This memoir chronicles the author’s harrowing journey through a marriage overshadowed by covert narcissistic abuse. Starting from a seemingly perfect courtship filled with grand gestures, the book delves into how these acts masked deeper patterns of control and manipulation. Through raw and vivid storytelling, the author unpacks her three-decade-long experience, highlighting moments of self-doubt, realizations, and eventual awakening to her abusive reality. With each chapter, the layers of a toxic relationship unravel, exposing not only her struggles but also her resilience.

The writing is deeply personal, and I couldn’t help but feel a mix of anger and sadness at the situations described. The bathroom Diet Coke incident is a striking example of the emotional volatility she endured. Her husband’s tantrum over a minor delay in their conversation—escalating to a thrown drink—painted a clear picture of his need for absolute dominance. The author’s immediate response to clean up the mess despite being the victim highlights the insidious ways abuse manipulates self-worth. It was infuriating to see her so conditioned to keep the peace, even when it meant sacrificing her dignity.

Equally haunting is the depiction of the cruise incident. Here, the physical toll of her seasickness became another battleground for her husband’s lack of empathy. His insistence on invalidating her feelings and his public facade of concern while privately berating her for “ruining” the vacation added layers to the narrative. The juxtaposition between how he treated her in public versus private left me astounded by the double life she was forced to endure.

What struck me most was the chapter on “Books and Highlighters,” where her husband’s attempt to “fix” her highlighted his entitlement. By assigning her a stack of self-help books with instructions to color-code them, he underscored his need for control under the guise of self-improvement. Yet, her silent rebellion—using this time to research toxic relationships—was a powerful testament to her growing awareness and inner strength.

Bride-Made is a courageous testament to survival and self-discovery. It’s not just a story of abuse but a guide for others to recognize and break free from similar patterns. I’d recommend this book to anyone seeking to understand covert narcissism, especially those in toxic relationships who feel unseen or unheard. The raw honesty and relatable anecdotes make it both heartbreaking and empowering.

Pages: 153 | ASIN: B0CW2QCZP3