Burning Down the House: Coping with Toxic Family Dynamics, Estrangement, and Rebuilding Your Life Paperback – February 27, 2026

What happens when your beliefs clash with your family? Are you a self-proclaimed “people pleaser”, always caving to their expectations? What do you do when mutual respect and compromise are not possible? Are you exhausting yourself trying to patch up a house that’s condemned?Bethany Leger clawed herself from the abyss of mind control when she escaped a cult at thirty years old. As a consequence for defying authority and reclaiming her freedom, her devout family cut ties. Drawing on her personal experience and nearly a decade of activism centered on cult recovery, Burning Down the House: Coping with Toxic Family Dynamics, Estrangement, and Rebuilding Your Life was written to challenge the notion that family can act with impunity and to help the reader understand that these toxic family dynamics are not their responsibility. Instead, where the relationship cannot be salvaged, Leger seeks to destigmatize estrangement by asking them to do the unthinkable—burn it all down, and move on.Burning Down the House is a bold call to prioritize yourself in the face of habitual toxic behavior from family members, religious institutions, or any relationship that is unhealthy and unsustainable. Throughout the book, you’ll learn to distinguish minor differences from dealbreakers, clarify your values and boundaries, and find the courage to live a life that is personally resonant despite the cost. Read more