by Amy Griffin
First published 2025
Amy Griffin built what appeared to be an ideal life. She ran track at the University of Virginia, established herself in New York City, married, became a mother, and developed a successful career. But she was always running from something deeper. When her daughter confronts her one evening, asking "Where are you, Mom?" Amy realizes she has been absent even while present. This question launches her into a search for memories locked away in her unconscious mind. Her investigation takes her through psychedelic therapy sessions and courtroom proceedings, ultimately leading her back to the Texas panhandle where her childhood unfolded. As Amy excavates buried trauma, she examines the forces that drive women toward perfectionism and external validation. She traces how the transition from girlhood to womanhood teaches women to seek approval from others rather than trust themselves. Through her process of recovery, Amy discovers what becomes possible when people stop hiding from their complete stories and embrace radical honesty about their experiences.
Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, psychological-thriller, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: unreliable-narrator
Setting: New York City, Texas Panhandle, University of Virginia
Period: 21st-century
288 pages · Hardcover · The Dial Press
Content warnings: abuse, mental-illness