Title: Love Me or Leave Me: A Contemporary Memoir
Author: Gurmay Effrige Fraser
Publisher: Stratton Press
ISBN: 978-1648958519
Pages: 192
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Christina Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
One of the oldest and most difficult issues of violence to face the everyday person is tragically, domestic violence. The violence which can impact people in relationships has existed since the dawn of man, with relationships that begin in love or the idea of love, quickly souring and turning into power grabs for one person to try and control the other person and the direction of their family through violence and threats. This has become a prevalent theme in our modern-day culture, as many people walk the line between fear and courage that either keeps them loyal to their abusers or strong enough to turn away from their monsters and walk away forever.
In author Gurmay Effrige Fraser’s Love Me or Leave Me: A Contemporary Memoir, the author explores the hardships and struggles in modern-day relationships, in-particular the painful realities of domestic violence. Through the story of a young woman in South America, the story showcases the painful path many people, men and women alike, often find themselves on in life. Through powerful imagery and strong language, the author showcases everything from the leading moments of how a relationship began, to the everyday abuses that keep the victim in these relationships stuck in these situations, to the psychological impact on both the victim and even their children, and the rage-filled mindset and actions of the abusers themselves. In an inspiring twist, the author also showcases the personal power that a person’s faith and belief system can have on them, and can give a person the strength to leave behind the pattern of abuse they’ve known for so long.
The author did an incredible job of creating a moving and informative narrative that drew the reader in immediately. The relatability of the protagonist Norah and the frightening portrayal of Norah’s husband and antagonist Bert was breathtaking to behold, and kept me as a reader engaged in their journey from the manipulative beginning of their relationship all the way to the inspiring moments she finally breaks free from this cycle of abuse. The way the author unapologetically shares the disturbing realities of domestic violence, from the shocking imagery to the strong language and the chilling rage that often fuels men like Bert, helped to elevate the narrative and showcase the lessons the author layered into the protagonist’s story.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy blends of domestic suspense, contemporary romance, memoir-style narrative development, and a twist of religious/faith based development. The author found the perfect way to marry the original fictional story this narrative embodied with real-world lessons on the realities of domestic violence and how instances of faith and belief can help many people not only overcome these psychological and physical effects, but move on and find happiness in the wake of these tragic moments.
Haunting, empowering, and thought-provoking, author Gurmay Effrige Fraser’s Love Me or Leave Me: A Contemporary Memoir is a must-read novel and a powerful study in the realities of domestic violence. The perfect cautionary tale of what manipulative and monstrous behavior in relationships looks like, the story also works its way into showcasing the positive nature of relationships in the aftermath of such toxicity, and the healthy lessons in recovery and faith the author instills throughout this narrative will prove to be both engaging and empowering to readers who identify with this subject matter more than others.