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The Tell: A Memoir
OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK � An astonishing memoir that explores how far we will go to protect ourselves, and the healing made possible when we face our secrets and begin to share our stories
“A beautiful account of the journey of courage it takes to face the truth of one’s past.”—Bessel van der Kolk, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Body Keeps the Score
For decades, Amy ran. Through the dirt roads of Amarillo, Texas, where she grew up; to the campus of the University of Virginia, as a student athlete; on the streets of New York, where she built her adult life; through marriage, motherhood, and a thriving career. To outsiders, it all looked, in many ways, perfect. But Amy was running from something—a secret she was keeping not only from her family and friends, but unconsciously from herself. “You’re here, but you’re not here,� her daughter said to her one night. “Where are you, Mom?� So began Amy’s quest to solve a mystery trapped in the deep recesses of her own memory—a journey that would take her into the burgeoning field of psychedelic therapy, to the limits of the judicial system, and ultimately, home to the Texas panhandle, where her story began.
In her search for the truth, to understand and begin to recover from buried childhood trauma, Griffin interrogates the pursuit of perfectionism, control, and maintaining appearances that drives so many women, asking, when, in our path from girlhood to womanhood, did we learn to look outside ourselves for validation? What kind of freedom is possible if we accept the whole story and embrace who we really are? With hope, heart, and relentless honesty, she points a way forward for all of us, revealing the power of radical truth-telling to deepen our connections—with others and ourselves.
“A beautiful account of the journey of courage it takes to face the truth of one’s past.”—Bessel van der Kolk, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Body Keeps the Score
For decades, Amy ran. Through the dirt roads of Amarillo, Texas, where she grew up; to the campus of the University of Virginia, as a student athlete; on the streets of New York, where she built her adult life; through marriage, motherhood, and a thriving career. To outsiders, it all looked, in many ways, perfect. But Amy was running from something—a secret she was keeping not only from her family and friends, but unconsciously from herself. “You’re here, but you’re not here,� her daughter said to her one night. “Where are you, Mom?� So began Amy’s quest to solve a mystery trapped in the deep recesses of her own memory—a journey that would take her into the burgeoning field of psychedelic therapy, to the limits of the judicial system, and ultimately, home to the Texas panhandle, where her story began.
In her search for the truth, to understand and begin to recover from buried childhood trauma, Griffin interrogates the pursuit of perfectionism, control, and maintaining appearances that drives so many women, asking, when, in our path from girlhood to womanhood, did we learn to look outside ourselves for validation? What kind of freedom is possible if we accept the whole story and embrace who we really are? With hope, heart, and relentless honesty, she points a way forward for all of us, revealing the power of radical truth-telling to deepen our connections—with others and ourselves.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 11, 2025
2,941 people are currently reading
43.7k people want to read
About the author
Amy Griffin
1book147followersAmy Griffin lives in New York City with her husband, John, and their four children. She is the founder of the investment firm G9 Ventures.
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March 23, 2025Check TWs // Absolutely heartbreaking to listen to someone recount their childhood trauma, but thank you for sharing your story with the world, Amy!
March 21, 2025
The Tell touches on so many important topics and is one of the better non-fiction books I’ve read recently. We follow Amy as she bravely tells how repressed memories can affect our everyday lives as well as her journey through healing.
The Tell discusses how harmful the conservative southern culture can be and the pressure this culture puts on women to always be perfect. The story also delves into the criminal justice system and how difficult it is for assault survivors to obtain justice.
Following Amy from her idyllic Texas childhood to becoming a strong survivor is something that I won't be forgetting anytime soon. I’ve long been interested in the healing powers of psychedelics and I loved learning more about how they are used to treat and heal trauma while reading this one.
I listened to the audiobook version of The Tell which is narrated by the author. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format.
The Tell by Amy Griffin was published on March 11 so it’s available now. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
The Tell discusses how harmful the conservative southern culture can be and the pressure this culture puts on women to always be perfect. The story also delves into the criminal justice system and how difficult it is for assault survivors to obtain justice.
Following Amy from her idyllic Texas childhood to becoming a strong survivor is something that I won't be forgetting anytime soon. I’ve long been interested in the healing powers of psychedelics and I loved learning more about how they are used to treat and heal trauma while reading this one.
