Book Club 2026: Editing the Shortlist

I have had The Body Keeps the Score on my TBR pile for a long time... I've read parts but never the whole thing but its referenced a LOT - in general pop psych, culture and by clients. Since its been on my bookshelf forever, I added it to a pile of 6 books to choose from for a Jan 2026 book club. Interestingly, yesterday, I posted a poll to instagram, and it easily got the most votes and I am feeling conflicted about it.

There’s a growing, thoughtful critique of The Body Keeps the Score, especially from trauma-informed clinicians, survivors, and BIPOC writers, and it’s worth naming clearly why many people are moving away from it—and what serves people better instead 🌱

Many people find the book informative but emotionally unsafe, ethically fraught, and not well-aligned with modern, equity-informed trauma care. Additionally, parts of the science are debated, the material can be triggering without supportive context, and there are documented professional controversies around the author’s conduct that make it less appropriate as a trauma-healing read on its own.

So, while I want to read the book at some point (and will write a book review when I do), I also want to minimize potential harm of encouraging and reading it with others, so I've decided to pull it from this list, even though it was the most popular pick in the initial round of votes.

I also get the sense that learning more about trauma and complex trauma is a really big area of interest for folks right now. My fave book on trauma, and the book I recommend people read most often is: What Happened to You? by Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey (the audio book version is also excellent as its read by both authors).

Some other very highly acclaimed books on trauma (that I havent read yet) but are likely worth checking out if you want trauma focused reads:

What My Bones Know

The Pain We Carry

Journey Through Trauma

Permission to Come Home

Fawning

My Grandmothers Hands

• this book is especially important for White readers doing anti-racism work & anyone interested in trauma beyond an individual medical model

**I hyper linked to amazon for ease & amazon gives me some $$ (5.5%) if you buy via the link however, I am a big fan of moving away from amazon purchases whenever possible and supporting independent local book stores as much as possibe. Here in Victoria, BC, here are some worth checking out & supporting:

📚 Independent Bookstores in Victoria, BC

General & Used Books

• Munro's Books – Historic and acclaimed independent bookstore (downtown)

• Bolen Books – One of Western Canada’s largest indie bookstores

• Russell Books – Family‑run bookseller

• Books & Shenanigans – Cozy local shop with new and previously enjoyed books

• Bastion Books – Charming used bookshop tucked off Bastion Square

• Ivy's Book Shop – Classic neighbourhood bookstore in Oak Bay.

• Camas Books &– Community‑run volunteer bookstore with new and used books

• Sorensen Books – New and second‑hand books, local history, and collectibles

• Dragonfly Books – Used and new books, including many local author titles.

Additionally, in my efforts to move away from anything associated with Jeff Bezos, I’ve switched from Amazon-owned Goodreads to StoryGraph. It’s independent, black female founded and reader-focused, and even lets me create book club conversations on the app—so stay tuned for that! Give me a follow on there @monicafreudenreich