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Memphis: A gripping domestic thriller full of twists and turns
A woman on the run. A family with secrets. A past that refuses to let go.
A woman's desperate bid for freedom from her abusive marriage sparks a cross-country odyssey of self-discovery, love, and reckoning with the family secrets that have held her captive.
A run-down suburb of Nashville, Tennessee is home to the Freedman family – a tight-knit clan of hard-drinking men who grind their women to dust beneath their boots. From the first moment she meets him, Memphis Monroe, a soft-spoken choir-girl, is overwhelmed by Johnny Freedman’s attention and reputation.
Her mother, Doris, who partied with Johnny’s old man back in the day, wants to secure a future for her daughter outside of the trailer park and pushes Memphis to marry him. When the novel opens in the late 70s, Memphis has been married to Johnny for ten long years, and is too worn down by his drinking and violence to hope for a brighter future for her and her son, Michael. Until, that is, the day Johnny goes too far and Memphis is faced with a live as a lion for one day or a sheep for a lifetime.
With her son beside her in her husband’s prized Mustang Shelby, Memphis escapes and embarks on an epic journey from Nashville to Los Angeles in search of shelter and safety. What she finds instead is the voice she’s quelled for so long, a new love, and answers to questions that have plagued her her whole life.
When Johnny and Doris track her to Los Angeles, Memphis finds herself caught in a web of lies spun long before she ever met her abusive husband – leading to a final, harrowing encounter from which there can be no turning back. Memphis explores the generational impact of alcoholism and violence on families, and the early days of abortion rights in America.
Tropes: woman on the run, gaslighting and manipulation, cycle of abuse, family secrets, mother protecting her child, healing and self-discovery.
Editorial Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A poignant and powerful domestic thriller written with raw, intimate prose. Cormier delivers a gripping story of survival, resilience, and self-discovery.”
— Readers’ Favorite
A woman's desperate bid for freedom from her abusive marriage sparks a cross-country odyssey of self-discovery, love, and reckoning with the family secrets that have held her captive.
A run-down suburb of Nashville, Tennessee is home to the Freedman family – a tight-knit clan of hard-drinking men who grind their women to dust beneath their boots. From the first moment she meets him, Memphis Monroe, a soft-spoken choir-girl, is overwhelmed by Johnny Freedman’s attention and reputation.
Her mother, Doris, who partied with Johnny’s old man back in the day, wants to secure a future for her daughter outside of the trailer park and pushes Memphis to marry him. When the novel opens in the late 70s, Memphis has been married to Johnny for ten long years, and is too worn down by his drinking and violence to hope for a brighter future for her and her son, Michael. Until, that is, the day Johnny goes too far and Memphis is faced with a live as a lion for one day or a sheep for a lifetime.
With her son beside her in her husband’s prized Mustang Shelby, Memphis escapes and embarks on an epic journey from Nashville to Los Angeles in search of shelter and safety. What she finds instead is the voice she’s quelled for so long, a new love, and answers to questions that have plagued her her whole life.
When Johnny and Doris track her to Los Angeles, Memphis finds herself caught in a web of lies spun long before she ever met her abusive husband – leading to a final, harrowing encounter from which there can be no turning back. Memphis explores the generational impact of alcoholism and violence on families, and the early days of abortion rights in America.
Tropes: woman on the run, gaslighting and manipulation, cycle of abuse, family secrets, mother protecting her child, healing and self-discovery.
Editorial Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “A poignant and powerful domestic thriller written with raw, intimate prose. Cormier delivers a gripping story of survival, resilience, and self-discovery.”
— Readers’ Favorite
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2025
1 person is currently reading
1252 people want to read
About the author
Holly May Cormier
1 book13 followersHolly May Cormier is a Canadian author and lifelong storyteller from Toronto. Her debut domestic thriller, Memphis, explores toxic relationships, survival, and resilience. Through her books and YouTube channel, she blends true crime, wellness, and advocacy to empower women to reclaim their voices. When she’s not writing, Holly loves hiking, fishing, and savoring Canadian summers with a good book.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 24, 2026
Many thanks to the author Holly May Cormier for my gifted copy of Memphis. This one got me right in the feels!
Memphis is such an important read of strength , resilience, and freedom. It covered many important topics but its main one was domestic violence. I felt such emotion through the author’s writing throughout the entire book. This is an emotional mystery that will have you rooting for the main character and her future. I also really loved the mother / son dynamic throughout the entire book.
