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What is Wrong with Me?
Anna's childhood experiences and dysfunctional family patterns loom over her journey to adulthood. She struggles with relationships and cannot trust the good ones, eventually finding herself in an abusive relationship, as family secrets unfold in unpredictable ways. Locked in a cycle of reacting to her emotional triggers and past, she constantly asks herself, What is wrong with me? Through her journey to manage emotions and relationships, Anna gleams therapeutic insights and psychological tools, learning to cope with her mental health and discover healthy behaviors that lead to happiness and meaningful relationships. A fictional tale with a self-help twist, readers follow Anna as she hopes to answer one of life's many questions. How does one break free from the only role and life they've ever known?
- GenresMental Health
326 pages, Paperback
Published December 15, 2021
About the author
Kristin Hammoud
1 book116 followersKris Hammoud is an author and Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist. After graduating from Emory University with an MSN in Psychiatry and Family Practice, she has been treating patients with a wide range of psychiatric illnesses since 1999. She has worked for veterans affairs and in private practice and community health clinics, specializing in trauma, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, addiction, and other psychiatric illnesses. Sitting with hundreds ofclients,eachwithauniquelifejourney,hasculminatedinher understanding of people’s ability to adapt and find resilience in the
lived experience. She shares this knowledge and imparts therapeutic insights into Anna’s journey of evolution in What Is Wrong with Me?
lived experience. She shares this knowledge and imparts therapeutic insights into Anna’s journey of evolution in What Is Wrong with Me?
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February 12, 2022My intention as a psychiatric nurse practitioner and author was to engage and impart some psychiatric tools to help manage emotions and life events. Following Anna’s dysfunctional upbringing looms over her life she navigates her present. Will she make changes to her own life if she recognizes these patterns and chooses to make difficult choices in the present.
Hope more people can read this and make reviews. Enjoy
Hope more people can read this and make reviews. Enjoy
February 7, 2022
Kristin Hammoud's thought-provoking book "What is Wrong with Me?" is a must read for anyone that has known the pain of childhood trauma or been in a abusive relationship. From the outside it is easy to assume a victim can escape the "cycle of abuse", but in truth it's much more difficult than it appears.
Synopsis:
Anna grew up with an abusive dad. One might think being raised in a abusive home would teach one how to avoid narcissistic behavior in adult relationships, but for many the opposite is true. Why is this so often the case? Why are victim's of abuse attracted to abusers? Follow Anna on her journey of self-discovery.
This is a difficult topic. The author offer's deep insight into recognizing and healing from abuse through her powerful book. Kristin Hammoud is an author and therapist specializing in helping people become healthy through her medical knowledge and compassion. In Anna's poignant story, the author encourages readers who have ever said "What is Wrong with Me?" to consider taking a closer self-evaluation.
Thank you NetGalley, Kristin Hammoud, and BooksGoSocial, for allowing me the honor of reviewing this outstanding book. It reached out and grabbed my heart! 💘
Synopsis:
Anna grew up with an abusive dad. One might think being raised in a abusive home would teach one how to avoid narcissistic behavior in adult relationships, but for many the opposite is true. Why is this so often the case? Why are victim's of abuse attracted to abusers? Follow Anna on her journey of self-discovery.
This is a difficult topic. The author offer's deep insight into recognizing and healing from abuse through her powerful book. Kristin Hammoud is an author and therapist specializing in helping people become healthy through her medical knowledge and compassion. In Anna's poignant story, the author encourages readers who have ever said "What is Wrong with Me?" to consider taking a closer self-evaluation.
Thank you NetGalley, Kristin Hammoud, and BooksGoSocial, for allowing me the honor of reviewing this outstanding book. It reached out and grabbed my heart! 💘
July 26, 2022
A story of narcissism, betrayel and secrets. This story follows Anna from childhood through to adulthood, marriage and more. It shows the highs and the lows - and the impact of a childhood filled with trauma.
I felt so many emotions for Anna, as she goes through her life and different milestones, finding a husband and trying to make her way through life. I was rooting for her the whole way through, hoping that it'll end with Anna the survivor. Fantastic story.
I felt so many emotions for Anna, as she goes through her life and different milestones, finding a husband and trying to make her way through life. I was rooting for her the whole way through, hoping that it'll end with Anna the survivor. Fantastic story.
