REVIEW:

I signed up to do a spotlight on The Truth About You by Michael Clark without a promise that I would be able to read it. Well, I did read it, and wow, am I glad I did! This book  made me think. The sub-title is “You’ll never view domestic violence the same way again”. I never will. At one point, I was so mad, I told my husband I hated the book. I didn’t. It was the situation that I hated.

If you know anyone who was involved in a domestic violence situation, you may know what I am talking about. This couple had an argument, and the man slapped her. Was he wrong? Yes, he was. Did he freely admit it? Yes. One thing that has changed in these kinds of cases is that once one of the partners hits the other, they are the guilty one no matter what the other person did. Is that fair? Probably.

I am not sure that one person gets off free for pushing the buttons of the other person relentlessly until that person gets to the breaking point. Nobody deserves to be physically abused, but there are many other ways to abuse a person, and I felt like this woman used every one of them she could. I was so mad. Her husband had to take classes, and when he wanted her to go to marriage counseling, she was advised not to because he might use what she said to beat her later.

There was so much wrong in this situation. Somebody should have been able to save the marriage, but nobody could come together to help this couple figure out how to fix their relationship. Everything was for the victim, and everything was against the so-called violent one.

This book was written by Michael Clark, who once was an abuser and is now the founder and Executive Director of the Ananias Foundation. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence and abuse at its source.

I highly recommend this book if you are a victim or an abuser or know someone who is involved in an abusive relationship. This book will make you look at things differently. I know I hated the situation for the ones involved, and in the end, I felt sorry for all of them. Until next time…Happy Reading!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Author Marketing Experts, Inc. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

SYNOPSIS:

You think you know what abusive relationships look like, until you see it for yourself.

When Lucy and Meg’s mother is assaulted by her husband, stepfather Greg, his arrest seems to mark the end of a nightmare. But when their mother chooses to stay with him, the sisters are thrust into a disturbing moral dilemma.

Desperate to protect her, they take a drastic step: secretly install hidden cameras to capture the truth for themselves—and the rest of the world. What unfolds isn’t what Lucy expected.

Told with emotional clarity and literary depth, The Truth About You probes the unsettling gap between what we’re taught to believe and the evidence. As Lucy grapples with conflicting narratives of abuse, loyalty, and manipulation, she’s forced to question not only her mother and stepfather’s roles in this abusive relationship, but the entire framework of judgment, justice, and victimhood.

This is a bold, timely novel for readers who crave psychological insight, emotional complexity, and stories that challenge assumptions. Fans of dark literary fiction and contemporary women’s drama will find themselves haunted by the questions this story refuses to answer easily.

Read it, question everything, and decide for yourself.

Q&A:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael Clark is the founder and Executive Director of the Ananias Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to ending domestic violence at its root, by working with those who have caused harm. Through the foundation, Michael has supported thousands of individuals seeking to break free from abusive behaviors, offering guidance, and hope for change.

What makes Michael’s voice distinct is the depth of personal experience he brings to his work. A former domestic violence offender himself, he has walked the difficult road of transformation. Today, he writes, speaks, and leads from that hard-won perspective, helping others understand the mindset behind abuse, and how real, lasting change is possible.

He is the author of The Truth About You, a domestic violence themed novel, and From Villain to Hero, a candid and powerful memoir that traces his journey from being abusive to becoming a safe and emotionally healthy partner. His writing is marked by honesty, compassion, and a deep understanding of the internal and relational dynamics at play in abusive relationships.