I feel so much empathy for Mayci Neeley after reading this book. It was well written and straightforward, evocative, and emotional. Her writing gets straight to the heart of the story and I liked that a lot. Her story is so tragic. I appreciated how much she included about the Mormon church and how it shaped her experiences as a teenager and young adult. I think that's important context for what she went through. I think that she is so brave for sharing the truth of her story and how it has made her stronger. It was sweet to see the "ending" where she ends up with Jacob, who truly cherishes her and her son.

3.5 stars--rounding up to 4.

This is a great memoir targeted for younger/college-aged individuals. Personally, I do not follow "momtok" or the Mormon wives show, but this story had little to do with her rise to fame, and more so the trauma she endured after high school and into college. She goes into detail about her religion, past relationships, college life and navigating life as a new mom. Whether you know of her or not, I think this memoir really is insightful but also heartbreaking. There are lots of moments that I think a lot of younger women can relate to, such as the love-bombing and feeling like you are being taken advantage of by another person. It's crazy how many people go through similar situations...but you don't realize what's happening until you're out of the toxic relationship.. but also it shows just how hard it is to leave.

I definitely would recommend this to anyone who may be a follower of hers. I did some diving into her social medias and it seems like she has been very open about her past anyway, but this gives a little more insight. I thought it was GENIUS that instead of naming her abuser, she gave him the nickname "Dick". I do not know much about the Mormon faith, but I did find it strange that her parents were so negatively involved after she found out she was pregnant, as far as trying to get as much distance between her and her baby daddy. That definitely broke my heart for her, especially with everything that happened after.. It leaves you with a bunch of "What if?" moments.. but if you look at her now, she definitely seems to be on the right path.

Thank you Simon and Schuster, and thank you NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of Told You So. Like many, I first came across Mayci Neeley through reality tv. I only knew her background as far as it was mentioned in the show. Her memoir was illuminating. As a culture I don't think we do enough to understand how a woman who seemingly has so much going for her can find herself in and stay in an abusive relationship. Neeley's recollection of her relationships, religion, and college experience shows how many factors come into play. On a lighter note, it was interesting to see how she built a career for herself as an influencer. This is a must read for young women.

I was so excited to get my hands on this ARC because (1) I love The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and (2) I absolutely adore Mayci. Out of all the women on the show, she’s the one I’ve always been most curious about, so when she mentioned she was writing a book, I was like, “YES PLEASE.” And let me tell you, Told You So delivers.

This isn’t your typical MomTok drama fest or a spicy tell all full of TikTok tea. Nope. This is Mayci’s story. It is raw, real, and honestly… kind of unbelievable in the best way. From BYU tennis star to unexpectedly pregnant, to dealing with unimaginable grief, to navigating life as a single mom, to finding love again and diving into IVF, her journey is emotional, messy, funny, and incredibly brave.

What I loved most was getting an honest, behind the scenes look at what it’s really like growing up Mormon. Mayci shares the kind of stuff that doesn’t make it into group content or Instagram captions, things about faith, pressure, shame, and figuring yourself out in a world that doesn’t exactly make that easy. I appreciate that she was finally ready to open up about everything she’s been through.

Now, heads up... the writing style is a little choppy. The chapters are short and sometimes it feels like you’re flipping through diary entries rather than reading a linear memoir. BUT honestly? I didn’t mind. It kind of worked for her storytelling style. It kept things moving, and because the story is so compelling, I adjusted pretty quickly.

Mayci is truly a resilient queen. This book is for fans of the show, yes, but also for anyone who’s ever felt lost, stuck, or like they weren’t sure how they were going to get through the hard stuff, as well as those who have experienced trying times within their own faith. She shows us that it is possible and also very beautiful to wear your scars out loud.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mayci Neeley, and Simon & Schuster for the eARC of this book.

Five out of five! I finished this book in two days. Mayci has such an unbelievable story that you do not get to see on the secret lives of Mormon wives. This was beautifully written and such an easy read. I'm so glassy I was given the opportunity to eat this early!

well-written and interesting memoir. I'd never heard of Mayci or the show before, but I came out of this memoir quite intrigued. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Mayci!!! Girl!!!! You are SO strong and brave and vulnerable. I am more obsessed with you than ever after reading your story. Your story is a love letter to love in all its forms: love for your parents and siblings, love for your children and husband, love for the sport that made you who you are, and love for yourself and the things that have made you grow.

Readers, this is NOT A MOMTOK TELL ALL. It is so much more than that! It’s not a trashy memoir that someone wrote to be trendy. This is a hard, dark, deep story of pain and resilience and growth. Let Mayci speak for herself, I guarantee you will be impressed.

The only semi negative thing I want to note: the writing felt so awkward at first. The sentences are so choppy and the chapters are really short, and it’s all written in the present tense even though the stories take place in the past. I got used to the choppy writing eventually, and instead of awkward it became wry and truthful. But these things make it compulsively readable! I literally could not stop reading to go to bed because I could just read ~~ one more chapter, haha.

Love you Mayci. You are a good mother and friend and daughter and wife. Thank you for sharing your story!!