March 1, 2022
TW : Rape , gaslighting, emotional abuse, depression
Like Anna, I also had diaries when I was young. I would pour out all in the diaries. I got to see how growing up in a dysfunctional family from a girl’s point of view. Her innocence while in college sort of reminds me of myself when I was in college. Finding love and experiencing friendships . The ups and downs. Especially the struggles and how confusing it was. The book is very relatable to me.
What’s Wrong With Me? Is often asked by many when they feel that they do not belong or fit in. A straight forward fiction for those who wants to get a glimpse of what it feels like to search their purpose in life, feeling insecure most of the time, wanting to belong and much more.
“Could you guys stop talking about me and talk to me instead?”
Above is an example of what Anna ( the main character ) feels most of the time. The way some people treated her made me feel angry. The gaslighting was from a few people in her life. It triggered me a bit because I know such people exists. Then there are enablers that supports the person who are doing the emotional damages to her.
If you want experience what it is like to be in a very dysfunctional family, bad choices in life, friendships & relationship, this is the book for for you.
P/S : I cried a lot while reading this book because some of the things that happened, happened to me too.
Like Anna, I also had diaries when I was young. I would pour out all in the diaries. I got to see how growing up in a dysfunctional family from a girl’s point of view. Her innocence while in college sort of reminds me of myself when I was in college. Finding love and experiencing friendships . The ups and downs. Especially the struggles and how confusing it was. The book is very relatable to me.
What’s Wrong With Me? Is often asked by many when they feel that they do not belong or fit in. A straight forward fiction for those who wants to get a glimpse of what it feels like to search their purpose in life, feeling insecure most of the time, wanting to belong and much more.
“Could you guys stop talking about me and talk to me instead?”
Above is an example of what Anna ( the main character ) feels most of the time. The way some people treated her made me feel angry. The gaslighting was from a few people in her life. It triggered me a bit because I know such people exists. Then there are enablers that supports the person who are doing the emotional damages to her.
If you want experience what it is like to be in a very dysfunctional family, bad choices in life, friendships & relationship, this is the book for for you.
P/S : I cried a lot while reading this book because some of the things that happened, happened to me too.
April 6, 2022
My thoughts on What Is Wrong With Me?
I really liked this book because it started with anna at age 9 and then goes up to when Anna is 22ish. I think this author did an amazing job of showing what abuse does to a person throughout their life and how it affects their choices and actions in the future.
I really liked this book because it started with anna at age 9 and then goes up to when Anna is 22ish. I think this author did an amazing job of showing what abuse does to a person throughout their life and how it affects their choices and actions in the future.
April 14, 2022
This 393-page book, "What is Wrong with Me?" was written by Kristin Hammoud. It takes us through the life journey of the protagonist, Anna. The events that were explored revolve around her childhood, education, her parents' marital life, and her intimate relationships, which took a larger part of the story.
Anna and her brother, Luke, lived to witness the ugly marriage between their mother, Kathy, and father, Dan. For the kids, the mood at home was mostly depressing and even tended to become worse whenever Dan returned. On the other hand, Anna was constantly seeking his approval. Generally, we understand how chaotic it is to endlessly live for the validation of others.
As expected, every reader will imagine that a bad childhood ultimately takes a toll on the overall lifestyle and choices of individuals. Will it turn out to be that way for the children? Will Anna live a fulfilled life eventually? You will uncover these puzzles as you read "What Is Wrong with Me?"
Indeed, this was an exceptional read since the author authentically wrote the story. The narrative was carved in such a way that everyone who picks up this book could walk down the same path as Anna. In my case, I could connect with her emotions, thoughts, and experiences. All the characters were relatable, and I was able to discern what each represented. Furthermore, the thrilling twists and turns kept me on the edge as I was thrown into deep opinions and wondered what would unfold next.
From the storyline of this fictional novel, one can conclude that Kristin Hammoud aims to bring to light the negative effects of being in a tumultuous family and the damage it has on children, the inherent difficulty of breaking out of an abusive relationship, and how an emotionally or physically abusive partner rarely ever changes. The author further discloses the path through which the abused can escape and subsequently live a successful life.
The themes analyzed in this book were sexual assault, domestic violence, and emotional abuse. Loneliness and sadness emanating from a noncommitted partner were also explored.
