I requested this book because I'd like to know more about Munchausen's and narcissistic personality disorder. While I didn't learn much about the science behind these disorders, I did fully relate to some of the author's suffering and frustration. The book is the author's cathartic memoir of pain and healing. I understand her fear of repeating her mother's behaviors with her own child. While some may see the book as a depiction of self-pity, i saw it as an exercise in journalling extreme hurt. While I feel like someone who has not experienced this type of behavior first hand may not understand the purpose of the book, I would still recommend this book as a depiction of what a narcissistic, hypochondriac mother looks like and what kind of effect they have on their children.

Recommended for children of narcissistic parents.

3.5 Stars I have to be really careful here as this is a memoir so reviewing someone's lived experience isn't easy. That said I really was invested in this story because I have my own personal experience living with someone with some level of NPD even undiagnosed. But this is far and beyond that. The way Elinor acted at times was terrifying. But I wanted much more of an insight into the condition. Her diary entries were eventually quite enlightening, but...wow, it's rough out here when doctors don't talk to each other and they often view mental illness in women, especially grown woman with such disdain. This just didn't go "there" as often as I wanted which seems a bit cold, but I think this condition doesn't nearly get enough publicity as it's by proxy cousin. Thank you to Thread audio and Netgalley for providing an early audio copy for me to review. All opinions are my own.

It never fails to shock me how narcissistic people can be, but this woman takes things to a whole other level. This is the authors account of a turbulent childhood with a mother who was critical and mean for no apparent reason. As an adult, her mother made life difficult in all new ways, typically drawing away any attention that isn’t on her over to her, even the birth of her grandchildren were not enough to compete with her mothers non-illnesses that she creates in her head. It boggles me as well how long she was able to trick doctors and other health care workin order to get the medical care and attention that she sought. Her daughter eventually tired of her and kept away for over a year before she finally died and her mothers friends finally admitted that they knew her mother dramatized her problems. In finally burying her mother, she is able to set her life free
I had hoped for a more in depth look where this kind of stayed on the surface but it was an interesting look at this disease of the mind.
I did enjoy the narration, I’m not sure if it was the author herself, but I’m assuming it was and she definitely showed the necessary emotions that would go with this situation.
Thanks to Thread Books and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.

A memoir of lives not lived, existence suffered. Quite disturbing at times, the author has put together the events of her life in a timeline to create an emotional journey through life and has survived, broken the cycle and explains her mother’s illness in great depth. Powerless to help her mother at the later part of her life I can see how the situation becomes intolerable for everyone around her, even her clinicians give up. Moving, truthful and honest account of munchausens disease. Narrated by the author, clear and beautifully read. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

This nonfiction memoir was the authors true account of her childhood. She had a turbulent relationship with her mother who was often cruel to a fault.
I thought it was ok. It seemed to lack the depth I was looking for. And I never understood what exactly the family secret was. I wanted I don’t know…. Something more substantial.
I chose to listen to this book on audio and the author narrated this and did a good job.
Thanks Thread Books via Netgalley.

Found this book to be a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand I was interested and intrigued, enough to finish the book in a day. On the other I found it was slightly tedious. I would have liked there to have been a deeper exploration into the illness, prior to the end of the book. Also found the diary entries did not add much, did not help me learn anything more about the mother and were quite clunky. I understand this must have been horrific to deal with but it became such a pity party and at one point I found the author to be quite self entitled. I am glad that I read it but just wish I had learned more