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Anything for Love: A Therapist, Nine Case Studies, and the Power of Toxic Bonds
Not yet published
Expected 2 Mar 27A page-turning follow-up to the bestselling Good Morning, Monster
In her fascinating new collection of case studies, therapist Cathy Gildiner explores the nature of the parent child bond and the amazing, creative and ingenious lengths people will go to keep that bond alive, however dysfunctional.
Dr. Gildiner presents nine memorable stories, including a schizophrenic man who builds religious altars in the tunnels of a now defunct mental hospital, a successful businessman whose relationship with his mother makes anger impossible and so rage bubbles out of his skin in debilitating eczema, and a librarian who is assigned to play the femme fatale on a murder mystery cruise and is unable to give up the role when she returns to her real life. Gildiner also presents the challenges of supporting those from dramatically diverse cultural backgrounds, from a Somali teenager to a Cambodian woman who survived the Pol Pot regime where people were forced to kill their parents to prove their bond was not to family but to the Khmer Rouge.
With wit and empathy, Gildiner brings each case study to vivid life. And unusually, she takes us not just to her office but to court, businesses, and hospitals. In the process, she lifts the curtain on the daily work of a therapist and celebrates humanity's remarkable resilience.
In her fascinating new collection of case studies, therapist Cathy Gildiner explores the nature of the parent child bond and the amazing, creative and ingenious lengths people will go to keep that bond alive, however dysfunctional.
Dr. Gildiner presents nine memorable stories, including a schizophrenic man who builds religious altars in the tunnels of a now defunct mental hospital, a successful businessman whose relationship with his mother makes anger impossible and so rage bubbles out of his skin in debilitating eczema, and a librarian who is assigned to play the femme fatale on a murder mystery cruise and is unable to give up the role when she returns to her real life. Gildiner also presents the challenges of supporting those from dramatically diverse cultural backgrounds, from a Somali teenager to a Cambodian woman who survived the Pol Pot regime where people were forced to kill their parents to prove their bond was not to family but to the Khmer Rouge.
With wit and empathy, Gildiner brings each case study to vivid life. And unusually, she takes us not just to her office but to court, businesses, and hospitals. In the process, she lifts the curtain on the daily work of a therapist and celebrates humanity's remarkable resilience.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 2, 2027
About the author
Catherine Gildiner
9 books775 followersCatherine has written two best selling memoirs. The first is called TOO CLOSE TO THE FALLS and was on the best seller's lists for two years. It is about working full time from the age of four.
Her next memoir AFTER THE FALLS covers her teenage and college years where she got involved in civil rights and was investigated by the FBI.
COMING ASHORE, her final memoir is coming out this fall. It is about her years at Oxford, The U.S. and finally Canada. This book shares the joy of those few years in your twenties after you leave home and before Adult responsibilities crowd in.
She has also written a novel, SEDUCTION, a thriller about Darwin and Freud. It was chosen by DER SPIEGAL as one of the ten best mysteries.
She is a unique writer in that she was a psychologist for many years and only became a writer at the age of 50. Shows anything is possible.
She lives in Toronto with her husband and has three grown sons.
Her next memoir AFTER THE FALLS covers her teenage and college years where she got involved in civil rights and was investigated by the FBI.
COMING ASHORE, her final memoir is coming out this fall. It is about her years at Oxford, The U.S. and finally Canada. This book shares the joy of those few years in your twenties after you leave home and before Adult responsibilities crowd in.
She has also written a novel, SEDUCTION, a thriller about Darwin and Freud. It was chosen by DER SPIEGAL as one of the ten best mysteries.
She is a unique writer in that she was a psychologist for many years and only became a writer at the age of 50. Shows anything is possible.
