“If you’ve ever struggled to understand how narcissists think or why they do what they do, you need this book! Chelsey provides a fresh, down-to-earth explanation that will quiet your criticisms and confusion, and provide clarity and calm once and for all.”

“If you’ve ever struggled to understand how narcissists think or why they do what they do, you need this book! Chelsey provides a fresh, down-to-earth explanation that will quiet your criticisms and confusion, and provide clarity and calm once and for all.”

“After narcissistic abuse, you feel like you’ve lost yourself. You’re overwhelmed, broken, and shattered. This book will help you put yourself back together, piece by piece. Chelsey provides compassion, insight, and guidance on every page. Readers will feel like they have a true friend walking alongside them every step of the way.”

“After narcissistic abuse, you feel like you’ve lost yourself. You’re overwhelmed, broken, and shattered. This book will help you put yourself back together, piece by piece. Chelsey provides compassion, insight, and guidance on every page. Readers will feel like they have a true friend walking alongside them every step of the way.”

“In If Only I’d Known, Chelsey guides and helps readers through the process of understanding narcissism. This book is a must-read, especially for anyone that is embarking on their healing journey. Well done!”

“In If Only I’d Known, Chelsey guides and helps readers through the process of understanding narcissism. This book is a must-read, especially for anyone that is embarking on their healing journey. Well done!”

“Have you ever ignored your gut feeling about someone, only later to find out that you were right all along? I learned from Chelsey that tuning in to your body’s cues for safety and danger shields you from narcissists. I’m grateful that she devotes a chapter to understanding your body’s mental, emotional, behavioral, and physiological warning signs. Like Chelsey says, ‘You can’t overthink a gut feeling!’”

“Have you ever ignored your gut feeling about someone, only later to find out that you were right all along? I learned from Chelsey that tuning in to your body’s cues for safety and danger shields you from narcissists. I’m grateful that she devotes a chapter to understanding your body’s mental, emotional, behavioral, and physiological warning signs. Like Chelsey says, ‘You can’t overthink a gut feeling!’”

“People dealing with this kind of insidious abuse often feel completely alone. Chelsey explains what’s happening and why, adding a deep dose of comfort. Thanks for an excellent resource, and we will surely be recommending this book to our community!”

“People dealing with this kind of insidious abuse often feel completely alone. Chelsey explains what’s happening and why, adding a deep dose of comfort. Thanks for an excellent resource, and we will surely be recommending this book to our community!”

“If you’ve ever been touched by a toxic workplace, tyrannical boss, or undermining colleague, you need this book. With clinical expertise, relatable stories, and fresh insights, Chelsey helps us all recognize, recover, and resist narcissistic individuals at every level.”

“If you’ve ever been touched by a toxic workplace, tyrannical boss, or undermining colleague, you need this book. With clinical expertise, relatable stories, and fresh insights, Chelsey helps us all recognize, recover, and resist narcissistic individuals at every level.”

“I’ve always considered myself to be a bold, confident, high achiever. But my experience with narcissistic abuse in a personal relationship shook me to my core. It crushed my spirit and broke my heart. Narcissistic abuse affected every aspect of my inner life, and I felt stuck. Chelsey’s insights were such a gift to me, offering clarity, affirmation, and mindsets for recovery and healing. As I read her words, I often felt like she was reading my mind and speaking directly to the abuse I had gone through. I’m grateful to Chelsey and will certainly be sharing this book with others. Highly recommended!”

“I’ve always considered myself to be a bold, confident, high achiever. But my experience with narcissistic abuse in a personal relationship shook me to my core. It crushed my spirit and broke my heart. Narcissistic abuse affected every aspect of my inner life, and I felt stuck. Chelsey’s insights were such a gift to me, offering clarity, affirmation, and mindsets for recovery and healing. As I read her words, I often felt like she was reading my mind and speaking directly to the abuse I had gone through. I’m grateful to Chelsey and will certainly be sharing this book with others. Highly recommended!”

“Chelsey is able to put into words what every narcissistic abuse survivor feels. She gives voice to those who don’t know how to say what they’ve been through. She is a true advocate for trauma survivors of all kinds, including those harmed by romantic partners, parents, siblings, and friends.”

“Chelsey is able to put into words what every narcissistic abuse survivor feels. She gives voice to those who don’t know how to say what they’ve been through. She is a true advocate for trauma survivors of all kinds, including those harmed by romantic partners, parents, siblings, and friends.”

“Narcissistic abuse is a complex topic, and after working for a few narcissists and dating a couple, I felt like I was a magnet for their madness. Chelsey really understands the inner workings of narcissists, and breaks it down so you can learn how to protect yourself from toxic people professionally, and personally heal from relational trauma and get back to you.”

“Narcissistic abuse is a complex topic, and after working for a few narcissists and dating a couple, I felt like I was a magnet for their madness. Chelsey really understands the inner workings of narcissists, and breaks it down so you can learn how to protect yourself from toxic people professionally, and personally heal from relational trauma and get back to you.”

