Too Much - by Cindy Lee Neighbors (Paperback)

About the Book

TOO MUCH is the gripping true story of a woman driven to the brink.

Book Synopsis

TOO MUCH chronicles life on the brink-the brutal reality of medical residency, the toll of family dysfunction, and the harrowing battle for sanity-from navigating professional gaslighting and personal betrayal to confronting the depths of mental illness and addiction in a quest for truth and freedom.

"An uncompromising probe into the medical industry fused with an honest account of mental illness." -Kirkus Reviews

TOO MUCH opens with Cindy, a medical student in Hawaii, on the cusp of a dream career and a promising marriage. But the illusion shatters when her fiancé, Paul, faces a court-martial, exposing a hidden past and forcing Cindy to confront unsettling truths about trust, loyalty, and the pervasive culture of an unforgiving system. The revelation of his conviction, followed by the tragic loss of her father and her own escalating struggles as a resident, plunges Cindy into a spiral of self-doubt and paranoia.

This wasn't the first time life had delivered a harsh blow. From a childhood marked by a "half-built house" and an unpredictable mother, to an earlier suicide attempt at fourteen, Cindy learned to compartmentalize. In TOO MUCH, she peels back the layers of a life lived striving for external validation, revealing the inner chaos of bullying, sham peer review, and systemic gaslighting. As a female, minority, and underrepresented physician, she grapples with the unique pressures of identity in a demanding profession. The weight of her journey-which includes therapy, art, and journalingas vital lifelines-forces her to confront deep-seated mental health challenges and battle addiction.

Told with unflinching honesty and a physician's keen eye, TOO MUCH is Dr. Cindy Lee Neighbors' gripping story of fighting for integrity in a system that often prioritizes optics over ethics. From the frantic pace of the operating room to the chilling reality of a psychiatric ward, Neighbors confronts her demons, unearths buried truths, and ultimately reclaims her voice.

Review Quotes

"Neighbors is unquestionably a skilled writer...An uncompromising probe into the medical industry fused with an honest account of mental illness." -Kirkus Reviews

"Challenging but rewarding...Neighbors's story will be enlightening if not outright shocking..." -Dan Accardi for IndieReader

"It's a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration, understanding, and a reminder that they're not alone in their struggles." -USA TODAY

"TOO MUCH is a well-penned memoir that is interesting, moving, and fascinating to explore." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -K.C. Finn, Readers' Favorite

"Dr. Cindy Lee Neighbors offers more than a story of personal growth; she provides a beacon of hope, proving that the path, healing, and reinvention are always possible..." -LA ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

"TOO MUCH is an honest and vulnerable...a celebration of human resilience." -NEW YORK HERALD

"A powerful story that will leave you questioning your own life." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -Anne-Marie Reynolds, Readers' Favorite

"Neighbors' writing is stunningly personal...'Too Much' grabs the reader in the opening pages and doesn't turn loose until the very end." -J.L. Askew for Reader Views ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reviewer's Choice Awards {2024-2025 Humanities Gold Award Winner and Memoir/Autobiography/Biography Finalist}

"Too Much, the compelling debut memoir by Dr. Cindy Lee Neighbors, takes readers on an unfiltered journey..." -AP News