Thea

by Genevieve Morrissey

Oklahoma City, 1925

Fifteen-year-old Thea Carter lives in a small garage apartment—Thea’s seventh “home” in four years—provided by her alcoholic mother’s employer, the morose and enigmatic Dr. Hallam.

School is Thea’s refuge and she’s an excellent student, but the parasitic Mrs. Carter’s instability continually threatens her dream of getting a high school diploma. In an effort to keep her mother employed and the two of them housed, Thea secretly takes on much of her mother’s work while at the same time navigating adolescence, friendships, and first love.

Dr. Hallam, impressed by her drive and intelligence, becomes Thea’s unexpected ally, but in addition to wealth and position, the doctor also has a secret that could ruin him, and shatter his bond with Thea.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

264 pages, Paperback

Published April 14, 2025

About the author

Genevieve Morrissey is an avid student of British and American social history, who, through one of those strange little quirks of fate, spends most of her days talking with scientists. THEA, her most recent novel, is a coming-of-age story set in 1920s Oklahoma City. MARRIAGE AND HANGING is a historical mystery set in early 19th-century New England. Her post-apocalyptic ANTLANDS series explores a future history of societies coping with the loss of civilization, and their attempts to rebuild it.

In addition to writing, Genevieve enjoys reading obscure books, travel, and solitude.

Reviews

[HippieWitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet and sad beautiful story

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read this was. Told in first person point of view, I really came to love 15 yr old Thea, her strength, courage and smarts, in spite of the obstacles thrown in her way. The story flowed well, and kept my rooted to my chair, reading til it was done, after having kept me company through a wakeful hour in the night. I thought the character development was excellent, each of them distinct and relatable to various real people I’ve known. Glad I happened upon this novel via the kindle app.

[Zenia Primrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very amazing book. It was written so well and it was such a beautiful and also sad at times story.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding coming-of-age story set in 1920s Oklahoma City.

Thea by Genevieve Morrissey is the outstanding coming-of-age story of Thea Carter, set in the mid-1920s in Oklahoma City, and, combined with Nicole Fikes's audiobook narration, perfectly captures her struggles, triumphs, time, and place. All 15-year-old Thea wants is a little stability in her life, the chance to get her high school diploma, and her troubled mother to stop drinking.

As the housekeeper to Dr. Hallam, a new physician in town, Thea's mother not only receives a salary but also a separate, self-contained, private apartment over the garage, where young Thea can secretly reside, out of her employer's sight. Unfortunately, her mother's frequent benders put all this in jeopardy, so Thea does her best to pick up the slack while hiding in the background so Dr. Hallam doesn't give her mother the boot. As Thea juggles her home life and schoolwork, she excels at school and, as time goes on, is accepted by the close-knit group of students and catches the eye of popular, smart Homer. But when her part in the smooth running of his household is discovered by Dr. Hallam, rather than seeing Thea as an unwanted burden, he gradually becomes her champion and she his supportive confidant.

What a great story! Thea is engaging, endearing, and the picture of self-reliance, despite her tragic childhood, poverty, and manipulative alcoholic mother. With her eye always on the prize of earning her high school diploma, she overcomes so much that is stacked against her at the time, when girls were expected to leave school early, marry, and start a family.

Dr. Hallam has his own struggles. A quietly private man, his personal story is revealed only a little at a time, and what a surprising and sad one it turns out to be. But he, too, perseveres, and even gets a second chance, as Thea pushes and encourages and secretly works in the background to help make it happen.

The plot addresses important issues and how they were viewed during that era: women's roles, expectations, and education, Prohibition and drinking, pre-marital sex, and homosexuality. The Oklahoma City setting is unique, and although Thea says the city's population at the time of the story is over 100,000, it feels like a much smaller town. Everyone knows everyone else and all their business, and everyone has an opinion to share about what's going on.

The audiobook narration by Nicole Fikes is absolutely wonderful. Her performance shines with incredibly believable, varied voices for all the speaking characters: young, old, male, female, local, and foreign. The switch between Thea and her mother, who have many conversations together, is amazing. My favorite voice is that of Grace Carter, the mother, with her strong regional accent, wheedling, nagging, and alcoholic mumbling.

I highly recommend THEA to readers and listeners of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy an American midwestern or southern setting during the 1920s.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Silver Dagger Book Tours.

[Cynthia Prosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This coming of age novel takes place in the later half of the 1920s in Oklahoma City, OK. The story is told from the view point of a high school student, Thea, as she navigates her high school years at a time when girls/women did not routinely continue education much beyond the 8th grade. Thea is passionate about finishing high school and earning her diploma, which she sees as a ticket to a better life. To this end she does everything in her power to keep her disfunctional mother from losing her job and thus requiring her to drop out. Along the way she acquires a champion and a boyfriend as well as other friends while helping her mother maintain her job as a housekeeper. It is wonderful to see Thea as she tackles her goals, becomes more confident, and leaves girlhood behind, although she does get preachy about various topics, from time to time. The pacing of the novel is good with periods of rising tension that pull you along and periods of normal highschool, teenager, and housekeeping activities as well as a bit of mystery. Some of the characters provide surprises along the way - for good or for ill, but all seem like people you could know in real life. There was ultimately a satisfactory ending, noting that not everything in story was sunshine and roses. I listened to the audio version and found the narrator very good and could easily accept her as the voice of Thea and the other characters. Would recommend to those who enjoy coming of age tales, stories that take place in the Mid-West, and historical periods or settings.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story begins in Oklahoma City in 1925 and is named after the main character, Thea, a girl of 15 who is determined to finish high school. She was born to her parents when her two siblings were already grown. When her father dies, she and her mother slowly spiral into poverty, living in several places with their declining funds. They now live in a small garage apartment after her mother is hired as a housekeeper/cook for an unmarried medical doctor, Dr. Hallam. Unfortunately, Thea's mother is also an alcoholic, so many of her duties fall to Thea by default. Dr. Hallam takes an interest in Thea's education when he realizes she is intellectually gifted and responsible for her mother. When Thea learns why Dr. Hallam is a pariah to some in their rigid Baptist community, her friendship with him only grows.

Dr. Hallam is a mentor to Thea, encouraging her to continue her education when her mother urges her to get a job to support both of them. Through her remaining high school years, Thea forms a strong connection with a boy in her class, experiences grief and then connects with a family she didn't realize she had. Dr. Hallam is constantly advocating her, and she is equally devoted to helping him regain his happiness. This book emphasizes the depth of bonds we create with a family of our own choosing.

[Sarcastically Yours Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thea By Genevieve Morrissey, is about a very intelligent fifteen-year-old girl, & her mother has struggled with alcoholism; therefore, she was unable to keep a job, so Thea was moved from home to home, city to city. Her mother’s alcoholism had her bouncing from job to job and house to house. The recent job her mom held was one Thea had helped her mother find. Employed as a cook/housekeeper for a local medical doctor named Ewards Helm. She was left to deal with her mother’s issues while making sure her mother kept the doctor’s house clean & meals prepared, which left her doing the tasks herself a lot of times. She did this all while trying to keep her grades up and finish high school, which was a big dream of hers. school. Thea enjoyed school very much!!

Dr. Hallam, whom the mother works for, talks to Thea, realizing how very promising this teenager’s future is. He nurtures her yearning to learn with his extensive collection of books he has that Thea had the pleasure of organizing on the shelves in his home. Dr. Hallam acknowledged what this teenager was up against, & her ability to push her into learning more about the world helped her to overcome one obstacle after another. Read it; it’s very good. Find out what Thea ended up pursuing next in life. Received this as an ARC reader and am leaving my unbiased review.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

THEA is a very moving, coming-of-age story set in Oklahoma City in the 1920s. The title character, Thea, is a teenage girl who strives for a normal life despite all the chaos from her mother’s alcoholism. Initially (at least), Thea’s one goal is to live in the same place long enough to graduate from high school. To accomplish this, she needs to keep her mother from getting fired from her job as a cook/housekeeper to Dr. Hallam, an enigmatic and rather morose medical doctor. Thea’s mother constantly pressures her to drop out of high school and get a full-time job, but Thea eventually comes to the attention of Dr. Hallam, who sees her as a diamond in the rough and who tries to mentor her and who encourages her to consider college. However, Dr. Hallam has a secret that threatens his career, which Thea ultimately discovers. As the story progresses, we follow Thea as she navigates (with some help from Dr. Hallam) her mother’s increasing alcohol addiction, a budding romance with a classmate, and personal tragedy. What is most remarkable about this novel is the crystal clarity with which Morrissey draws her characters. They truly seem alive, and her use of dialog is superb. I think THEA will appeal to both adults and older teens alike.

[Andrea George · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I want to thank Genevieve Morrissey and LibraryThing for an arc of this outstanding novel. From the first page to the last page, you will find yourself enthralled with the characters, plot, and setting. Even though some of the characters are more likeable than others, they are all believable and add to the storyline. The plot follows the life of Thea Carter and her mother who have less than an
ideal life. That is, until Mrs. Carter finds employment in the home of Dr. Hallam. Thea loves their small garage apartment on Dr. Hallam's property, especially after moving seven times in the past four years. For the first time in her life, she enjoys attending the same school and living in one place. She has also established friendships, which is a first for her. Thea is also getting to know Dr. Hallam, who seems to have secrets of his own. Will Thea be able to keep her mother's alcoholism/narcissist ways hidden, or will her life to fall apart, yet once again? In my opinion, this is definitely a novel to add to your tbr list.
Ms. Morrissey has written several other novels, including a historical fiction. I look forward to reading them as well.

[Patrycja · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Thea” is a beautifully written coming-of-age novel set in 1920s Oklahoma City. The story follows Thea Carter, a determined teenager navigating the challenges of growing up with an alcoholic mother while striving for a better future. Morrissey’s writing is engaging and easy to read, making it effortless to connect with Thea’s journey. The characters feel real and well-developed, and the historical details add depth to the narrative. With themes of resilience, ambition, and found family, Thea is a compelling and heartfelt read that keeps you invested until the very end.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a coming of age story for Thea, a very smart girl with an alcoholic single mom. Thea is trying to graduate H.S. and go to college, which isn't the norm, all while also doing her mom's housekeeping work in order to keep their roof over their heads. This is the longest she's stayed in one school and she wants to stay there. The doctor her mother works for takes Thea under his wing. The one thing they all have in common is they each have secrets.

[S.E. Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise!
I received this on audition book as an ARC through LibraryThing and I’m so impressed.
I am extremely not into historical fiction, but I’ve been trying to support fellow authors more and I didn’t expect to fall in love with this story.
Without spoilers I’ll just say that it really delivered. I’m a sucker for great character development and a narrative with heart.
Highly recommend!

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED!

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable

It’s a pretty good read. I was able to finish in a couple of days because it’s an easy read. I enjoyed the storyline.