Highlights
- Maya Henry's new book "Looking Forward" draws from her real life experiences, including terminating a pregnancy like the main character.
- Maya explained that she used her own painful experience with the abortion pill to influence her book's narrative, challenging societal expectations.
- The book contains sensitive subjects like abuse, violence, and self-harm, with Maya hoping it helps readers feel less alone in their own struggles.
Liam Payne’s ex-girlfriend Maya Henry’s new book has hit the shelves, Looking Forward, which, though fictional, is inspired by her own life. While promoting the book, she revealed that she’s terminated a pregnancy like the main character, leaving fans to speculate if she was with Liam at the time.
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Maya’s Book Is About Her Lived Experiences
"It was very lonely, having these men tell you, ‘Oh, it’s going to feel like a heavy period, it’s not going to be that painful, it’s going to be easy.’ But I’m like, you’ve never even gone through anything like [this], so how would you know to tell me?" she told PEOPLE.
As to why she wanted to use her real life experience to influence her book narrative, Maya explained, "Because I’ve seen so many people online talk about taking the abortion pill and it was the most painful thing for them. It’s just mind boggling to me that you could tell a woman how they’re going to feel."
The former couple were first linked in 2018, even getting engaged in 2020. But while promoting her book earlier this year, Maya said that year was particularly dark . Her post caused fans to wonder if her book’s protagonist’s experience in an abusive relationship was inspired by her own.
“2020 was a dark and scary time for all of us. I was coming off a period in my life filled with a lot of pain,” she wrote on Instagram. “However, I learned that the great thing about pain is that it can inspire something beautiful.”
Why Maya Says She Wrote The Book
“Writing has always been my passion, and I journaled about my experiences throughout the pandemic. Eventually, this journal evolved into a novel,” Maya continued. “I’m very nervous to share a project that was once my most personal outlet of joy and freedom - a story I never intended to share.”
She also gave a warning to readers about the strong subject matter but added she hopes it’s helpful to people who can relate.
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“I hope that by doing so, anyone out there experiencing similar trauma and hardships as my main character will feel less alone. More details coming soon,” Maya added. “This book contains sensitive material relating to: abuse, violence, self-harm, drug and alcohol use, eating disorders and abortion.”
Liam and Maya had a brief split in 2021, before reconciling the following year. However, they officially called it quits that same year, and given all Maya has said in the aftermath of their relationship, there doesn’t seem any hope these two will get back together. But what does seem likely s that fans will continue to speculate about the coupe’s mysterious break-up, including what parallels Maya’s book shares with her IRL experiences.
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