As with the core goal of the author, persons who wish to gain knowledge about how any form of abuse works and how to get away from it will appreciate this novel. Hence, I recommend it to them.
Finally, given the fact that the author achieved her aim, including the specific elements that appealed to me, I will give "What is Wrong with Me?" the highest rating there is. As such, on a scale of 5, I will rate it five out of five stars.
Anna and her brother, Luke, lived to witness the ugly marriage between their mother, Kathy, and father, Dan. For the kids, the mood at home was mostly depressing and even tended to become worse whenever Dan returned. On the other hand, Anna was constantly seeking his approval. Generally, we understand how chaotic it is to endlessly live for the validation of others.
As expected, every reader will imagine that a bad childhood ultimately takes a toll on the overall lifestyle and choices of individuals. Will it turn out to be that way for the children? Will Anna live a fulfilled life eventually? You will uncover these puzzles as you read "What Is Wrong with Me?"
Indeed, this was an exceptional read since the author authentically wrote the story. The narrative was carved in such a way that everyone who picks up this book could walk down the same path as Anna. In my case, I could connect with her emotions, thoughts, and experiences. All the characters were relatable, and I was able to discern what each represented. Furthermore, the thrilling twists and turns kept me on the edge as I was thrown into deep opinions and wondered what would unfold next.
From the storyline of this fictional novel, one can conclude that Kristin Hammoud aims to bring to light the negative effects of being in a tumultuous family and the damage it has on children, the inherent difficulty of breaking out of an abusive relationship, and how an emotionally or physically abusive partner rarely ever changes. The author further discloses the path through which the abused can escape and subsequently live a successful life.
The themes analyzed in this book were sexual assault, domestic violence, and emotional abuse. Loneliness and sadness emanating from a noncommitted partner were also explored.
As with the core goal of the author, persons who wish to gain knowledge about how any form of abuse works and how to get away from it will appreciate this novel. Hence, I recommend it to them.
Finally, given the fact that the author achieved her aim, including the specific elements that appealed to me, I will give "What is Wrong with Me?" the highest rating there is. As such, on a scale of 5, I will rate it five out of five stars.
January 16, 2022
Following Anna’s childhood experiences into young adulthood was eye-opening and informative. This was a read that I haven’t had in awhile where it sucks you in, and you’ve lost hours of time in the story. I throughly enjoyed reading the story do Anna and how she learns what it means to stand up for herself. I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in the counseling world.
March 17, 2022
This was a gripping, evocative and emotive read. It was well written with a heartbreaking and yet strangely uplifting in parts storyline. I couldn't put it down and will definiitely be looking for more from this author
January 24, 2022
Summary
“What Is Wrong With Me?” is a psychological fiction by Kristin Hammoud. The story revolves around Anna who suffered from a traumatic experience as a teenager and nobody knows about it. As she grows up, she finds it hard to speak her mind, allowing people to control her. Despite the obvious mental torture that she constantly feels, she doesn’t seek help for her emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Will Anna find her voice in the end?
Review
Since I have both good and bad feedback about this book, I’ll start on the things I like about it: (1) I like Anna and Luke’s sibling relationship because it’s not toxic. Luke is the only person she can talk with that doesn’t make her feel agitated, (2) I like the unexpected turn of events towards the end. What Anna uncovered about her mother-in-law was a twist that I didn’t see coming, (3) I like the part where Jen nailed Anna’s primary issue when she said you can’t help anyone when they don’t want the help. Anna constantly asks what is wrong with her and yet, she doesn’t seek help, and it’s what drives her miserable life. I know her baggage was not her fault, but it’s her responsibility to herself to heal from that instead of accepting things as they are, (4) Though Anna’s realization was long overdue, I’m glad at how the story ended.
As for the things I didn’t like about this book: (1) The biggest flaw of the story is that there is no character development. Anna, her mother, and the rest of the characters were the same from beginning to end. They did not undergo growth or substantial change for almost the entire part of the story. The only time Anna’s character finally did what she was supposed to do was towards the end. That means I had to endure a character who doesn’t use her head for about 95% of my reading duration and it was a very stressful reading experience as Anna remained just like her mother who doesn’t have self-worth, (2) There is not one character that I like in the story except for Luke, and (3) Lastly, the beginning of the story was not painted clearly. Just that Anna doesn’t like her dad and that her mother is not happy, but there was never an instance when her hatred for her father was justified. It just felt like Anna’s focusing too much on the negative things in her life and isn’t grateful for what she has. She has shelter, she has food, she goes to school, she gets along with her brother, and she has a mother who cares for her and a father who provides well for the family, but she’s just constantly dwelling on the bad things.
