Jeff Peace’s memoir The Wrong Kind of Son recounts his lifelong relationship with a manipulative father marked by control, neglect, and emotional abuse. From childhood incidents involving forced obedience and humiliation to adult encounters revealing hoarding and deceit, Peace documents consistent patterns of domination. After discovering letters showing his father had urged his mother to end her pregnancy with him, Peace reevaluates their entire history and limits contact. His mother’s sudden death further exposes his father’s control through legal and emotional manipulation during the funeral process. Later, his sister’s wedding and his own marriage become stages for his father’s interference and falsehoods. Each event reinforces Peace’s understanding that his father’s influence persists through distortion and control, leading him to make a concrete decision, once and for all.

The Wrong Kind of Son: A Memoir of a Narcissistic Father’s Abuse, Survival, and Finding Peace After the Storm is a deeply heartening and incredibly detailed account of Jeff Peace reclaiming his autonomy in the wake of a father who exerted constant control and cruelty. Peace writes with a genuinely courageous honesty, sharing horrific moments openly, such as leaving his father’s house at midnight after being grabbed by the neck, showing early lessons in concealment and survival. On the other side of this is a beautiful glimmer, and ultimately the bright light of hope. Peace clings to a quiet strength in adulthood, even during his wedding day with Dan, despite his father’s anger. It is when his adoption of Piper comes through, during the pandemic no less, that Peace's strength is cemented, separating himself, breaking the cycle, and exercising the freedom to choose family according to one’s own terms. Very highly recommended.

The Wrong Kind of Son by Jeff Peace is a heart-rending and powerful story of breaking the shackles of a domineering father and making a life on the author’s own terms. Jeff describes a dysfunctional childhood where he always felt under the subtle control and direction of his father. He paints a picture of a family life that to outsiders looked normal and perfect, yet behind closed doors was anything but. His father was a master in the art of the subtle putdown; a man who demanded obedience and silence from his children and who instilled fear in them. As a gay man, the author struggled to break the shame instilled in him by his father for his sexuality. It was only after he had made a conscious break from his father that he was able to analyze and understand what a powerful hold the man had, not just on him but also on his many siblings and half-siblings. This book is a celebration of freedom from his father’s domination and, perhaps more importantly, a proclamation of the author’s right to the happiness and joy of family, so cruelly denied to him as a child and as an adult. It is a proclamation of survival despite one man’s lifelong attempt to shame him, to deny him his voice, his truth, and his happiness.

The Wrong Kind of Son is an incredibly forthright statement about reclaiming one’s happiness and joy despite a father’s best efforts to deny that. Author Jeff Peace has pulled no punches and spared no blushes in describing the hellish conditions his father created for him as a child. The constant putdowns, the authoritarian power dynamic he enforced, and the illusion of a perfect family he tried to project to the world. The author describes the cathartic effect of each chapter as he put it on paper, and as a reader, I felt that weight being slowly lifted from him with every word. Although this book dwells on the abuse and manipulation by his father, it is far from a “doom and gloom” story. There are elements of great joy and peace to be found on the author’s journey, especially once he had found his life partner and they had begun to chart their joint lives and the possibility of a family. Ultimately, this story will give hope to many in the same situation. The author’s contention that sometimes you just have to cut such family members totally out of your life will meet with recognition and understanding. This is a moving story that I enjoyed and highly recommend.

The Wrong Kind of Son by Jeff Peace is a touching memoir that chronicles the author’s childhood filled with trauma from his controlling, narcissistic father, and his journey toward healing, which ultimately led him to find love and create a family of his own. Early on, Jeff learned that his father's words, although seemingly kind, were often coated in manipulation and falsehoods. He was forced to read, lived in a house that looked homely on the outside but was filthy inside, and faced constant humiliation for being gay. After losing his mother, Jeff discovered even more devastating secrets about his father, realizing that the wounds inflicted on him began long before he was born. Following an embarrassing display by his father at his sister's wedding, Jeff started making changes in his life, especially at his own wedding, to reclaim control from his father. When he had the opportunity to become a father himself, he chose to give all his love and create a safe environment for his daughter—something he had never experienced.

The Wrong Kind of Son reminds readers that abuse is not solely physical. Hurtful words can have a profound impact on young minds, causing trauma that leaves deep wounds in their souls. Jeff Peace’s writing is raw and emotional, shedding light on how victims often make excuses for their abusers. Many readers who have experienced cycles of abuse will recognize similarities in his story. I hope a wide audience reads this book and finds comfort in the understanding that they are not misinterpreting their situations; they are, in fact, being gaslit and experiencing abuse. This book made me realize that narcissistic behavior can occur not only in parent-child relationships but also with colleagues, friends, spouses, and siblings. Witnessing Jeff regain control over his life was beautiful, and I hope his story inspires many others to leave toxic relationships and seek peace without fear of shame for who they are. His mother plays a vital role in his story, having fought for him in ways he only understood after her death. Her actions are a powerful reminder that anyone facing abuse needs support, understanding, and a listening ear. Overall, this is an essential read for anyone seeking validation, awareness, and reassurance that they are not alone. It is okay to speak out and seek help.

In The Wrong Kind of Son, Jeff Peace shares his candid memories about growing up with a narcissistic father. Even from a young age, the author experiences control, manipulation, and fear in his home. His father’s behavior would range from silent punishments to unexpected angry outbursts. This results in Jeff becoming emotionally guarded as a means of survival while living with his father. Jeff's days were consumed by his not "triggering" his father's unpredictable moods. Even small moments of kindness from his father would be used as traps to gain control. As Jeff grows older, he struggles with trust issues and anxiety because of his father's narcissistic attacks. Over time, he realizes it is necessary to break away from his father’s influence for genuine healing to begin. Follow his captivating and emotional journey today.

Reading The Wrong Kind of Son felt both sad and hopeful. Jeff Peace writes with honesty and courage, showing how emotional abuse can shape a child’s life and even follow them into adulthood. What struck me most was how clearly he describes the subtle forms of control used by his father. Actions that outsiders might dismiss because there are no physical bruises as evidence of abuse would leave prolonged invisible scars in Jeff's heart and mind. As I read this heartfelt book, I found myself admiring Jeff’s strength in facing painful memories and choosing to break the cycle rather than repeat it. The book also challenges readers to understand how society often avoids confronting uncomfortable truths, leaving victims to feel isolated as they battle their monsters. By the end of the memoir, Jeff’s story becomes not just one of survival but of bravery and hope. It is undoubtedly a must-read.