FREAK: The True Story of an Insecurity Addict™
Written By Rebecca O’Donnell
Book Cover Photograph By Anre Fuentes
Book Design By Vladimir Zavgorodny

From its first blackly hilarious quote, FREAK shoves you on a roller coaster ride and never lets up. This is the true story of Rebecca O’Donnell, an atypical hero who found hope in the darkest of circumstances. Unlike so many spunky survivors of a damaged past, Rebecca belongs to that far more common area of depression and insecurity, hidden behind the mask she showed the world.

So how does one crawl out of a self-dug pit? With laughter, self-recognition and a drop of shaky courage, Rebecca shows us exactly how she did that, and how she helped others build their own ladders out of hell.

FREAK is a must read for anyone who’s ever heard that voice of insecurity whispering that we can’t, we shouldn’t, we don’t deserve.

Review quotes from back cover:
 

I’ve never laughed so much or cried so hard simultaneously in my life.

— Beth Kattleman, Librarian

 
I found myself laughing at the most inappropriate moments.

— Tom Kuehhas, Historian

 
As painful as this book is to read, you also can’t put it down. It reminds you once again of the resilience of the human spirt and one’s capacity to forgive.

— Beverly Wright LCSW, CASAC, CEAP

 

Review quotes from prior edition:
 

★★★★★ Amazing
Freak: The True Story of an Insecurity Addict by Rebecca O’Donnell is by far the best book I have ever read. I have never read a book so quickly and so intently. This book is truly hard to put down. I finished it within two weeks and recommend it to all my friends who love books. I am currently letting someone else read it to get their opinion. As terrifying and haunting as it is, Rebecca’s positivity is truly inspiring. This is a must-read!

— Brandon Ronald

 

★★★★★ Admiration
A very touching story. Not drawing pity, but showing how to accept and eventually change your predicament in which the writer (and you) were born and raised. It takes a lot of courage to show so much vulnerability and hurt. Rebecca uses a direct and uncomplicated language that fits her subject. Raw and unpolished. This book is full of hope and compassion instead of anger, what I expected. My deepest respect for Rebecca.

— Lieve Walvis

 

★★★★★ Rebecca’s Story
Rebecca O’Donnell’s story is very personal and not pretty. Despite that, like a baby deer, caught in the headlights of violence and abuse, I couldn’t look away until I knew how and why she survived multiple traumas. There is strong language and some disturbingly vivid description, but overall the author’s thoughts and recollections flow freely with her courage and insight on insecurity and its consequences.

— Jeannie B. Clemmens

 

★★★★★ An amazing story of an amazing person!!!
Shows one and all not to beat yourself up. You are worthy of happiness if you are able to see your true self.

— Scott Hastie

 

★★★★★ Once I started this book, I just had to finish it!
I met the author and had to check out her book. She has an amazingly crazy life story. I am familiar with addiction and the heart ache, hurt and craziness it brings to anyone’s life. This book was like watching a train wreck; had to finish the book. Very intense, parts graphic and base.

— Siobhan

 

★★★★★ This Book Is Useful To A Wide Readership
First off, I think of this book is incredible. I can’t say, “liked,” because much of the book is a horror story, but what a ride. Like others have said, it is written like a personal conversation to the reader.
 
What was important to me, is that I actually understand the people who I know in my life who were abused much better. Many of the reactions that I have seen with these friends, acquaintances or co-workers now make sense. I can now better handle the reactions from these people. And avoid negative reactions from new situations much better. I will not take it personally anymore when a conversation comes up about the topic and they withdraw. Reliving their feelings are very difficult and a life-time effort of recovery. I highly recommend this book, not as literature to people who have not had these awful experiences, but as a beginning to understand others much better.
 
Why do I recommend this so highly? After reading the book, I called a college friend who I had not talked to in years. During the chat I mentioned the book I was reading and asked about the reactions that I received from her years earlier when I had first met her. Sure enough, the mixed messages were related to the fact that she liked me. And any positive contact with men was also associated with the abuse from her father. Let’s just say that at 19,I couldn’t figure her out at all. Now with us in middle age, we are very close friends all over again. I had no idea what she was dealing with at the age that I met her, I had no possibility of understanding what was going on. I did not have the abuse within my family that too many others do.
 
There are tons of books out there about abuse and how to deal with it. I look at this book as one of the best looks into an inner world that is very hard to see or understand. Again, highly recommended. BUT, be ready for randy language and an upsetting story. I just do not know how someone could tell this without being completely open and honest about their life. The author is not sugar coating her story at all, let alone her own shortcomings in her life story. She takes quite a bit of blame for her own actions. Some of those actions, which were not to her benefit, are much more understandable in the context of her life. Kudos to the author.
 
By the way, I’ve never owned a book which I have shared with more than three people before. It gets strong reaction both positively and negatively. The negative rection seemed to be about the rawness of the book. Again, the friend who had a negative reaction I believe missed the point or was uncomfortable with the point of the book.

— D. Simons