Overall, I’m giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. It has a clear message that emotional abuse is just as bad as physical abuse, and that Anna and all the women who have no self-worth need to speak themselves, and start loving themselves.
“What Is Wrong With Me?” is a psychological fiction by Kristin Hammoud. The story revolves around Anna who suffered from a traumatic experience as a teenager and nobody knows about it. As she grows up, she finds it hard to speak her mind, allowing people to control her. Despite the obvious mental torture that she constantly feels, she doesn’t seek help for her emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Will Anna find her voice in the end?
Review
Since I have both good and bad feedback about this book, I’ll start on the things I like about it: (1) I like Anna and Luke’s sibling relationship because it’s not toxic. Luke is the only person she can talk with that doesn’t make her feel agitated, (2) I like the unexpected turn of events towards the end. What Anna uncovered about her mother-in-law was a twist that I didn’t see coming, (3) I like the part where Jen nailed Anna’s primary issue when she said you can’t help anyone when they don’t want the help. Anna constantly asks what is wrong with her and yet, she doesn’t seek help, and it’s what drives her miserable life. I know her baggage was not her fault, but it’s her responsibility to herself to heal from that instead of accepting things as they are, (4) Though Anna’s realization was long overdue, I’m glad at how the story ended.
As for the things I didn’t like about this book: (1) The biggest flaw of the story is that there is no character development. Anna, her mother, and the rest of the characters were the same from beginning to end. They did not undergo growth or substantial change for almost the entire part of the story. The only time Anna’s character finally did what she was supposed to do was towards the end. That means I had to endure a character who doesn’t use her head for about 95% of my reading duration and it was a very stressful reading experience as Anna remained just like her mother who doesn’t have self-worth, (2) There is not one character that I like in the story except for Luke, and (3) Lastly, the beginning of the story was not painted clearly. Just that Anna doesn’t like her dad and that her mother is not happy, but there was never an instance when her hatred for her father was justified. It just felt like Anna’s focusing too much on the negative things in her life and isn’t grateful for what she has. She has shelter, she has food, she goes to school, she gets along with her brother, and she has a mother who cares for her and a father who provides well for the family, but she’s just constantly dwelling on the bad things.
Overall, I’m giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. It has a clear message that emotional abuse is just as bad as physical abuse, and that Anna and all the women who have no self-worth need to speak themselves, and start loving themselves.
May 16, 2022
The world today is full of people who are victims of their childhood and experiences. While some remain victims, others become abusers (emotional, verbal, etc.). Do you think there is a solution to this societal issue?
What is Wrong with Me? by Kristin Hammoud teaches readers how our background can impact our actions, decisions, and, more importantly, relationship choices. The author depicted this in Anna’s family and also the Lawrence family. Anna grew up in a family where her father was distant from them and her mother was too submissive and seemed to have no mind of her own. Anna determined that she would never live her life like her mother’s or have a husband like her father. However, the reality seemed to become different from the decision. It was so different that I felt she had gone down the road of no return. Will she eventually keep her promise to herself?
Kristin Hammoud was detailed enough to show the reader the patterns that affect one’s psyche and behaviors. Thanks to this book, I now have a deep understanding of how impactful childhood experiences can be. As a result, I believe the best time to shape informed adults is when they are still young. I have also determined to be more careful with my choice of words or actions towards children and even adults.
To be honest, this book elicited sadness and anger in me. I did not like the way certain characters were being treated and how they reacted. Clearly, this is a fictional book and I can’t imagine that so many people are passing through similar or worse experiences in real life. I commend the author for this timely read. This is because books of this nature will help in the overhaul of systemic abuse in families today.
I am glad I came across this book. In addition, I have absolutely no complaints about it. Although I came across minor errors, they were too few to affect my appreciation of this book. Considering the level of information I have gotten from reading this book, I am inclined to give it the perfect rating of five out of five stars.
