Sara Al Madani isn't holding back in her new book

Cosmopolitan ME

05-05-2025

We didn't *exactly* expect entrepreneur and public figure Sara Al Madani's, new book, Dear Narcissist: F*ck You, to be subtle. Turns out, our intuition was spot on.
This survival guide, packed with emotional grit, is for anyone who's ever been tangled in the exhausting web of narcissistic abuse.
We sat down with Sara to get the deets on her bold new literary release.
Supplied
Cosmo ME: The title, Dear Narcissist: F*ck You, is a whole moment. What gave you the power to say those words out loud?
Sara: Honestly? Enough was enough. I spent years swallowing my truth, questioning myself, and living in confusion. When you get gaslit long enough, you start doubting your own reality.
But once I woke up, and I mean really woke up, the anger hit. That anger is sacred. This title is me reclaiming my voice. Not sugarcoating or being polite.
It's me saying exactly what needed to be said. This book isn't about revenge. It's about closure. Sometimes, closure sounds like f-you.
Cosmo ME: You've built brands, stood your ground publicly, and now you're calling out emotional abuse. What pushed you to write this book, now?
Sara: I've spoken about business, failure, and entrepreneurship, but this topic felt taboo. When you're a successful woman, people expect you to 'know better' when it comes to narcissists.
They don't wear warning signs on their foreheads. They wear charmful, love-bombing, empathy masks.
I wrote this book because if I, a smart and accomplished woman, could fall for it, anyone can.
I felt that pain and I lived it. I know what it feels like. Therefore, I made a vow to educate people about it so they'll never feel that pain. This is their roadmap.
Cosmo ME: Narcissists are in relationships, at work, and even in friendships. What red flags do you wish you had seen earlier?
Sara: I wish I trusted my gut sooner and honoured my intuition.
If I could go back, I'd be on the lookout for people trying to fast-forward intimacy and push for deep connections quickly. I'd also acknowledge inconsistency and be on alert for actions not aligning with words.
Another major red flag is victimhood. Alarms should have gone off when I encountered people who somehow, were always the victim in situations.
Little by little, I felt smaller and smaller. These people dimmed my own light so they could shine brighter.
Supplied
Cosmo ME: What would you say to the version of you who still believed the gaslighting? What do you hope other women hear in that message?
Sara: I'd hold her face and say, 'You're not crazy. You're just being broken down by someone who benefits from your confusion.'
To every woman and man still stuck in the loop, you don't owe anyone your peace of mind. Love doesn't make you sick, silence you, or destroy your self-esteem.
When you finally stop negotiating your worth, that's when the healing begins.
Cosmo ME: Why is this book important to women, especially those in the Middle East?
Sara: In our culture, silence is sacred. We're taught to forgive, to endure, to fix.
Emotional abuse is abuse, and if no one gives us the language for it, we normalise it. This book is a mirror, a guide, and a middle finger to a cycle that's hurt too many for too long.
Cop your own copy of Dear Narcissist: F*ck You on Amazon.
Here's a really useful list of where to get therapy and online support in the UAE.