I Only Say This Because I Love You

The acclaimed author of the No 1 New York Times bestseller YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND, Deborah Tannen illuminates the language of everyday conversation - this time for family members. Why do grown women feel constantly criticised by their mothers, while mothers feel they can’t open their mouths around their grown daughters? Why do we feel like kids again when we visit our parents, and leave family reunions feeling left out or subtly put down? No matter who is expressing themselves, talking to family members can yield both comfort and pain. In this eye-opening book, Deborah Tannen turns her attention to understanding the talk within families. Uncovering hidden meanings, opening lines of communication, dealing with family secrets- it’s all here, presented in Tannen’s clear and entertaining trademark style.