I love the title of this book. I spotted this book in a time of need, and the title was exactly what I needed to hear. It really spoke to me and I imagined an empowering read.

I went through this book quite quickly because I was scanning for sections that were relevant to me and my circumstances. This was tricky however,because the book read like a biography interspersed with life lessons.

Much of these life lessons weren't relevant to my own circumstances. I don't come from broken home, and I haven't been in a toxic relationship since 2005. That said, there's no doubt in my mind that a great many people will find real value in this book.

I thought that the poems were a nice touch, and I also liked how there were actions for the reader to carry out at the end of each chapter so the reader has the opportunity to relate the teachings to their own lives.

I also really liked the poignant quotes presented in a mandala the reader can colour in. I think it's a great way to get the reader to focus on the key points in the book.

I consider myself a kind of connoisseur of self help books, and as such I found that there's no new material here. It touched on mindfulness and affirmations for example, and there are better resources for this elsewhere..

I thought the writing was good and I can see how well intentioned the author is, but I can't see myself reading this book a second time.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. I am a probation officer who works with individuals who have committed sex offenses. I’ve got a BA and MA in a social science field and a lot of professional training on psychology and therapy. I am always reading these types of books for more language and ideas that can help my clients. I’ve also been in therapy and take medication for anxiety and depression. That said and despite my credentials, I wouldn’t write a self-help book and position it as anything other than a memoir. This author means well; she took her traumatic life experiences, worked hard and healed enough to want to help others. All of this is nothing if not admirable. However, there are topics in here that need much greater depth than what is offered and in some cases advice that shouldn’t be offered by someone without the qualifications of either advanced psychology or medical degrees. For instance, getting off psychotropic medication may have nothing to do with one’s success in therapy and may be a lifelong need because of brain function. Therapy takes many forms but the book only briefly touches on CBT and family therapy. Other suggestions are to journal, engage in meditation and self care, and have a gratitude practice. These are absolutely tools people can use for growth and healing but I think this book oversimplifies just about everything it attempts to cover. I don’t think the author is trying to be an expert or a psychologist, but the tone of the writing implies that she is speaking authoritatively and that seems inappropriate. What I liked about this book? This woman is courageous and shows the power of being vulnerable. She went through the storm and survived and I think she’s wanting to appeal to people who may otherwise feel stigmatized by trauma and disinclined to get help. I liked the poetry, quotes, and journal questions. I’d rather this been positioned more as a memoir with a lot more disclaimers.

This book has actually helped save my life. It is absolutely incredible and described perfectly how I am currently feeling after a relationship breakup, and how the situation was handled by my ex has impacted me both mentally and emotionally. The relationship chapter was my main focus point, but the entire book is absolutely amazing and well written. It has helped encourage me further about discussing how I feel with professionals, as well as accepting more help from family and close friends.

Book blog review: https://thebookishlibraryofchloeuk.wordpress.com/2022/10/20/you-have-no-right-to-stay-broken-by-tashiyanna-noel/
Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5056656150