What people are saying.

  • "We feel as though we are there with Holly, sleeping back-to-back in an overcrowded cell, hustling to stay alive. The details of day-to-day life behind bars are told without self-pity, from experiencing extreme hunger to showering outdoors in the rain. Holly’s Hell left me contemplating the living hell of prison."

    — Alison Hill

  • "I love that she doesn’t apologize for her life, but rather simply seeks to understand the journey that she was on, and learn to live with the consequences of those choices today. This is a raw book, edgy and in-your-face."

    — Maggie Walters

  • "An amazing tale of redemption pre ordered this book, and from the moment it arrived in the mail I struggled to put it down. This was such an amazing book to read, I don’t have words to describe how I feel after reading this. I wish I could change lives like you have by sharing your story with the world. Thank you for being such an inspiration, you have a beautiful soul ❤️"

    — Kimberley W

  • Joe Peter Attwell

    “Wow that terrific well done great to see the real story your an amazing woman to have survived in that thai prison as i have seen the condition in Thailand.”

  • Emma C Lovell

    “Holly's bravery in sharing her story is something to behold. Captivating from the beginning, it'll draw you in and leave you speechless at what she and other prisoners have endured. The book teaches compassion and forgiveness, as its the only way Holly could continue on and even be sharing her story now. A must read.”

  • Alison Hill

    “Holly’s story is raw and confronting. Her straightforward recounting of her experiences in 44 short chapters manages to avoid the “trauma porn” genre, telling like it is without exaggeration or self-pity. The inclusion of photos of Holly and her family, as well as the love of her life, Stephen, brings a poignant reality to Holly and the people around her. It is hard to fathom that most of them have died, and most due to addiction. Holly managed to quit all drugs less than a year in to her stay in Lat Yao. As she writes, “I had taken a good, hard look at my life and I could see that heroin had destroyed it. It had destroyed the lives of many people I knew”.

  • A.B. Vincent

    “It was a pleasure to read this story. I applaud Holly for her open honesty. Not only with her struggles, but also with her comeback. What I really love about this story is that she doesn’t apologize for her life. This is what she lived though, whether we like it or not. She had an upbringing that none of can even fathom unless we lived it directly or something similar. I have not. Most of us haven’t. That is the beauty of independent lives. Despite maybe a thread here or there of similarities from person to person, we all have different stories. No two of us are exactly the same. Nothing is cookie cutter or black and white.

    Holly’s story is a tragic beauty that shows that you can come back from the depths of hell. The odds were stacked against her, and yet she got out and changed her life.

    This story gives me hope. Because no matter what I am going through… it isn’t as bad as this.”

Amber

“What a book! Worth the read!! Speed read this one as I had hotly been awaiting delivery after I heard it was finally being published. Holly’s story is wonderfully written and will move you. Grab the book. Consume it. Then lend it to a friend you love.”

Maggie

“It was a real privilege to read this book, and appreciate the tenacity and amazing spirit Holly Deane-Johns had to survive her time in Thai prison. I love that she doesn’t apologize for her life, but rather simply seeks to understand the journey that she was on, and learn to live with the consequences of those choices today. This is a raw book, edgy and in-your-face. It is a reminder of how fortunate we are here in the West. Her ability to stay centered, to make brave choices to ensure her safety, and to simply survive is astounding. This book will open your eyes.”

Anthony N.

“No waffling, just straight to the point!”

Jessica M.

“love her book. It's the first time since Bangkok Hilton that a female prisoner has documented conditions inside a women's prison in Thailand. She doesn't make excuses and she isn't trying to evoke our pity. What Holly demonstrates is an enduring humanity in some of the worst possible conditions on the planet.”