“Early in my career – when working as an administrative assistant in Hollywood – I had the misfortune of reporting to one horrible boss after another. With only a few exceptions, most of these managers were tyrannical, arrogant, egomaniacal, abusive bullies who inflated their own egos and status by manipulating, lying to, gaslighting, belittling, intimidating, and threatening those around and beneath them. And the toxic cultures of many of these entertainment industry companies appeared to deem these abhorrent behaviors to be totally acceptable. In fact, the trauma of these early career work experiences (which I’ve since labeled as “PTBD” – or “Post-Traumatic Boss Disorder” as the memories and some of the pain still lingers) is what eventually led to my becoming an executive coach and leadership professor. What I did not truly realize – until reading Chelsey Brooke Cole’s insightful and inspirational new book – is that these awful bosses were all narcissists. As the title of this wonderful piece of work states, “If Only I’d Known” that how I was being treated was entirely unacceptable, emotionally unhealthy, not my fault, and completely not normal, I might have been better able to identify, understand, and navigate some of these difficult and painful situations, and more quickly and successfully regain my self-worth and reclaim my power. This book is a must-read for anyone who is dealing with a narcissist in either their personal or professional life, as it will not only help you to recognize, define, and validate your experience, but – with the help of Chelsey’s understanding, empathetic, and compassionate style – will provide you with a variety of ways to deal with your situation and take greater ownership of your life.”

“Early in my career – when working as an administrative assistant in Hollywood – I had the misfortune of reporting to one horrible boss after another. With only a few exceptions, most of these managers were tyrannical, arrogant, egomaniacal, abusive bullies who inflated their own egos and status by manipulating, lying to, gaslighting, belittling, intimidating, and threatening those around and beneath them. And the toxic cultures of many of these entertainment industry companies appeared to deem these abhorrent behaviors to be totally acceptable. In fact, the trauma of these early career work experiences (which I’ve since labeled as “PTBD” – or “Post-Traumatic Boss Disorder” as the memories and some of the pain still lingers) is what eventually led to my becoming an executive coach and leadership professor. What I did not truly realize – until reading Chelsey Brooke Cole’s insightful and inspirational new book – is that these awful bosses were all narcissists. As the title of this wonderful piece of work states, “If Only I’d Known” that how I was being treated was entirely unacceptable, emotionally unhealthy, not my fault, and completely not normal, I might have been better able to identify, understand, and navigate some of these difficult and painful situations, and more quickly and successfully regain my self-worth and reclaim my power. This book is a must-read for anyone who is dealing with a narcissist in either their personal or professional life, as it will not only help you to recognize, define, and validate your experience, but – with the help of Chelsey’s understanding, empathetic, and compassionate style – will provide you with a variety of ways to deal with your situation and take greater ownership of your life.”

“Is your partner critical or dismissive of your feelings? Are you struggling to figure out if they’re a narcissist, or just selfish? This book lays out exactly what a narcissist is and what behaviors to look for with real-life examples and stories from survivors. Chelsey also provides a checklist for toxic behaviors, which is super helpful!”

“Is your partner critical or dismissive of your feelings? Are you struggling to figure out if they’re a narcissist, or just selfish? This book lays out exactly what a narcissist is and what behaviors to look for with real-life examples and stories from survivors. Chelsey also provides a checklist for toxic behaviors, which is super helpful!”

“This is the book that every narcissistic abuse survivor needs to read! Not only will it validate your experiences of overt and covert narcissistic abuse, Chelsey’s expertly written resource shares why narcissists act the way they do so that you can then implement the practical tools and strategies with confidence and break free from the cycle. An excellent resource for therapists to provide their narcissistic abuse survivor clients to help support their healing.”

“This is the book that every narcissistic abuse survivor needs to read! Not only will it validate your experiences of overt and covert narcissistic abuse, Chelsey’s expertly written resource shares why narcissists act the way they do so that you can then implement the practical tools and strategies with confidence and break free from the cycle. An excellent resource for therapists to provide their narcissistic abuse survivor clients to help support their healing.”

“This book is a survivor manual for narcissistic abuse survivors. Chelsey clearly and relatably explains not only how to understand narcissists, but also how to heal from manipulative and abusive relationships. This book is so much more than an explanation of narcissistic behaviors – it’s a lifeboat that will take you to a place of healing, empowerment, and total transformation.”

“This book is a survivor manual for narcissistic abuse survivors. Chelsey clearly and relatably explains not only how to understand narcissists, but also how to heal from manipulative and abusive relationships. This book is so much more than an explanation of narcissistic behaviors – it’s a lifeboat that will take you to a place of healing, empowerment, and total transformation.”

“If Only I’d Known is the perfect title for this book. It is educational in all the right ways and most importantly validating for those who have been or currently are in relationships of any kind with a narcissist. Chelsey not only shares the information and examples of the education for the readers better understanding, she is vulnerable and open in her own experience and why helping people heal from narcissistic trauma is so important. 5 Stars!”

“If Only I’d Known is the perfect title for this book. It is educational in all the right ways and most importantly validating for those who have been or currently are in relationships of any kind with a narcissist. Chelsey not only shares the information and examples of the education for the readers better understanding, she is vulnerable and open in her own experience and why helping people heal from narcissistic trauma is so important. 5 Stars!”