Nineteen - by Leslie Johansen Nack (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

For fans of Suzanne Heywood's Wavewalker and Cea Sunrise Person's North of Normal comes Leslie Johansen Nack's emotional follow-up memoir about her battle with addiction following a traumatic childhood--and her inspiring journey toward healing and happiness.

In the mid-1970s, Leslie Nack's family returned from sailing to French Polynesia and began the integration process into American life again, which included being tossed back and forth between an alcoholic, mentally ill mother and an abusive, overbearing father.

To find love and acceptance, Leslie chases a myth that throws her into the path of nefarious older men, where she eventually falls into drug and alcohol addiction. Her father dies in his plane in the jungles of Mexico when Leslie is nineteen, but his abuse lingers in her psyche. She spirals, her only solace her next fix--until, somehow, she finds the grace, despite her abjectly dysfunctional family background, to believe in her worth. This newfound self-love changes everything for her, and finally she is able to find her way to sobriety and recovery.

Raw and intense but ultimately hopeful, this sequel to the popular memoir Fourteen tells the rest of Nack's turbulent--and incredible--story.

Review Quotes

"Nack's prose is candid and lyrical, blending sensory detail with sharp emotional insight. . . . Readers drawn to coming-of-age memoirs that explore the impact of family trauma and the long road to self-empowerment will not want to miss this sequel."--Readers' Favorite, 5-star review

"Readers will be drawn in by this moving tale of childhood trauma and healing, as Nack grants them an intimate perspective on the conflicting inner battles of a young girl desperately crying out for love."--BookLife Reviews

"This is a memoir that will stay with readers long after the final page, not because of its trauma alone, but because of its honesty, grace, and refusal to look away."--Seattle Book Review

"Readers that choose Nineteen . . . should be prepared for a powerful survey of regret, remorse, reaction, and recovery analysis . . . a hard-hitting read that will lead them to question their own pasts and the foundations they've rested upon for survival."--Midwest Book Review

"With unflinching honesty and an intimacy reminiscent of a teenage friendship, Leslie whispers secrets to the reader about affairs with men twice her age, confesses her confusion about wanting her father's love while fearing the sickness in it, and lays bare the pain and pleasure of her addictions. Truly moving, Nineteen is a powerful reminder not to blame or shame girls for choices we don't understand."--Bridey Thelen-Heidel, author of Bright Eyes

"Rarely is a writer as courageous, honest, and vulnerable on the page as Leslie Johansen Nack is in Nineteen. In her compelling narrative, Leslie never looks away from the raw truth of her unsettling teenage life. Written with a story-teller's attention to detail and a voice that draws readers into intimate confession, Nineteen is a memoir that reaches into the heart where compassion resides."--Judy Reeves, author of When Your Heart Says Go

"Leslie Nack's absorbing new memoir Nineteen takes us further into the stormy waters of her family dynamics. That Leslie survived and grew up to become a mother and a wife and a fantastic writer is a miracle. Her memoir reminds us all that we have an inner self, and when it's nurtured, there's all manner of beautiful blossoming."--Linda Joy Myers, founder of the National Association of Memoir Writers and author of Don't Call Me Mother, Song of the Plains, and The Forger of Marseille

"Nineteen is a heartfelt and sobering memoir. Written with courage and honesty, it reveals the consequences of family dysfunction and the redemption and healing that are possible in the aftermath of trauma."--Leslie Ferguson, author of When I Was Her Daughter

"Nineteen combines a shockingly intimate, fast-paced adventure with a heartbreaking tale of abuse, neglect, addiction, and recovery. Prepare to weep and applaud Leslie Johansen Nack for this remarkably well-written, heart-pounding memoir."--Gina Simmons Schneider, PhD, author of Frazzlebrain: Break Free from Anxiety, Anger, and Stress Using Advanced Discoveries in Neuropsychology

"Nineteen is a raw, inspiring story of survival filled with resilience, self-discovery, and ultimate triumph."--Sophia Kouidou-Giles, author of Sophia's Return: Uncovering My Mother's Past

"Nineteen is an intimate account of overcoming family trauma and drama. This detailed narrative evokes striking imagerythat brings the reader into the experience. May it inspire all those facing challenges and foster compassion for those finding their way."--CH Stern, LMFT, psychotherapist

"Nineteen is immersive and riveting, gripping, and emotional. It is a story of resilience, strength, and a raw and unflinching exploration of survival and self-discovery. Nack has written a must-read memoir for anyone seeking to confront their past, understand the depth of family bonds, or find hope in the face of unimaginable adversity."--Stephanie Thornton Plymale, author of American Daughter: A Memoir

"Absolutely fabulous. Riveting. Horrifying. Courageous. Inspiring. A must-read."--Judy Foreman, author of Let the More Loving One be Me

"Leslie Johansen Nack isn't afraid to take risks, and her incisive sophomore memoir, Nineteen, does not disappoint. As always, Nack's writing is fearless and viscerally entertaining. Written with unsparing honesty and impressive resilience, Nineteen is a book to educate, intrigue, and inspire."--Laura Cathcart Robbins, author of Stash: My Life in Hiding and host of The Only One in the Room podcast

"The author recounts her traumatic coming of age in an honest, compelling voice, exposing her family's dysfunction and her own poor choices with fascinating candor and evocative sensory details."--Jennifer Silva Redmond, author of Honeymoon at Sea

About the Author

Leslie Johansen Nack is the author of two award-winning books: her debut memoir, Fourteen, and her historical novel, The Blue Butterfly. Her forthcoming sequel, Nineteen: A Daughter's Memoir of Reckoning and Recovery, concludes her raw and deeply personal story that chronicles her path to sobriety and a renewed sense of hope. Nack graduated from UCLA with a degree in English literature, and she overcame past traumas to raise two children in a healthy, loving home. She is a member of The Authors' Guild, The Historical Novel Society, and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. She lives outside Seattle with her husband of thirty-five years. You can find more about Leslie and her work at www.lesliejohansennack.com.