by Siri Lindley
First published 2023
Siri Lindley sets her sights on becoming a world champion triathlete with one major problem: she cannot swim. Her father rejects her for being gay, creating another seemingly insurmountable barrier to the life she wants. Through determination and strategic thinking, she masters swimming, wins world championships, and builds a loving marriage. Then in November 2019, doctors deliver devastating news. She has acute myeloid leukemia, a rare cancer that usually kills. Once again, Lindley refuses to accept defeat. She approaches her illness the same way she approached athletic training, breaking down the challenge into manageable pieces. Her methods for overcoming obstacles become a blueprint for readers facing their own struggles. Lindley argues that people possess the power to rewrite their life stories at any moment. She provides concrete tools for moving from feeling stuck to taking action. The book centers on the idea that individuals control how they interpret challenges and setbacks. Rather than accepting limitations, Lindley shows readers how to find creative solutions and maintain forward momentum even when circumstances seem hopeless.
Genres: contemporary, memoir, biography-memoir, health, inspirational
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, overcoming-the-odds, second-chance
336 pages · Hardcover · Post Hill Press
Content warnings: medical-trauma, terminal-illness