Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
Kindle Price: $2.99

Save $12.00 (80%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $17.46

Save: $9.97 (57%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

Sarah Swindell
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Rounding Home: A Memoir of Love, Betrayal, Heartbreak, and Hope with an Intimate Look into Raising a Child with Severe Autism Kindle Edition

by Sarah Swindell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 110 ratings
See all formats and editions
In 1991, 21-year-old, Sarah, the recently divorced mother to 2-year-old Hayley, moved from the dusty small town of Farmington, New Mexico to the bustling city of Houston, Texas with dreams of a better life. A year later, she was swept off her feet by Greg Swindell, an established major league baseball player who had just signed a lucrative contract with the Houston Astros and was quickly becoming the talk of the city. Six weeks after their first date, Greg asked Sarah to quit her job as a hairdresser and marry him during Spring Training in Florida. Over the next several years, Sarah's Cinderella story continued with the addition of three more children, a lifestyle only a few ever dream of living and a love story even fewer ever experience.That is until 2002 when her picture-perfect life came to a gut-wrenching halt and Sarah was faced with more pain than she ever thought possible. For almost a decade, the puzzle pieces would cease to align due to an avalanche of events; a devastating autism diagnosis, a painful affair, multiple marriages, multiple divorces and her children's own personal struggles with self-harm, eating disorders and attempted suicide. If you have ever felt lost, betrayed or heartbroken, this story will inspire you to never give up on finding true joy and happiness again. It will prove there is no such thing as the “perfect family” and that difficult times can actually make you stronger than you ever dreamed possible.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    258 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    August 11, 2019
  5. File size
    3084 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
Next page
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sarah Swindell lives in the Austin area with her husband, Greg, a former Major League Baseball player and 2019 Texas Sports Hall of Fame Inductee. Sarah is a commercial actress/model and has been working in the industry for over thirty years. She enjoys spending her free time with her four grown children and several grandchildren who reside in Texas as well. Sarah is an avid moviegoer, loves yoga, true-crime podcasts, and advocates for children and adults with autism and other disabilities. Her son was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of eighteen months and continues to touch peoples' hearts to this day.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07WHF6NL3
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sarah Swindell; 1st edition (August 11, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 11, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3084 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 110 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Sarah Swindell

Sarah Swindell

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Sarah Swindell lives in the Austin area with her husband, Greg, a former Major League Baseball player and 2019 Texas Sports Hall of Fame Inductee. Sarah is a commercial actress/model and has been working in the industry for over thirty years. She enjoys spending her free time with her four grown children and several grandchildren who reside in Texas as well. Sarah is an avid moviegoer, loves yoga, true-crime podcasts, and advocates for children and adults with autism and other disabilities. Her son was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of eighteen months and continues to touch peoples’ hearts to this day.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
110 global ratings
Hooked from page one and couldn't put down!
5 Stars
Hooked from page one and couldn't put down!
This was a book I bought with the intention of reading in bed before going to sleep...over the course of a few nights. Well, I stayed up until 3 am and read it cover to cover in one night. Totally hooked from the beginning and I had to know what happened next. The beginning of the book documents Sarah's life as an early twenty-something in the early 90's. A decade I was born and raised in, but often daydream about what it would have been like to have been a young adult. I felt like I got to live that through Sarah. She falls in love fast and easy, something I know all too well. One of my biggest take-aways from this book was that I should always listen to my gut instinct. She had gut feelings when it came to her children, their health, her looming marriages, and ultimate divorces. Amidst all the ups and downs, Sarah has an unbelievable story, and she tells it in the most honorable and respectable way. Thank you for opening up your life to strangers, Sarah. You are such a strong and incredible woman!
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Sonya
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy reading at it's best!
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2019
Verified Purchase
I loved this book from start to finish and blew threw it in 3 days. It is an amazing, real life story that shows pain, sorrow and despair but most of all, it showed an immense amount of hope and love! It was eye-opening to learn more about severe autism and the daily challenges it can present. The story showed that there are ups and downs in life and in the end, this is a heartwarming love story and the main character(s) will absolutely win you over!
Helpful
 Report
Tricia Richards
5.0 out of 5 stars Modern day love story...shattered and rebuilt
Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2019
Verified Purchase
An honest look at raising an autistic child. How the diagnosis changed everything for this family, that fell apart and then found their way back together. It’s a heart-breaking story, that will pierce your heart and make you cry. Compelling and relatable in every way. The author shows great determination and grit in owning up to her failures, what they did wrong, what they did right, what they learned, and how she pressed forward for the love of her family. The author shares the intimate details of a fairy tale love story that shatters with the autism diagnosis of their fifth child. How all members of the family were affected and how it lead to betrayal, depression, eating disorder, suicidal thoughts, despair and divorce. She holds nothing back in her story; and you soon find yourself cheering for her as you feel the real pain and despair of her struggles. Throughout the pain and despair she never stops advocating for her son and fighting for her family. She ultimately succeeds in re-gaining the love of her life and bringing healing and happiness to her family. She is a modern day heroine with a modern day story; however this story is true. Highly recommend the Audible version of the book that is read by the Author herself, where you hear and feel the story in a more intimate way.
Helpful
 Report
Keirene Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars Life is beautiful. The path is just not always easy.
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2019
Verified Purchase
Rounding Home is raw and real. Sarah's words make one feel as if they are living her life. And I believe any woman will see themselves in get book. Her honesty about life, choices, mistakes and shame are real. This is by far one of the BEST books i have read. I recommend this book for every woman, from teen to old. This books teaches you that failures, shame and people do NOT define you. That life is rough and choices aren't always right. But love, the right intentions and grace make life worth living. Our path may be tough, but life if beautiful. Awesome book.
Customer image
Keirene Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars Life is beautiful. The path is just not always easy.
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2019
Rounding Home is raw and real. Sarah's words make one feel as if they are living her life. And I believe any woman will see themselves in get book. Her honesty about life, choices, mistakes and shame are real. This is by far one of the BEST books i have read. I recommend this book for every woman, from teen to old. This books teaches you that failures, shame and people do NOT define you. That life is rough and choices aren't always right. But love, the right intentions and grace make life worth living. Our path may be tough, but life if beautiful. Awesome book.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
TH
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, Inspirational, MUST READ!
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2019
Verified Purchase
This is an incredible story that is inspiring and will “hit home” with anyone that has ever lived life in general. You will find yourself turning page after page without regard to time. You will feel every emotion, celebrate every victory, and literally feel like you’re living Sarah’s journey alongside her in one way or another. Whether you are an avid reader, or someone that hasn’t read many books in your lifetime, PLEASE go get this book! I read it from cover to cover in one day and I can assure you that you WILL NOT be disappointed!

