What do you think?
Rate this book
Despite It All: A Munchausen by Proxy Childhood, and Beyond
Madison's upbringing was a tumultuous journey, marked by perpetual hunger and unrelenting fear. With their father frequently away for work, Madison and her brother Robbie were left in the care of their chronically alcoholic mother, whose sadistic tendencies, and physical, mental and sexual abuse, jeopardised their safety in the pursuit of attention.
What they didn’t know at the time was that their mother had Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
Despite these harrowing circumstances, the siblings knew they had to stick together, face the challenges of their childhood and show remarkable resilience in order to survive and make it to adulthood.
A unique and honest account teeming with deception and cruelty, this book plunges the reader into a relentless whirlwind of secrets and betrayals as it delves deep into the darkest corners of human nature. And yet, despite it all, the author weaves in her own survivalist humour which, it has been said, is not unlike Frank McCourt’s memoir, Angela’s Ashes.
This is Maddie’s story.
What they didn’t know at the time was that their mother had Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
Despite these harrowing circumstances, the siblings knew they had to stick together, face the challenges of their childhood and show remarkable resilience in order to survive and make it to adulthood.
A unique and honest account teeming with deception and cruelty, this book plunges the reader into a relentless whirlwind of secrets and betrayals as it delves deep into the darkest corners of human nature. And yet, despite it all, the author weaves in her own survivalist humour which, it has been said, is not unlike Frank McCourt’s memoir, Angela’s Ashes.
This is Maddie’s story.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2023
202 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 12, 2023
A perfect read, a captivating and harrowing childhood but despite it all, you survived to tell the tale
June 20, 2024
A captivating book! Well written. I throughly enjoyed it!
May 31, 2024
would recommend
As soon as I started reading I couldn’t put it down, i read it in 2 days. Some parts of the book are hard to read due to the fact that as i mother myself i could never imagine doing any of that to my children or imagine my mum doing that to me. The author is an amazing lady who has been very brave to share her story.
As soon as I started reading I couldn’t put it down, i read it in 2 days. Some parts of the book are hard to read due to the fact that as i mother myself i could never imagine doing any of that to my children or imagine my mum doing that to me. The author is an amazing lady who has been very brave to share her story.
February 6, 2024
The Gypsy Rose Blanchard case has brought Munchasuen by proxy into the public like no other time in history. This is great for raising awareness of this incomprehensible illness. This book is timely, in that it gives a through-the-eyes account of what it must be like to live with a mother with MBP. The writer does not hold back in giving a toe-curling description of her abuse, and yet the book boasts humour and love… obviously Madison's survival tools. This is a book that stands out from the rest. One that will go far in the literary world.
May 26, 2025
spoiler alert
The Munchausen by Proxy was much different and very violent from the others I’ve read about in other cases.
Two things that I didn’t like about this book- the ending felt like it should have fit better with the beginning than it did.
Too much of this book was spent telling the same story of bad relationships being formed over and over and the struggle she had to find a healthy relationship. I think the point could have been made without all of the details repeated again and again.
The Munchausen by Proxy was much different and very violent from the others I’ve read about in other cases.
Two things that I didn’t like about this book- the ending felt like it should have fit better with the beginning than it did.
Too much of this book was spent telling the same story of bad relationships being formed over and over and the struggle she had to find a healthy relationship. I think the point could have been made without all of the details repeated again and again.
August 25, 2024
My heart
My heart goes out to the writer,loss of a childhood and a brother whom knew the pain.great strength to write and free yourself of the anger and hurt and I am glad you found your soul mate.
My heart goes out to the writer,loss of a childhood and a brother whom knew the pain.great strength to write and free yourself of the anger and hurt and I am glad you found your soul mate.
August 30, 2024
Brilliant
From the first page this had me gripped madison and Robbies story is a fantastic look through the life's of two children and into adult hood and the trauma and making the best of what they could
From the first page this had me gripped madison and Robbies story is a fantastic look through the life's of two children and into adult hood and the trauma and making the best of what they could
March 8, 2025
Weird recollection of childhood trauma
This book was not easy to read through. The Author tends to jump from early childhood to adulthood , back & forth & then relays her existence by imaginary descriptions . Sad story but not well told.
This book was not easy to read through. The Author tends to jump from early childhood to adulthood , back & forth & then relays her existence by imaginary descriptions . Sad story but not well told.
August 20, 2025
Love in the middle of insanity
Two siblings, one alcoholic mother from Hell and a push over father…. What could go wrong! Well everything pretty much did but the love that endured through this brother and sister was immeasurable Kept me wanting more and more. Great read
Two siblings, one alcoholic mother from Hell and a push over father…. What could go wrong! Well everything pretty much did but the love that endured through this brother and sister was immeasurable Kept me wanting more and more. Great read
February 22, 2024
wow
I’m still crying but wow. How can someone go through so much. I couldn’t understand why you left your children but I get it now
I’m still crying but wow. How can someone go through so much. I couldn’t understand why you left your children but I get it now
May 23, 2024
Disappointing story- characters were dismal and the theme of child abuse did not resonant . Aside from the main characters, the relationships were undeveloped. Couldn’t wait to finish
June 13, 2024
Such a beautiful, tragic, inspiring, heartbreaking, laugh out loud story!
July 7, 2024
Slow start good read what madi gos through is shocking its a must read
October 17, 2024
mind numbing
Always hard to imagine such cruelty to wards young ones by their own parents.
Heartbreaking and mind numbing pain.
How does it ever stop
Always hard to imagine such cruelty to wards young ones by their own parents.
Heartbreaking and mind numbing pain.
How does it ever stop
Read
October 18, 2024Amazing
Really couldn't put this book down . The life what had been dealt to you both was heartfelt great read
Really couldn't put this book down . The life what had been dealt to you both was heartfelt great read
June 3, 2025
I am you!!
A painful childhood, a painful life then acceptance of who you hate and love at the same time. You write pain beautifully.
A painful childhood, a painful life then acceptance of who you hate and love at the same time. You write pain beautifully.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews