This was an incredibly powerful book, looking at one woman's battle with domestic abuse. This was important and emotional. With brilliant psychological insight from someone who has suffered at the hands (and mind) of abuse within a relationship.
I imagine this would be equally moving for people who have suffered from abuse and not.

This book sounds like it would be perfect for me. Helen Walmsley-Johnson tells of her emotionally abusive relationship and chronicles how this happened to her. I enjoy memoirs written by women and I am always interested in feminist issues told from a personal perspective. But for some reason this did not work for me at all. I did not enjoy the writing style and while I thought for the majority of the year that I would pick this back up and finish it at some point, I have not so in the many months since I put it down.

A powerful memoir which explores coercive control and the non-violent abuse that people rarely speak of. It triggered some memories of my own past experiences and will resonate with many who have been in a relationship with a partner who exercises their control in violent and non-violent ways.

A compelling true story about a woman who was in a controlling relationship in her private life and also at work. Both the perpetrators were bullys of the highest order and the author had a horrendous time. As someone who has never been in this type of relationship it would be easy to say "Why didnt she just leave?" But reading Helens book you can see how she was drawn in and trapped before she realised what was happening. It could happen to anyone of us and we should all be thankful if it hasnt happened to us. The mind games and control the victim was subjected to is chilling and abuse doesnt always mean a beating although she sufered both. I found the book really interesting but think the statistics, true court cases and experts opinions should be in the second part of the book in a seperate section as I felt it watered down the flow of the story. I hope Helen continues to go from strength to strength and admire how far she has improved her life and wish her all the best x

Helen’s honest account of her abusive and controlling relationship with her ex-partner, gives an insight into what it must be like to be in a such a terrible relationship and provides an explanation to the often asked question, ‘why doesn’t she just leave him’.
The only reason I haven’t given this book five stars is because I felt it could have done with a bit more editing in some parts which were overly repetitive (although some of this is may be to reflect the way in which Franc’s behaviour was repetitive and would wear Helen down). But, this does not detract from the fact this is overall a very good book a worthwhile a read for anyone wanting to read a first hand account of this type of relationship.
I would highly recommend to anyone who is in, or is helping anyone in, an abusive relationship that they also read after Helen’s book, ‘Power and Control: why charming men can make dangerous lovers’ by Sandra Horley, a book Helen refers to.
Thanks to NetGalley for a free Kindle copy of Helen’s book in exchange for an honest review.