In Invisible Tears by Iram Gilani, the author delves deep into the harrowing world of trauma and abuse, describing her own personal experiences with both, while leading readers by the hand through her perpetual healing journey. Showing her resilience, strength, courage, and empathy, Gilani recounts her experiences with trauma and abuse, from her abusive relationship with her father as a child to the tragic gun violence that left her physically and emotionally injured. We as the reader are taken into her confidence, given the facts of her life as she lived them, and are entrusted with Iram Gilani, vulnerabilities and all. Invisible Tears is an inspiring true story that readers everywhere should read and be uplifted by the strong woman that is Iram.

"People become what they see." (page 33)

What was immediately captivating about Invisible Tears was how, in the very first chapter, Gilani shocks her readers with an unbelievably tragic peak at the moment in time when she was shot in the face, an act that changed her life forever. Through the descriptions of her traumatic experiences and reliving those painful times, readers are taken back to a horrific time in the author's life. Yet, even with such terrible life experiences, the flow of her writing style and how she chose to express her words showed that there was absolutely no ill will or hatred towards anyone, despite those who seemed to hold a very important role in the traumas she went through. Although the end of the book left a feeling of dissatisfaction with how certain events never seemed to be resolved, it was gratifying to be given the chance to hear such an inspiring story about grief, loss, trauma, abuse, and the ever growing and flourishing woman that came out of that darkness.

"If you take anything away from this book, it's the message of acceptance, tolerance, and unity." (page 357)

I would recommend this book to anyone who needs to know they aren't alone in their traumas or abuse. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a bit of inspiration to keep moving forward and pushing on. Sometimes we all need a reminder of how precious life is, without the experience of loss and tragedy. Invisible Tears is that book, the story of a woman's truth that deserves to be heard. Iram Gilani's story will break your heart and piece it back together all at once; it will make you cry, it will infuriate you, but in the end, it will also make you proud to be given the chance to read about her story. In other words, thank you to the author for writing such an incredible book. I'm sure it wasn't an easy feat, but if I am to take anything from Invisible Tears, it is that Iram Gilani is a strong, limitless woman!

"Empathy builds bridges." (page 357)