Title: Blinded by False Love: An Inmate’s Wife for Life
Author: Adynah Yah
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-6698-7941-1
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 370
Reviewed by: Allison Walker

Read Book Review

Blinded by False Love: An Inmate’s Wife for Life, written by Adynah Yah, is a gripping narrative about the tumultuous love life of a woman ensnared in the complex web of a relationship marked by deceit and emotional manipulation. Told through the letters between wife Chelsey and incarcerated husband Curtis, and Chelsey’s diary entries, Blinded by False Love is a poignant exploration of the heart’s capacity to endure and eventually triumph over the shackles of false affection. While the story is fiction, Yah’s book is a convincing and believable exchange that will touch the heart of anyone who has ever been held captive by an emotionally abusive partner.

The author’s unique storytelling, as told through the exchange of intimate letters between Chelsey and her incarcerated husband Curtis, as well as her candid diary entries, invites readers into the raw emotions and internal conflict Chelsey wages in her heart and her mind. In these short diary entries and brief written correspondences, Yah captures the insidious nature of narcissism as Curtis expertly wields his charm to hide his true, manipulative intentions.

As the narrative progresses and Curtis’s true nature is slowly revealed to Chelsey, her evolution from vulnerability to empowerment becomes the focus of the story. Yah explores Chelsey’s struggle with her promise to be a loving wife until death do her part and her inherent promise to herself, to demand to be treated fairly and with respect. Chelsey seeks solace in her faith in God and finds support by joining a group of other women married to incarcerated men. Readers witness her battles while being drawn to her resilience.

Chelsey’s background, however, is somewhat sparse, leaving room for further exploration into Chelsey’s character. Readers would find it easier to relate to Chelsey if Yah developed her character more, delving deeper into the motivations behind her yearning for love, her past romances, or her peripheral relationships with her children and friends. By exploring these elements, readers could connect with Chelsey more and empathize with her relationship with Curtis. Also, addressing these would broaden the appeal of Blinded by False Love to a wider audience, since it may be difficult for anyone who has not been caught in an emotionally abusive relationship to understand Chelsey’s plight.

Blinded by False Love is a compelling and all-too-believable narrative that will resonate with anyone who has been trapped in the complexities of love and betrayal intertwining. Thankfully, it is also a resounding tale of the pursuit of self-restoration and healing. Yah’s book is a testament to the resilience of the human heart.