We Were a Nice Normal Family: A Memoir of Recovery from C-PTSD and the Trauma of Narcissistic Abuse

This book is a truly remarkable read—one that stays with you long after you turn the final page. From the very beginning, the author draws you into a world that feels real, relatable, and deeply meaningful. The writing is elegant and engaging, making every chapter both enjoyable and thought-provoking.What makes this book special is its ability to connect with the reader on an emotional level. The themes of growth, resilience, and self-discovery are woven seamlessly into the story, offering not j

Just to start out, this is not my normal genre. I never read nonfiction. That being said. This book knocked it out of the park!!!!!!Being a victim of all that was talked about in the factual part of the book, I found no problem reading it. Patricia Grenelle, the wonderful author, wrote this in such a way that there were no trigger moments for me. Obviously, there were times I thought about instances in my past but Patricia always had ideas to calm things down with her descriptions of what was ha

Patricia Grenelle’s memoir completely reoriented how I understand hidden trauma. On the surface, her childhood looked ordinary and that’s precisely what makes the revelations in this book so devastating. She writes with a clinical understanding of C-PTSD, yet her storytelling is deeply human, filled with emotion, confusion, anger, grief, and ultimately hope. I appreciated that she didn’t rush to forgiveness or neat conclusions; instead she walked us through how trauma wires the brain, shapes rel