Free felt very similar/repetitive to Amanda's first book Waiting to be Heard. I realize that the two books are dealing with the same topic so of course it's going to seem redundant in some areas. I just wasn't learning anything new about the experience. I hate that this happened to her and it's very unfortunate. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Nor can I imagine how she feels or what she deals with on a daily basis.

Most everyone knows who Amanda Knox is: She’s the American girl who spent four years in an Italian prison amidst an international media frenzy, accused (and convicted, later exonerated) of killing her British roommate. In FREE: MY SEARCH FOR MEANING, Knox describes how it felt to be incarcerated for a crime she didn’t commit. She also talks about how it feels to be vilified in the digital age and what it means for a woman to wear a red letter in today’s society.

Knox talks about forgiveness and kindness, two subjects that fascinate me. If Knox can look at the prosecutor who was, in large part, responsible for her vilification, and actually build a mutual respect/strange friendship with him, what are the possibilities for the rest of us, navigating through life with less severe traumas? What kind of a weight would this lift from our shoulders if we didn’t let others dictate our feelings of self worth and happiness?

I highlighted liberally while reading FREE. Knox is a strong, smart woman and I enjoyed this look into her life and her psyche. The book is succinct, impactful and definitely worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Grand Central Publishing for an early digital copy of FREE: MY SEARCH FOR MEANING in exchange for my honest feedback.

Wow, well-written! I have followed the Amanda Knox saga since her experience over a decade ago. I’ve held a range of opinions about the case and about Amanda herself, and was often misled by biased media coverage. I have noticed though how Amanda has taken back the narrative in the last few years, opening up and sharing her experiences. With this book, it felt like she finally had the chance to tell her story. I was blown away, and feel so much empathy and connection to Amanda. I feel as though she is a survivor, and has grown so much. Highly recommend

I have heard so much of Amanda’s story from headlines and news reports. It was refreshing to hear the full story from her instead. I really enjoyed that this book was not linear, it gave insight into what she had to go through and how it affected her in the immediate and long term.
This was not a story of anger or retribution, it’s actually a story of forgiveness and grace. And she is far more forgiving than I think I could ever be in her situation!

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to read this ebook early.Amanda Knox spent nearly four years in prison and eight years on trial for a murder she didn’t commit—and became a notorious tabloid story in the process. Though she was exonerated, it’s taken more than a decade for her to reclaim her identity and truly feel free.This book is about Amanda Knox’s reflection on her past and her journey to rebuild her future is a powerful and thought-provoking read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I have been obsessed with the Amanda Knox trial since it 1st started. We are around the same age and I felt like this could have happened to anyone I knew at the time. Her 1st book was amazing and so I was so excited when I got an ARC of this one. And it did not disappoint, I love her writing and story. She is raw and so real. Give this book all the stars.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: At the start of this book Knox addresses that this story is not about her criminal charges or experience. It's more about what happened in prison and her mental health recovery from trauma. I did really enjoy this, and I also align heavily with mindfulness which Knox pulls from. KNox was inspired by "Mans Search for Meaning,"' and basically this story follows her response to that influential novel. Knox holds space for the differences in her experience and Victors. I was young when Knox was charged but I remember thinking the things about her that are addressed in this story. It was eye opening. Grateful for the read.

read if you like:
💁🏻‍♀️ stories of self actualization
🥺 life recovery
💙 stories of forgiveness

summary:
Most everyone knows Amanda Knox’s story, but I don’t think many people (at least not me) know the story of her life when she returned to the United States. This book, written as the second book to her first one covering her time in Italian prison, follows her re-entry into society, and journey to find herself — and forgiveness. It juxtaposes many of her experiences from her time incarcerated with her time outside, and how the lessons she learned from her trauma have shaped who she is today. It was fun to learn about who she is now, her interests and her friends and family, and how she has reintegrated who she was into who she’s become. While it is less of a “gripping” tale of her saga, it’s more of a reflective story of loss, trust, identity and forgiveness — one we can all probably relate to in some way.

If you’re interested in knowing more about Amanda now, check this book out when it releases on March 25. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Amanda Knox’s reflection on her past and her journey to rebuild her future is a powerful and thought-provoking read. With raw honesty, she reflects on the tragedy that changed her life forever and explores its impact on her friends, family, and her reintegration into society. Her story serves as a reminder of how the internet can distort the truth and underscores the importance of finding resilience to move forward.

This was an extremely well written and profound collection centering around grief, resilience, and strength in the face of victimhood and impossibly hard situations. I think any of us can take what Amanda has been through and churned into wisdom and apply it to how we approach our own suffering and life changing experiences. This is a story of making the most of what life hands you, and I found it captivating.