I listened to the audiobook version of The Tell which is narrated by the author. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format.
The Tell by Amy Griffin was published on March 11 so it’s available now. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
December 18, 2024
In The Tell, Griffin lets readers in to her very personal experience of recognizing and living through the trauma and grief of her childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted person. Feeling exhausted, run-down, constantly empty and on guard, though not sure why, adult Griffin partakes in psychedelic-assisted therapy where repressed memories—long forgotten and sealed off—resurface. This deeply emotional memoir details her abuse and her process to justice and healing.
Written with grace, vulnerability, and sincerity, The Tell is a book for women everywhere.
Thank you Random House for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Available Mar. 11 2025
Written with grace, vulnerability, and sincerity, The Tell is a book for women everywhere.
Thank you Random House for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Available Mar. 11 2025
March 25, 2025
A brave and necessary memoir that will help so many. Listen to your body. What is it telling you? Even if your experience is different than Amy's, so much of it is relatable, including perfectionism and always being busy.
Thank you, Amy Griffin, for sharing your story. ❤️
CW: sexual assault
Thank you, Amy Griffin, for sharing your story. ❤️
CW: sexual assault
March 6, 2025
For years, Griffin ran: she ran through rain and snow and dodgy parts of town, through injury and illness and uncertainty. What she didn't stop to ask herself was what she was running from. But you can't outrun your past forever, and eventually, Griffin knew it was time to face her past—and to figure out just what memories were hovering just out of reach.
How did I know that this was what I needed to do? Even now, I don't really understand it. I just knew that I had built up walls, and I did not know how to tear them down. I knew that I was tired of running. And I knew that I could not hide in the vastness of the life I had built any longer—a life so big that I'd disappeared in it. (loc. 994*)
Griffin's story ends up being an intersection of trauma, recovery, and the parts in between: psychedelic-assisted therapy, belated understanding of her own actions and reactions throughout earlier years of her life, the limitations of the justice system, and the damage done by a Texan purity culture that—implicitly and explicitly—encouraged girls to stay silent when what they experienced wasn't painless, wasn't pretty.
This is clearly the product of years of work—first to put the pieces together for herself, then to share those pieces with the people around her and figure out what came next, and finally to turn this into a cohesive story. It's tightly told, and the psychedelic portion of the story is unusual; I appreciated the conversations with various experts worked into the memoir (probably included to forestall skepticism, but as someone who is more ignorant than skeptical, I found it useful too), but mostly I was just in it for the journey.
Sometimes, when I told people, they praised me for doing "the work," because, they said, it made me a better example to my children, a better wife to my husband, or a better friend to those closest to me. Women are always doing things so we can be better for other people. My relationships had changed for the better, but I didn't do it for anyone else. I did it for me. (loc. 3079)
Worth mentioning that the content warnings for sexual assault at the beginning of the book are warranted; I think the book is well worth reading, but know yourself and your limits.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
How did I know that this was what I needed to do? Even now, I don't really understand it. I just knew that I had built up walls, and I did not know how to tear them down. I knew that I was tired of running. And I knew that I could not hide in the vastness of the life I had built any longer—a life so big that I'd disappeared in it. (loc. 994*)
Griffin's story ends up being an intersection of trauma, recovery, and the parts in between: psychedelic-assisted therapy, belated understanding of her own actions and reactions throughout earlier years of her life, the limitations of the justice system, and the damage done by a Texan purity culture that—implicitly and explicitly—encouraged girls to stay silent when what they experienced wasn't painless, wasn't pretty.
This is clearly the product of years of work—first to put the pieces together for herself, then to share those pieces with the people around her and figure out what came next, and finally to turn this into a cohesive story. It's tightly told, and the psychedelic portion of the story is unusual; I appreciated the conversations with various experts worked into the memoir (probably included to forestall skepticism, but as someone who is more ignorant than skeptical, I found it useful too), but mostly I was just in it for the journey.
Sometimes, when I told people, they praised me for doing "the work," because, they said, it made me a better example to my children, a better wife to my husband, or a better friend to those closest to me. Women are always doing things so we can be better for other people. My relationships had changed for the better, but I didn't do it for anyone else. I did it for me. (loc. 3079)
Worth mentioning that the content warnings for sexual assault at the beginning of the book are warranted; I think the book is well worth reading, but know yourself and your limits.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
January 28, 2025
I received a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While interesting, there were several things about Griffin's memoir that didn't entirely work for me. For one, I found it strange that the book synopsis carefully avoids the type of "secret" that Griffin kept when there is a pretty clear trigger warning before you begin the book. (That said, stop reading if you don't want a spoiler and manage to avoid the trigger warnings...) The first section follows Griffin's early childhood in a conservative Texas family but doesn't delve into the "secret," though I found myself wondering if it would be addressed, as her early life is shared in an otherwise consecutive fashion. In middle school, she takes up running and much of the book overuses this metaphor of literally running from her issues.
As an adult, in the second section of the memoir, Griffin becomes familiar with MDMA therapy after her husband uses it in therapy. Better known as ecstasy in its "street" form and similar to psychedelics, Griffin decides it may be her best bet at accessing a dark area of her life that she is aware exists though cannot identify - the event she has dissociated from and been "running from." Oddly, she begins recalling horrifying sexual abuse before the drug even kicks in, and thus begin many years of trying to grieve her childhood abuse, integrate her new memories into her life, and begin a long journey of healing. While the type of abuse is clear and anyone can imagine being terrified at facing such a memory (especially after "hiding" from it for decades,) it isn't always clear what emotions Griffin is experiencing. This point was especially obvious to me when she references previous depression towards the end of the book, as it had not been clear to me when she was in the throes of it. She explores her sessions with MDMA as well as her more traditional therapy, her process of attempting to share her experiences with friends and family, and her attempts to find legal justice. I found some aspects of her story repetitive and others vague, but I'm sure many readers will find inspiration in Griffin's story of overcoming severe trauma.
While interesting, there were several things about Griffin's memoir that didn't entirely work for me. For one, I found it strange that the book synopsis carefully avoids the type of "secret" that Griffin kept when there is a pretty clear trigger warning before you begin the book. (That said, stop reading if you don't want a spoiler and manage to avoid the trigger warnings...) The first section follows Griffin's early childhood in a conservative Texas family but doesn't delve into the "secret," though I found myself wondering if it would be addressed, as her early life is shared in an otherwise consecutive fashion. In middle school, she takes up running and much of the book overuses this metaphor of literally running from her issues.
As an adult, in the second section of the memoir, Griffin becomes familiar with MDMA therapy after her husband uses it in therapy. Better known as ecstasy in its "street" form and similar to psychedelics, Griffin decides it may be her best bet at accessing a dark area of her life that she is aware exists though cannot identify - the event she has dissociated from and been "running from." Oddly, she begins recalling horrifying sexual abuse before the drug even kicks in, and thus begin many years of trying to grieve her childhood abuse, integrate her new memories into her life, and begin a long journey of healing. While the type of abuse is clear and anyone can imagine being terrified at facing such a memory (especially after "hiding" from it for decades,) it isn't always clear what emotions Griffin is experiencing. This point was especially obvious to me when she references previous depression towards the end of the book, as it had not been clear to me when she was in the throes of it. She explores her sessions with MDMA as well as her more traditional therapy, her process of attempting to share her experiences with friends and family, and her attempts to find legal justice. I found some aspects of her story repetitive and others vague, but I'm sure many readers will find inspiration in Griffin's story of overcoming severe trauma.
December 17, 2024
In this powerful memoir, Griffin realizes there is something she is running from. Eventually, she tries alternative therapy, psychedelic therapy to be exact, to help bring her mind the protection it needs to release a traumatic past. From there, Griffin seeks justice and affirmation for what had happened. We see how the trauma affects her, her family, and others. I thank her for her vulnerability.
This book shows how psychedelic therapy can be helpful, and I look forward to more research in that area as time goes on.
Thank you Dial Press & Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book.
This book shows how psychedelic therapy can be helpful, and I look forward to more research in that area as time goes on.
Thank you Dial Press & Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book.
March 24, 2025
After years of striving for perfection in all areas of life, and actively, consciously staying “on the move�, Amy Griffin decides to look inward and find out why she does what she does, uncovering repressed memories, her buried childhood trauma, and then attempting to process it. She bravely shares her story in The Tell.
