Because I Love Him

One Woman's Journey from Wounds to Wisdom

By: Ashlee Donohue

Narrated by: Ashlee Donohue

Because I Love Him by Ashlee Donohue is a memoir of rare insight into strong family ties, the intricacies of relationships and the unspoken expectations within urban Aboriginal communities. This is a very personal account of love, loss, addiction, motherhood and domestic violence. Donohue chronicles the profound impact of life on the margins on herself, her family and her community.

A proud Dunghutti woman, born and raised in Kempsey, NSW, Donohue was determined to keep her family together, despite the unforgivable acts and inevitable fallout, to gift her children what she never had – the presence of their father.

Content warning: This audiobook contains mature themes including accounts of violence, abuse and explicit language which may be distressing for some listeners.

©2024 Ashlee Donohue (P)2025 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

'[Ashlee's] voice and her story must be heard and respected in Australia.' (Becca Whitehead, Books+Publishing)

'Ashlee Donohue is an extraordinary human being, and this memoir, Because I Love Him, is both riveting and courageous.' (Writing WA)

'Donohue has an important story to tell, and tells it concisely, and with admirable self-honesty. It is also very much a tale of hope, and a testament to the strength of so many Indigenous women whose stories have, until recently, been consistently dismissed.' (GLAM Adelaide)