**Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria, and Karyl McBride for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!**

Karyl McBride's body of work as a therapist centers around narcissism, and rather than a focus on how this plays in romantic relationships or the dynamic of a mother-daughter relationship involving a narcissist parent, Will the Drama Ever End? is a more comprehensive look at both the narcissistic dynamic and how those affected can heal from the associated trauma.

McBride divides the book into three segments: the first deals with the Narcissistic Family as a whole, the second explores the impact of Narcissistic Parenting, and the third serves as the 5 step 'toolkit' for recovery. McBride's writing is clear and accessible, and you don't necessarily need any familiarity with narcissism or its implications to be able to jump into exploring the dynamics. She provides just enough background for those unfamiliar with the disorder to get up to speed quickly and learn the 'rules' that keep a family acquiescing to a narcissist.

From hereon out, there is a plethora of examples and case studies included throughout the book, and for me this was the only point of disconnect I experienced while reading because almost ALL of the examples are what I'd classify as extreme or almost shocking. Parents are often screaming and demeaning their children, are physically abusive towards their family members, and make a scene at the drop of the hat. This isn't to say of these circumstances were exaggerated or untrue: on the contrary, it makes me sad to say they probably are ALL fair and accurate representations. However, a reader who is approaching this book with parent(s) who maybe possessed narcissistic TRAITS or lesser behaviors might have a harder time relating to the material an applying it to their own situation.

Part three is where the meat and potatoes of this particular book lies, and McBride does present a fairly comprehensive guide on a 5 step healing process. There are plenty of behavioral exercises as well as helpful prompts for journaling to get you from A to B, however long that process takes (McBride advises to truly take your time and revisit steps if necessary). While I do think this section was beneficial overall and had some great tips, in some ways I think this might have functioned better on its own, as a workbook. In this way, it could probably have served as a companion piece to ANY of McBride's books about narcissism and would also be a handy tool for in person therapy as well.

This is a very accessible, honest, focused, and empathetic book certain to help anyone who has suffered emotional damage at the hands of a narcissist: I would definitely recommend to anyone who could benefit from these thoughtful and compassionate words!

4 stars

A good, if oversimplified, explanation of narcissistic abuse and how it can manifest in a family. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but didn't feel that it was quite as detailed or different from McBride's other works as I'd hoped. Overall, McBride is clearly an expert in narcissism within the family unit, and that is clear from the information contained in the book. I particularly enjoyed the recovery section, though I wished it had a been a little longer.