Book Description: After escaping an abusive marriage, Cara Brookins had four children to provide for and no one to turn to but herself. In desperate need of a home but without the means to buy one, she did something incredible.
Equipped only with YouTube instructional videos, a small bank loan, a mile-wide stubborn streak, Cara built her own house from the foundation up with a work crew made up of her four children.
It would be the hardest thing she had ever done. With no experience nailing together anything bigger than a bookshelf, she and her kids poured concrete, framed the walls and laid bricks for their two story, five bedroom house. She had convinced herself that if they could build a house, they could rebuild their broken family.
This must-read memoir traces one family’s rise from battered victims to stronger, better versions of themselves, all through one extraordinary do-it-yourself project.
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is not typically the type of book I would read, however I am glad that I had the opportunity to read it because I enjoy reading books I wouldn’t typically pick up. I have read Eat, Pray, Love and did enjoy it so I went in hoping it would be similar to that book.
I was not disappointed. I did enjoy reading this book, it was different from Eat, Pray, Love but it should have been because it was a different type of story. I think that this story shows that you can overcome bad relationships that have left you scarred and rebuild that safety that her and her children craved. I enjoyed that she opened up and had chapters about her past and did not hide that. It really gave you a feel for what she and her children had gone through and how they were still dealing with it after, but also how they are working to fix it.
They are building this home to create a safe haven for themselves, as well as rebuild their family together. It was funny hearing about how building their house played out and am very impressed she was able to build this with YouTube videos and random people’s help that she met along the way. The saga with the electricians was frustrating and funny, because it is just like really that is who this lady gets stuck with, but luckily it all works out in the end.
It was cool seeing how her family grew from this experience and hearing where they are at the end, and it definitely seems they are in a good place. I am glad I had the opportunity to read this and think it is a good book for people who have been in this situation and those that haven’t. Even just experiencing someone building a house is just a fun read.
Book Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
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