An important text on a complicated topic. This book was super helpful to me as I'm sure it will be to many others.

This book is a revelation for anyone who has ever felt trapped in the exhausting cycle of over-accommodation. With clarity and compassion, the author unpacks the often-overlooked survival strategy of fawning—how many of us learn to prioritize others’ needs at the cost of our own authenticity. Rather than pathologizing the behavior, the book offers a tender, trauma-informed lens that helps readers understand where these patterns come from and how they can be gently unraveled.

What I found most powerful was how the author blends psychological depth with practical reflection. The exercises invite honest self-inquiry without shame, and the stories throughout are validating, especially for those of us who have spent years trying to stay invisible or agreeable just to feel safe. This isn’t just a book about boundaries—it’s about reclaiming the self.

Highly recommended for therapists, survivors, and anyone ready to stop performing and start belonging—to themselves, most of all.

This book is a must read for your healing journey TBR Fawning by Dr. Ingrid Clayton was both conversational and insightful. I was so thankful for her sharing personal antidotes from her life and from the client’s she has worked with which really helps you see not only your behaviors but of behaviors of your loved ones or clients that you work with. It was very uplifting and nonjudgmental in calling out the behaviors and provided strategies to reframe and challenge these actions for personal growth and healing. This is a must read for people who work with trauma clients and for people trying to overcome people pleasing or codependency that stem from trauma. It felt real and applicable. Again I cannot say how much I enjoyed this read.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC. This book was everything I needed! I am the worst at always wanting to be a people pleaser. I think everyone who has past traumas and struggles with always wanting to please others above yourself needs to read this!

Fawning is a powerful read. Dr. Ingrid Clayton brings clarity, compassion, and lived experience to one of the most misunderstood trauma responses. Her storytelling is both intimate and illuminating-offering a mirror for anyone who’s ever lost themselves in the name of staying safe. As a fellow trauma therapist and survivor, I felt seen, validated, and deeply moved. This book is a gift to anyone ready to reclaim their voice.

This book was very informative and empathetic. As a therapist, I found it to be a helpful resource for informing my own understanding of the fawning response. I think a non-therapist would enjoy this book too, as it might help them to understand their own experiences.

This book opened my eyes to the unknown 4th trauma response, fawning. Theres a comprehensive education on WHAT it is, how it shows up in our lives as a trauma response, and most importantly, what we can do to break the cycle and change our behaviors.

Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves, and How to Find Our Way Back, by Dr. Ingrid Clayton, was very enlightening and educational. We have all heard about the Fight/Flight/Freeze responses, and in some circles, we hear about Fawning, the fourth "F". Understanding the details involved in the fawn response is critical in healing from trauma. Not only is this book filled with concrete data and education on the aspect of fawning, it gives us tools in regulating this dysregulated response. The author touches upon various types of modalities and treatment techniques useful in integrating a fawn response. She is a master storyteller, not only sharing from her own heart and story, but also various stories and examples from clients she has seen over the years. I would highly recommend this book to those who have experienced trauma and discover the tools that can be helpful in your healing journey.
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the advanced review copy of this ebook. All opinions are my own.

Engaging and accessible. A recommended purchase for collections where self-help and psychology is popular.

In this book, Dr. Clayton coins a new term for a 4th trauma response: Fawning, adding to the list of fight, freeze, flee. While all 3 verbs are known as common trauma responses, and have the connotation associated with a fear response that is expected, her added creation of fawning is a surprise. It’s a surprise because fawning in its demonstration looks positive from the surface of it. It’s an interesting perspective that makes sense and adds new dimension to understanding the complex world of trauma responses.

"Fawning" by Dr. Ingrid Clayton is a compelling exploration of the often-overlooked trauma response known as fawning. The book has clear, organized chapters and practical tips that are easy to understand and apply. The author effectively combines her clinical expertise with personal anecdotes, offering readers a compassionate and detailed guide to recognizing and addressing fawning behaviors. The book distinguishes fawning from codependency and people-pleasing, providing valuable insights for those who have survived by being overly accommodating. It's a must-read for anyone looking to heal from relational trauma and reconnect with their authentic selves. This is a book that will stay with me long after reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam for this ARC.

great read. Well organized chapters with relatable practical tips that are easily digestible . Very readable content. The depth and insights are wonderful. An excellent book overall. I am sooo grateful for this knowledge. I saw myself in most of my relationships . I have tried a few tips already at work and home too. They felt right.. I felt right about myself.

Thank you NetGalley, Putnam, and most of all Dr. Taylor.