This book was hard to listen to though certainly not as hard as the actual experiences Amy and others have endured. While I do not share the same specific experiences, I found much of Amy’s demeanor and strive of perfection relatable, and know many women will relate to parts or all of her story. I admire Amy’s courage for doing the work, speaking her truth, and sharing her story � 4.5 stars
You should know: Sexual assault is a prevalent theme in The Tell � Take care when reading.
This book was hard to listen to though certainly not as hard as the actual experiences Amy and others have endured. While I do not share the same specific experiences, I found much of Amy’s demeanor and strive of perfection relatable, and know many women will relate to parts or all of her story. I admire Amy’s courage for doing the work, speaking her truth, and sharing her story � 4.5 stars
You should know: Sexual assault is a prevalent theme in The Tell � Take care when reading.
March 19, 2025
I struggled with this book. Maybe because The Glass Castle, another memoir, is one of my all time favorites, but I found myself skimming some pages on this one. It just didn’t capture my attention or compel me in the way I expected given all the hype around it.
March 18, 2025
5 stars. Author Amy Griffin writes in such a clearly articulate, fluid way in the telling of her deeply personal story. While the subject matter is profoundly difficult to read/listen to, Amy Griffin has her own unique style of less is more, by using an honest, quietly spoken approach in THE TELL. For anyone that has went through this trauma they know her words are truth. I give her sincere thanks as this is written not only for her own self journey, but in hope others will see they aren’t alone. This is such an incredible compelling memoir that I feel we can all relate to on some level no matter what the circumstance. Without a doubt this is a powerful and important book that needs to be read and shared. Highly recommend. Pub. 3/11/25
March 14, 2025
4.5 stars ⭐️
At first when I saw that Oprah had chosen this as a bookclub pick I was not moved to read it. Then as I scrolled through Instagram, I noticed praise and comments on how this is such an important read. I had an Audible credit so I took a chance and listened to it and it is very well done. Amazingly well done.
This author opens up about how she ran 2-3 times a day. She was highly successful, four children and a great marriage. The running was an obsession.
Then she goes through psychoanalysis using MDMA as a psychedelic treatment, after his husband had tried it and was able to bring past traumas to the surface. She had never touched drugs so this was a big step for her. In that session, she relives the sexual assaults. She had buried it so far in her subconscious that she never had remembered it. For over 20 years.
Sadly, sexual assault is something most women have dealt with, or know someone who has. This is why this is such an important topic, as in the author’s case it was someone she trusted and admired. AG takes you through the process of her remembering the incidents and how they shaped her to be a perfectionist, an over-achiever, a non-stop runner. More importantly, she faces the justice and criminal system and ultimately how she is healing.
There are graphic details of the assaults. Please keep this in mind. The author narrates the audiobook. One more quick note. I thought the title was clever. There are always tell tale signs.
“Secrets , we think they keep us safe, but they don’t. The secrets are what keep us stuck.�
At first when I saw that Oprah had chosen this as a bookclub pick I was not moved to read it. Then as I scrolled through Instagram, I noticed praise and comments on how this is such an important read. I had an Audible credit so I took a chance and listened to it and it is very well done. Amazingly well done.
This author opens up about how she ran 2-3 times a day. She was highly successful, four children and a great marriage. The running was an obsession.
Then she goes through psychoanalysis using MDMA as a psychedelic treatment, after his husband had tried it and was able to bring past traumas to the surface. She had never touched drugs so this was a big step for her. In that session, she relives the sexual assaults. She had buried it so far in her subconscious that she never had remembered it. For over 20 years.
Sadly, sexual assault is something most women have dealt with, or know someone who has. This is why this is such an important topic, as in the author’s case it was someone she trusted and admired. AG takes you through the process of her remembering the incidents and how they shaped her to be a perfectionist, an over-achiever, a non-stop runner. More importantly, she faces the justice and criminal system and ultimately how she is healing.
There are graphic details of the assaults. Please keep this in mind. The author narrates the audiobook. One more quick note. I thought the title was clever. There are always tell tale signs.
“Secrets , we think they keep us safe, but they don’t. The secrets are what keep us stuck.�
March 12, 2025
Now available! Also, an Oprah’s Book Club pick.
