Chuck and Buttercup is a heartfelt exploration of addiction, stigma, and the often-invisible ripple effects on families-especially the children left in its wake. Written by Adonica Shaw, a wellness advocate and TEDx speaker, this book offers a courageous and compassionate look at what it means to grow up in the shadow of a parent's addiction and find a path toward healing, advocacy, and self-understanding.

Rooted in the true story of Shaw's relationship with her father, Charles "Chuck" Shaw-a Vietnam veteran who struggled with mental health and substance use-Chuck and Buttercup invites readers into an emotional journey shaped by trauma, grief, resilience, and radical empathy. After losing her father to an overdose as a teenager, Shaw was left without answers, support, or language for the chaos that defined her upbringing. This book is the resource she wishes she had then.

Through ten thought-provoking parts, Shaw guides readers through the complex realities of addiction from multiple perspectives: the child who witnesses it, the loved one trying to support from the sidelines, and the person experiencing addiction themselves. She invites readers to see addiction not as a single-person issue, but as a family disease-one that fractures connection, distorts identity, and often leaves lifelong scars.