What happens when your life falls apart, and your only plan is to board a plane with your dog, your cat, and a suitcase full of hope? 

In One Suitcase, Two Pets & a Breakdown, Athena Martinez shares her uproariously honest story of reinvention. After leaving her home, career, and comfort zone behind, she lands in Australia determined to start over. 

But between juggling emergency vet night shifts, navigating the rental crisis, dating disasters, and homesickness, she quickly learns that “new beginnings” are rarely neat or glamorous. Through heartbreak, exhaustion, and hilarious misadventures, Athena discovers what resilience really looks like - and that sometimes, falling apart is exactly what you need to rebuild stronger. 

Alongside her loyal golden retriever, Bella, and mischievous cat, Luna, she finds joy in unexpected moments: late-night drives, small wins, and the kindness of strangers. 

Blending humor, heart, and self-awareness, this memoir speaks to anyone who’s ever felt stuck, burnt out, or brave enough to chase a new life. It’s a love letter to independence, to starting again when everything goes wrong, and to finding peace (and laughter) in the chaos. 

Perfect for readers of Bridget Jones’s Diary, Eat Pray Love, and Lessons in Chemistry, One Suitcase, Two Pets & a Breakdown is an empowering, funny, and deeply relatable reminder that the best stories often begin when you have nothing left to lose.