Review of Toxic Bonds and Betrayals

[Dennis Kiage]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Toxic Bonds and Betrayals" by N Njeri Jones.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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"Toxic Bonds and Betrayals" by N. Njeri Jones is the author's memoir, recounting a marriage that turned toxic due to family interference and manipulation. The author's first encounter with Austin after meeting on a dating site was promising and amazing, but that was soon to change after their marriage. Austin (the author's ex-husband) began exploiting the author's resources, became emotionally abusive, and left her isolated. His codependence on his mother, Debbie, and his attachment to his ex made him nonchalant to the author's feelings and fueled his manipulative character. His financial recklessness and abuse culminated in betrayal, leaving her homeless. This later led to a domestic conflict that saw the author arrested and jailed. After serving her jail time, she began a healing journey with therapy and self-reflection, ultimately finding a positive path forward. Read the book to find out how she did it and why she kept up with the abuse and manipulation she went through.

This was a deeply moving story for me, and I'm sorry that the author had to go through all that. One may question why someone would stick to an abusive relationship, but I can see that the author was trying so hard to make it work between her and Austin. She longed to be with a person who didn't value her, and it's sad that love and trust were betrayed. I actually think it was more out of love than being a people-pleaser or having low self-esteem. And it's even more sad that there are many more like her out there—and even worse, there are many more like Austin, both men and women. No one should ever go through such an experience, and I'm glad the author was able to break from the shackles and pursue healing.

This can be a difficult book to read for those who are emotional or who have experienced trauma from abusive relationships. However, I think it should be taken as a call for everybody to know when to leave abusive relationships and set their boundaries. Even though it was a sad read, it was empowering and enjoyable to read. I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. I could have given it a perfect score, but it still needs more work with its editing and proofreading. I still highly recommend the book.

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Toxic Bonds and Betrayals
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