I learned so much from this book. Such as appearances don't always reflect people's history and inside feelings. Also that with resources it is possible to overcome demons from your youth who are still influencing your adult life. And that surrounding yourself with loved ones is one of the best you can do for yourself. It is somewhat triggering but still very much worth the read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
I learned so much from this book. Such as appearances don't always reflect people's history and inside feelings. Also that with resources it is possible to overcome demons from your youth who are still influencing your adult life. And that surrounding yourself with loved ones is one of the best you can do for yourself. It is somewhat triggering but still very much worth the read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
March 14, 2025
This book was so well-written and such a page turner. I really wish her story had been corroborated by other people, though, who had seen something or who had also been abused by the same person. Unfortunately, the only proof she had, outside of her own reflections, was sent anonymously. I don’t believe an abuser of this magnitude only abuses once, so if no one else comes forward after the release of this book, it will remind me of another of Oprah’s bookclub picks, James Frey’s “A Million Little Pieces� which was also a well-written book with important themes - that turned out to be false. There won’t be any way to disprove Ms. Griffin’s story, but a cursory Google search shows that MDMA can bring out false memories. I so loved this book until the end when I realized I would just have to trust the storyteller - something I can’t do. I hope further proof will come out.
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March 27, 2025An incredibly heavy read…but also so beautiful and well written.
March 16, 2025
After hearing the glowing review that Drew Barrymore put on this book, I was so excited to read a book that I thought would actually be as Drew put it a “classic piece of literature.� Wrong.. the writing style itself ended up almost seeming like a person that had ADHD with rambling sentences and switches of subjects that often left me thinking what the hell??? in my opinion, I don’t see this book being as a must read for future generations due to this writing style. While the theme of the book was supported by me and I could get on board with the fact that there is a flaw in our society that puts a statute of limitations on physical abuse cases I couldn’t help but think that the writer could’ve done a lot more to develop her character and to develop the other characters in this story. The ending too just left me wondering if the author just wanted to get the book out and published and didn’t really care that the ending was so abrupt. Sorry, Oprah and sorry, Drew this is not in my opinion a piece of classical literature.
March 19, 2025
I read this book in one sitting and found it somewhat uninspiring.
March 21, 2025
I wanted to give a 3 but as her husband said “longs no’s and short yes’s. If you have to think about it, it’s a no� and a 3 I had to think about.
Of course, I admire the bravery in coming out with the story. My review lies in the book as a piece of literature:
- way to long of a read
- objectives or stories of “why I did this� popped up then went away, making the story feel somewhat loose/disorganized
- I don’t really know what I learned from reading it: I couldn’t tell what I was supposed to be getting from it? Even as a memoir, it felt flat.
Of course, I admire the bravery in coming out with the story. My review lies in the book as a piece of literature:
- way to long of a read
- objectives or stories of “why I did this� popped up then went away, making the story feel somewhat loose/disorganized
- I don’t really know what I learned from reading it: I couldn’t tell what I was supposed to be getting from it? Even as a memoir, it felt flat.
March 17, 2025
One of the worst memories I’ve ever read which was disappointing considering Oprahs massive endorsement and all of Hollywood. I’d love to peek behind the scenes into that business deal�
Anyhow, something seems fishy about this story and the events that occurred while hallucinating on X which was led by a coach (not therapist).
How one could go their whole life not remembering 4 years of SA through the age of 16, not telling your close family, no one saw it when it kept happening on school grounds behind the bleachers and suddenly as a middle aged woman it all comes flooding back after you take drugs?
This smells like James Frye and I cannot believe Oprah all people would endorse a memoire that can’t and won’t ever be fact checked.
Anyhow, something seems fishy about this story and the events that occurred while hallucinating on X which was led by a coach (not therapist).
How one could go their whole life not remembering 4 years of SA through the age of 16, not telling your close family, no one saw it when it kept happening on school grounds behind the bleachers and suddenly as a middle aged woman it all comes flooding back after you take drugs?
This smells like James Frye and I cannot believe Oprah all people would endorse a memoire that can’t and won’t ever be fact checked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2025
There is no mention in the audio book of Mr Mason's name being a pseudonym. It is weird that's left out. It is also weird that we are protecting his privacy if this happened. I feel like many other people who mentioned there is no closure or call to action in this book. I have so many questions. Her press tours and interviews are confusing. We have a billionaire who can't turn over every stone and help stand up for victims? Would have loved more information on MDMA and the false or semi false memories that can be triggered. I agree with many others that there could be a follow up book that is put together better. I heard rave reviews about This book and it's ALLLLL over every talk show and I'm just not sure it is going to have the intended positive effect for survivors of SA.
