Please Don’t Marry Me by Irene Williams

A heart-rending tale centered on faith, power, independence, and redemption, Please Don’t Marry Me: The Alyssa Holt Story by Irene Williams is a searing portrait of feminine survival in a world built by men. On the cusp of womanhood, Alyssa Holt runs away to Los Angeles to escape a marriage proposal from her lecherous small-town pastor, eventually finding happiness with new friends and a positive direction in life. However, Alyssa is soon drawn into another marital scam, one that echoes her past trauma, forcing her to confront what she truly desires in terms of love, connection, and commitment. Despite leaning a bit too much on exposition, the novel’s believable characters and timely themes will resonate with anyone who has struggled under the ever-present pressure of male-dominated society, for a harrowing but immensely powerful read.