Ashley C. Ford’s bestselling memoir Somebody’s Daughter is an electric read. I first read and fell in love with Ford’s writing on the lifestyle site Cup of Jo, where she has contributed essays about identity and body image, among other things. In Somebody’s Daughter, Ford explores her childhood, young adulthood, and complex relationship with her father. She begins by taking us into her childhood home in Fort Wayne, Indiana and introducing us to her younger self. Raised by a volatile single mother in an underserved community, young Ashley often has no one to lean on for support. Her father has been incarcerated her entire life, for reasons unknown to her, and all the knowledge she has of him comes from his loving letters and her grandmother’s stories. As she grows older and learns more about her father’s past, Ashley is forced to grapple with situations no one is equipped to handle. Her journey towards building and claiming her own identity and her journey towards understanding her father come to a head as she enters adulthood. Ford relays her story with generosity, offering hope as young Ashley meets obstacle after obstacle and emerges triumphant.

I loved Somebody’s Daughter for so many reasons. Ford’s writing is brave and uncluttered, searing and distinct. She so clearly paints a picture of a young person trying to understand emotions beyond her comprehension and protect herself in situations out of her control. I found myself desperately rooting for young Ashley and admiring the writer she’s grown into, this resilient woman who is able to turn her experiences with abuse and depression into such beautiful language. I was also struck by how honest this book feels. With memoirs, I sometimes get the feeling that the author is over-editing his or her story to make the story appear more exciting or cohesive. Somebody’s Daughter didn’t give me that feeling at all. Ford doesn’t dramatize her stories, and she doesn’t offer up neat conclusions for situations she can’t explain. Additionally, the people that populate her memoir are complicated, including herself; no one is perfect and no one is unsalvageable. Her empathy radiates off the page and inspired me to look back at my younger self with the same care. Somebody’s Daughter is heartbreaking at times and harrowing at others, but it left me feeling whole.

I’d recommend this book to…

• Anyone looking for writing that is raw, brave, and unapologetic… it’s similar in tone to Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay
• Anyone who is willing to wade into some uncomfortable waters to learn more about others and themselves… it’s similar in theme to Know My Name by Chanel Miller
• Anyone who loves a memoir that makes you think as much as it makes you smile… it’s similar in style to Born a Crime by Trevor Noah