Thank you for writing this. And I'm feeling deep gratitude for you sharing your real feelings about this book, the courage it took to share, and your willingness to hold the nuance that you do here.
I completely understand where you’re coming from. It’s like watching a psych thriller movie and they barely scratch the surface of real motive and psychosis. It feels inauthentic and repressed catharsis.
I’ve casually talked about my wish to be done this life with a few friends and family but never written anything because it seemed like the final decision made before proceeding to follow through. Other times I’d start but it would seemingly talk me out of it by the silliness I felt in expressing thoughts I believed no one cared enough to address and were in my head to think anyways.
Maybe this is what kept her back from digging into the realness on paper.
In any case, I appreciate your honesty and authenticity in this review.
Thank you Tabitha, and that's real. I hold so much space for those who struggle with these feelings and thoughts which is why my feelings about the book are so conflicting. I definitely didn't want to come off as critiquing Cheslie herself or the story she chose to share with us. I know how hard it is to be honest about these feelings and to open up, even to those closest to us, let alone the world. Thank you for reading and seeing me!
Thank you for sharing this & for speaking up about suicidal thoughts. I fear that the more we refuse to let them out of ourselves to “die in the light of day,” the more prone we are to believe them & to believe they will never pass, as Cheslie did at the time of her suicide. I am so sorry for the world’s loss of this beautiful, obviously talented woman I am only getting to know about too late. My deepest condolences are with her mother & the others who loved her left behind. When I survived my own suicide attempt 💔, I learned that it is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. That thought is an anchor for me in the emotional storms that may still come. I am so heartbroken for Cheslie & others like her who are successful in their attempts. 💔💔 Your thoughts on your disappointment with the content marketing are authentic & also helpful to all of us who look for the helpers. ❤️🩹
Thank you so much Kiki for your thoughtful response! I am so very glad that you're still here, I survived my own attempt at an early age as well and am so glad I was not successful also. Cheslie had a big family and I can only imagine the grief they're still wrestling with two years after her death and I hope the release of this book helped them in that process.
Thank you, Pryce; it's such a sobering realization. I was chronically suicidal all of last year and many time was where Cheslie was, convinced there would be no reprieve.
Thank you for this piece, Ashleigh and your honest review of it. Based on what I’d heard, I assumed the book would dive a bit more into her mental journal, so it’s nice to know this isn’t exactly the case.
However, I cried reading your last little bit of this and feel very seen. Grateful for you
Thank you Kamil. My heart lights up whenever my words have that affect. So many of us can survive these times just by being seeing and heard by others. Sending you love!
I saw the title and thought, 'I need to read this,' but your review made me sad too. So many people are going to pick up hoping to find themselves only to find nothing. 💔
Thank you for writing this. And I'm feeling deep gratitude for you sharing your real feelings about this book, the courage it took to share, and your willingness to hold the nuance that you do here.
Thank you for reading Ama! I share because I want to invite others to share their stories as well so less of us suffer in silence and feel alone.
I cried when I read of her passing! Adding to my TBR list nowww!
As did I, it rocked me. Let me know your thoughts once you read it.
I completely understand where you’re coming from. It’s like watching a psych thriller movie and they barely scratch the surface of real motive and psychosis. It feels inauthentic and repressed catharsis.
I’ve casually talked about my wish to be done this life with a few friends and family but never written anything because it seemed like the final decision made before proceeding to follow through. Other times I’d start but it would seemingly talk me out of it by the silliness I felt in expressing thoughts I believed no one cared enough to address and were in my head to think anyways.
Maybe this is what kept her back from digging into the realness on paper.
In any case, I appreciate your honesty and authenticity in this review.
🧘🏽♀️
Thank you Tabitha, and that's real. I hold so much space for those who struggle with these feelings and thoughts which is why my feelings about the book are so conflicting. I definitely didn't want to come off as critiquing Cheslie herself or the story she chose to share with us. I know how hard it is to be honest about these feelings and to open up, even to those closest to us, let alone the world. Thank you for reading and seeing me!
Thank you for sharing this & for speaking up about suicidal thoughts. I fear that the more we refuse to let them out of ourselves to “die in the light of day,” the more prone we are to believe them & to believe they will never pass, as Cheslie did at the time of her suicide. I am so sorry for the world’s loss of this beautiful, obviously talented woman I am only getting to know about too late. My deepest condolences are with her mother & the others who loved her left behind. When I survived my own suicide attempt 💔, I learned that it is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. That thought is an anchor for me in the emotional storms that may still come. I am so heartbroken for Cheslie & others like her who are successful in their attempts. 💔💔 Your thoughts on your disappointment with the content marketing are authentic & also helpful to all of us who look for the helpers. ❤️🩹
Thank you so much Kiki for your thoughtful response! I am so very glad that you're still here, I survived my own attempt at an early age as well and am so glad I was not successful also. Cheslie had a big family and I can only imagine the grief they're still wrestling with two years after her death and I hope the release of this book helped them in that process.
Very well said, Ashleigh. I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE, TOO.
"And I am sad this type of struggle continues to and will always be a… thing?"
Oh, that was such a gut punch, Ashleigh.
Thank you, Pryce; it's such a sobering realization. I was chronically suicidal all of last year and many time was where Cheslie was, convinced there would be no reprieve.
Sending you love and light. I hope you make Cheslie proud by making it through the darkness and holding on to any hope and joy.
Thank you! I'm doing much much better these days and hope to stay that way!
Oh I am so so so so so so so so grateful for you your writing and this post. Thank you so much. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for your continued support Oish!
Thank you for this piece, Ashleigh and your honest review of it. Based on what I’d heard, I assumed the book would dive a bit more into her mental journal, so it’s nice to know this isn’t exactly the case.
However, I cried reading your last little bit of this and feel very seen. Grateful for you
Thank you Kamil. My heart lights up whenever my words have that affect. So many of us can survive these times just by being seeing and heard by others. Sending you love!
I saw the title and thought, 'I need to read this,' but your review made me sad too. So many people are going to pick up hoping to find themselves only to find nothing. 💔
And that makes me so so sad because I thought the very same thing. More push for me to get my own experiences out there.