Set in the 1970’s a young woman Memphis flees from her abusive husband with her son. On her journey Memphis learns a whole lot about self discovery, strength , love , and becoming free of her abusive and toxic life she thought she could never escape from.
Great debut to add to your tbr especially if you are looking for a mystery that packs an emotional and powerful punch.
Memphis is such an important read of strength , resilience, and freedom. It covered many important topics but its main one was domestic violence. I felt such emotion through the author’s writing throughout the entire book. This is an emotional mystery that will have you rooting for the main character and her future. I also really loved the mother / son dynamic throughout the entire book.
Set in the 1970’s a young woman Memphis flees from her abusive husband with her son. On her journey Memphis learns a whole lot about self discovery, strength , love , and becoming free of her abusive and toxic life she thought she could never escape from.
Great debut to add to your tbr especially if you are looking for a mystery that packs an emotional and powerful punch.
December 3, 2025
This book was absolutely amazing. It was raw and real, and very emotional. Memphis was married to a very abusive man. And finally for the sake of her son, she needed to leave. Her and her son’s lives and futures depended on it. So one day she did just that. Thrown into a world of the unknown and having to start over again.
This book had me gripping the pages. Had my emotions in an uproar. I felt this in a personal level. My step dad was abusive. My mom packed us up and ran. So this was a very hard book to read. But I’m glad I did. Memphis was a strong woman, and once she found her footing, she made right by her her and her son. This book was heartfelt and deep. Beautifully written. Thank you Holly for allowing me to read this for you ❤️
This book had me gripping the pages. Had my emotions in an uproar. I felt this in a personal level. My step dad was abusive. My mom packed us up and ran. So this was a very hard book to read. But I’m glad I did. Memphis was a strong woman, and once she found her footing, she made right by her her and her son. This book was heartfelt and deep. Beautifully written. Thank you Holly for allowing me to read this for you ❤️
October 13, 2025
This is a difficult book for me to review based on the hard, true to life domestic violence included. The author writes a great book that shows what the reality of living with a violent spouse is like and how difficult it is to escape. The book encompasses the cyclical abuse through generations and includes addictions that impact families and friends, including children and how they see and react to difficult situations.
I'm looking forward to the sequel and how things work out for Memphis and her son.
I'm looking forward to the sequel and how things work out for Memphis and her son.
October 7, 2025
Cormier's writing is honest and lovely. Memphis Monroe had me rooting for her from the very first page. Memphis is so real. The emotions she feels and the decisions that she makes have been made by many women in the real world. I love how her hope manifests as the color yellow. (She is finding her own song after years of silence!) Unfortunately, Johnny has the qualities of some real-world abusers: gaslighting, drinking, and controlling. This book had some unexpected twists, which I enjoyed.
December 1, 2025
The character development of Memphis Monroe makes you root for her right from the first pages. She covers some very heavy topics like domestic violence, and abortion, in a way that it is implicitly understood without having to add too much graphic detail. I felt emotionally invested in her journey and could not put the book down, needing to know how things turn out. Needless to say, I stayed up past my bedtime several nights in a row. LOL. This is Holly’s debut novel and I already can’t wait for the next one. 100% recommend.
October 12, 2025
4.5 stars for me! Check triggers before you read. This gives a realistic sense of the emotional turmoil of DV! My heart broke multiple times for both Memphis and Michael. I loved not only seeing her view, but the reality of what a person goes through being with a survivor of DV. Hoping there is a sequel and a playlist!
October 5, 2025
Amazing read! It’s a story of a mom in an abusive relationship who finally finds the courage to leave to better her and her child’s life. It really showcases the sad reality of abusive relationships and how difficult it is for victims to be protected from their abusers. Just overall a wonderful story as the FMC slowly starts to rediscover herself and learn how strong she truly is.
October 8, 2025
Oh My God! This book takes you on such an emotional roller coaster. I absolutely devoured this book and hope there is a second one. This is a must read!
September 23, 2025
It's definitely a book of finding strength. rugs on the heart strings, and I couldn't put it down! I have a personal history with some of the trigger warnings, so I thought it would be a challenging read and stir up those feelings, however, getting to know Memphis's story, definitely helped me heal.
Thank you Holly May Cormier!
Thank you Holly May Cormier!
January 14, 2026
I need a sequel!
A hard to read-easy to read domestic drama thriller that has you siding with Memphis immediately. If you've been there, well, then you know that this story could be painfully real and might just hit home.
Talk about injustice! This book made me so angry - in a brilliant way!
