The House That Never Felt Like Home

by Kaitlyn Keaton

This book recounts a deeply emotional journey of Kaitlyn’s childhood, contrasting past trauma with a present filled with love and security, and how memories of both trauma and joy shape her view of life. Kaitlyn describes her emotional struggles with her family, particularly her complicated relationship with her mother. Though she has lived with her immediate family for her entire life, things aren’t the same anymore. Her mother’s emotional instability and abusive behavior, her sister’s avoidance, and her brother’s indifference leave her feeling neglected and unsupported. The only connection she has is with her father, who is kind but often passive when it comes to her mistreatment. The family’s dog, Coco, provides a sense of unity in the midst of this dysfunction. Kaitlyn goes into detail about her troubled life, struggling with an abusive home environment, emotional neglect, and the unpredictable behavior of her mother. Kaitlyn’s experiences are further colored by the contrast between her mother’s behavior at home and her seemingly positive persona outside of the house. Kaitlyn constantly tries to please her mother, while living in constant fear of her mother's anger and the emotional rollercoaster. Throughout the story, she longs for a better relationship with her mom and yearns for normalcy in her life. Kaitlyn feels trapped in a toxic household, constantly seeking freedom and independence but instead facing manipulation, gaslighting, and criticism from her mother. Kaitlyn constantly feels like she can never live up to her mother’s expectations and counts the years until she can escape her toxic environment. When Kaitlyn turns 18 and finishes high school, she attempts to break free, but her parents, particularly her mother, refuse to let her go. Kaitlyn reflects on the life that she has left and hopes to bring light to others who may be in a similar situation as her.

133 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2025

Reviews

[Jackie Guerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The House That Never Felt Like Home" is an incredibly powerful and deeply moving memoir. It explores the lasting impact of abuse and the complexities of mental health with honesty, vulnerability, and remarkable strength.

From the very first page, I was invested in the author’s journey, hoping she would find the peace and happiness she so deeply deserved after everything she had endured.

This book is a testament to the fact that even the most fractured beginnings do not define the end of the story. It offers a powerful message of resilience, healing, and hope for anyone who refuses to give up.

For anyone who has experienced the effects of an abusive, narcissistic parent, this book will resonate profoundly! It is both heartbreaking and validating, reminding readers that they are not alone. I highly recommend it. ❤️‍🩹

[Kaitlyn Keaton]

Hello everyone- my name is Kaitlyn and I am the author of The house that never felt like home! I would like to begin by sincerely thanking you for your interest in my debut novel!

My book is currently available for purchase through Amazon KDP! I encourage you to reference my Amazon review section as well, as it provides supporting evidence for the claims presented in my book. It also illustrates why many survivors choose to remain silent about their experiences of abuse- they are typically bashed for doing so.

I recently downloaded Goodreads (much better than tracking my books on my notes app lol) and I am really loving it! I like the layout of this review section a lot more than the Amazon review section and I hope to use this platform to engage with my readers- both to connect with my audience and to continue growing as a writer as I work toward future publications.

I have also created an Instagram page dedicated to discussing the themes and details of my book. You can also reach out there with any feedback, questions, or thoughts. @Kaitlynkeaton_

Thank you again for your support. I’m excited to continue learning, growing, and sharing my work with you!