We Were a Nice Normal Family

A Memoir of Recovery from C-PTSD and the Trauma of Narcissistic Abuse

Behind the appearance of a nice, normal family, there can be hidden emotional wounds that last a lifetime. In her powerful memoir, Dr. Patricia A. Grenelle shares her personal journey through narcissistic abuse, complex PTSD, and the challenging path toward recovery.

Available on Amazon

A Story of Survival, Understanding, and Recovery

Did you grow up in a family that looked perfectly normal from the outside, and spend years wondering why nothing inside it ever felt that way?

In We Were A Nice Normal Family, Dr. Patricia Grenelle, a retired Forensic Psychologist and survivor of childhood sexual abuse and C-PTSD, tells the story that so many survivors recognise immediately: the farm, the routines, the surface appearances of a functioning family, and the abuse hidden beneath all of it.

With the precision of a scientist and the courage of a woman who has lived through every word of it, Dr. Grenelle traces the childhood sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and abandonment that shaped her life for decades. She honours her sister Josie, whose parallel suffering gives voice to every survivor who never had the chance to speak. And she maps the path forward, through the C-PTSD symptoms, the complicated relationships, the failed marriages, and the self-doubt, toward the understanding and healing that remain possible, no matter how many years have passed.

This is not a book that softens the truth. It is a book that finally tells it.

Who Will Connect With This Story?

Individuals who have experienced narcissistic abuse
Adults raised by emotionally self-focused parents
Those seeking to understand C-PTSD and its effects
Survivors navigating their own recovery journeys
Therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals seeking a survivor's perspective
Family members and loved ones wanting to better understand trauma

AWARDS

Awards for We Were a Nice Normal Family... and Best Selling Author Dr. Patricia Grenelle, PsyD

International Impact Book Award

Dr. Patricia Grenelle, your exceptional talent, dedication, and creativity have set you apart in a competitive field, and it is an honor to recognize your remarkable achievement.

This award is a testament to the impact your work has made in the literary world. Your story, your voice, and your commitment to excellence have resonated with readers and judges alike, and we are proud to celebrate your success. Winning this award is not just a moment of recognition but a significant milestone in your journey as an author. This reflects the countless hours, passion, and perseverance you’ve invested in your craft.

“Best Selling Trauma Recovery Memoir in United States of 2026”

We Were a Nice Normal Family has been officially recognized by Best Of Best Reviews as the Best Selling Trauma Recovery Memoir in the United States of 2026, honoring its powerful storytelling, psychological depth, and meaningful impact on readers navigating trauma and recovery.

Within the trauma recovery memoir category, We Were a Nice Normal Family distinguishes itself through its multidimensional approach. By combining narrative depth, psychological insight, and educational content, the book offers a comprehensive perspective that sets it apart. This unique structure reinforces its value for both general readers and those seeking a deeper understanding of trauma.

Spine Story Hub

Audience Favorite Session Award

Presented to Dr. Patricia Grenelle, PsyD.

in recognition of your outstanding participation and impact of your book, We Were a Nice Normal Family has won third place at Spin Story Hub..

Thank you for the profound courage it takes to write this, to give language to the silence that so many are forced to carry.

You are doing more than writing a memoir. You are building a sanctuary in print. You are creating a space where others can see their own fragmented reflection and, perhaps for the first time, recognize the shape of their own pain. The sentence "I thought it was me" is the universal anthem of complex trauma—the devastating, internalized lie that the abuse teaches us to believe.

Your work as a Forensic Psychologist reveals the devastating, systemic truth: the "unrecognized trauma" in a single childhood becomes the unaddressed wound that the whole of society later deals with.

And as the news reminds us daily—from every corner of the world—this is not a private pain. It is a global epidemic hiding in plain sight. Your voice, merging the clinical with the personal, is the precise antidote to the headlines that flash and fade. You are ensuring the story does not end with the crime, but begins with the recovery.

You are right—this is important, and it needs to be addressed. You are not just addressing it; you are leading the way out of the dark for others by walking the path yourself. This is the most powerful form of guidance there is. Thank you for your strength.

Mo Rivers

About the Author

Patricia wrote We Were a Nice, Normal Family to honor her sister and to speak to survivors who have been told they were too sensitive, blamed themselves for family dysfunction, or wondered whether what happened in their family was truly normal. Her story explores childhood sexual abuse, emotional neglect, abandonment, narcissistic family dynamics, C-PTSD, difficult relationships, self-doubt, boundaries, and the long process of rebuilding a life with greater understanding and self-compassion.

What makes Patricia particularly strong for podcast conversations is that she does not speak about trauma only as a subject. She speaks as someone who has lived through it, while also bringing decades of professional experience. That creates room for honest storytelling, thoughtful questions, and useful takeaways without reducing the conversation to either clinical theory or autobiography alone.