March 18, 2025
I just didn’t care about the author’s story and lucky for me her trauma was not relatable for me.
What I got out of the memoir was:
“I wanted my daughters to know that their worth had nothing to do with whether they were valuable in the eyes of men; that they could, and should, question authority at every turn; and that with me as their parent, they could share any truth, no matter how tough it might feel in the moment. And I knew I had to model all of this in the way I lived my life.�
What I got out of the memoir was:
“I wanted my daughters to know that their worth had nothing to do with whether they were valuable in the eyes of men; that they could, and should, question authority at every turn; and that with me as their parent, they could share any truth, no matter how tough it might feel in the moment. And I knew I had to model all of this in the way I lived my life.�
February 23, 2025
“Remembering was so hard, but now I understood why we did it—why it was worth remembering at all. It wasn’t so we could wallow in the pain. It was so we could more fully touch the joy.�
i consider myself extremely lucky to have received an ARC of this book- and extremely changed by reading it. as someone who often finds themselves working with retelling hard truths in nonfiction and attempting to grapple with the repressed by speaking the past, griffin proves just how well it can be done with this book. the tell is beautiful, moving, haunting, yet the hopeful thread that runs throughout like a silver strand is a bright light in what could have been an incredibly dark book. griffin’s voice SHINES throughout this book. her retelling is honest, and thoughtful, and being able to sit with her words felt like a blessing, and a reminder that telling your truth is one of the most brave and beautiful things you can do.
i consider myself extremely lucky to have received an ARC of this book- and extremely changed by reading it. as someone who often finds themselves working with retelling hard truths in nonfiction and attempting to grapple with the repressed by speaking the past, griffin proves just how well it can be done with this book. the tell is beautiful, moving, haunting, yet the hopeful thread that runs throughout like a silver strand is a bright light in what could have been an incredibly dark book. griffin’s voice SHINES throughout this book. her retelling is honest, and thoughtful, and being able to sit with her words felt like a blessing, and a reminder that telling your truth is one of the most brave and beautiful things you can do.
February 24, 2025
Amy grew up the eldest child in a highly respected Amarillo, TX family. For all intents and purposes she appeared healthy and happy, privileged and proud; but festering under the surface was abuse-fueled anxiety that propelled her into hyper overachievement. Driven through college, moving to NYC, marathons, marriage, motherhood, triathlons, business success and until her eventual collapse. By that time she was feeling besieged by this constant pursuit of perfection, her own children were telling her they felt disconnected from her, and then, by twist of fate, and dosage of MDMA in a therapeutic setting, Amy uncovered the childhood secret that shattered her bubble of perfection but also, eventually, brought her a modicum of peace.
The Tell is a memoir about childhood trauma, but also about the journey to reclaiming ones health and power. To quote the founder of MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies in an article about the FDA clearing MDMA as an experimental treatment, "PTSD is always distracting you from facing your problems, because it's terrifying. On the MDMA, you're finally able to face the stuff you've been pushing down for so many years." Amy describes how just three sessions enabled her to regain control of her life.
The Tell is a memoir about childhood trauma, but also about the journey to reclaiming ones health and power. To quote the founder of MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies in an article about the FDA clearing MDMA as an experimental treatment, "PTSD is always distracting you from facing your problems, because it's terrifying. On the MDMA, you're finally able to face the stuff you've been pushing down for so many years." Amy describes how just three sessions enabled her to regain control of her life.
November 13, 2024
Finished in a day.
What happens when you finally remember what your body already knew was trauma and abuse? Griffin accomplishes telling the heartbreaking truth of her abuse and abuser with grace, emotional honesty and grit that was hard-earned. This is how “The work� is really done; Amy’s harrowing journey will give hope for those that don’t trust themselves�.yet.
What happens when you finally remember what your body already knew was trauma and abuse? Griffin accomplishes telling the heartbreaking truth of her abuse and abuser with grace, emotional honesty and grit that was hard-earned. This is how “The work� is really done; Amy’s harrowing journey will give hope for those that don’t trust themselves�.yet.
March 21, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
The Tell told the story of a resilient woman, Amy, who overcame sexual trauma and abuse. She shared stories of growing up in an abusive household in Albany in the 1940s, a teenage pregnancy, and prison time for robbery among many other experience of hers. I admired Amy’s courage and resiliency to build her adult life; through marriage, motherhood, and a thriving career. Moreover, I appreciated many aspects of Griffin’s memoir: Her personal exploration of self-discovery and resilience, framed within the context of her life experiences and the societal influences that shaped her journey was inspiring.
Collectively l was allured by Amy’s writing style. The narrative carried a conversational tone which intrigued me. Similarly I liked how she balanced humor and depth making the difficult topics accessible without diminishing their significance.
On top of Amy’s distinct writing style, I liked how she captured her family’s roles, particularly her parents, whose traditional values often clashed with her evolving worldview. In addition to her family, I liked how Griffin introduced some mentors and friends who also influenced her journey. By honing in on all her relationships, Griffin illustrated the importance of connections and community while overcoming personal challenges.
Overall, I was invested in Amy Griffin’s honest and relatable memoir. Her willingness to confront her vulnerabilities and the societal expectations placed upon her cultivated an acute connection with me. Her story was an inspiring one and is a story that has encouraged me to find more of my own truths amongst the discordance of external expectations. (Audio)
*Narration Note-I am usually in favor of the author narrating their own novel or memoir, in fact I encourage it; however in this case, I do not think Amy Griffin’s narration was a particularly pleasant one. Her tone was very flat and monotone. And the lack of voice inflections made it hard to completely enjoy her story. Fortunately I looked past her monotone voice after a couple chapters and delighted in her ability to draw me in based on her candid and authentic storytelling.
The Tell told the story of a resilient woman, Amy, who overcame sexual trauma and abuse. She shared stories of growing up in an abusive household in Albany in the 1940s, a teenage pregnancy, and prison time for robbery among many other experience of hers. I admired Amy’s courage and resiliency to build her adult life; through marriage, motherhood, and a thriving career. Moreover, I appreciated many aspects of Griffin’s memoir: Her personal exploration of self-discovery and resilience, framed within the context of her life experiences and the societal influences that shaped her journey was inspiring.
Collectively l was allured by Amy’s writing style. The narrative carried a conversational tone which intrigued me. Similarly I liked how she balanced humor and depth making the difficult topics accessible without diminishing their significance.
On top of Amy’s distinct writing style, I liked how she captured her family’s roles, particularly her parents, whose traditional values often clashed with her evolving worldview. In addition to her family, I liked how Griffin introduced some mentors and friends who also influenced her journey. By honing in on all her relationships, Griffin illustrated the importance of connections and community while overcoming personal challenges.
Overall, I was invested in Amy Griffin’s honest and relatable memoir. Her willingness to confront her vulnerabilities and the societal expectations placed upon her cultivated an acute connection with me. Her story was an inspiring one and is a story that has encouraged me to find more of my own truths amongst the discordance of external expectations. (Audio)
*Narration Note-I am usually in favor of the author narrating their own novel or memoir, in fact I encourage it; however in this case, I do not think Amy Griffin’s narration was a particularly pleasant one. Her tone was very flat and monotone. And the lack of voice inflections made it hard to completely enjoy her story. Fortunately I looked past her monotone voice after a couple chapters and delighted in her ability to draw me in based on her candid and authentic storytelling.
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March 29, 2025I’m not going to rate this one because I can’t figure out whether there’s a right way to assign stars to a memoir that recounts a troubling personal story, something terrible that happened to the author as a child 30 years earlier, by a person I don’t much care for as an adult. In her early 40s, Amy Griffin, highly successful in seemingly all aspects of her life, tries a new form of therapy and uncovers deeply hidden memories of her abuse by a trusted teacher in middle school. I feel for the suffering 12-year-old girl she was. But her account of the two years after her memories resurfaced spent trying to come to terms with this new knowledge and the light it shed on her driven perfectionism in the decades since left me feeling a little—what?—creeped-out by her profound narcissism, of which she seems entirely unaware. And did I mention shallow? And the book was so repetitive. It felt like there was a lot of padding to turn this into something book-length. Hmmmm� I’m being very uncharitable about this account of someone’s trauma, aren’t I? And yet I am aware of my shortcomings, I think. Ms. Griffin could use a smidge of that. Just sayin�.
March 22, 2025
Highly recommend. Honest and raw. Well told and brave.
March 21, 2025
Listened via audiobook.
Hated this memoir. Unsatisfying. Unfinished.
Hated this memoir. Unsatisfying. Unfinished.
December 31, 2024
When justice against abuse isn’t always possible with the law, the next best thing is to tell the story. It has been said: writing can help us heal. It can also benefit readers especially those that can relate to a buried traumatic secret that is within.
Amy Griffin went to a therapist. She was a perfectionist and overachiever. She had a difficult time relaxing. Something was wrong and she needed to figure it out. Therapy was helpful but it wasn’t enough.
Next, she went to a counselor who gave her a psychedelic dose of pure MDMA. She said this drug was known to help people remember their past � a past that is so deep that it’s locked up inside the brain. When she learned about what happened to her at a young age, a huge burst of emotions came out. From that moment, her world changed.
She took time to examine the insides of her heart and soul. Griffin told her husband first, then reached out to her close friends, sister and parents in Texas and finally made her way to tell it to her four children. Her personal experience at 12 years old finally was revealed not just to her family and friends…but now to everyone.
This book is well written, informative and thought-provoking. The statistics are all over the map. It acknowledges that a high number of teenage girls suffer from abuse which affects their adult lives.
All readers should agree that this needs to change…but how when too often books with discussions about sexual harassment, violence have been taken off the shelves. Let’s hope this one stays. It’s a good book to help people regenerate their own power and strength.
My thanks to The Dial Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of March 11, 2025.
Amy Griffin went to a therapist. She was a perfectionist and overachiever. She had a difficult time relaxing. Something was wrong and she needed to figure it out. Therapy was helpful but it wasn’t enough.
Next, she went to a counselor who gave her a psychedelic dose of pure MDMA. She said this drug was known to help people remember their past � a past that is so deep that it’s locked up inside the brain. When she learned about what happened to her at a young age, a huge burst of emotions came out. From that moment, her world changed.
She took time to examine the insides of her heart and soul. Griffin told her husband first, then reached out to her close friends, sister and parents in Texas and finally made her way to tell it to her four children. Her personal experience at 12 years old finally was revealed not just to her family and friends…but now to everyone.
This book is well written, informative and thought-provoking. The statistics are all over the map. It acknowledges that a high number of teenage girls suffer from abuse which affects their adult lives.
All readers should agree that this needs to change…but how when too often books with discussions about sexual harassment, violence have been taken off the shelves. Let’s hope this one stays. It’s a good book to help people regenerate their own power and strength.
My thanks to The Dial Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of March 11, 2025.
March 3, 2025
Amy's story needs to be told.
Amy Griffin has had success in so many areas of her life but she continue to run - literally run. Even when her body and doctors told her it isn't serving her, she ran. Until one day she decided to find out what she was running from and started psychedelic therapy. It is there, in those sessions that she uncovered years of suppressed trauma. This memoir is her journey through these discoveries, telling the people closest to her and trying to stop her assaulter from never hurting another.
The moment I finished this book I had a conversation with my daughter. Do you know 1 in 3 women is sexually assaulted? Do you know there are statistics around what happens when we don't tell right away? Do you know sexual assault usually comes from someone we know? Things we have talked about before but felt SO important after reading Amy's story.
Everyone should read this book.
Amy Griffin has had success in so many areas of her life but she continue to run - literally run. Even when her body and doctors told her it isn't serving her, she ran. Until one day she decided to find out what she was running from and started psychedelic therapy. It is there, in those sessions that she uncovered years of suppressed trauma. This memoir is her journey through these discoveries, telling the people closest to her and trying to stop her assaulter from never hurting another.
The moment I finished this book I had a conversation with my daughter. Do you know 1 in 3 women is sexually assaulted? Do you know there are statistics around what happens when we don't tell right away? Do you know sexual assault usually comes from someone we know? Things we have talked about before but felt SO important after reading Amy's story.
Everyone should read this book.
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