This book helds plenty of information and it's quite resourceful. I wish I had it a couple of years ago when I struggled with some serious issues regarding my mom . But now being older I started to understand the situation better.

Many thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy. Here is my honest review.

This is a well written walk through on how to deal with less than perfect parents. I feel like it held a lot of information and tools that could be very helpful with dealing with all family members.

Pros:
Very clear and concise explanations.
Great examples that help you see the behaviors the author is talking about.
Helpful exercises and action plans.

Cons:
This is a pretty clinical book. It is not a difficult read but it is very cut and dry.

I think that most of us have had times when we grew frustrated with our parents. Why are they so hard on us? Why do they act like we are a disappointment to them? Why do they not value our opinions?
This book helps you to understand your parents. To examine their actions through the lens of their perspective, and things that they might have went through to cause them to act this way. To examine your own reactions, and whether or not they are productive.
The author explains how to approach the situation with your parents and how to discuss it. And then how to finally move forward into acceptance of the situation.

"You do not want to cut them out of your life, but neither do you want to continue to be subjected to their pressure, harassment, or outright hostility. You do not want to give up on them, but you worry that eventually you will need to either completely avoid them or resign yourself to putting up with their maltreatment."

I requested this ARC because I was interested in making my relationship with my parents stronger and boy am I glad that I received it. This book not only explained the why feel but how I could understand my relationship better.

This book goes through the different steps to take on how to improve your unhealthy communication with your parents. I strongly suggest picking up this book if you are struggling to understand your situation. It really does bring light to figuring out your feelings and how to continue from there.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC #CopingWithCriticalDemandingAndDysfunctionalParents

Quick review for a quick read. "Coping with Critical, Demanding, and Dysfunctional Parents" was an interesting read that was equal parts an examination of relationships, interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts, psychological examinations of behaviors, and self-help guide. The book examines the reasons why adult children can have toxic interactions and relationships with parental figures in their lives. From that point, it describes 17 different strategies that one could use to diffuse the situation, maintain healthy boundaries and heal respectively from the harm caused by these caustic interactions. The book has thorough research behind it and provides ample citations into the behaviorial, social, and cultural reasons why parental figures can adopt blaming, unrealistic demands, among other harmful behaviors towards their children over the course of their life and how factors in their upbringing and attitudes can contribute to that.

By far, I think the background information was what I got the most use from this book. Yet when it came to the actual approaches to use, some of it was useful (such as the real life stories and applications) but others were a bit more simplified that I would've cared for. Granted, this book cites more than a few times that it isn't designed for parents with severe mental disorders or abusive tendencies without the backing of a professional. Yet, while the advice on approach is practical, empathetic, and useful, it may only be useful up to a certain point when it comes to interactions like this. Nonetheless, for someone who has no idea where to start, it's a good point to begin an approach to seeing the angles of how to break the cycle of the toxic relationship, set boundaries and dig a bit in order to help showcase the behaviors for what they are. Plus give the person on the blunt end of the caustic behaviors some relief and steps to heal. I thought it was well worth the read and a good supplement, though I think for specific personality, behaviorial, and mental disorders, it may be best to supplement this text with other resources.

Overall score: 3.5/5 stars.

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.