Tying the Ribbon: How I Survived a Spinal Cord Stroke and My Life Afterward

Corrie Legge’s narration is the secret weapon of this audiobook—she doesn’t just read Haley Stark’s words; she embodies them. Legge’s performance shines in the quiet moments, where her voice hitches just enough to communicate the overwhelming weight of Stark’s frustration or grief. But it’s her ability to pivot to Stark’s sharp, dark humor that steals the show; I found myself laughing out loud at lines like, *“If I’m going to be stuck in a wheelchair, at least I can make it stylish.”* The pacing is relentless, mirroring the urgency of Stark’s early recovery, though I wish the audiobook slowed slightly for the epilogue—the emotional gut-punch of her later reflections deserved a little more space to breathe. Legge’s one misstep is occasional over-enunciation in Stark’s diary-style entries, which can make the most vulnerable passages feel a bit performative. That said, any critique pales in comparison to the raw power of Stark’s story. What makes Tying the Ribbon unforgettable isn’t just the survival narrative—it’s the unapologetic way she forces listeners to confront the messy, ugly, and occasionally hilarious reality of rebuilding a life after catastrophe. If you want a story that will leave you both devastated and exhilarated, this audiobook delivers in spades.