Book Spotlight: I Didn’t Sign Up for This by Dr. Courtney Tracy
A brutally honest, compassionate dive into relationships, healing, and what happens when we lose ourselves in connection.
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “How did we get here?” in a relationship/friendship/connection—or if you’ve seen the same painful dynamics play out again and again—this book is for you.
Written by therapist and mental health educator Dr. Courtney Tracy (aka The Truth Doctor), I Didn’t Sign Up for This is part memoir, part therapeutic deep-dive. And let me be clear: this is not a light read.
It’s raw, it’s real, and it does not sugarcoat the reality of what happens when unresolved trauma, unmet needs, and unspoken expectations collide in romantic relationships.
But what makes it powerful is that it’s not just about the “couple.”
It’s about the humans inside the relationship—the ones trying to be loved while still figuring out how to love themselves.
Dr. Tracy doesn’t just share stories—she weaves in the clinical insights and mental health reflections that so many of us need but rarely get in such accessible language. It’s a book that pulls back the curtain on what really goes on behind the scenes in relationships, especially when people are hurting.
Why I’m Recommending It:
I originally picked it up out of professional curiosity—therapist to therapist.
But within the first 60 pages, I was texting friends and family:
“You have to read this.”
“It's not just for therapists.”
“This is one of the most honest books I’ve read about relationships in a long time.”
It’s not prescriptive. It’s not preachy.
It’s validating, challenging, and illuminating.
It doesn’t give you a checklist for how to “fix” your relationship.
It gives you language for what might be happening beneath the surface—and the clarity to ask, “What do I really need?”
Who It’s For:
Couples/individuals who feel stuck in cycles and don’t know why
Individuals curious about the emotional patterns they bring into relationships
Therapists, coaches, and helping professionals who want a real-world lens into complex relational dynamics
Anyone ready to look at relationships through a more compassionate, trauma-informed lens
A Gentle Nudge:
If you're in a relationship, have been in one, or are even just exploring your patterns in love and connection, I Didn’t Sign Up for This is worth your time.
It won’t offer easy answers—but it might help you ask better questions.
And sometimes, that’s where healing begins.