I read this book within 24 hours! There was no way I could put it down. The emotion was raw, the author held nothing back she opened her closet and was facing all of the skeletons at once. You felt connected to Tom and his Mom and how they were both on emotional roller coasters.
I usually have a hard time reading a book from front page to the end but not with this one.

I could not put this book down; it touched so close to home. I feel like the author was writing about my own family. I could feel Susan's pain as if it were my own. It was my own. Susan's raw honesty with her feelings brought tears to my eyes over and over again. If you are a parent of a troubled child, this book is a must, a true lesson on letting go.

What unfortunate circumstance for Tom. The sexual assault and physical trauma he suffered left me feeling that I wanted to help no matter what bad things he did to cope. I can understand Susan's struggle between wanting to make up for the tragedy Tom had to endure, knowing that her actions were enabling unhealthy coping mechanisms. How could you not want to make life better for him?

This is a wonderfully triumphant story of a mother getting to know her child, trying to save him from himself and eventually forced to let go, not realizing that it was the best thing that could have happened for both of them. In the end, Susan realized the only way to make Tom's life better was to let him figure it out on his own. Hooray for Tom! I give them both a lot of credit for speaking out about such painful issues. Their story will help so many people.

After years of fear, disappointment and ever decreasing standards, I sense that Susan eventually ended up with a son better than she ever could have dreamed. Tom's success is a rare outcome especially after his involvement in drugs.