Books to give a friend in a difficult marriage

[duchesse]

Friend with a very tricky H is going away for 6 weeks in September. She has nearly left him before. He is trying to find a way to make sure he gets to go with her on what is her trip. I'm hoping he isn't able to and I think she is too. What book(s) do you recommend I give her?

I read about the Lundy Bancroft one on here a lot. Is it any good?

Rather than books, why not talk to her and encourage her to hold firm to her original plans? You presumably know the details of why he is 'tricky'. When good friends are supportive I think that is very valuable.

She knows that she has several very supportive friends and she knows us all well enough to know what we would think about her staying in an abusive relationship. Which is why when she left last time she ended up going to her one friend who would tell her to go back and be nicer to him- she wasn't ready to leave. I know she will go on her adventure, I just thought that she might need some reading material while she's doing it. She's walking the Camino de Santiago btw.

Bancroft is brilliant as is Pat Evans - The Verbally Abusive Relationship.

Both of them have v obvious titles though which he may take offence to if he finds her reading them so be careful.

That's what I thought when I tried searching for them Bertie! I was a little surprised tbh given the subject matter that they couldn't come up with something a bit more generic.

I'd prescribe something far more uplifting... have heard good reviews of 'The Alchemist' by Paul Coelho, for example. Or how about some laughter?... Bill Bryson's 'A Walk in the Woods' would be apt for someone doing a long trail.

The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner is a good book for women's relationship problems, though I can't remember if it covers the OP's particular prob. But should be available second hand quite cheaply.