She lives in Toronto with her husband and has three grown sons.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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August 9, 20264.5 stars; review to come March 2027
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
the first three patient case studies didn't totally pique my interest, but the further along i got into the book, the more unhinged (and thus entertaining) the case studies become. this is particularly true for "No One Likes a Whiner" and "An Alligator in a Suit" as these two stories really showcased the work Dr. Gildiner's put into alleviating both the physical and psychological manifestations of their respective childhood traumas that men tend to compartmentalize. each story has their own way of connecting back to the overarching theme of the things we do to/for the people we love, for better or worse. thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This therapist is such a good author; I couldn't put the book down. She has nine cases for you to delve into exploring the parent child bond and how it can help or distort a person. She is so knowledgeable about her field and includes the research she uses with each patient. I find her so admirable as a clinician and want to read more from her.
Review of advance copy
Anything for Love: A Therapist, Nine Case Studies, and the Power of Toxic Bonds is an intriguing exploration of one of the most complicated forces in human relationships: the desire to love and be loved, even when the bonds we form become damaging. Through the perspective of therapist Catherine Gildiner and nine case studies, the book promises to examine the psychological dynamics that keep people attached to relationships that may be painful, destructive, or deeply difficult to leave.
One of the book’s strongest qualities is its central question: What makes people remain in relationships that hurt them? This question has enormous emotional and psychological relevance because toxic bonds are rarely as simple as recognizing that something is unhealthy and walking away. Attachment, history, fear, hope, dependency, identity, and the desire to repair what has been broken can all complicate the decision to stay.
The case-study structure is particularly promising. By presenting nine individual stories, Gildiner can explore different manifestations of toxic attachment while allowing readers to recognize the patterns that connect seemingly different experiences. Each case has the potential to demonstrate how emotional bonds develop, why they become difficult to escape, and what happens when individuals begin confronting the forces keeping them attached.
Another major strength is the therapist’s perspective. Rather than approaching toxic relationships solely through abstract psychological theory, the book appears positioned to bring readers into the lived realities behind those theories. Case studies can make difficult psychological concepts more accessible by showing how they operate in real human circumstances.
The title itself also creates an important tension between love and toxicity. The phrase “anything for love” suggests the sacrifices people are willing to make in pursuit of connection, while the subtitle introduces the darker reality of bonds that can become psychologically damaging. That contrast gives the book an immediately relatable entry point for readers who have experienced complicated relationships themselves or watched loved ones struggle within them.
There is also significant potential for the book to challenge simplistic conversations surrounding toxic relationships. Popular culture often reduces these relationships to straightforward labels—healthy versus unhealthy, stay versus leave, victim versus perpetrator. A therapist-led examination can provide greater nuance by asking what happens beneath those surface categories and why emotional attachment can remain powerful even when rational judgment says otherwise.
Gildiner’s professional perspective also gives the project credibility and provides a natural bridge between psychological insight and general readership. The book can appeal to readers interested in relationships and mental health without requiring them to have a clinical background.
With a 5.0 rating from the initial readers, the book already has an encouraging early signal despite not yet being published. Its March 2027 publication date also provides substantial opportunity to establish its positioning and audience well before release.
The potential audience is broad: readers of psychology and popular psychology, therapists and counselors, relationship educators, survivors of difficult relationships, book clubs, mental-health communities, podcasts focused on relationships and psychology, and readers drawn to narrative nonfiction and therapist case studies.
Ultimately, Anything for Love has the potential to become more than a collection of difficult relationship stories. Its deeper appeal lies in examining the psychology behind attachment itself why people remain, what they hope to preserve, what they fear losing, and what it takes to recognize when love has become a source of harm.
With its combination of professional insight, compelling case studies, and a universally recognizable emotional theme, Anything for Love offers a strong foundation for a thoughtful and highly relevant nonfiction campaign. It is the kind of book that can generate conversation because its central question reaches far beyond toxic relationships: How much are we willing to sacrifice to belong to someone?
One of the book’s strongest qualities is its central question: What makes people remain in relationships that hurt them? This question has enormous emotional and psychological relevance because toxic bonds are rarely as simple as recognizing that something is unhealthy and walking away. Attachment, history, fear, hope, dependency, identity, and the desire to repair what has been broken can all complicate the decision to stay.