Are you interested in the story of how one’s family background can affect one’s choice of relationship and how to free oneself from the negative ones? Grab this book now and see for yourself! Are you in an abusive situation and you don’t know how to leave? This book will be helpful to you.
What is Wrong with Me? by Kristin Hammoud teaches readers how our background can impact our actions, decisions, and, more importantly, relationship choices. The author depicted this in Anna’s family and also the Lawrence family. Anna grew up in a family where her father was distant from them and her mother was too submissive and seemed to have no mind of her own. Anna determined that she would never live her life like her mother’s or have a husband like her father. However, the reality seemed to become different from the decision. It was so different that I felt she had gone down the road of no return. Will she eventually keep her promise to herself?
Kristin Hammoud was detailed enough to show the reader the patterns that affect one’s psyche and behaviors. Thanks to this book, I now have a deep understanding of how impactful childhood experiences can be. As a result, I believe the best time to shape informed adults is when they are still young. I have also determined to be more careful with my choice of words or actions towards children and even adults.
To be honest, this book elicited sadness and anger in me. I did not like the way certain characters were being treated and how they reacted. Clearly, this is a fictional book and I can’t imagine that so many people are passing through similar or worse experiences in real life. I commend the author for this timely read. This is because books of this nature will help in the overhaul of systemic abuse in families today.
I am glad I came across this book. In addition, I have absolutely no complaints about it. Although I came across minor errors, they were too few to affect my appreciation of this book. Considering the level of information I have gotten from reading this book, I am inclined to give it the perfect rating of five out of five stars.
Are you interested in the story of how one’s family background can affect one’s choice of relationship and how to free oneself from the negative ones? Grab this book now and see for yourself! Are you in an abusive situation and you don’t know how to leave? This book will be helpful to you.
September 27, 2022
I personally enjoyed this novel because it gave me an excellent insight as to how past experiences & relationships shape & affect future ones. It was fascinating to watch how Anna's life unfolded & how she was swept up into a relationship she felt she could not leave. I enjoyed the plot and how it twisted and turned, how the characters related to each other & the fact that I was impelled to turn the pages, right up to the very last one.
March 22, 2022
It is Anna’s 9th birthday, and she is very enthusiastic about it. However, she does not have many prospects today. She even tells Kathy, her mother, that she’s contented playing at home with her brother, Luke. It pleased Kathy that her daughter does not demand something considerably more significant than she may give her. “What is Wrong with Me?” by Kristin Hammoud is a narrative that foregrounds the dysfunctional family relationships in contemporary society. It follows the life of Anna, from her academic to social spheres, by exploring the friendship ties she forges and the romantic relationships that she is involved in.
Anna has sneaked up severally on her mother to find her either crying or in an emotionally broken state. She suspects that Dan, her father, is the reason her mother is never happy. Anna’s attempts to ask her mother what was going on had repeatedly been met by her mother’s strong defense of her father. Luke tells Anna that her mother chose the life she leads and advises Anna to focus on her happiness instead because they cannot help their mother, especially if she does not want to be supported.
Anna’s first relationship with Jeff lasted for about one year before she called it quits. She believed Jeff was too good to be true and felt she was not ready for a meaningful relationship. She only wanted to focus on her college studies and the part-time job she had secured. No sooner had she ended things with Jeff than Anna found herself in another relationship with Dave. Anna is constantly skeptical about what to say to Dave because she fears breaking up with him. Any comment Anna makes always seems to agitate Dave, who flatly tells her he’ll break up with her if she does not blend into his lifestyle. Anna confronted Kathy about their family relations during the wedding preparations and questioned why she never mentioned anything about them. She refuses her mother’s offer to invite Tom, Kathy’s cousin. During this confrontation, Kathy reveals she has a sister she has not been in touch with since. She gives Anna her journal and hopes it may answer all her questions.
Fast-forward, Anna weds Dave and begins confirming her mother’s fears. She tried attending therapy, but Dave always found what she was up to and stopped her from progressing further. Till now, Anna has realized that she has to do something about her life if she is to prevent Sara, her daughter, from leading the same life that she did. She digs up information about Katrina, Dave’s mother, and comes up with a dark past that leads to a series of events, culminating in her liberation from the prison that she had sentenced herself into. Anna finally realizes that if she’s to transform anything about her life, she has to want to cause the transformation.
I loved the central theme of this book – mental health. Kristin creatively presents us with the post-traumatic results of a child’s strict upbringing, where the kids are not involved in the family decisions that affect them either directly or indirectly. Her years of experience as a psychiatric nurse have acquainted her with patients whose behavior they directly connected to their past. Through Ana’s personality, she has excellently presented the psychological trauma that most children often go through, which affects their social relationships when they leave home. She has also succinctly shown how others resign to their circumstances and withdraw themselves from any connections with family while choosing to establish bonds with their friends instead. Luke argued that genuine relief could only be attained outside their home, free from the tension that always characterized their house whenever their father was around.
Told from the third-person omniscient point of view, the author advances the internal battles that children face through the soliloquies Anna often engages in. Kristin then compares Anna’s solitary life, owing to her past, to the free-style life led by Lori, her college roommate. She envied Lori for her strong relationship with her parents, who were ever-present in her life. Moreover, she’s genuinely amazed that Lori’s father offered her the much-needed moral support when Carl broke up with her.
Kristin’s character development is excellently done, as each character fulfills their roles and steadily advances the plot development of the book without drawing attention from the protagonist. The author’s choice of vocabulary and general use of simple language to develop her story gave the book a sense of authenticity while still maintaining my attention to the novel’s end.
There is nothing I disliked about this book, which is professionally edited and has zero grammatical errors. It currently retails at $0.99 and is the perfect therapeutic text for teenagers and adults who had a difficult upbringing or those who believe that their past lives influenced their present lives. I wholeheartedly rate “What is Wrong with Me?” the maximum rating of five out of five stars for its excellent presentation and significant contribution towards mental health.
Anna has sneaked up severally on her mother to find her either crying or in an emotionally broken state. She suspects that Dan, her father, is the reason her mother is never happy. Anna’s attempts to ask her mother what was going on had repeatedly been met by her mother’s strong defense of her father. Luke tells Anna that her mother chose the life she leads and advises Anna to focus on her happiness instead because they cannot help their mother, especially if she does not want to be supported.
Anna’s first relationship with Jeff lasted for about one year before she called it quits. She believed Jeff was too good to be true and felt she was not ready for a meaningful relationship. She only wanted to focus on her college studies and the part-time job she had secured. No sooner had she ended things with Jeff than Anna found herself in another relationship with Dave. Anna is constantly skeptical about what to say to Dave because she fears breaking up with him. Any comment Anna makes always seems to agitate Dave, who flatly tells her he’ll break up with her if she does not blend into his lifestyle. Anna confronted Kathy about their family relations during the wedding preparations and questioned why she never mentioned anything about them. She refuses her mother’s offer to invite Tom, Kathy’s cousin. During this confrontation, Kathy reveals she has a sister she has not been in touch with since. She gives Anna her journal and hopes it may answer all her questions.
Fast-forward, Anna weds Dave and begins confirming her mother’s fears. She tried attending therapy, but Dave always found what she was up to and stopped her from progressing further. Till now, Anna has realized that she has to do something about her life if she is to prevent Sara, her daughter, from leading the same life that she did. She digs up information about Katrina, Dave’s mother, and comes up with a dark past that leads to a series of events, culminating in her liberation from the prison that she had sentenced herself into. Anna finally realizes that if she’s to transform anything about her life, she has to want to cause the transformation.
I loved the central theme of this book – mental health. Kristin creatively presents us with the post-traumatic results of a child’s strict upbringing, where the kids are not involved in the family decisions that affect them either directly or indirectly. Her years of experience as a psychiatric nurse have acquainted her with patients whose behavior they directly connected to their past. Through Ana’s personality, she has excellently presented the psychological trauma that most children often go through, which affects their social relationships when they leave home. She has also succinctly shown how others resign to their circumstances and withdraw themselves from any connections with family while choosing to establish bonds with their friends instead. Luke argued that genuine relief could only be attained outside their home, free from the tension that always characterized their house whenever their father was around.
Told from the third-person omniscient point of view, the author advances the internal battles that children face through the soliloquies Anna often engages in. Kristin then compares Anna’s solitary life, owing to her past, to the free-style life led by Lori, her college roommate. She envied Lori for her strong relationship with her parents, who were ever-present in her life. Moreover, she’s genuinely amazed that Lori’s father offered her the much-needed moral support when Carl broke up with her.
Kristin’s character development is excellently done, as each character fulfills their roles and steadily advances the plot development of the book without drawing attention from the protagonist. The author’s choice of vocabulary and general use of simple language to develop her story gave the book a sense of authenticity while still maintaining my attention to the novel’s end.
There is nothing I disliked about this book, which is professionally edited and has zero grammatical errors. It currently retails at $0.99 and is the perfect therapeutic text for teenagers and adults who had a difficult upbringing or those who believe that their past lives influenced their present lives. I wholeheartedly rate “What is Wrong with Me?” the maximum rating of five out of five stars for its excellent presentation and significant contribution towards mental health.
October 10, 2023
This was an unusual book, the narrative is the story of a young woman and her relationships but is also an expoistory discourse on recognising types of abuse such as coercive control, gaslighting, emotional and sexual abuse and narcissism.. The narrative revolves around Anna who is from a home where her mother is deeply depressed and her father is mainly absent but when present is domineering and scathing, nothing is ever good enough for him.. We follow Anna as she works to get into college and how she navigates her way through college romances and an early marriage. Throughout the book the author, who is a clinical psychologist , shows how Anna's choices and outlook on life have been influenced by her toxic home environment and exposure to different types of abuse.. Characters in the book voice concerns to Anna about her choices, advising her to seek counselling or suggest what might happening. It feels a little didactic but I did feel myself pulled in to Anna's world. It fell apart a bit for me in the final third as Anna's situation of marrying into fabulous wealth and a murder mystery in family that was built up and then quickly and rather unbelievably resolved undermined the message that abuse and bad relationship choices can happen to anyone.
July 23, 2023
I have to say, I don't think I've read something quite like this before. Fiction, but also a sort of self-help twist to it. A survivor of childhood abuse and abusive relationships myself, I found parts of this hard to read. I do love Anna's character, I think she's true to what she's experienced, and her path through healing is somewhat familiar. If you've never been in Anna's shoes, then this would be a good way to gain some insight into the world of an abuse survivor who's trying to break the cycle of trauma. An interesting, well-written book overall.
March 22, 2022
A great read. We can all see ourselves in this book.
Self evaluation is important because in that we may identify areas of our lives that need change and seek help to effect the change.
Marie McKenzie, #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of Things That Keep Me Up At Night
Self evaluation is important because in that we may identify areas of our lives that need change and seek help to effect the change.
Marie McKenzie, #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of Things That Keep Me Up At Night
June 29, 2022
Thank you Net Galley for a copy of What is Wrong with Me by Kristin Hammoud. I hated these characters! Hated them! But since this author provoked sick strong emotion from me, I'll rate it 4 stars.
October 16, 2022
I give this a 3.5 star rating. Childhood trauma is real & it’s sad. You really don’t notice you’re doing the same thing you don’t want your parent to go through even though they are.
September 23, 2022
Reading it was frustrating.
The story development was good though characters development was amazing!
I was so mad at Anna, though as we proceed to the end, I wept. Dave almost make my blood boil!! I HATe him, never ever had I hated a character THIS MUCH!! I literally had a headache when they were going to marry and had to put the book down for a day or I might crack…(sigh)
Though, I got to know a lot about people who go through child trauma and toxic relationship. I never had any but after reading this line-" Some people seek out a partner who is similar to people in their lives, just because it feels familiar and because they think it’s an opportunity to change the script." and it clicked (a bit later after reading the line) that that's what I was doing with my dating life….I suddenly felt sick.
I have learnt a lot from this book and I would like to thanks the Author. ｡◕‿◕｡
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The story development was good though characters development was amazing!
I was so mad at Anna, though as we proceed to the end, I wept. Dave almost make my blood boil!! I HATe him, never ever had I hated a character THIS MUCH!! I literally had a headache when they were going to marry and had to put the book down for a day or I might crack…(sigh)
Though, I got to know a lot about people who go through child trauma and toxic relationship. I never had any but after reading this line-" Some people seek out a partner who is similar to people in their lives, just because it feels familiar and because they think it’s an opportunity to change the script." and it clicked (a bit later after reading the line) that that's what I was doing with my dating life….I suddenly felt sick.
I have learnt a lot from this book and I would like to thanks the Author. ｡◕‿◕｡
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
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