Searching for Serotonin

When Hardship Makes Happiness Hard to Find

Non-Fiction - Memoir
148 Pages
Reviewed on 04/11/2023
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Kamalia Blunt (or Mali Millie) is an award winning author and passionate professional devoted to empowering individuals and their interests. With a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish & a minor in Chinese from the University of Georgia and a Master in Science for Health Promotion Management from American University in Washington DC, she aims to continue her efforts to uplift and embolden others to persevere despite their past, present and future obstacles. If you ever catch her at a social gathering, search for the quietest corner normally next to food since she’s a foodie gal who loves cooking and trying out unique ingredients and flavor pairings. She also enjoys singing, reading/writing fanfiction, poetry, and short stories, and travelling to exotic places. She identifies with the frustrations of trying to figure out life, the good the bad, the beautiful and the ugly through loss, poverty, and trauma. Though she has achieved many accolades, she simply believes herself to be a lover, encourager and uplifter of those who have ever felt forgotten, dismissed, ignored or unappreciated.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Searching for Serotonin: When Hardship Makes Happiness Hard to Find is a compelling memoir by Mali Millie. The story unravels as Millie finds herself in a cold hospital room, wondering why she ended up there. A heart-wrenching scene follows when Millie’s mother dies at home, and her life is never the same again. Millie eventually faces the trauma of death, alcoholism, poverty, and bullying, leading to her mental illness. She finishes school and lands a job analyzing violent death data on suicides and homicides. This triggers her mental illness until she is admitted to a psychiatric ward. She finally addresses the effect of her traumatic childhood in search of the happiness that has always eluded her.

Mali Millie’s Searching for Serotonin is a powerful and thought-provoking memoir that chronicles a life faced with childhood adversity. It is an inspiring read, especially for those who have experienced childhood trauma. It is written in the first-person perspective, making it an intimate and compelling read. Citing statistics that reveal the high number of people with adverse childhood experiences, the story is timely and relevant. Millie’s writing style is engaging, and her honesty shines through. This story stands out because it offers hope for people with mental illness by inspiring them to seek professional help. Ultimately, it shows that experiencing childhood trauma and having a mental illness should not stop one from pursuing a better life. It is highly recommended.