The case-study structure is particularly promising. By presenting nine individual stories, Gildiner can explore different manifestations of toxic attachment while allowing readers to recognize the patterns that connect seemingly different experiences. Each case has the potential to demonstrate how emotional bonds develop, why they become difficult to escape, and what happens when individuals begin confronting the forces keeping them attached.
Another major strength is the therapist’s perspective. Rather than approaching toxic relationships solely through abstract psychological theory, the book appears positioned to bring readers into the lived realities behind those theories. Case studies can make difficult psychological concepts more accessible by showing how they operate in real human circumstances.
The title itself also creates an important tension between love and toxicity. The phrase “anything for love” suggests the sacrifices people are willing to make in pursuit of connection, while the subtitle introduces the darker reality of bonds that can become psychologically damaging. That contrast gives the book an immediately relatable entry point for readers who have experienced complicated relationships themselves or watched loved ones struggle within them.
There is also significant potential for the book to challenge simplistic conversations surrounding toxic relationships. Popular culture often reduces these relationships to straightforward labels—healthy versus unhealthy, stay versus leave, victim versus perpetrator. A therapist-led examination can provide greater nuance by asking what happens beneath those surface categories and why emotional attachment can remain powerful even when rational judgment says otherwise.
Gildiner’s professional perspective also gives the project credibility and provides a natural bridge between psychological insight and general readership. The book can appeal to readers interested in relationships and mental health without requiring them to have a clinical background.
With a 5.0 rating from the initial readers, the book already has an encouraging early signal despite not yet being published. Its March 2027 publication date also provides substantial opportunity to establish its positioning and audience well before release.
The potential audience is broad: readers of psychology and popular psychology, therapists and counselors, relationship educators, survivors of difficult relationships, book clubs, mental-health communities, podcasts focused on relationships and psychology, and readers drawn to narrative nonfiction and therapist case studies.
Ultimately, Anything for Love has the potential to become more than a collection of difficult relationship stories. Its deeper appeal lies in examining the psychology behind attachment itself why people remain, what they hope to preserve, what they fear losing, and what it takes to recognize when love has become a source of harm.
With its combination of professional insight, compelling case studies, and a universally recognizable emotional theme, Anything for Love offers a strong foundation for a thoughtful and highly relevant nonfiction campaign. It is the kind of book that can generate conversation because its central question reaches far beyond toxic relationships: How much are we willing to sacrifice to belong to someone?
Read
October 24, 2026I enjoyed this thoroughly engaging and compassionate book about her 25 years of work as a Canadian psychologist, starting in the 1970’s. With my background in both cultural anthropology and psychology, I appreciated the amount of research and skill she brought to each case.
All the cases feature clients/patients who struggle because of toxic bonding with one or more parents, and the wide variety in these cases is noteworthy. Dr. Gildiner stands out from the crowd in that she is open about her own mistaken assumptions in some situations, and I respect her for doing so. She is not afraid to name the toxicity of insurance companies, lawyers and other institutions when describing sources of her clients/patients’ suffering.
I didn’t always agree with her interventions, as she’s more of a Freudian practitioner than I’d like. However, she is excellent at breaking down complex psychological concepts into fun-size portions to help readers grasp what happens in therapy.
I do want to let people know that there should be a content warning with this one, because (at least in this draft) there isn’t one. I have read quite a bit of “heavy” content, in many formats, over the decades, and can usually tolerate it. In the latter chapters, graphic violence against women and girls is discussed in detail. I found those chapters very difficult, and want to warn people who might need to skip them in order to take the best care of themselves.
Many thanks to Net Galley for the ARC!
All the cases feature clients/patients who struggle because of toxic bonding with one or more parents, and the wide variety in these cases is noteworthy. Dr. Gildiner stands out from the crowd in that she is open about her own mistaken assumptions in some situations, and I respect her for doing so. She is not afraid to name the toxicity of insurance companies, lawyers and other institutions when describing sources of her clients/patients’ suffering.
I didn’t always agree with her interventions, as she’s more of a Freudian practitioner than I’d like. However, she is excellent at breaking down complex psychological concepts into fun-size portions to help readers grasp what happens in therapy.
I do want to let people know that there should be a content warning with this one, because (at least in this draft) there isn’t one. I have read quite a bit of “heavy” content, in many formats, over the decades, and can usually tolerate it. In the latter chapters, graphic violence against women and girls is discussed in detail. I found those chapters very difficult, and want to warn people who might need to skip them in order to take the best care of themselves.
Many thanks to Net Galley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I absolutely adored most of this book, and then there would be small parts that really rubbed me the wrong way. I love stories that delve into who people are at their core, and what better than a psychological report on them. I truly love the glimpse into the people in these 9 different case studies. However, with the events occurring in and around the 1980’s, I feel like this book is dated and does not discuss the impacts of racism, sexism, ableism enough in the psychological care. This book was interesting with the discussions of love and desire to belong. I feel like the huge gaps in the prior mentioned topics make this a less important book to read. In fact, I am rating it so low because of some of the seemingly off handed comments by the author. For example, in the second study, she mentions a person who is obese and uses a wheelchair. She then goes to say he won’t leave his wife because he can’t walk, so how and where would he go? I find this to be in poor taste after a discussion of other cultures.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting into beyond the title, but I ended up really enjoying the firsthand accounts from the author's expert work.
Every case study in Anything for Love: A Therapist, Nine Case Studies, and the Power of Toxic Bonds had its merits, but there is one that is especially fascinating: the account of a man dealing with severe eczema and a Somali woman's struggle with school. The way the clinical observations bring out the root of emotional trauma without weighing down the narrative pacing made for an absorbing, vividly told read.
I came away feeling like I'd learned something valuable about human resilience and the sheer force of primary attachment bonds. Highly recommended for fans of psychological non-fiction and anyone interested in a direct, compassionate look behind the scenes of therapy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting into beyond the title, but I ended up really enjoying the firsthand accounts from the author's expert work.
Every case study in Anything for Love: A Therapist, Nine Case Studies, and the Power of Toxic Bonds had its merits, but there is one that is especially fascinating: the account of a man dealing with severe eczema and a Somali woman's struggle with school. The way the clinical observations bring out the root of emotional trauma without weighing down the narrative pacing made for an absorbing, vividly told read.
I came away feeling like I'd learned something valuable about human resilience and the sheer force of primary attachment bonds. Highly recommended for fans of psychological non-fiction and anyone interested in a direct, compassionate look behind the scenes of therapy.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Catherine Gildiner, author of the wildly popular book *Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Four Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery,* returns with another stellar book about nine of her patients. This book deals with the development of child and parent bonds; what it looks like and how it's impacting the child who is now an adult. The patients range from the Librarian who suddenly begins to dress like a femme fatale, a man who suffers from eczema related to repressed anger, to a Somali teenager who is truant from school with a secret burden. Gildiner is a very talented author who writes with insight and compassion, not so surprisingly from a Psychologist. If you liked *Good Morning, Monster* then you will love this book. I did.
*I read an advance copy and was not compensated.
*I read an advance copy and was not compensated.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting and engaging.
I liked the people who went to the author for help. She seemed to be a very good therapist, always willing to learn about the people and their culture and what they had been through.
I appreciated the history of psychology that the author would throw into every chapter. I was not just reading case histories, I was learning about the meanings behind everything.
Overall it was a great engrossing read told with warmth, humor and sometimes outrage.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story.
Thank you to the publisher and to netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.
I liked the people who went to the author for help. She seemed to be a very good therapist, always willing to learn about the people and their culture and what they had been through.
I appreciated the history of psychology that the author would throw into every chapter. I was not just reading case histories, I was learning about the meanings behind everything.
Overall it was a great engrossing read told with warmth, humor and sometimes outrage.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story.
Thank you to the publisher and to netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really liked this book. I'm not usually a non-fiction type of person but medical non-fiction has always been interesting for me. I was flipping through the pages so fast. It's so eye-opening how people experience psychological issues differently. I learnt a lot from this book. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Interesting case studies of 50 years as a therapist which illustrate the many changes psychiatry has made over that time period. I found it mostly fascinating and very honest and revealing.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews