follow. This book relates to her time in her mid-teens when she was raped on her way home from partying one night. Her visit to report the incident comes to nothing, and, immediately after her graduation from high school, she moves out into a place of her own. She moves many times in the course of the book, but at every turn, fate takes a hand, and her plans are derailed. If it can go wrong, it does go wrong. The cards dealt to Delicia are almost unbelievable. She loses several jobs, her health declines, friends she trusts betray her, and her family makes unreasonable demands on her. She is faced with drugs, alcohol, and financial problems, and from what she shares with us, time after time there are unforeseen and impossible obstacles in the way. Only her resilience and courage help her to survive.

As I turned the pages, I was appalled at the problems Delicia Niami had to face. I could only gasp at the courage and determination she showed not only in surviving but in helping others to survive as well. While Not My Circus is an easy read as it is so well written, the content requires strength from the reader. How can any one person cope with not only her own problems but those of friends and family as well? I was so impressed by the lack of self-pity from the author, and her strength shines through on every page. So many events were beyond her control, and how she copes is a lesson to so many of us who will never face the difficult situations that crop up one after the other. This is a work of bravery; not only the tale of her life but the courage to share her story with the public worldwide. It is a testament to the survival of the human spirit. I also liked the photographs included at the beginning of the chapters as they enhance the narrative and help the reader connect with the author.

Like most things in this world, life itself is a mystery. We go through experiences without fully grasping their significance in our lives. Yet, their effects, often etched deep into our subconscious, play a huge role not only in shaping our perception of the world but also in how we interact with it. Being an LBTQ+ advocate, Delicia Niami recounts her experiences transitioning into adulthood in the 1980s and 90s as a lesbian, and daughter to a single mother. From moving out of her mother’s house after graduation from high school to traveling around Europe, and joining the University of California, Santa Cruz, while battling Crohn’s disease, Delicia spares no detail in her memoir Not My Circus. Open a copy to find out more.

Delicia Niami’s memoir Not My Circus is a must-read for lovers of non-fiction grief/hardship books with a historical and dramatic appeal. Niami’s raw, down-to-earth, and uncensored style of writing offers a connection to her experiences. I was given a glimpse into the tangled emotional space of a victim of child molestation, rape, childhood trauma, abandonment, emotional abuse, and a survivor of Crohn’s disease. Reading this book felt like going on a wild rollercoaster ride of emotions. The evocative depictions of the towns she has traveled to, alongside the richly culturally nuanced insights of the places, especially in Europe, had me feeling like I was next to her touring the amazing destinations. I have deep gratitude for Delicia for sharing this unique story of part of her life. This book brilliantly captures the power, emotional, and situational dynamics at play between the abuser and victim, raising awareness about the topic of abuse, and at the same time equipping the vulnerable with the courage and sound judgment to deal with or avoid abusive experiences.