Surviving You

Ever wonder what goes on in the mind of a sociopath? Emma Sawyer spent every moment of her high school and college years trying to figure it out.

In a small, rural town in Ohio, with nothing much to do, Emma was a regular teenage girl trying to fit in. Her life was normal until she met David, a conniving and deceitful boy who stole her heart. Though David seemed aloof and impersonal at times, Emma fell for his fiery charm. Through ups and downs in their relationship, Emma found herself falling irrevocably in love with David, despite his pathological lies and violent fits of rage. Little did she know, he was about to take her on a seven-year journey that would change her life forever.

The memoir follows their love story through a series of relentless events. Providing introspection as an older Emma throughout, the author reflects on the memories and red flags of the abusive relationship. This book aims to help women who have experienced sexual abuse and manipulation realize they are not alone, shed light on the difficulties of domestic violence, and put a spotlight on the injustice of the courts.