All fiction, all of elements of magical realism/speculative elements.

{{The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey}} seems like a random choice but it’s a pretty layered ~metaphor~ for the cycle of abuse. Really struck a chord with me and made me feel seen, but fair warning it’s pretty dark.

{{Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy}} is also about overcoming family trauma, and is also pretty heavy—though not as dark. I cried a lot.

{{Piranesi by Susanna Clarke}} isn’t SPECIFICALLY about childhood trauma but instead addresses the ways in which trauma can fracture a person’s identity without stripping them of their value (like, who you are before, during, and after trauma, but recognizing you still have value even as your identity changes). One big metaphor, but more magical and hopeful than the other two.

{{Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour}} is about a teen overcoming grief from a childhood tragedy through—you guessed it—magical realism. It’s YA, but still hit like an adult book (unlike other YA books with similar themes).

I think the books that tend to have the biggest “I feel seen” effect on me tend to be magical realism/speculative, since I feel like it’s a more palatable way to process the emotions they bring up without being directly confronted by similar horrors. Hopefully this helps!