Our college aged children were all considering overseas academic semesters in the mid-2000's, so the murder of foreign exchange student Meredith Kercher and subsequent trial of her roommate Amanda Knox captured my attention for years. Despite following the case and becoming familiar with the media presentations of the trial and various theories of what had actually happened that fateful evening in 2007, I was unfamiliar with the "true voice" of Amanda herself. Regardless of numerous investigative reports and published articles, hearing Amanda's explanations of the timeline associated with the crime, investigations, forensics, and trial procedures can now be presented in new light -- the true first person perspective in her own voice. Readers will be especially enlightened by the author's retelling of her time in prison balancing moments of intense duress with an unimaginable ability to maintain any semblance of sanity, hope, and even personal growth. Also interesting are the accounts of the author's life post-release from prison and the challenging return to civilian life back in the United States. Kudos to Amanda Knox for offering readers an honest perspective in her second published book "Free" of how to balance what has happened to you versus who you are as an individual.

This book is about Amanda during and after the trial and prison stay. She does have to deal with trauma on a daily basis while in prison.

I remember hearing about the Amanda Knox case when I was younger. I also remember watching the Lifetime movie. These kinds of cases are always interesting to me. Reading this I expected a little more about the time in prison, but I think she wanted to touch more on how those years shaped her life moving forward. She talks a little about how she felt inside and the people she met. This book was mostly about her trying to rebuild her life and the many obstacles Amanada has faced. I think that she explained more than she really should have to, but her honesty was very admirable. I hope that one people will realize that she was innocently convicted and the man that actually did murder her roommate is now out free after serving time for crimes that had to do with this case. If you are into true crime and know a little about the case this is a great read.

Most people know the story of Amanda Knox, who was imprisoned in Italy for 4 years for a crime she did not commit.

This is her 2nd book since her release from prison. Her first book, Waiting To Be Heard, focuses more on the case itself, whereas this book focuses more on Knox's life after prison.

Knox seems to have a very philosophical approach to life and has an ongoing (and understandable) need to have those who wrongly imprisoned her proclaim her innocence. She even sits down with the man who prosecuted her, with the hopes that he would admit to his wrongdoings.

Kindness was a theme throughout her childhood, and an important principle that she lives by today.

With that being said, I think many are going to find Knox very unlikeable in this book. I'm not sure that I can pinpoint one reason why. I think it's a culmination of things. Some of the topics Knox chose to write about seemed kind of odd and misplaced. Some may even say they were in poor taste.

The book also felt repetitious. I seemed to read the same sentence dozens of times. The organization seemed off to me, as well, leading to a very jumbled read.

I gave myself several days to sit on this one, as I wanted to see if my opinion changed. In the end, I just didn't like this book. And, that's ok! The fact remains that Knox should write about what she wants to write about, in the way she wants to write it, in order to speak her truth and find peace.

Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own and just that, opinions.

I haven’t known too much about her story before but I’m grateful I had the opportunity to read about it through this book. It opened my eyes to a lot of problems in our country.

Amanda Knox’s "Free: My Search for Freedom" is a heartfelt and deeply personal look at what life is like after incarceration, especially when the world won’t let you forget your past. Knox reflects on the challenges of rebuilding her life—navigating relationships, finding work, and reclaiming her identity—all while living under the weight of public scrutiny.

The book shines when Knox dives into her personal growth, her journey with spirituality, and her unexpected reconciliation with the prosecutor who helped convict her. Her insights into how the media twisted her story are eye-opening, showing just how much damage sensationalism can do.

At times, though, the book feels a bit stuck on her quest for public vindication. While it’s easy to understand why she wants to be believed, it sometimes overshadows the other powerful parts of her story.

Still, Free is an emotional and thought-provoking read. It’s a story of resilience, honesty, and finding your way after unimaginable challenges. If you’re interested in true crime, the impact of media, or stories of perseverance, this book is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my free review copy.

This book was poignant and informative. It gave me details about the case and how horrible the prison system is. The sexism and hearing Amanda describe the ways she was failed really hit deep. She’s an incredible writer and it was nice to see her own words

This is Amandas story of pursuing freedom after being released from prison- and how she has learned to redefine what it truly means to be free. Even though she is physically free and out of prison she will forever be tied to the death of her study abroad roommate Meredith Kercher. She discusses her exploration of dating, spirituality, wanting to be a mother, navigating a world where everyone knows your past, and returning to the place that changed the trajectory of her life- Italy. I think this is an interesting read on people who are released from prison and what all obstacles they have to face for the rest of their lives that we may not think about (her moms fear of her being put back in prison and losing her daughter all over again, do people actually love her/want to be her friend for who she is or just because she's Amanda Knox, how to find a job where someone trusts you when you are viewed as a criminal, etc). I enjoyed that aspect into her life as well as her desire to reconcile with her accuser. A lot of this book felt like she was begging people to admit that she was innocent (which i can totally understand) but it felt like that became the main focus of her life for a while. She talks about the impact of media on a story and what small detail can get made into a whole untrue story by the media. Interesting read that has its moments and you just get to go along for the ride as a reader.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review. Book is set to release 3/25/25

“We’ve advanced far beyond the days of Salem, 1692. Now we’re all experts at witch-burning.” -Amanda Knox

That line from Free: My Search for Meaning sums up the book even better than the sales copy. The story isn’t about the case as much as it is about the author’s reaction to what happened to her during four years of wrongful imprisonment in her early 20s in Italy.

