Exit Strategy

by M.E. Wright

When your body becomes evidence, escape becomes strategy

Mackenzie Williams never expected to need an escape plan. She has money, dual citizenship, a private plane, and options most women don’t. But when she discovers she’s pregnant, none of it changes one fact: the reproductive care she needs is illegal in the United States. A legitimate business trip to Portugal gives her cover, but getting there without exposing the real reason for the trip is another matter.

Federal surveillance has expanded beyond commercial airports and into private aviation. Passenger manifests, border crossings, medical records, and digital footprints can be used to identify women suspected of seeking care outside the country. With a former Army Ranger handling security, Mackenzie builds her itinerary around one goal: leave no reason for anyone to start asking questions.

The restrictions aren’t happening in isolation. Money, religion, and political influence are converging behind an agenda that reaches far beyond reproductive freedom. Mackenzie found a way around the system, but the question is how long that way out will remain open.

Perfect for readers of Julia, Counting Backwards, and American Spy, Exit Strategy is a near-future political thriller where reproductive freedom, family loyalty, and political power collide.

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 1, 2026

About the author

M.E. Wright is an accidental dystopian author who writes fiction with teeth.

Her work asks hard “what if” questions about power, surveillance, and freedom. Her latest novel, A Ward of the State, explores a future where your body, and your future, belong to the state.

Learn more at https://mewright.substack.com/

Reviews

[Murphy Hall]

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I’m not usually a dystopia fan, but I have to say I really enjoyed the authors take on this book. Unfortunately we are not too far off from this being our reality with current political heads in the US.

[Sofia]

To be honest, I am following this author since Thin blue lines, so this universe is familiar to me, even the characters, because Mackenzie is Rykee sister, and I already knew of her, let me just be straightforward, between Mackenzie and Rylee, I think I like Rylee more, because even if she was “forced”, Allison was a lovable consequence. In the end all we have is choices and we need to live with the fallout of our choices… and the rest is history.

This book follows Mackenzie that under the excuse of starting a foundation in Portugal, she gets a medical procedure that is forbidden in America, the way that the author gives us Mackenzie experience feels real and something that was experienced, so its crude and relatable. In my own bias, lets be honest, we all have our bias and even if we understand or think we understand the person, of why someone did something we in our inner thoughts judge and make our own reality around the situation of how we think we would react… and abortion is not something I would do, and for what I understood of the character of Mackenzie she didn’t think of terminating the pregnancy as something wrong, it was a way of control her life and she definitely didn’t see herself as a mother, I wonder if she will keep her mindset for all her life, but that is something that surely we will learn more in the future. That being said, I really enjoyed Mackenzie stay in Portugal, and the little bits where the author used Portuguese to make ambience to the story or the surroundings, that was fun. I think most of the Portuguese used had kind of a Brazilian feel to it, than Portuguese from Portugal.

This story ends up focusing much more into politics and the behind behind the scenes, so I need to say, sign me in to read what comes next, because I believe it will get more interesting. In the end I will say, I really enjoyed this book and I definitely want to read what comes next, so I can recommend it for everyone that enjoyed books like The handmaid tales or The Fertile ones or to everyone who enjoyed the other serie from this author.


I received a free ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.

[Colleen Hart]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mackenzie Williams, CEO of Three Sisters, finds herself pregnant and in need of an escape from the increasingly restrictive United States medical system. She has never wanted children and has no plans on keeping this one.

She disguises her newest business acquisition as a way to exit the country and have the medical procedures she seeks. While on this venture, she manages to tour buildings to purchase for a non profit that may also be able to help women who end up in the same situation as her. She is attempting to turn her escape into a safe haven for women with no money, no status, and no power. Until, her Uncle steps in and disrupts her whole plan.

I was completely shocked by this book if I am honest. I am guilty of judging the book by its cover. I had no idea of the premise going into reading. As I dug in, it felt more and more like the next step from modern day to The Handmaid’s Tale. It was intriguing and powerful in a way I didn’t expect.

[Sam]

Brilliant! This is a really great story, well written, it had my attention from the first paragraph & wow what an amazing adventure. I enjoyed every minute of it. Likeable characters, interesting scenarios & ideas, good levels of pacing & tension. Everything you could want from this style of book! I do recommend!