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Narcissistic and Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Deal With Your Toxic Family, Understand the Signs, Regain Power, and Heal After Narcissistic Abuse
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 6, 2026
Good mix of insight and practical advice.
What made this work for me is the balance. A lot of books in this category either stay stuck explaining the problem for three hundred pages, or they dive into advice that's too generic to actually use. This one did both reasonably well. It explains the mechanics of narcissistic and emotionally immature parenting in a way that's easy to follow, then moves into what that does to the child, then into what you can actually start doing about it as an adult. The parts on people-pleasing, emotional flashbacks, and boundary-setting were the most useful to me personally. I also liked that the author doesn't push one clean answer — no forgive them all and move on, no go no-contact immediately. Just tools, nuance, and some honest commentary. Some ideas overlap between chapters, but not enough to bother me.
What made this work for me is the balance. A lot of books in this category either stay stuck explaining the problem for three hundred pages, or they dive into advice that's too generic to actually use. This one did both reasonably well. It explains the mechanics of narcissistic and emotionally immature parenting in a way that's easy to follow, then moves into what that does to the child, then into what you can actually start doing about it as an adult. The parts on people-pleasing, emotional flashbacks, and boundary-setting were the most useful to me personally. I also liked that the author doesn't push one clean answer — no forgive them all and move on, no go no-contact immediately. Just tools, nuance, and some honest commentary. Some ideas overlap between chapters, but not enough to bother me.
July 9, 2026
Thank you Erika, for writing this book!! In your conclusion I appreciate so much your reasons for why wrote it, and am thankful to finally have words to put to my experiences and feelings!
I have never read a book like this one! I have never seen in print a name and an explanation for what it was that I grew up in. Erika’s explanation of what emotionally immature parents are and the results seen in their children’s lives is spot on and so refreshing! She clearly states what it is, assures her readers that what they experienced and felt (and still feel) is real, and then hands them practical steps to slowly work through the trauma they have experienced and get to a healthy place. I am truly grateful for this book and will be reading it again!
I have never read a book like this one! I have never seen in print a name and an explanation for what it was that I grew up in. Erika’s explanation of what emotionally immature parents are and the results seen in their children’s lives is spot on and so refreshing! She clearly states what it is, assures her readers that what they experienced and felt (and still feel) is real, and then hands them practical steps to slowly work through the trauma they have experienced and get to a healthy place. I am truly grateful for this book and will be reading it again!
May 15, 2026
This made me feel less dramatic
One of the strangest effects of growing up in a dysfunctional family is how much energy you spend minimizing your own experience. Telling yourself it wasn't that bad. That other people had it worse. That you're probably just too sensitive. This book speaks directly to that voice in your head. It doesn't just describe the toxic patterns in the parent, it describes the self-doubt those patterns leave behind in you — the confusion, the loyalty that doesn't quite make sense, the tendency to question your own reaction even when your body is telling you something is off. For that alone, worth reading.
One of the strangest effects of growing up in a dysfunctional family is how much energy you spend minimizing your own experience. Telling yourself it wasn't that bad. That other people had it worse. That you're probably just too sensitive. This book speaks directly to that voice in your head. It doesn't just describe the toxic patterns in the parent, it describes the self-doubt those patterns leave behind in you — the confusion, the loyalty that doesn't quite make sense, the tendency to question your own reaction even when your body is telling you something is off. For that alone, worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews