Reviewed by Jennie More for Readers' Favorite

Gaslighting by Deborah Vinall is a self-help book providing a step-by-step guide to identifying and dealing with being gaslit in relationships and, ultimately, how to recover from emotional abuse. She starts by helping the reader determine whether they are experiencing gaslighting by asking specific questions to guide them to a conclusion. Vinall lists the different types of gaslighters, their unique tactics to control and abuse their targets, and the process that victims must follow to accept what is happening, how to grieve the experience/loss, and how to exit if they wish to and work toward a new life in a healthier relationship. Setting boundaries, self-care, and rebuilding healthy self-esteem features strongly. Vinall provides exercises after each chapter so the reader can assess the situation and recover and mend.

Gaslighting by Deborah Vinall is an absorbing, powerful, and resourceful guide to recovering from emotional abuse and relationships where you were gaslit. Vinall takes a deep and complex topic and breaks it into easily digestible steps, with each chapter focusing on a single area to help the reader understand the information on this subject. The chapters follow a coherent progression that makes it easy for readers to follow and want to read the next chapter as it builds on the previous one and is the next step in the healing journey. Abuse is a daunting topic in general, but even more so for the target of abuse. Yet, Vinall’s supportive tone throughout makes reading this book a feel-good and refreshing experience that leaves the reader with a feeling of empowerment. I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone experiencing abuse as a first step to recovery, especially if they intend to practice all the exercises after each chapter.