Book Review: EVERYTHING I NEVER WANTED TO BE

At first when I got this book, I was certain it was going to be like Smashed: The memoir of an Alcoholic. But this book, was so much more and such a better read.

Though the book sometimes felt like it lacked flow to it, the style of writing was engaging and real. Her voice is hard to miss and you feel like laughing and crying through subsequent parts of the book. The ending seemed almost anti-climatic but it was as if she knew that, and wanted to give her readers a happy ending even though there wasn’t really one.

Here’s a brief synopsis:

“Everything I Never Wanted to Be by Dina Kucera is the true story of a family’s battle with alcoholism and drug addiction. Dina’s grandparents were alcoholics, her father was an alcoholic, she is an alcoholic and pill addict, and all three of her daughters struggle with alcohol and drug addiction–including her youngest daughter, who started using heroin at age fourteen. Dina’s household also includes her husband and his unemployed identical twin; a mother who has Parkinson’s Disease; a grandson who has cerebral palsy; and other people who drift in and out of the household depending on their employment situation or rehab status. On top of all that, Dina is trying to make it as a stand-up comic and author so she can quit her crumby job as a grocery store clerk. Through it all, Dina does her best to hold her family together, keep her faith, and maintain her sense of humor. As you might imagine, a story filled with alcoholics and drug addicts includes a number of horrific events. But in the end, Everything I Never Wanted to Be is an uplifting story that contains valuable lessons for parents and teens alike, and a strong message about the need to address the epidemic of teen drug addiction in our nation. It’s a book that can change behavior and save lives–and make you laugh along the way.”

In a way, it was almost refreshing to read a memoir that doesn’t try to be some holier-than-thou tale of heartache/loss/achievement that’s better or worse than everything. else. the reader. could ever handle. Dina is so real, and her heartache with her heroine addict daughter is real, and when she talks about how much she hates her job, you can’t help but think about jobs you’ve had that you hated and tried to grin and bear it when all you wanted to do was punch your supervisor.

I really enjoyed this book, if you like memoirs, that aren’t from over privileged brats who think that their life story deserves a book (I’m looking at you Meghan McCain and Miley Cyrus), you’ll enjoy this. Just be warned, it’s not sugar coated and kind of makes you realize that everyone has problems, and sometimes? Everyone has a story, and sometimes, it’s not a pretty one or a very happy one. But maybe we need to read these kinds of stories to keep us grounded and appreciative of what we have. I know I certainly needed it.

Check out Dina’s blog here. Also, if you want to pick up a copy for yourself you can get 30% off Dina’s book at www.everythinginever.com by entering coupon code “Dina” at checkout. Want to check out other reviews of Everything I never Wanted to Be over at TLC Book tours!

{FTC disclosure: I did receive this book for free however, all views are my own.}

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