Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

True Deceit False Love: Alphabetical Acrostic Anthems on Domestic Violence, Narcissistic Abuse & Parental Alienation by Dr. Marni Hill Foderaro is a creative way of healing from domestic violence, narcissistic abuse, parental alienation, and intergenerational family trauma. If you are a fan of steganography or haven’t tried it yet, the art of concealing messages in a text through acrostic poetry is a form of self-expression that builds awareness in order to respond, understand, and heal from a traumatic experience. This is a collection of a unique form of poetry that takes advantage of line breaks to embed meanings in their vertical nature. Their form and structure allow for easy reading and you can choose any poem to digest or read them all in one sitting. They will also inspire you to pick up a pen to compose your own acrostic poetry and express what you have long been wanting to say.

Dr. Marni Hill Foderaro encourages you to open up and acknowledge the trauma that festers inside you emotionally and psychologically. While words have the power to hurt, they also have the power to heal. Foderaro’s acrostic poetry shows excellence in giving names, themes, and ideas on the subject of trauma and abuse while keeping her language natural and precise wherein the hidden word or message becomes the poem’s sole reason for existence. Is it a substitute for the actual counseling experience? Definitely not, but when you are able to pull out the proper word choices to express your experience, especially with one that leaves you scarred for life, it allows you to take a step toward moving on, healing, forgiving, and becoming stronger. True Deceit False Love makes for an enticing read for writing creatives and for those who are seeking a supplementary form of therapy from a traumatic experience.