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TORN
WINNER Literary Titan Gold Book Award in Fiction (2024)
"A thought-provoking exploration of the complex and sensitive issues surrounding the pro-life and pro-choice debate. " — Literary Titan
In the shadow of a young girl’s fate, one doctor confronts America’s fiercest divide.
When a 15-year old girl dies after an illegal procedure goes wrong, the once-ambivalent Dr. Jack Conley’s world is shaken to the core. Decades later, he has dedicated his life to providing covert professional abortion services, despite the societal and legal challenges of the 1950s. While he believes that he is making a great contribution to women’s health care, his peers are holding him in low esteem. And ethical concerns arise when Jack is asked to engage in activities that blur the boundaries of his charity work with the black-market industry.
As Jack presses on, his fierce determination leads to clashes with figures in the medical community and puts him directly in harm’s way. Worst of all, it endangers his lifelong friendships— especially that of Father William Hurley, who has long been his lighthouse through turbulent storms.
And when he sparks a surprise relationship with Jennifer, a fiery pro-choice advocate, her personal decisions will force Jack to confront his own deepest-held beliefs.
How much will Jack risk to do what he believes is right?
TORN is a riveting historical medical drama that delves into the very soul of one of America's most divisive issues.
"A thought-provoking exploration of the complex and sensitive issues surrounding the pro-life and pro-choice debate. " — Literary Titan
In the shadow of a young girl’s fate, one doctor confronts America’s fiercest divide.
When a 15-year old girl dies after an illegal procedure goes wrong, the once-ambivalent Dr. Jack Conley’s world is shaken to the core. Decades later, he has dedicated his life to providing covert professional abortion services, despite the societal and legal challenges of the 1950s. While he believes that he is making a great contribution to women’s health care, his peers are holding him in low esteem. And ethical concerns arise when Jack is asked to engage in activities that blur the boundaries of his charity work with the black-market industry.
As Jack presses on, his fierce determination leads to clashes with figures in the medical community and puts him directly in harm’s way. Worst of all, it endangers his lifelong friendships— especially that of Father William Hurley, who has long been his lighthouse through turbulent storms.
And when he sparks a surprise relationship with Jennifer, a fiery pro-choice advocate, her personal decisions will force Jack to confront his own deepest-held beliefs.
How much will Jack risk to do what he believes is right?
TORN is a riveting historical medical drama that delves into the very soul of one of America's most divisive issues.
306 pages, Hardcover
Published September 4, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 3, 2025
I’m currently reading TORN while going through my own pregnancy, and it’s hitting me on such a deep, emotional level. Claire’s story is heartbreaking and terrifying, especially knowing how vulnerable young girls can be when they’re scared and unsupported. As I read, I find myself holding my belly, feeling this intense mix of grief, empathy, and anger. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an important one. Every page reminds me just how much compassion and protection women truly deserve, especially during moments when their world feels like it’s falling apart. This book is powerful—and reading it right now feels personal.
May 29, 2025
I'm about halfway through TORN, and already I can tell this book is going to leave a lasting imprint on me.
As a fellow author, I'm constantly analyzing storytelling—structure, pacing, character arcs—but with TORN, I find myself putting down my pen and simply feeling. Prin’s writing doesn’t just tell a story; it invites you into a brutal, honest, and necessary confrontation with the kind of reality most people would rather look away from.
Claire’s experience is haunting. I’ve had to stop more than once to process the weight of what she’s going through. The scenes are vivid and emotionally layered, not just for shock value, but to reveal deeper truths about shame, control, and the quiet tragedies so many women have endured in silence. There’s a bravery in the way this story is told. It’s unflinching but never careless. The pain is never sensationalized—it’s respected.
What impresses me most is how Prin captures the complexity of guilt, family pressure, faith, and survival without ever simplifying it. That’s incredibly hard to do as a writer. But he does it with a voice that is sharp, clear, and compassionate.
I haven’t finished the book yet, but already I know I’ll be recommending it to others. TORN isn’t just a powerful story—it’s a necessary one. For writers, readers, parents, daughters, and anyone who still believes in the power of literature to confront what society often avoids, this book matters.
As a fellow author, I'm constantly analyzing storytelling—structure, pacing, character arcs—but with TORN, I find myself putting down my pen and simply feeling. Prin’s writing doesn’t just tell a story; it invites you into a brutal, honest, and necessary confrontation with the kind of reality most people would rather look away from.
Claire’s experience is haunting. I’ve had to stop more than once to process the weight of what she’s going through. The scenes are vivid and emotionally layered, not just for shock value, but to reveal deeper truths about shame, control, and the quiet tragedies so many women have endured in silence. There’s a bravery in the way this story is told. It’s unflinching but never careless. The pain is never sensationalized—it’s respected.
What impresses me most is how Prin captures the complexity of guilt, family pressure, faith, and survival without ever simplifying it. That’s incredibly hard to do as a writer. But he does it with a voice that is sharp, clear, and compassionate.
I haven’t finished the book yet, but already I know I’ll be recommending it to others. TORN isn’t just a powerful story—it’s a necessary one. For writers, readers, parents, daughters, and anyone who still believes in the power of literature to confront what society often avoids, this book matters.
June 2, 2025
My wife and I just finished reading TORN by William A. Prin, and it’s hard to put into words what this book did to us.
We read it together over the course of a week, often out loud to each other in the evenings. There were so many moments when we had to pause, take a breath, and just sit with what we had read. This isn’t just a story—it’s a deeply unsettling, emotionally honest journey through one of the most difficult and often hidden experiences a young girl can face.
What struck us both was the level of detail and empathy in the writing. Claire’s story is painful, and at times almost unbearable to witness—but it’s real. You feel her fear, her isolation, her longing for protection that never comes. We kept saying to each other, “This could have been anyone. This has been someone.
The writing doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but it also doesn’t exploit. That balance is rare. It shows the dark corners of society—the judgment, the secrecy, the silence—and forces you to sit with them, uncomfortably, truthfully. As a husband, it made me reflect deeply on the systems that have failed so many women. As a couple, it brought us into some powerful conversations about empathy, family, and how society defines morality.
This isn’t an easy read, but it’s an essential one. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just tell a story—it opens a door. For my wife and me, TORN will stay with us for a long time. We’re grateful to have read it together.
We read it together over the course of a week, often out loud to each other in the evenings. There were so many moments when we had to pause, take a breath, and just sit with what we had read. This isn’t just a story—it’s a deeply unsettling, emotionally honest journey through one of the most difficult and often hidden experiences a young girl can face.
What struck us both was the level of detail and empathy in the writing. Claire’s story is painful, and at times almost unbearable to witness—but it’s real. You feel her fear, her isolation, her longing for protection that never comes. We kept saying to each other, “This could have been anyone. This has been someone.
The writing doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but it also doesn’t exploit. That balance is rare. It shows the dark corners of society—the judgment, the secrecy, the silence—and forces you to sit with them, uncomfortably, truthfully. As a husband, it made me reflect deeply on the systems that have failed so many women. As a couple, it brought us into some powerful conversations about empathy, family, and how society defines morality.
This isn’t an easy read, but it’s an essential one. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just tell a story—it opens a door. For my wife and me, TORN will stay with us for a long time. We’re grateful to have read it together.
June 13, 2025
I just finished reading TORN, and I’m honestly still sitting with the weight of it. As a guy, this book was tough to read—but in the best way possible. It opened my eyes to a kind of pain and silence I’ve never experienced but now feel like I’ve glimpsed through Claire’s story. The writing pulls no punches, and that’s what makes it so powerful. It forced me to think about how society treats young girls, how quick we are to judge without understanding, and how easily people fall through the cracks. It was heartbreaking, infuriating, and deeply moving. I didn’t expect it to affect me this much, but it did. And I think more men need to read books like this—not just to understand, but to do better.
