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Freya the Deer
Not yet published
Expected 3 Mar 26Raised by absent-minded professors in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Freya is a young neurodivergent woman occupied since childhood by a series of obsessions.
She is artistic, vegan, unsocial, and utterly honest. She attends college in the Pacific Northwest, planning to create her own major so she can explore exactly what the soul is. There she falls in love with handsome Caleb, who becomes her new obsession. When Caleb becomes increasingly radicalized after the hideous murder of George Floyd, she must choose between her intense loyalty to him and her moral doubts about violent protest.
From screenwriter Meg Richman comes a quirky, lyrical debut coming-of-age tale about a complex character curious about the numinous yet tied to a physical world that’s steeped in political upheaval.
She is artistic, vegan, unsocial, and utterly honest. She attends college in the Pacific Northwest, planning to create her own major so she can explore exactly what the soul is. There she falls in love with handsome Caleb, who becomes her new obsession. When Caleb becomes increasingly radicalized after the hideous murder of George Floyd, she must choose between her intense loyalty to him and her moral doubts about violent protest.
From screenwriter Meg Richman comes a quirky, lyrical debut coming-of-age tale about a complex character curious about the numinous yet tied to a physical world that’s steeped in political upheaval.
- GenresFictionComing Of Age
206 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 3, 2026
18 people want to read
About the author
Meg Richman
1 book4 followersMeg Richman, a native of Seattle, worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood for 15 years. She wrote the original treatment for Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride, a draft of Up at the Villa for Sydney Pollack’s company and the pilot for Aaron Spelling’s series Malibu Shores. (This last one is an object lesson in just how far Hollywood can transform a script from its original intent and vibe!) The film she wrote and directed, Under Heaven, was a jury selection at the Sundance Film Festival and a nominee for an Independent Spirit Award for Joely Richardson’s performance.
Motherhood brought her home to the Pacific Northwest where she became a teacher for thirteen years, first at an alternative high school for kids who had fallen through the cracks at a regular comprehensive program, and then at a high school serving a mostly immigrant and BIPOC population. She currently writes fiction and has stories published in Louisiana Literature, Isele Magazine, and Judith Magazine. Freya the Deer is her debut novel. Her next one, in the works, is called School for the Insane. It weaves between two story lines a hundred years apart located near the same haunted site. She lives with her son Jesse and oversized dog Gidon in a diverse Seattle neighborhood.
Motherhood brought her home to the Pacific Northwest where she became a teacher for thirteen years, first at an alternative high school for kids who had fallen through the cracks at a regular comprehensive program, and then at a high school serving a mostly immigrant and BIPOC population. She currently writes fiction and has stories published in Louisiana Literature, Isele Magazine, and Judith Magazine. Freya the Deer is her debut novel. Her next one, in the works, is called School for the Insane. It weaves between two story lines a hundred years apart located near the same haunted site. She lives with her son Jesse and oversized dog Gidon in a diverse Seattle neighborhood.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 28, 2025
Freya is a heroine you will never forget. the book is beautiful, dealing with current social issues in Richman's lyrical voice. she's also a good story teller@
January 11, 2026
Freya is a young neurodivergent woman starting college far from home. She meets Caleb an outgoing, attractive young man. The two quickly become smitten with each other as Caleb is intrigued and charmed by her brutal honesty and her literal take on life. Covid-19 is throwing the country into a frenzied existence which impacts life. They decide to marry in Las Vegas and have enough time to get back to Washington before classes the next day.
Of course, both sets of parents are shocked and wary.
Then, the murder of George Floyd occurs in Minnesota.
Caleb starts taking on a militant view with friend Trey and they plot a nefarious plan to 'right' some wrongs. At first, Freya goes along with it, but as their plot becomes more and more dangerous, she steps back and goes with her conscience. Which means a vast distancing from Caleb.
The story becomes sad were once it was filled with joy. Freya the Deer captures the voice of Freya beautifully...yet the darker the story turns, the more it becomes unlikeable.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Rootstock Publishing, and Meg Richman for this ARC.
3 1/2 stars.
Of course, both sets of parents are shocked and wary.
Then, the murder of George Floyd occurs in Minnesota.
Caleb starts taking on a militant view with friend Trey and they plot a nefarious plan to 'right' some wrongs. At first, Freya goes along with it, but as their plot becomes more and more dangerous, she steps back and goes with her conscience. Which means a vast distancing from Caleb.
The story becomes sad were once it was filled with joy. Freya the Deer captures the voice of Freya beautifully...yet the darker the story turns, the more it becomes unlikeable.
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Rootstock Publishing, and Meg Richman for this ARC.
3 1/2 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a strange one for me but still very intriguing, interesting and well written. Freya is autistic, VERY autistic and barely able to function through life with her lack of interpersonal skills despite her high intelligence. However she manages to get through school and go on to college with high hopes from her distracted professorial parents. Here she meets Caleb who she becomes absolutely obsessed with, falls in love with, marries and follows down the wormhole of radicalism during the George Floyd protests. When Caleb becomes more obsessed with a mutual friend Trey and his bomb making than he has been with her Freya feels betrayed. She and Caleb are not of one soul anymore and it crushes her. Despite her lack of involvement and hands off attitude in life Freya knows in her heart that what Caleb is doing is wrong and decides to do something about it. The pureness of Freya's thought process is convoluted to say the least but she is adamant that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. Freya's decision rocks her world and after making her choice must live with it. I really did like this book, it was so different and so open and the writing was beautiful, full of understanding and forgiveness. Recommended for something a little different. 4 stars.
Many thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for a chance to read and ARC version of this book.
Many thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for a chance to read and ARC version of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was immediately drawn into Freya’s life. The setting was so richly described and the narrative so gripping that I found myself savoring a few chapters at a time and then digesting for a day or two. The descriptions of the Pacific Northwest and the George Floyd protests resonated with my experience here. The presentation of Freya’s neurodivergent thought processes and her relationship with animals was fascinating. As the novel progressed, it became more and more about questions of spirituality and the soul. I was thrown off by the ending, but it makes sense in this context. I look forward to future work by this author.
November 21, 2025
Freya the Deer takes readers deep into the psyche and life of a young, neurologically divergent woman — through high school and, more specifically, through college during COVID-19 and the George Floyd reckoning. Richman, via musical prose that can pack a punch, deftly walks us through the title character’s unique perspective, mannerisms, and choices, inviting us to contemplate our own differences; the innocence of young love; yearning, and spiritual curiosity. A terrific and elegant read.
Review of advance copy
“Mediums near me.”
On a quest that spans the internet to ancient texts and extrasensory perception, Freya seeks to understand the strong emotions of adult life. Freya is a sweet protagonist, and her captivating story kept me turning pages long after midnight. Fresh, propulsive, and highly recommended.
On a quest that spans the internet to ancient texts and extrasensory perception, Freya seeks to understand the strong emotions of adult life. Freya is a sweet protagonist, and her captivating story kept me turning pages long after midnight. Fresh, propulsive, and highly recommended.
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February 13, 2026Young, innocent, neurodivergent girl entering adulthood confronts a beautiful but difficult world where she's forced to make a hard life altering decision. Beautifully written with wit and obvious empathy for the human experience. A real page turner that gives you plenty to think about after you close the book.
November 29, 2025
Ok, I wrote this book, so I'm not objective.
But what I want you to get from it is a sense that our world is not merely material (though the material can certainly be amazing!) We are surrounded by love, all of us, even in pain, even in loss. And we have moral knowledge at our core, if we will listen and make the hard choices required.
But what I want you to get from it is a sense that our world is not merely material (though the material can certainly be amazing!) We are surrounded by love, all of us, even in pain, even in loss. And we have moral knowledge at our core, if we will listen and make the hard choices required.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews