{"product_id":"golden-child-scapegoat-eli-varden-9798245537856","title":"Golden Child, Scapegoat: Breaking free from the narcissist who raised you. A story of family abuse, going no-contact, and discovering that blood doesn","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eShe was the difficult one. The too-sensitive one. The child who cried too much, needed too much, was too much.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eHer sibling was the golden child. The easy one. The one their mother actually loved.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt least, that's what Alex has believed her entire life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen her mother's speech at Jordan's engagement party publicly humiliates her-disguised as a loving anecdote-something inside Alex finally cracks. A late-night internet search leads her to words she's never encountered before: \u003ci\u003enarcissistic parent. Scapegoat. Golden child. Flying monkeys.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWords that explain everything.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNow Alex faces the most terrifying decision of her life: keep playing the role her family assigned her, or walk away from everyone she's ever known. Because going no contact with an abusive parent isn't like leaving an abusive partner. There's no restraining order against your own mother. Society won't support you. Your family will turn against you. And the guilt never stops.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut neither does the abuse.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eGolden Child, Scapegoat\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e is for everyone who's ever: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eGoogled \"why does my mother hate me\" at 2 AM\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeen told they're \"too sensitive\" for having feelings\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eWatched a sibling get the love they were starving for\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eWondered if cutting off family makes them a monster\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eNeeded someone to say: you're not crazy, and you're not alone\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThrough Alex's raw, unflinching journey-from awakening to grief to liberation-this novel gives voice to the pain that millions carry in silence. It's not self-help. It's the story you'll recognize in your bones.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eIf you loved \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eI'm Glad My Mom Died\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAdult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e, or \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eEleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e, this book was written for you.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Eli Varden\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798245537856\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/25\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 360\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.06lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.75d","brand":"Eli Varden","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48443138277631,"sku":"9798245537856","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_e9b4b98b-fa9c-4a3a-837c-6685560684f4.jpg?v=1777202091","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/golden-child-scapegoat-eli-varden-9798245537856","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}