Nineteen - by Leslie Johansen Nack (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

For fans of Cheryl Strayed's Wild and Greg Buenzli's And Then We Hit a Rock 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.

"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, 5 stars

In the mid-1970s, after sailing to French Polynesia with her sisters and father, Leslie Nack returned to the US with her family. In Southern California, she began the integration process back into American life, which meant being tossed back and forth between an alcoholic, mentally ill mother and an abusive, overbearing father who took her to deliver sailboats, sent her on a wilderness survival course, and recovered a stolen boat for an insurance company in the Virgin Islands. During all of that, she and her sisters attempted to free their mentally ill mother from confinement. Life couldn't be more unpredictable.

At nineteen, her larger-than-life father dies suddenly in a plane crash in Mexico. In the wake of his death, she descends into addiction--caught in a downward spiral, her only solace is her next fix. Ultimately, however, Leslie's story is one of resilience: she chooses sobriety and happiness, builds a healthy marriage, and raises two children.

At its heart, Nineteen affirms that acquiring new skills and investing in oneself are essential to breaking free from the destructive lessons of childhood. Raw and intense but ultimately hopeful, this sequel to the popular memoir Fourteen tells the rest of Leslie's turbulent--and incredible--story.

Review Quotes

Chosen for Zibby's Fall 2025 Most Anticipated List

"Writing with a steady, intuitive voice, Nack is unflappable yet honest in her narration. Even though her words tell an unspeakable truth, she coats them in acceptance, exuding contentment with the journey she's undertaken. That singular type of resilience shines throughout this compelling story."--The BookLife Prize

"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, 5 stars

"[Nineteen] arrives at an important time in society and publishing, as more and more individuals and institutions are . . . working together to build supportive communities that help people during their recovery and sobriety. This book is truly emotional and unforgettable. The author's openness, honesty, and vulnerability make this an engaging, interesting, and heart-wrenching book."--The US Review of Books

"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

"A deeply personal and consistently engaging remembrance of a difficult young adulthood."--Kirkus Reviews

"Nineteen is a searing, beautifully written memoir of survival, resilience, and the long, painful road to self-worth. Leslie Nack delivers an unflinching account of her teenage years marked by trauma, addiction, and the desperate search for love in all the wrong places. And yet, through the chaos, her voice emerges strong and clear--a testament to the power of grace, grit, and healing. A raw and courageous follow-up to Fourteen, this book will stay with you long after the final page."--Marni Freedman, director of The San Diego Writer's Festival

"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 three award-winning books: her debut memoir, Fourteen, its sequel, Nineteen, and her historical novel, The Blue Butterfly. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in English literature and overcame past traumas to raise two children in a healthy, loving home. Nack 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.