Ratings4
Average rating4.5
In this funny and heartfelt coming-of-age memoir, the author recalls his teenage journey to find the person he is without losing the family who loves him. The plot contains sexual situations.
Reviews with the most likes.
Books I will always be interested in: memoirs about growing up fundamentalist/evangelical. This one was excellent. I do wonder what happened to Aaron after high school graduation - especially coming out and all that stuff.
Heartbreaking and beautiful. I could not stop reading it
Ahh! I loved this and also got an anxiety tummyache from it at some points. More than anything it reminded me of [b:The Glass Castle 7445 The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1368431406s/7445.jpg 2944133] for being a memoir about a family that's so strange and may seem abusive to an outsider, but is written about with such compassion and humaneness for everyone involved. Reading it, your heart breaks for young Aaron, growing up gay in a VERY strict evangelical Christian household, but he also makes you understand that his parents genuinely think they're doing what's best for him. He finds humor in aspects of their religious practice while never making light of their faith. It's a pretty impressive tightrope to walk and he does it admirably, I think!!He also successfully makes the reader understand how high stakes things can become with an upbringing like this. Like I almost had a heart attack when Aaron realized he left his forbidden Bon Jovi cassette in his mom's car. Whew!! Recommended for anyone really, but anyone who grew up in an evangelical family or area maybe especially appreciate it, as might LGBTQQ teens. Or anyone who loves a skillfully written memoir cuz damn this one's good.