Book Review: When All Balls Drop by Heidi Siefkas

Title: When All Balls Drop: The Upside of Losing Everything
Author: Heidi Siefkas
Genre: Non-Fiction, Inspirational, Memoir
Age Group: Adult
Rating: 4 stars
Purchase: Amazon

The true story of a survivor
who through losing everything,
redefined having it all

Heidi Siefkas was a happily married, globetrotting professional who seemingly “had it all”—until a tree limb in New York’s Hudson River Valley struck her down, breaking her neck and leaving her unconscious. Suddenly, life as she knew it stopped. She lost her independence. She lost her career. She watched her marriage disintegrate as she confronted a trail of devastating lies about her husband’s double life.

She had lost all that mattered, but she was a survivor. She fought to restore her health, repair her broken heart, and rebuild herself. Along the way, she gained clarity about her core values, ultimately coming to a deeper understanding of what it means to have it all.

Through down-to-earth, short vignettes, When All Balls Drop shows us how it’s possible to “look up” in spite of pain, deceit, and loss. Heidi’s memoir–rich with hope and humor, inspires anyone who’s had to confront tragedy and reassess their life in the wake of life-altering events.

In short vignettes, Heidi Siefkas tells the story of how she turned from a happily married woman who seemingly had it all to a woman on the edge of despair, in When All Balls Drop.  After being struck down by a tree limb in the Hudon River Valley, she broke her neck. She loses everything – her career, her marriage.

But she didn’t give up. She kept on fighting, not just for her physical health, but also her mental health. She rebuilded herself from scratch, becoming a stronger person along the way. This is an inspiring memoir about confronting tragedy and focusing on what’s really important in life, and on becoming a better person.

The vignettes are about a page to two pages each, making this a quick read. I read it in between breaks, whenever I could, and felt myself drawn to read more and more. The author has an engaging writing style and unique voice. While tragic, the novel is also inspiring, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading memoirs, or anyone who went through a traumatic experience themselves. You’ll find a kindred spirit in Heidi.