Welcome To SCARS Institute Book Club – Books for Survivors
Featuring selected publications focused on exploring the world of Romance & Dating Scams.
Here we will share our credible discoveries as we find them, with our thoughts and reviews. Of particular importance are our Featured Selections, which ate titles we strongly recommend that you read.
If you are already a survivor of a romance scam, know someone who is, are currently living inside the tornado of a scam, or are just curious about this, please take a look at each of these.
Note that the titles listed we have found to be useful to scam victims/survivors. Not all books about scams are.
FEATURED SELECTIONS
SCARS Institute Recommended
Love on the Line: How to Recover from Romance Scams Gracefully and Without Victimisation
by Elina Juusola (Author)
Romance scams are devoid of love and emotion. Many people get to experience them the hard way and end up being victims of scammers; they may carry their guilt for the rest of their lives. In Love on the Line, Elina Juusola, ideas historian, committed feminist, and former researcher of pornography and violence against women, reflects on how romance scams relate to the ever-expanding world of pornography and the romance-book industry. Learn her story and know that anyone can be scammed. Become educated about romance scams, and learn how to recover from the ordeal with innovative flair by transmuting your negative emotions into a positive experience.
SCARS Review
In “Love on the Line: How to Recover from Romance Scams Gracefully and Without Victimisation,” author Elina Juusola delivers a groundbreaking re-framing of the healing journey. The book’s central, powerful thesis is its explicit rejection of “victimisation” as a long-term identity. Elina Juusola argues that while being scammed is a victimizing event, internalizing the label of “victim” is a trap that prolongs suffering and hinders healing.
This is a radical departure from resources that can inadvertently reinforce powerlessness. Instead, Elina Juusola pivots from the “what happened to me” to the “what do I do now,” empowering the reader by placing them in the driver’s seat of their own recovery. The book validates the profound pain but frames the path forward as an act of courage and self-respect.
Rowan expertly navigates the complex grief of losing a fictional relationship and provides practical tools for extending self-compassion. By masterfully dismantling the identity of “victim” and championing a path of graceful recovery, “Love on the Line” is an essential and transformative guide for reclaiming a sense of self-worth and control in the aftermath of a romance scam.
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SCARS Institute Recommended
The Woman Behind the Smile: Triumph Over the Ultimate Online Dating Betrayal
by Debby Montgomery Johnson (Author)
How I Lost a Million Dollars on a Dating Service could be the title of this book, but The Woman Behind the Smile is so much more than a “Romance Scam” story – a term used to refer to someone who creates a false online persona to reel someone into a romantic relationship. Many people are looking to online dating as a way to get back into real life after the death of a spouse, divorce, or a failed relationship. We paint ourselves as the “perfect partner” with a profile that reflects our life’s story, or does it? In The Woman Behind the Smile, Debby shows how, during much of her life, she hid behind the mask of being the perfect wife, mother, Air Force Officer, banker, legal assistant, and friend, until life was completely changed by “The Call.” The subsequent rebuilding of her life would include a journey only seen on Lifetime Movie Channel! Like Debby, we all have some hidden stories, and like her, it’s now time for us to STAND UP in our power.
SCARS Review
Debby Montgomery Johnson’s memoir, “The Woman Behind the Smile: Triumph Over the Ultimate Online Dating Betrayal,” is a raw and courageous account that transcends the typical “romance scam” narrative. More than just a story of being scammed out of a million dollars, the book is a deep dive into the psychology of a victim and the arduous journey from shame to empowerment. Johnson, a former Air Force officer and banker, presents herself as the model of competence and control, making her vulnerability to a sophisticated online con artist all the more shocking and relatable.
The book’s core strength lies in its dual focus. It meticulously details the slow, methodical manipulation by the scammer, illustrating how a fictional romantic relationship was built over years, complete with elaborate excuses and emotional hooks. This serves as a chilling warning about the perils of online connections. However, the more powerful thread is Johnson’s internal journey. She explores how her lifelong habit of hiding behind a “mask,” being the perfect wife, mother, and professional, made her a target and compounded the devastation of the betrayal.
The “triumph” of the subtitle is not about getting her money back. It’s about the painstaking process of removing that mask. Johnson openly shares her shame and fear, transforming her personal pain into a universal message about authenticity. Her story becomes a call to action for others to stop hiding their own secrets and to reclaim their power by speaking their truth. While the prose is direct and unadorned, its emotional impact is considerable. “The Woman Behind the Smile” is an essential read for anyone who has experienced deception, offering not just a cautionary tale but a powerful testament to the resilience found in embracing vulnerability.
