I Have Something to Tell You

Chasten was one of the few candidate spouses I loved following on social media through the campaign trail because there is genuine warmth in his words and he just seemed very normal. And that persona truly comes across in his memoir, especially while listening to him narrate his story. While he makes it seem a lot of fun to listen to, there is also a lot of pain that comes across especially when he is talking about his teenage years, grappling with his sexuality while living in an environment that seemed very antagonistic to his existence. But his meeting Mayor Pete and the story leading upto their marriage is really sweet, but very much contrasting to what happens next during the campaign. I liked his insights into how it all works because it feels like the account is coming from someone normal and outside of the political milieu, just like us everyday citizens and it was a fascinating insight. And I'm sure it can't be easy for anyone to go from being a middle school teacher to getting death threats in the mail.

Overall, this was a very heartfelt look into his life until now, all the sad and happy parts put together, and I enjoyed getting to know him better. And I can only wish good luck for their future.

Even though I'm European, I followed this year's Democratic primary with great interest and was very impressed by Pete Buttigieg, easily the most visionary and progressive in the race. This book seemed like a great opportunity to learn more about him and his husband Chasten, and get the most detailed behind-the-scenes look at the extraordinary campaign they ran.

Chasten did not disappoint. I was struck by how compelling his own story was, even before he met Pete. He writes beautifully and is very good at getting you to empathize with him. His life has not been easy, and the campaign wasn't easy, but he focuses on how the experiences shaped him or what he learned from them, rather than dwell on the negativity. It makes for a narrative that is both an emotional roller coaster yet also uplifting.

His story with Pete takes up about 60% of the book, so readers who don't care as much about Chasten's background still have plenty to get into. Those who were disappointed that Pete's excellent memoir Shortest Way Home was more about his relationship with his city than with his husband should find this a far more satisfying read. Chasten makes it very obvious how much he loves Pete, but also how much Pete loves him in return. They're one of those couples that just fit together perfectly.

While Buttigieg fans and LGBTQ people will no doubt get the most out of this memoir, I can easily recommend this to anyone.