From Romance Novels to Real-Life Resilience: How Marysol James Helps High-Achieving Women Heal from Narcissistic Abuse

“You’re not broken, and you’re definitely not crazy.”
This is the grounding truth Marysol James wants every high-achieving woman to know.

Marysol’s story isn’t just one of survival, it’s a powerful reminder that even the most accomplished women can be drawn into relationships that erode their confidence, steal their joy, and leave them questioning their own reality. But her story doesn’t end in victimhood. It evolves—into purpose, empowerment, and healing.

Who Is Marysol James?

Marysol is a best-selling romance author, international business expert, and now, a sought-after speaker and coach for women healing from narcissistic abuse. With an MA in International Business, a career spanning continents, and over 30 published novels under her belt, on paper, Marysol had it all.

But behind the accolades and success was a silent struggle. For six years, she was in a narcissistic relationship that chipped away at her identity. Her passion for writing was quietly extinguished. Her confidence? Dismantled. Her independence? Undermined.

When she finally left, it wasn’t just about walking away, it was about walking back to herself.

The Realities of Narcissistic Abuse (Even When You’re “Smart Enough to Know Better”)

One of the most toxic misconceptions Marysol is on a mission to dismantle is that high-achieving, intelligent women are “too smart” to fall for narcissists.

Wrong.

As Marysol explains, narcissists target high-achieving women. Why? Because they offer something that feeds the narcissist’s ego: status, success, and the challenge of control. Narcissists don’t show up waving red flags—they arrive as dream partners. They mirror your values. They shower you with support. They study you and become what you most desire. And then… they slowly take it all away.

Marysol’s story is proof that even the most driven, independent, and worldly women can find themselves caught in a relationship that leaves them asking, “Was it really that bad? Am I the problem?”

Her answer? “You’re not crazy. You didn’t imagine it. It happened. And you’re not alone.”

The Turning Point: From Loss to Liberation

When Marysol left her relationship, she left behind more than a man—she left a business she’d helped build, the life she’d shaped around him, and a writing career that had stalled under the weight of his control.

But in the rubble, she began rebuilding.

She sought therapy with someone trained in narcissistic abuse (a rarity, she notes), rediscovered her voice, and reconnected with her writing. Now on her 33rd novel, she blends creativity with coaching, helping women move from confusion to clarity.

Her coaching practice is rooted in one core belief: High-achieving women need a different kind of support. They need someone who gets what it means to carry success on their shoulders—and still fall prey to manipulation.

Wounded Strength: The Hidden Vulnerability

One of Marysol’s most powerful concepts is the idea of “wounded strength.” For her, it started with surviving childhood cancer. She spent three formative years living in a hospital, learning to regulate her emotions, handle everything herself, and rely on no one.

That independence became her superpower—but it also made her vulnerable. When her ex arrived promising to “take care of her,” it felt like relief. It felt like safety. It felt like home.

But it was a trap.

This is what Marysol helps her clients understand: their wounds may have made them resilient, but they can also be exploited. Naming that, owning it, and forgiving yourself for it? That’s where healing begins.

Why She Says “Congratulations” Instead of “Well Done”

Marysol’s coaching is fierce, empathetic, and layered with lived experience. She doesn’t shame women for staying too long. She doesn’t rush them into forgiveness. Instead, she meets them where they are.

And when they make progress—real, soul-deep progress—she doesn’t say “good job.” She says, “Congratulations.”

Because going no-contact with an abuser? That’s not a small step. That’s a milestone.

Because recognising you’re missing the fantasy, not the reality? That’s not weakness. That’s awareness.

And because healing isn’t linear, but it is possible.

The Lesson She Wishes She’d Learned Earlier

Marysol’s message to every woman who feels like she “should’ve known better” is this:

Trust your gut.

Before her relationship, she trusted her instincts. Travelling alone through countries like Cambodia and Bangladesh without a phone, her intuition kept her safe. But in this relationship, her gut was slowly silenced.

Now? She’s reclaimed it. And she wants every woman to know: if something feels wrong, it probably is.

For the Woman Starting Over

If you’re reading this and you’re on the cusp of starting again—maybe you’ve just left, maybe you’re thinking about leaving—Marysol wants you to know:

“You’re not crazy. You didn’t imagine it. And you can rebuild. Stronger. Wiser. And with a hell of a lot more self-trust.”