“Realizing River City” (Tumbleweed Books, 2016) offers a candid portrayal of a woman’s journey through abusive relationships and quest for love. After marrying at 21 and  divorcing at 25, she seeks solace in various men, only to realize how quickly relationships can shift from hopeful to disappointing.

Through her vivid storytelling, she captures the complexities of navigating personal identity amidst tumultuous and heart-wrenching romantic entanglements.

The narrative unfolds with ups and downs, mirroring life’s unpredictable nature. Despite the uneven path to healing, the story maintains a consistent thread that kept me eagerly flipping through the pages.

In Realizing River City, Grunow consistently jumps back into the choppy waters of abuse, wondering if she will ever surface.