The Book That Breaks the Silence

Raw.

Honest.

Liberating.

Now an award-winning survivor’s guide to recognizing, surviving, and healing from covert narcissistic abuse.

Bold. Unfiltering. Necessary.

My Mother Was an Asshole: How to Recognize, Survive, and Heal From Covert Narcissistic Abuse is a fierce guide for survivors of covert narcissists—part memoir, part survival manual, and a full reclamation of self.

If you’ve ever felt invisible, blamed, dismissed, or emotionally abandoned by someone who was supposed to love you most—this book is for you.

Tammy S. Drost exposes the hidden wounds of covert abuse with raw honesty and hard-won wisdom. Part memoir, part guide, it validates your experience, names the tactics, and offers practical tools for healing.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Recognize the patterns and manipulation tactics

  • Reclaim your truth and your voice

  • Set boundaries that protect your peace

  • Grieve what was lost—while building what comes next

Getting Real with Yourself

Healing begins with truth. For years, survivors bury their stories under shame and silence. This book cracks that silence wide open—giving you the validation, the words, and the strength to finally say:

It happened. It mattered. And I will heal.

The Stories We Carry

Behind every smile can be a story of survival. This book speaks the unspoken—validating what others tried to erase.

Breaking Free

Abuse thrives in silence. By sharing her story, Tammy breaks that silence—and invites you to do the same. Whether you’re a survivor yourself or supporting someone who is, this book equips you with clarity, language, and practical steps to move forward.

What You’ll Discover Inside

  • How covert narcissists manipulate with charm, control, and denial

  • The hidden family roles (Scapegoat, Golden Child, Lost Child, Mascot, Flying Monkey) that keep the cycle alive

  • The long-term impact of abuse—and how to heal without guilt or shame

  • Practical strategies to break free, rebuild, and create a life on your own terms

This is more than a memoir. It’s an award-winning survivor’s guide—recognized with the Literary Titan Gold Book Award—for anyone ready to rise, reclaim their voice, and rewrite their story.

Recognized in the Press

Tammy S. Drost’s My Mother Was an Asshole has been honored with the Literary Titan Gold Book Award for its raw honesty and powerful roadmap to healing. The memoir has been praised as both a deeply personal story and a practical guide for survivors of covert narcissistic abuse.

YOUR HEALING BEGINS HERE

Available in Kindle, Paperback
and Hardcover

WHAT PEOPLE

ARE SAYING

“Raw, plainspoken, and piercingly honest, Tammy S. Drost’s memoir is both deeply personal and universally relevant. My Mother Was an Asshole belongs on the shelf of every survivor ready to break free.”

 — Thomas Anderson, Editor in Chief
Literary Titan

“Every page felt like she had been in my house, watching my childhood unfold. This book is a mirror for those who have lived through it—and a map for those ready to heal.”


— Rachel C., Daughter
Survivor of Covert Narcissistic Abuse

“As a Special Education Teacher with nearly three decades of experience, I’ve seen firsthand how covert narcissistic abuse hides beneath the surface of so many students’ struggles. Tammy’s honesty and insight make this book a lifeline for survivors and those who support them.”

— Terri B., A Grateful Special Education Teacher
Connecticut Public Schools

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© Copyright 2025. Tammy S. Drost and Blackbird Rising Press. All rights reserved.