Love DOES conquer all! 1 Cor. 13:13 ❤️
Helpful
 Report
StoreyBook Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Honest and forthright
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2019
This book delves into the life of one family that has been tested, beaten down, endured, and triumphed.

I wanted to read this book partially because of the title.  My sorority's national philanthropy deals with Autism and I have a stepson that is on the spectrum, and I'm always wondering how those that have children with severe Autism (or stage 4 as the author puts it) handle the constant emotional battle they face and when the child cannot do anything for themselves and are not able to communicate their needs to others.  This book shares Sarah's struggles and triumphs dealing with her son, her multiple marriages, her daughters, and her one true love.

The title is clever and Sarah reveals that she had this title chosen before she ever wrote the book.  Her story opens when she is at one of the lowest points in her life and then it flashes back to her childhood and moves forward from there.  Sarah had her own issues growing up and it is a pattern that repeated throughout the book - low self-esteem, wild abandonment, and sometimes destructive behavior.  When she meets Greg, her soulmate, life turns around for Sarah and we see another side that is we might frequently see in the press - the image of a spoiled athlete's wife with the high dollar clothing, bad attitudes from player's wives, and self-absorbed personalities.  But there is also love between Sarah and Greg and that bond is hard to break.  I think where it all turns around and the marriage starts to decline is after Dawson's Autism diagnosis.  It isn't surprising because caring for someone that is ill and trying to figure out what is wrong can take a toll on anyone or any relationship.

I found the chapters that dealt with Dawson's disability the most intriguing.  I admired her dedication to finding out what was wrong with Dawson, what might have caused him to be autistic, and her pursuit of anything that would help him leave a semi-normal life.  My heart also hurt for several of her daughters and I admired how she included their struggles in the book and even asked them to write a few paragraphs for her to include.  I can't imagine having to cope with their struggles on top of everything else and it is understandable how she arrived at the point she did at the beginning of the book.

This book is a raw look into Sarah's life.  No one can say if everything she did was right or wrong because we don't know what we would do if we were in her shoes.  Sarah coped the best way she knew how and looking back she realized what she did wrong which was mostly trying to find someone else to love instead of loving herself and making sure she was the best person she could be for herself and anyone else in her life.

This is the first book from this author and there were a few things that would have eliminated some questions I had while reading.  At one point she called Greg by the name Zeke.  I think we find out 80 or so pages later that this was her nickname for him but it was really confusing at that moment in time.  At another point, she mentions hosting an open house and having a listing, but there was no mention of obtaining a real estate license or working as a Realtor until near the end of the book.

Overall we give this book 4 paws up and commend the author for sharing her story with no filters.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Gayle Nobel
5.0 out of 5 stars Testament to the resilience of the human spirit
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2019
Verified Purchase
In Rounding Home, Sarah writes with gritty honesty, a deeply moving account of life with her autistic son. However, this is much more than another autism book. It is the gripping story of the Swindell family over the course of many tumultuous years. Sarah shares vulnerability, passion, and true love for her family. This testament to the resilience of the human spirit will touch your heart and soul.

PS You will not be able to put this book down.
Helpful
 Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report