“Even broken wings remember the wind. And in time, I would too – not with grace, but with grit. Each awkward take-off was proof I hadn’t forgotten how to move towards the sky.” – Melissa Sharman, 2026.
It feels strange to read a book as eye-opening, gut-wrenching, and hopeful as The Beauty of Broken Things, and somehow recap it in a few hundred words. The lyrical prose is the vessel for the story, and there are so many beautiful quotes to soak up and think about for a long time afterwards.
Author Melissa Sharman is courage personified. Without giving away any spoilers, this local Gold Coast powerhouse takes us on an incredible journey through the events of her life that have shaped her into the person she is today. Turning pain into power, Melissa once again proves that there is nobody stronger than a woman who has been broken and put herself back together again.
Melissa’s story involves surviving sexual assault, intimate partner violence, coercive control, misogyny, and pregnancy loss. These are all integral themes in the book, but Melissa doesn’t let them define her. Her generosity as a friend, mother and partner is what this book is truly about. She is a volunteer, co-founder, egg donor, surrogate, and domestic violence survivor advocate. Her story is truly unique and needs to be at the top of your TBR pile.
“Sometimes things fall apart before they fall together.”
‘The Beauty of Broken Things’ is currently available for preorder and will hit shelves on 3 May 2026. Support your local independent bookstore if you can.
If we know each other in real life, you know what you’re getting for Christmas this year!
Disclaimer: Courtney was given a free advanced reader copy of this book. Her views and writing are, as always, proudly her own.
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