June 4, 2025
I’ve been reading TORN with my fiancée, and it’s honestly been one of the most intense and eye opening experiences we’ve shared together. We started it thinking it was just a dramatic novel, but it turned into something much deeper. There were nights we’d stop mid-chapter just to talk about what we were feeling anger, sadness, shock. Watching what Claire goes through made me reflect on how little men are taught to understand what women deal with, especially when it comes to shame, judgment, and fear. Reading it together brought a lot of raw conversations between us, and I’m grateful for that. This book doesn’t hold back, and it shouldn’t.
June 18, 2025
I just finished TORN, and it honestly left me speechless. As a girl, reading Claire’s story felt personal in a way that’s hard to explain. There were moments that made my chest tighten and others that brought tears to my eyes. It made me think about how much pressure and silence girls are expected to carry, especially when they’re scared or make a mistake. The writing is raw and emotional, but it never feels forced. It feels true. This book really made me reflect—not just on Claire’s experience, but on how we treat girls in real life. It’s heavy, but so important. I’m really glad I read it.
June 23, 2025
As a father to two daughters, TORN was honestly tough to read. It’s not the kind of story that’s easy to sit with, but that’s exactly why it’s important. Claire could’ve been anyone’s daughter, and that thought stuck with me through every chapter. The writing is vivid and painful, but it also feels deeply honest. This book gave me a lot to think about—how I raise my girls, how I listen to them, how I support them. It broke my heart, but I’m glad I read it.
June 2, 2025
TORN truly opened my eyes. It’s raw, emotional, and painfully real. one of those stories that sticks with you long after you’ve finished it. Reading Claire’s journey was heartbreaking, but it made me think deeply about the silence, shame, and judgment so many face. This book doesn’t just tell a story. it forces you to feel, reflect, and see things differently. I'm genuinely glad I read it.
August 26, 2025
rom the very first chapter, I was hooked. Prin’s writing is crisp, compelling, and emotionally charged. He has a gift for weaving together medical realism with the raw emotions of his characters, creating a story that feels urgent and necessary. Few books manage to balance storytelling with such profound moral questions. TORN is a brave and timely novel that deserves to be widely read.
August 26, 2025
This book is intense, beautifully written, and painfully relevant. TORN shines a light on topics that are often hidden in silence, giving voice to experiences many endure but few dare to write about. I admire Prin’s willingness to step into the gray areas of morality, medicine, and human choice. Highly recommended for readers who want fiction that matters.
September 17, 2025
This one was extremely difficult to get through. I wish I could say I’m glad I read it, but as a Catholic, mom, and L&D nurse, I most certainly am not. I think it missed the mark where the message was concerned, if I even understood the message in the first place…the descriptions in the book of the “procedures” were horrific. If the point was to shock, that was certainly achieved.
July 27, 2026
Wow
I got to chapter 24 and what he did was too much. I read a lot, so far this year have read about 450 books so have read some harrowing passages. I couldn't go any further in this book.
I got to chapter 24 and what he did was too much. I read a lot, so far this year have read about 450 books so have read some harrowing passages. I couldn't go any further in this book.
January 24, 2025
I can appreciate this book concerning pro-choice. I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book. I only made it to chapter 6, it is very graphic and for me personally hard to read.
June 3, 2025
I’m a mother myself, and reading TORN left me in tears more than once. I didn’t expect to get so emotional, but as I kept reading, all I could think about was, “What if this were my child?” There were moments I had to put the book down just to breathe. It’s not just the story. it’s how real it feels. The fear, the helplessness, the pressure, it broke my heart. I found myself hugging my kids tighter at night. This isn’t just a book, it’s a wake-up call. It makes you realize how much work we still have to do to protect our daughters, to listen, and to stand beside them when the world turns its back. TORN is painful, yes, but it’s also necessary. I’ll never forget it.
January 24, 2026
This is a profound book. Extremely important and very thought provoking. The issue of abortion in America is explored, bringing many issues to light.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews