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The Tell: A Memoir
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.
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
3,804 people are currently reading
52.9k people want to read
About the author
Amy Griffin
1book198followersAmy 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.
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.
April 5, 2025
I believe women. My issue with this story isn’t her memory or abuse. My issue is that she’s insufferable. She spent so much time telling us how perfect she was, how perfect her body was, perfect hair, perfect at sports and business. Then we had to hear whole chapters about how lice she was to loan someone a dress, and why did that matter, I can’t believe I’m so nice. My therapist tells me not to tell anyone until I process it, so I’ll spend chapters telling how I told everyone. I just couldn’t stand her. This is my second Oprah’s book club book that was absolutely awful.
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.
April 19, 2025
I'm gonna go three stars I guess. I have some problems with this book and the author largely on how it was presented at a book talk I attended, where a bunch of rich white women self-congratulated on being the most important people ever to talk about sexual abuse and how this book will change everyone's lives because the message is about how sharing about abuse is important, as if no one has ever come forward and spoken up about abuse before for this very reason? It was one of the worst displays of self-obsessed privilege I've ever seen and so fucking cringe, especially when after reading the book I found that the author isn't really at all an advocate for survivors in any tangible way? Even the epilogue is like "if you're a survivor and need resources there's some links on my website idk" like could not even be bothered to include any links or organizations or messages of support to survivors in this super triggering book that features graphic descriptions of childhood sexual abuse.
In the book, the author realizes she was abused as a child after an MDMA-assisted therapy session, tells people she's close to, and works on coming to terms with everything she has to go through and process decades later. That's pretty much the gist of it. I mean, it's a truly amazing journey for a person to go through! Like what a horrendous thing to endure and how difficult it must have been to go through recovery from this kind of trauma. Learning about the abuse she had repressed and how she dealt with it at the time also informs the author about so many of her behaviors and personality traits, all of which were formed as kind of subconscious defense mechanisms. These discoveries are fascinating, and how she comes to terms with these traits � and even tries to change many of them in some ways –is powerful.
My review is not about her experiences or her story, but more about how kind of insensitive it is to toot your own horn about being a martyr for all survivors when really I do not understand where that sense of entitlement is coming from when literally millions of women have been abused or violated in a similar way and have talked about it for eons. I think it's especially hard to understand having recently read Amanda Nguyen's and Chanel Miller's books, where they –both non-white, non-privileged women � give up careers to fight for justice not only for themselves but as a way to ensure other survivors wouldn't have to suffer in the same way. I'm not saying every survivor needs to do what they did to be heroic, simply getting out of bed and facing each day is fucking heroic for survivors, and it IS important to come forward and share because the more people talk about it openly, the more the stigma is destroyed. BUT Nguyen's and Miller's books lack any sort of self-aggrandizing despite all of their efforts, and this book promoting itself as the most important voice ever in survivorship feels super tone deaf in comparison.
I feel like had this book simply existed without all of the surrounding pretentious nonsense, I would've valued it more for what it is –a well-written, introspective, and devastating story about all the ways we suffer from the aftermath of abuse, especially in terms of complicated childhood abuse where memories are unclear or buried entirely, with these cases very rarely tied up with neat little bows in the end � but instead, the insane behavior at the book event and other things the author has said just completely rubbed me the wrong way and unfortunately it affected how I read her story. Is IS an important work and I'm sure it will help survivors come forward and want to talk about their own abuse but it's not groundbreaking or trailblazing in the way it's being heralded, largely by the author herself.
One last thought –while I think most of this is really well-written, many of the dialogues read like this woman has never had a conversation with other people before, especially when she speaks with her 11-year-old daughter, who is depicted as a wise old soul who often acts as a therapist and the pillar of emotional support for her mother as she goes through this experience. That's fine, I'm sure it's grounded in truth, but their convos in this book are preposterous, complete with psychobabble lingo and the kind of sage advice a child simply is not equipped to give. or a and I couldn't stop rolling my eyes.
In the book, the author realizes she was abused as a child after an MDMA-assisted therapy session, tells people she's close to, and works on coming to terms with everything she has to go through and process decades later. That's pretty much the gist of it. I mean, it's a truly amazing journey for a person to go through! Like what a horrendous thing to endure and how difficult it must have been to go through recovery from this kind of trauma. Learning about the abuse she had repressed and how she dealt with it at the time also informs the author about so many of her behaviors and personality traits, all of which were formed as kind of subconscious defense mechanisms. These discoveries are fascinating, and how she comes to terms with these traits � and even tries to change many of them in some ways –is powerful.
My review is not about her experiences or her story, but more about how kind of insensitive it is to toot your own horn about being a martyr for all survivors when really I do not understand where that sense of entitlement is coming from when literally millions of women have been abused or violated in a similar way and have talked about it for eons. I think it's especially hard to understand having recently read Amanda Nguyen's and Chanel Miller's books, where they –both non-white, non-privileged women � give up careers to fight for justice not only for themselves but as a way to ensure other survivors wouldn't have to suffer in the same way. I'm not saying every survivor needs to do what they did to be heroic, simply getting out of bed and facing each day is fucking heroic for survivors, and it IS important to come forward and share because the more people talk about it openly, the more the stigma is destroyed. BUT Nguyen's and Miller's books lack any sort of self-aggrandizing despite all of their efforts, and this book promoting itself as the most important voice ever in survivorship feels super tone deaf in comparison.
I feel like had this book simply existed without all of the surrounding pretentious nonsense, I would've valued it more for what it is –a well-written, introspective, and devastating story about all the ways we suffer from the aftermath of abuse, especially in terms of complicated childhood abuse where memories are unclear or buried entirely, with these cases very rarely tied up with neat little bows in the end � but instead, the insane behavior at the book event and other things the author has said just completely rubbed me the wrong way and unfortunately it affected how I read her story. Is IS an important work and I'm sure it will help survivors come forward and want to talk about their own abuse but it's not groundbreaking or trailblazing in the way it's being heralded, largely by the author herself.
One last thought –while I think most of this is really well-written, many of the dialogues read like this woman has never had a conversation with other people before, especially when she speaks with her 11-year-old daughter, who is depicted as a wise old soul who often acts as a therapist and the pillar of emotional support for her mother as she goes through this experience. That's fine, I'm sure it's grounded in truth, but their convos in this book are preposterous, complete with psychobabble lingo and the kind of sage advice a child simply is not equipped to give. or a and I couldn't stop rolling my eyes.
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 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.
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
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 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 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.
April 15, 2025
This book really made me think about the stigma of doubt attached to abuse survivors. If someone is hit by a car, we accept that they might not remember the incident due to trauma. And if the memory returns, there's no questioning whether it happened. But when the trauma is abuse and the wounds are psychological, there's a tendency towards maybe the whole thing is made up.
Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to Amy Griffin for having the strength to vulnerably share your story.
Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to Amy Griffin for having the strength to vulnerably share your story.
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.
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April 8, 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 the abuse 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 19, 2025
I read this book in one sitting and found it somewhat uninspiring.
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.
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March 27, 2025An incredibly heavy read…but also so beautiful and well written.
April 1, 2025
This book is good on a surface level but I think when you are writing a book with these types of traumatic topics, the author should write with more integrity taking into account the potential impact these topics have on readers. There are truths in the book mixed with false names or places so which is which?
In the book, the author says her husband was the reasoning behind her MDMA therapy however in a podcast on Goop with Gwyneth, the author was thanking Gwyneth for being that person that encouraged her treatment.
Another thing, as no other cases came forward, shouldn’t there have been more discussion about how MDMA can cause false memories and perhaps the author should have gone into further action or discussions to consult a professional on the debate of how MDMA can cause false memories and why her case wouldn’t be a result of false memories and why?
Something just seems off with this book.
In summary, I think this book is a brave attempt to search for deeper meaning but the issues here are serious and for me, I would have liked more authenticity and more integrity from the author with the understanding it’s not solely about her when making her life public. If you write a book of this nature, more stones need to be unturned for the readers…and questions answered.
At the very least and as the author seems to live a comfortable lifestyle, I do hope she donates the proceeds of this book to a suitable charity!
In the book, the author says her husband was the reasoning behind her MDMA therapy however in a podcast on Goop with Gwyneth, the author was thanking Gwyneth for being that person that encouraged her treatment.
Another thing, as no other cases came forward, shouldn’t there have been more discussion about how MDMA can cause false memories and perhaps the author should have gone into further action or discussions to consult a professional on the debate of how MDMA can cause false memories and why her case wouldn’t be a result of false memories and why?
Something just seems off with this book.
In summary, I think this book is a brave attempt to search for deeper meaning but the issues here are serious and for me, I would have liked more authenticity and more integrity from the author with the understanding it’s not solely about her when making her life public. If you write a book of this nature, more stones need to be unturned for the readers…and questions answered.
At the very least and as the author seems to live a comfortable lifestyle, I do hope she donates the proceeds of this book to a suitable charity!
March 22, 2025
I wish I could have stuck with this but I’m so uncomfortable by how much is riding on “repressed memories� which is a concept unsupported by research. If someone uses mdma, and has an experience that feels real but is only a terrible intrusive thought, an innocent person’s life could be ruined, not to mention that of all the families involved.
April 13, 2025
I'm not sure what all the hype and accolades are about with Amy Griffin's "The Tell." After I hit around the 30% mark, it was a race to the finish. I was disappointed in so much about this book, but, mostly, the narrator came off as completely self-absorbed, focusing on her "perfect" life, judging those around her while trying to deal with her past trauma. Needless to say, I am very sorry for what Amy Griffin had to deal with as an adolescent and her quest for justice. But that did not excuse the constant dropping of buzz words, her massive and wrung-out introspection, and lack of nuance in the book. A disappointing 2 stars.
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.�
March 21, 2025
Listened via audiobook.
Hated this memoir. Unsatisfying. Unfinished.
Hated this memoir. Unsatisfying. Unfinished.
March 16, 2025
Although I really appreciate the author’s honesty and bravery at writing such a difficult book, and the writing is excellent, I just didn’t find the story to be full enough for an entire book. That being said, I do think this book will help other women who have a shared experience as the author, so I would recommend in that case. I appreciate her writing this book to help others.
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