Reviewing non-fiction about someone’s tragedy is hard because it requires separating feelings about the author and her trauma from the actual writing. I read, listen to, and watch a lot of true crime, focusing on legal systems and the impact of crime, investigation, and conviction. I adored A Mother’s Reckoning by Sue Klebold who painted her son Dylan in a way only his mother could in the wake of the Columbine shooting, converting her horrible experience into her life’s work of raising awareness.

Free is somewhat like that. In processing why Amanda’s prosecutor targeted and character-assassinated her, she’s come away to heighten awareness of the dangers of the international media headlines that distorted an innocent childhood soccer nickname, “Foxy Knoxy,” into the moniker for a perverted killer who deserved life in prison.

We are not the things people say about us online. Period.

Amanda makes the point loudly and clearly, and I wholeheartedly agree with her urging for stronger online protections, accountability, and cultural reform so that women who are comfortable in their skin or, God forbid, “sexy” are not harshly judged by all who hold purity as the expectation of womanhood.

She mentions the “Lewinsky scandal” and wonders why it isn’t the “Clinton scandal” since he was the married man at the other end of that affair. He had what Amanda didn’t: male privilege. The same thing Rudy Guede has having already been released from prison without his name and reputation being tied to a case perpetually linked to this author.

Free has some shining moments where Amanda conveys a message of hope in dire situations, like during prison. Those chapters are among my favorites because the universal lesson of “every day is what we make of it” is something we can all learn from. Prison gives you a pile of potatoes in Italy? You make gnocchi.

Self-discovery is never an easy process for any young adult. Amanda was able to use her talents, will, and relative privilege to help her fellow inmates, forge a lifelong bond with a prison chaplain (as an atheist), and become enlightened far beyond her years.

However, at some point, Free devolves into a blame narrative. Much of the book focuses on Amanda seeking to get Dr. Giuliano Mignini, her prosecutor, to admit that he’d been wrong in his dogged pursuit of her, and in advocating for her repeated conviction. From a storytelling perspective, it felt overdone and like a desperate plea for a different type of exoneration: One at the hand of her pursuer.

Overall, Free: My Search for Meaning is a well-written, pensive exploration of the sensational case of Meredith Kercher’s murder from the perspective of someone who will forever be inextricably tied to something she did not do. I close this book with the feeling that despite Amanda’s hopeful messages, there is still a growth opportunity for the author. It's easy for me to say as a reviewer, but Amanda's account feels like it reinforces her place at the center of Meredith’s murder.

Given the platform this book affords her, perhaps Amanda’s incisive account could have demonstrated a stronger understanding of the reasons the Kercher family might not choose to engage with her. Not an apology for wrongdoing, but maybe one about their loss. Perhaps something about how Meredith's murder affected Amanda in the context of what it means to be a daughter or friend. Was there a burial ceremony? How did Amanda feel about not being able to attend? Had she wanted to comfort the Kerchers despite the allegations of her being the killer, or did these things not cross her mind because all she could focus on was her desire to go home? I can’t help feeling like there was more to be said than that Amanda and Meredith thrifted together and she barely knew Meredith in their brief five weeks of friendship before her death.

Amanda believes this crime has multiple victims, and I agree. So many lives were upheaved and ruined, but after reading Amanda’s account, which casually mentions her now being a podcaster, I can’t help feeling that the author herself continues to be at the center of this case, using the notoriety for personal gain may be more than as a springboard for meaningful criminal justice change. If she is pursuing that avenue, beyond giving a few talks here and there, her efforts are not well covered within Free. Perhaps that isn’t the story she meant to tell, but I walk away with a different feeling from when I read Sue Klebold’s memoir. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is other than to say despite the offering of food for thought about the dangers of unchecked character assassination in a digital world, Amanda’s determination to be seen as truly innocent is clouded by a lens of victimhood and vitriol shrouded in olive branches.

Thank you to Amanda Knox, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC of Free: My Search for Meaning.

This book kept my full attention for its entirety and I couldn’t put it down. Everyone should read this book