A must-read....to know what im on about!
A hard to read-easy to read domestic drama thriller that has you siding with Memphis immediately. If you've been there, well, then you know that this story could be painfully real and might just hit home.
Talk about injustice! This book made me so angry - in a brilliant way!
A must-read....to know what im on about!
October 17, 2025
I’ve read MANY books before but none have felt more personal for me. I came from a relationship like Memphis. This was well written and I can’t wait to see what the next book brings!
December 28, 2025
This review was written for Reedsy Discovery
Fleeing an abusive marriage, Memphis escapes to California with her son, intending to start a new life, but her husband pursues her
Every aspect of Memphis's life is controlled by her abusive husband, Johnny—even down to the clothes she wears each day. Her mother, Doris, is aware of the brutal treatment Memphis endures, but rather than protect her daughter, she is Johnny's enabler, choosing to support Memphis's husband's actions and frequently chastising Memphis for her lack of gratitude. When Memphis reaches her breaking point, she escapes with her young son to live with her cousin in California and start a new life. When Johnny ultimately deduces where Memphis has fled to, Memphis and those protecting her are in grave danger, and Doris is forced to accompany him on his journey to find his wife and son.
Memphis by Holly May Cormier is set in the late 1970s, before the time of digital footprints, allowing for Memphis to disappear undetected. Not much is described about the era to establish it as a historical setting, outside of a handful of pop-culture references; it appears the year 1977 acts more as a function of explaining away Memphis's ease of escape than anything. Additionally, the book is marketed as a thriller, but it would be better classified as women's fiction. My personal opinion, when comparing Memphis to the many domestic thrillers I have read, is that the book lacks the suspense necessary to classify it as such.
The character development is the best part of the novel. Memphis's blossoming after escaping a life in which every decision was made for her and she lacked all autonomy, as well as the exploration of the roots of Johnny's and Doris's behavior, were well-crafted. There are quite a few triggering scenes, not limited to domestic violence, so readers should proceed with caution. Overall, the story is a worthwhile read, especially for those seeking tales of women's resilience and redemption.
Fleeing an abusive marriage, Memphis escapes to California with her son, intending to start a new life, but her husband pursues her
Every aspect of Memphis's life is controlled by her abusive husband, Johnny—even down to the clothes she wears each day. Her mother, Doris, is aware of the brutal treatment Memphis endures, but rather than protect her daughter, she is Johnny's enabler, choosing to support Memphis's husband's actions and frequently chastising Memphis for her lack of gratitude. When Memphis reaches her breaking point, she escapes with her young son to live with her cousin in California and start a new life. When Johnny ultimately deduces where Memphis has fled to, Memphis and those protecting her are in grave danger, and Doris is forced to accompany him on his journey to find his wife and son.
Memphis by Holly May Cormier is set in the late 1970s, before the time of digital footprints, allowing for Memphis to disappear undetected. Not much is described about the era to establish it as a historical setting, outside of a handful of pop-culture references; it appears the year 1977 acts more as a function of explaining away Memphis's ease of escape than anything. Additionally, the book is marketed as a thriller, but it would be better classified as women's fiction. My personal opinion, when comparing Memphis to the many domestic thrillers I have read, is that the book lacks the suspense necessary to classify it as such.
The character development is the best part of the novel. Memphis's blossoming after escaping a life in which every decision was made for her and she lacked all autonomy, as well as the exploration of the roots of Johnny's and Doris's behavior, were well-crafted. There are quite a few triggering scenes, not limited to domestic violence, so readers should proceed with caution. Overall, the story is a worthwhile read, especially for those seeking tales of women's resilience and redemption.
January 2, 2026
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to the author, publisher and Goodreads for the giveaway. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
This is exactly as it claims: a gripping story of domestic violence and fighting to get beyond simply surviving each day. Finding a way to be able to LIVE without living in fear. This captivating page turner is unfortunately a tale that many people live with and struggle with on a daily basis. And the way these words are written on the page make you FEEL everything.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Goodreads for the giveaway. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
This is exactly as it claims: a gripping story of domestic violence and fighting to get beyond simply surviving each day. Finding a way to be able to LIVE without living in fear. This captivating page turner is unfortunately a tale that many people live with and struggle with on a daily basis. And the way these words are written on the page make you FEEL everything.
October 3, 2025
A domestic thriller that has a FMC that's brave and bold to leave an abusive relationship and her journey to get herself and her son to safety, this story pulls you in and keeps you engaged through the whole story!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews