The true story of surviving toxic relationships...

and how to move forward!

You or someone you love may be in a toxic relationship, but it doesn't have to stay that way. In this compassionate and practical resource, singer/songwriter Stephanie Quayle shares her powerful story alongside psychologist Dr. W. Keith Campbell's professional insights to give you the help and hope you need—and remind you that you are not alone.

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about the book

When Stephanie lost her boyfriend in a plane crash, she faced intense grief and pain. Nothing compared, though, to the shock of discovering she had not been the only woman in his life. As her world unraveled around her, Stephanie realized that it had actually been unraveling from the start of their relationship—back when he promised her everything.

In Why Do We Stay? Stephanie draws on her story to explain how to spot a toxic relationship, how to get out, and how to heal. Mental health expert Dr. W. Keith Campbell joins her in helping you see that:

  • You can make a change in your life
  • There are warning signs to look for and ways to spot an unhealthy relationship
  • You don’t have to be a victim to narcissism or gaslighting or lose years of your life
  • Whether you stay in or leave your relationship, healing and freedom are possible
Why Do We Stay hardcover and on e-book.

Why Do We Stay? is ideal for:

  • Those who feel trapped in an unhealthy relationship
  • Those who are recovering from a toxic relationship
  • Readers searching for a resource—for themselves or for a friend—on narcissism, gaslighting, compulsive lying, and other destructive behaviors

With a powerful blend of clinical research, gripping storytelling, and unvarnished hope, Why Do We Stay? empowers you to make changes in your life. You are not alone.

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why do we stay book back cover

Why Do We Stay? How My Toxic Relationship Can Help You Find Freedom is available for pre-order.

Look for it in hardback, e-book and as an audiobook.

about the authors
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Stephanie Qualye

Stephanie Quayle is a Nashville recording artist who tours the world with her music and an entrepreneur with her own record label, Big Sky Music Group. Rolling Stone Country called her “an artist you need to know,” CMT named her as part of its “Next Women of Country” franchise, and she’s appeared on popular programs like The Kelly Clarkson Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. As an indie artist with two Billboard charted singles, “Selfish” and “Whatcha Drinkin ’Bout,” she has repeatedly performed at CMA Fest and the Grand Ole Opry. The Montana native has teamed up with recognizable brands like Wrangler, Harley-Davidson, Bass Pro Shops, Montana Silversmiths, as well as Lucchese Bootmaker in the creation of her exclusive boot line. Quayle’s latest album On the Edge chronicles her personal experience in a toxic relationship and the healing she’s gone through since—inspiring others and redefining her future.

W. Keith Campbell, PhD, is a social psychologist who specializes in narcissism. With degrees from UNC Chapel Hill, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego, he currently teaches psychology at the University of Georgia. He’s published academic and mainstream articles and authored books like The New Science of Narcissism, The Narcissism Epidemic, and When You Love a Man Who Loves Himself. He’s also been a guest on shows like The Joe Rogan Experience, The Jenny McCarthy Show, and TEDx Talks. He currently lives in Athens, Georgia, with his wife and daughters.

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Dr. Keith Campbell
what people are saying

Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt, New York Times bestselling author

"Many of us know someone or have found ourselves in a relationship that we know isn't right. Stephanie did, and I have watched her firsthand relive the heartbreak and heartache of that time as she tried to search for the reason she stayed in an unhealthy dynamic. She wrote this book to help others who might find themselves in a toxic relationship, and I know with Stephanie's honesty and vulnerability, this book will do just that."

Joshua Miller, PhD, Psychologist and Professor at the University of Georgia

"Part memoir, part self-help book, Why Do We Stay? mixes the well-told stories of country music star Stephanie Quayle's experiences in toxic relationships with commentary by social psychologist Dr. Keith Campbell. Quayle writes movingly and transparently about the deep psychological scars experienced in a relationship and the many years it took to heal the subsequent wounds. Dr. Campbell, one of the world's foremost experts in the study of narcissism, defines psychological terms and discusses strategies for coping with wounds left from these relationships."

Kirbee Miller, author and speaker

"Hope-igniting, shame-eradicating — Why Do We Stay? provides absolution from the suffering many of us endure in silence, insulated by guilt and isolation. An empathy and information-rich resource that gives voice to the voiceless, this book is brimming with heart-expanding vulnerability, healing insights, and radical honesty."

Kimberly Goessele, former CEO of Alive Hospice

"In Why Do We Stay? Stephanie grieves many things — a romantic relationship, the dream of what could have been, and the years she lost in that relationship. We all have a personal journey with grief. This book outlines Stephanie's journey through loss, which informed how she grieved, and which ultimately brought her back to herself."

sneak peek