It's Time for Our Emotional Reparations: Introducing 'What If I Told You I Was Worthy Before?'

In the boardroom, she's a four-star general. She commands multi-million-dollar projects, raises incredible children, and strategizes her way through a life that demands nothing less than her full strength. In her community, she is a leader, a fighter, a force of nature who once ran for Mayor. She gets things done.

But at night, when the house is quiet and the armor comes off, she’s a "Lover Girl," staring at a blinking cursor on her phone, her heart aching with the profound, lonely question: Why am I a woman who has conquered so much, still losing the war for love?

If you feel that disconnect in your own soul, then I have a story for you.

My name is Hilerie, and I founded Reparations Books and Cafe with a simple, yet powerful mission: to create a space for the stories that heal us, that see us, and that help us reclaim the parts of ourselves we thought were lost. Today, it is with a profound sense of purpose and excitement that I announce the arrival of a new, essential voice to our shelves.

A voice that speaks directly to the heart of this mission.

I'm honored to introduce you to the debut memoir from General Denise, titled "What If I Told You I Was Worthy Before?"

This book is not just a memoir; it is an act of reparation.

It's a repayment of kindness to the self we neglected while chasing a love that didn't deserve us. It's a reclamation of the power we gave away to men who were unworthy of holding it. For so many of us—talented, educated, brilliant Black women—we have fought and won on every battlefield except the one that takes place in our own hearts. We have been told to be strong, to be resilient, to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, but we are rarely taught how to tend to our own wounds.

"General Denise" has taken a lifetime of her own war stories—from the labyrinth of childhood abandonment to the front lines of dating in Atlanta (a tragic theater of war if there ever was one)—and has forged them into a weapon of healing. She introduces us to a roster of unforgettable characters: the charming predator, the too-good-to-be-true con man, the perfect protector who wouldn't commit, and the chaotic lover who felt like home.

Through her unflinching honesty, she gives us a gift: she shows us our own stories on her pages, and in doing so, she makes us feel profoundly less alone.

To give you a taste of her powerful, lyrical, and unflinchingly honest voice, here is a small excerpt from the book:

“My friends see the highlight reel. They see the degrees, the promotions, the public speaking, the relentless ambition. But they don't see that all this 'doing' is just a way to fill the deafening silence in my heart. They don't see that while they are at home being loved on by their partners, my greatest professional achievements are often just sophisticated distractions from the feeling of unrequited love. They see a woman chasing her dreams; they don't always see the woman running from a broken heart.”

This is more than a book. It is a mirror.

The Mission Continues: Your Field Manual

A story can show you the battlefield, but to win your own war, you need a strategy. That’s why, in the coming weeks, we will also be releasing the official companion to the memoir:

 "The General's Field Manual: A Guided Journal for Winning the Battle for Your Heart."

This workbook is an interactive tool, a guided journey that transforms the passive act of reading into an active process of healing. With journaling prompts, strategic drills, and powerful affirmations for every chapter of the memoir, the Field Manual will help you debrief your own history and design a new battle plan for a future filled with the love you deserve.

Join the Conversation (The "Cafe" Is Open)

A book like this isn't meant to be read in silence. It is meant to be discussed, dissected, and shared. Reparations Books and Cafe will be hosting a Virtual Book Club for "What If I Told You I Was Worthy Before?" starting next month. We will journey through the book together, chapter by chapter, in a safe and supportive space. This is your chance to share your own stories and connect with other women who just get it.

Stay tuned for dates and sign-up information.

Your First Assignment, Soldier

This story is a lifeline for so many of us who are still yearning, still hoping, and still fighting. By supporting this book, you are not just buying a story; you are investing in a movement of self-reclamation.

1. Order Your Copy: The book is now available in Kindle, hardcover, and paperback editions. Claim your copy today and begin the journey. 

2. Pre-Order the Field Manual: Prepare for the next phase of your healing. The workbook is coming soon.

3. Join the Community: Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about the Virtual Book Club and receive exclusive content from General Denise herself. 

Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting this work. And most importantly, thank you for being willing to fight for yourself.

With love and solidarity,

Hilerie

Owner, Reparations Books and Cafe