Know My Name: A Memoir

Miller begins her unputdownable debut memoir by introducing herself, relating her experience as both Chanel Miller and Emily Doe, two overlapping yet separate identities, during the span of 15 months as her sexual assault case went to trial—and lingered there. She describes the night of the crime at Stanford, which included being separated from her sister and friends and waking up in an unfamiliar place. Miller’s writing shines as she recounts her initial efforts to find a corner of the world where she could disappear, moving from Providence to Philadelphia, all the while in a fog, feeling present but detached. For Miller, time didn’t move but rather deepened. She depicts the trial day by day, along with the difficulties of navigating the legal system. As this pivotal event impacts all aspects of her life, Miller considers the influence on her family, her boyfriend, and the two students who saved her. A powerful chapter on the outpouring of support she received after BuzzFeed published her victim impact statement rounds out the book; the full piece is included in an epilog.