I think this is such an important book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, although I do agree with some of the other reviews that she should have had a better editor. Still it was quite easy to read and kept my attention. This is the story of trauma and resilience. I have a lot of admiration for the author for what she went through and how she was able to get herself where she is now with little to no support. It shows us a different facet of people that have been incarcerated and how hard it is for them to reintegrate society.

Thank you Netgalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I Can Take it From Here summarizes Forbes' childhood, time in prison, and life as a citizen reentering society after incarceration. Forbes focuses on the commonality many prisoners share - a childhood filled with trauma - as well as the difficulty society places on those rejoining society after incarceration. The book really shines the spotlight on how difficult reentry can be with the main barriers to employment, housing, etc placed on those who have felonies. Forbes' willingness to share her story is a blessing to the rest of us and leaves us with a challenge to address - how we can support and ease the transition from prisoner to productive and supported citizen.

A very interesting book written from a. Perspective rarely published. I found this book provided hope and a reminder that not all is lost.

I Can Take It From Here is a very readable and inspiring memoir about a woman who overcomes so many hardships. Lisa Forbes documents her hard childhood, time spent in prison, and rebuilding her life after she's released. Some parts are so frustrating to read, especially in regards to her family. As a child, she suffers sexual abuse and neglect, while living in poverty and sometimes squalid conditions. Despite this, she has wonderful grit and determination, which she shows throughout her life. Even with this determination, poverty and PTSD present such an impossible summit. I found this to be a very eye-opening read told with wonderful humanity.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I Can Take it From Here is a memoir that takes the reader on a journey throughout the challenges and triumphs of Lisa Forbes' life. From a childhood layered with abuse and mistreatment to prison by 19 years old, Lisa Forbes' life did not look promising. This memoir is a reflection on how her childhood trauma played a role in her imprisonment and continued to affect her years later. The book also gives insight into the difficulty formerly incarcerated individuals face when trying to reintegrate into society. This book is a fascinating read and I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys reading memoirs.

An emotional, page-turning account of unhealed trauma and personal transformation. It was a fascinating page turner and I recommend this book!

This is a must read for people who do not understand how power and privilege can influence life pathways and outcomes. Some terrifying insights into worlds which many of us will never, thankfully, experience - and it is important that we understand the experiences of fellow humans. A life laid bare in heartbreaking detail.

This book provided delivered the heart-breaking story of author Lisa Forbes in a genuine and vulnerable manner. Lisa shares how she rebuilt, or attempted to rebuild, her life after a lengthy prison sentence for a crime derived from pent up emotion and not of sheer malice. Lisa is raw in sharing her thinking when making decisions like why she moved to Atlanta with a Muslim man even though she was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and eventually how she landed as a secretary at a law firm. While Lisa’s story is one worth learning about, her candidness and passion is best revealed near the end of her novel. She goes on the describe flaws in our criminal justice system, the gap she saw, and how she is working to serve those who were in her shoes. If we read Lisa’s story you’ll understand why we need more people like her in our world.

I was impressed by Forbe`s story. She really managed to connect trauma to actions later in life. I knew little about the prison system, so a insiders view was really interesting and enlightening. It was heartbreaking to read how hard it is to build a life after prison, especially so when there is unprocessed trauma that leads to retraumatization. I read the book as often as I could, eager to see her story unfold. What struck me was how Forbe was able to soldier on, searching for new jobs, trying to stay connected to her daughter and even starting her own company. She comes across as a fighter, always trying her best. I am glad she was able to read so much in prison, and glad she shed lights on the problems people have when trying to live a normal life after prison. I liked the writing style, it was to the point and flowed easily.