"Statistically" Book Review

I knew Ashley from a retail job where we both worked. Maybe we became friends because of similar interests or mutual disgusts but I am glad that we have. Since then, she had left the job but we still have been to each other's life. In our conversations in the past, there was always this desire in Ashley's eyes to write a book about her life but it was always in the background, like a ghost.

However, after she decided to leave the job because of her pregnancy she finally had some time to write that book. One day, I hear, Ashley has written the book! I took the first opportunity to read it and there are things that, from an editorial perspective I think could have been done better. But knowing her personally and knowing that this book was originally a journal for her psychiatrist to work on her mental health, I appreciate her book from the bottom of my heart.

I am proud of her and here is what I think about her book "Statistically" without giving away much of the spoiler

Book Review:

Statistically is a self-published book by Michigan-born Ashley Rippey. This book is her debut as an author where she looks back at some of the horrible events that took place in her childhood which changed the course of her life. Ashley grew up from home to home and sometimes in different foster care. Her father was absent in her life and her mother was highly critical of her, which made her think she was not worth loving. The lack of confidence in herself made her find comfort in the wrong crowds. From doing drugs to getting pregnant as a teenager, she went through a domino effect of her own actions because of what started in her childhood. Worse was that, she had chambered the guilts inside her mind and started developing mental health issues such as bipolar disorder. After finding her soulmate at 23 and looking back at her kids, she decided to work on herself to be a better mother and started seeing a therapist. This book can be looked at as a journal of her thoughts, rage, and anger that she needed to let out to find freedom. By writing about her emotions and incidents that took place in her childhood, Ashley was able to address that there were a lot of things she did not have any power over when she was a child. Like any other kid, she wanted a normal childhood with loving parents and a place to feel safe. Despite lacking all that, she has made a decent family by herself but the trauma had not left her. This book may look like a lot of venting to some people and some grammatical mistakes are evident in the pages but the reason this book was published was that Ashley needed to tell her side of the story and felt it was important to empower women who went through a similar or worse situation but scared to speak up because they think no one will hear them. Ashley's use of curse words was another prominent character of the book but only reflects her transparent personality of not trying to hide the way she actually talks. From being pregnant as a teenager, facing infidelity in marriage, doing drugs, fighting mental health issues, and dealing with grief but then finding her way back to a life she always wanted, Ashley's approach to this book was daring, which empowers many women including me who do not come from a privileged background to see their voice in her. The author only hopes her book encourages more women to feel worthwhile and find the courage to tell their stories.

Where can one find "Statistically"?

The review, although isn't made for promotional purposes, I would like to address that Ashley is a very close friend of mine. I would love for her to get support from the community toward her first book. If one wishes, one can find the book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble by simply searching "Statistically by Ashley Rippey".