HOLD BACK THE RAIN

Life rarely goes according to plan, but this memoir makes the case that resilience will carry one through even the toughest of times.

In this gripping remembrance, Vignault recounts the difficult circumstances that surrounded her family’s unraveling, loss, and recovery. After the author married her husband, Tracy Fink, in 2011, the couple started their life together in Austin, Texas, where they purchased a house, had two daughters, and found success at work—the author as a marketing and human resources professional, and Tracy as a financial analyst. In 2014, shortly after the birth of their second daughter, the couple moved from Austin to Atlanta to be closer to the author’s extended family. The transition required the couple to take a big leap of faith: They quit their jobs in Texas without having new ones in Georgia lined up and spent the first several months in Atlanta in temporary living arrangements. Life then threw additional curveballs Vignault’s way: Her brother, Mark, who struggled with depression for decades, was going through a particularly difficult time, and so, it turned out, was her husband. As the effects of mental illness and addiction tore the family apart, the author served as her family’s breadwinner and caretaker. Throughout, Vignault found solace in her long-distance friendship with Suzanne, whom she met shortly before leaving Austin. Much of the memoir is told through letters to her friend, detailing the good things that happened, the bad things, and everything in between. This intimate, conversational format effectively establishes a kinship between the author and the reader: “I’ll try to remember that as part of my New Year’s resolution, to find the silver lining, no matter how dark it gets. This year can only get easier, right?” Hospital notes and brand-new personal reflections tell more of the story, and readers will find it easy to become absorbed by the author’s powerful, fast-paced story. Vignault’s refreshing honesty offers readers insights into the multifaceted life of someone who experiences understandable feelings of defeat, but also shows inspiring strength and resilience.

A brave document of one family’s struggles, told with honesty, tenderness, and a sense of hope.