Un-Adoptically Me
Winning Beyond the Primal Trauma of Adoption
Un-Adoptically Me — My story. My truth. My voice.
Adopted through the closed system in 1966, my story was locked away. Silent. Forgotten. Unspoken. But silence doesn’t heal.
Un-Adoptically Me is my way of reclaiming my voice, my truth, my identity. Through 88 vignettes, I share the raw realities of adoption—the love and loss, the trauma and resilience, the search for belonging.
But the greatest truth I’ve discovered is this: I was never truly lost.
I have transcended the past, transformed by both pain and joy. Now, grateful and at peace, I listen—to fellow adoptees, to readers, to the conversations this book sparks.
Watch the trailer. Feel the shift.
Then step inside. Feel the echoes.
Click below for a glimpse into the first chapters—told through text and music.
Feel the story before you read it.
Grab Your Copy Today!
Choose your preferred retailer below. Click your country's button to buy on Amazon. → If you're in my home country, South Africa, the ebook link is to Amazon.com, and the paperback is available exclusively at Takealot, South Africa's leading online retailer.
Read. Felt. Starred.
Amazon Says
You Say
A Story That Leaves Footprints on the Soul
I have just had the privilege of walking alongside Elmarie’s life journey through the pages of her book, Un-Adoptically Me. What an exceptional story—every step you take with her leaves an unforgettable imprint on your soul.
Her raw honesty and ability to face every challenge head-on make this more than just a good read—it offers beautiful examples of the strength a woman can possess. Along the way, you learn a few valuable life lessons.
Every word comes alive in your mind and finds a place to dance in your soul. A tender, deeply emotional story that stirs the reader’s emotions and grips you until the very last page.
This is one of those books you will never give away because, without a doubt, you will want to read it again and again—so that its words can find a permanent place in your own life.
A Profound and Essential Read
A powerful and important story for anyone seeking to understand the depth of human experience.
With raw vulnerability and deep wisdom, the author lays bare her truth—both heartbreaking and inspiring. Her words are a gift, offering insight, strength, and a call to live authentically.
This memoir is more than a personal journey; it’s a universal story of resilience, love, and the pursuit of truth.
A truly humbling read.
A Masterful Portrait of Resilience
Once I started reading, I could not stop.
One of the most honest, and heartfelt, depictions of a kaleidoscopic life — finally compressed and expressed as a strong and confident human being.
I admire Elmarie’s ability to paint with words.
Well done.
Gripping, blatantly honest & deeply touching
I started reading Elmarie Arnold’s book, “Un-Adoptically Me” mainly due to my interest in personal memoirs. I must admit that the cover made it difficult to resist as well.
From page one I was engulfed into a personal encounter with whatever life can throw at a person. I was transfixed and in tears many times. Elmarie has exposed the depths and darkness of the adoption genre with pure guts, courage and brutal honesty.
Un-Adoptically Me is a work crafted in literary excellence conveying almost every emotion possible. It is sad, lonely, spiritual, determined and triumphant.
If you only read one more book, it has to be this one. It’s life changing.