D.L. Dempsey

other person can say to try and make one stay. In reality, this text helps to take the blinders off relationships that have already been dead inside for far too long. Interestingly, the author explores satisfaction and fulfillment in relationships from a multitude of relevant angles. Using research from reputed sources like behavior expert Beverly D. Flaxington, Dempsey highlights how both men and women arrive at their feelings of self-worth—or lack thereof—and often through misconstrued fallacies. One prime example is when a friend of the opposite sex will hug a spouse, and immediate thoughts of unfaithfulness or possessive behaviors confound the individual. While the individual is already insecure, he or she directly relates it to the action mentioned earlier.

At its core, Dempsey’s guide forces the reader to reflect and ask probing questions that range from “What is good about staying?” to “What do I truly want?” Questions are proposed that have simmered in the individual’s mind for days, months, or even years, and now they are given the platform to come out to the surface and be heard. Beyond asking questions, however, the author also presents methods and tools to reframe how one thinks about his or her relationship. Specifically, she dives into her section on “Unhealthy Thinking Traps” that zero in on common phrases and ideas like “blaming ourselves for something that isn’t our fault.” Often, the devastating cycle continues because of a lack of recognition and awareness and a sense of resignation that what the individual is going through is normal and will never change. Using both personal experiences and a psychologically driven argument such as “PersonalBoundary Abuse Disorder,” Dempsey unlocks the potential for a freer future with proper boundaries for the individual.

In addition to the guide being expansive and ideal for any relationship type, it is stylistically appealing to all audiences as well. Not only does Dempsey provide personal experience and research to support her position, but she also has built-in handouts and exercises for the reader to get a complete and revealing experience about where their relationship, or “relationsh*t,” stands. Imbued with compassion and empathy for the reader, Dempsey’s narrative encourages readers to take accountability, explore their relationship with themselves, and embark on a path to self-love. Compelling to read and understand, Dempsey’s work is a fitting reminder that even amidst the chaos of today’s world, it is important to step back and recenter. It is a surefire must-read that is a gamechanger in the self-help genre.

John M o LLAR d

John F. Mollard (1976- ) was born in Virginia, Minnesota, to a school teacher/ hospital volunteer coordinator mother and millwright father. Graduating high school in 1994, he attended Mesabi Community College, Bemidji State University, and Mesabi Range Community & Technical College, earning degrees in Liberal Arts, Mass Communications, Creative Writing, and Carpentry.

As a writer, he has written numerous screenplays such as MOOSEBIRDS (1998), HAT TRICK AVENUE (2000, previously optioned by Haze Films Productions), MACGUFFIN (2002, previously optioned by Haze Films Productions), TWO FLOORS ARE BETTER THAN ONE (2002), and THE DAY LUFBERRY WON IT 60 | UncagedBooks.com ALL (2010, with Roy C. Booth & R. Thomas Riley) which was made into a short film by