That Thing Called Healing

I’ll admit, I was skeptical when I first pressed play on *That Thing Called Healing*. Another wellness book promising to "find your power"? Been there, done that, got the worksheet to prove it. But Rayne Botello’s narration alone sold me within the first ten minutes. Her voice has this rare ability to make even the most abstract concepts feel intimate, like she’s whispering directly into your ear during a late-night soul-searching session. Haven’s writing isn’t polished—it’s *real*, laced with the kind of brutal honesty you only get from someone who’s walked through the fire themselves. The chapter on releasing parental expectations hit me like a gut punch; I had to pause and stare at the wall for a solid two minutes afterward. It wasn’t just the content—it was the way Botello’s delivery made the words *land*, turning abstract ideas into something visceral. That said, the audiobook isn’t without its friction points. At 3 hours and 24 minutes, it’s short enough to finish in a weekend, but the pacing stumbles in the first third. A few sections feel repetitive, as if Haven’s circling the same truths before she’s ready to dive deeper. And while Botello’s performance is stellar overall, her cadence occasionally defaults to a sing-songy rhythm in motivational moments that risks undermining the book’s raw edge. Still, these are minor flaws in what ultimately feels like a conversation with a friend who’s been where you’ve been—and refuses to let you stay there. If you’re tired of hearing "just love yourself" and want something that demands *action*, this is your book. And thanks to Botello, you’ll actually want to listen.