Content Warnings for The Strangest of Places

Now that The Strangest of Places is officially available, I want to make sure that you, Dear Reader, are fully aware of what you'll be getting yourself into, should you choose to read it.

This book deals with some difficult topics: addiction, bullying, child neglect, suicide ideation, and abortion. These aren't included for shock value or to be edgy. They're part of Autumn's story—experiences that shaped who she is and how she sees the world. Understanding what she's been through is crucial to understanding why she makes the choices she does.

Why I'm Providing These Warnings

Some readers need to know what's coming in order to feel safe engaging with a story. Others prefer to be surprised. Both approaches are valid, and I want to give you the information you need to make that choice for yourself.

I don't believe in glossing over difficult topics just to make readers more comfortable. Sometimes confronting those emotions is exactly the point. Sometimes seeing your own experience reflected on the page—even when it's painful—is what makes you feel less alone.

But I also believe in respecting that you know yourself best. If any of the topics below are deal-breakers for you, I'd rather you skip this book than spend money on something that will hurt you.

Content Warnings

The descriptions below contain some spoilers. If you'd prefer to go in blind, just read the bolded headers to know which topics appear in the book.

⚠️ Addiction (Major theme, multiple characters)

Addiction shows up repeatedly throughout the story. Autumn's mother is a recovering alcoholic and gambling addict. A close friend from high school is an active cocaine addict. Autumn's cousin lost custody of her children due to drug addiction. Autumn herself struggles with food addiction (often called "emotional eating" but it's addiction nonetheless).

If you've never seen Johann Hari's TED Talk, "Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong," I highly recommend it—at least the first five minutes, through the "Rat Park" story.

⚠️ Bullying & Emotional Abuse (Major theme, on-page)

Emotional abuse is abuse. It leaves scars that can linger for years, negatively influencing self-esteem, self-image, and body image.

Autumn endures vicious attacks from "friends" and classmates in middle school, but some of the most insidious damage comes from her own family. Certain comments framed as helpful advice, delivered out of love, often cut deeper than any stranger's cruelty ever could.

⚠️ Child Neglect (Major theme, on-page)

Like many Gen X latchkey kids, Autumn was expected to be self-sufficient at a very young age.

That alone isn't necessarily traumatic, but context matters, and those details are what you'll find in this book. Not only the specific circumstances, but the lasting impact that continues into adulthood.

⚠️ Suicide Ideation (Referenced, not depicted)

No one commits suicide in this story, but there are references to Autumn having considered it in the past.

I could have left those mentions out, but I chose not to. In the book, Metallica's "Fade to Black" is cited as something that helped Autumn push through suicidal ideation—the fact that the band went on to such success years after those lyrics were written showed her that dark moments don't have to be permanent. Though a murky future isn't visible through the darkness, when it finally arrives, it can be incredibly bright.

If highlighting that perspective helps even one person seek help, it's worth including.

If you're struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to those trained to help:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

⚠️ Abortion (Referenced, not depicted)

There are no descriptions of the procedure or its aftermath. However, Autumn's mother reveals that she was forced to have a back-alley abortion in 1955.

This backstory provides crucial context for the tension between Autumn's mother and grandmother, and explains part of why Autumn's mother chose to be a single mother decades later.

I purposefully avoided retelling the details of that story (yes, that part is memoir) out of respect and compassion for the women who had to make that impossible choice.

My Approach to Difficult Topics

I believe stories should tell the truth, even when the truth is uncomfortable. Some of what's in this book might make you angry. Some of it might make you cry. Some of it might make you want to reach through the pages and shake certain characters.

Good. That means you're feeling what Autumn felt.

For those who have caused harm—the mean girls, the absent parents, the people who looked away when they should have helped—I hope reading this makes you think about the impact of your choices. Not to shame you, but to invite reflection.

For those who have survived similar experiences, I hope seeing your story reflected back at you makes you feel less alone. I hope it validates what you went through. And I hope it reminds you that survival is its own form of strength.

I wrote this post because while I don't believe in bubble-wrapping the world so that no one ever experiences anything adverse or negative, ever...

I do believe in acknowledging that you can't know what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes, and erring on the side of compassion is never going to be a bad thing. Questions?

If you're on the fence about whether this book is right for you and need more specific information to decide, please don't hesitate to reach out: chris@chriscampbellauthor.com

I'm happy to answer questions about specific scenes, how topics are handled, or anything else that would help you make an informed choice.

You get to decide what you read. You get to protect your peace. And you get to engage with difficult stories when—and if—you're ready.