Review of “What the Heal” by Dr. Tia Warrick

Score: 95+/100 (9.5+ out of 10)

What the Heal is a deeply personal, emotionally-charged, reflective memoir by Dr. Tia Warrick! It's the personal story of a woman overcoming adversity, trauma, and family struggles with tenacity and faith.

Speaking of faith, Christianity does play a part in this book. However, that doesn't disqualify non-Christians and non-religious people from being able to enjoy and take something away from it.

This is the true story of a woman who achieved enormous success despite all the obstacles standing in her way, and if that resonates with you, then this may be the book for you!

It's also a book about healing from trauma, hence the clever pun in the title.

We have to say: the most spectacular thing about this book is how dissimilar it is from Warrick's previous book, Burst the Bubble. It is tonally and stylistically night and day from Burst the Bubble, which read as a very matter-of-fact and somewhat robotic book with very little emotional depth.

In contrast, the writing and content of What the Heal (this book) seems raw, deep, and emotional, detailing Warrick's inner turmoil and the complexity of her family dynamics, particularly with her mother. It offers insights into how personal struggles can fuel growth, and how healing is often not linear but multifaceted. The book also emphasizes the importance of self-worth, independence, and faith in navigating life's challenges.

Warrick shares her experiences growing up in a large Caribbean immigrant family, dealing with the loss of her father, and discovering hidden truths about her biological father. One of the central relationships in this book is the contentious one between Warrick and her mother, an alcoholic and wannnabe-socialite who often exploits Warrick for her intellect, labor, and willingness to help.

The mother holds extravagant parties to impress guests while largely ignoring, using, and abusing the rest of the family, particularly Warrick herself.

A trigger warning flag could also be raised for this book since it discusses physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse, particularly as perpetrated by Warrick's brother, who serves as the main antagonist of the book and one of the main sources of trauma.

We are told that her brother pushed her down the stairs, cut her hair, and forced her into sexual acts.

There is a brief moment in which some of the motivations for her brother's horrific actions are explored, such as his feelings of inferiority and being compared to the much smarter and more successful siblings. And this is what we mean by the narrative providing emotional depth. No one in this book is comically bad or evil. Every person in this book is shown to us to be an actual living person, a living person who may have done horrific deeds. With that said, the brother's actions are reprehensible and undeniably inexcusable.

With that in mind, the book also explores some of the strange dynamics in the family given all the information we're provided about the brother and mother in particular. For example, the mother, despite knowing the terrible things the brother has done, still insists on him being invited to Warrick's wedding. So, in perhaps the most memorable part of the book, Warrick laments the abuser's presence in
the wedding album which should be filled with happy memories. This is exacerbated by the abuser being described as catching the bridal garter, a chilling symbolic moment of him having stolen her innocence and having violated her.

Speaking of memories, another standout portion of the book discusses the author's so-called “Safe Memory”-- a childhood memory associated with Christmas. She describes the warm and joyful feeling of waking up to the smell of cinnamon apple cider and the peaceful sight of snow covering the streets. Her family would gather around a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, listening to holiday songs like "Baby, It’s Cold Outside," and her sister Kathrine would decorate the tree and create a mini Christmas village on the mantle. This memory brings her comfort and happiness, offering her a mental escape from the traumatic and unpleasant memories of her childhood.

Another standout portion of this book is Warrick's incredible poem titled “I Needed a Mother” which is part of a beautiful, painful, emotionally-poignant letter she writes to her mother. It's some of the best writing in this contest.

Here are some of our favorite quotes and passages:

- "...I am untethering myself to your spiritual sickness and am letting you go”

(Note the alliteration in “spiritual sickness”)

- “I looked within myself, but when I felt lost in the large, pitch-black ocean of gloom, I cried for help.”

- "When you think you've won a battle, another war rages on.”

- "As long as there is life, a fight is left in me.”

Some final thoughts/notes: we loved and admired Tia's descriptions of her scholarly and professional journey as well. Apparently, she graduated from high school early and attended college when she was 16 because of her intellectual brilliance!

Lastly, we also admired and respected Curtis (the husband) and how he supported Tia through such difficult times and challenges.

The book touches on themes like generational trauma, self-discovery, and resilience, all while exploring the role of faith and energy in Warrick’s healing process.

Check it out on Amazon!