Memoirs aren’t my typical read, but this book seemed to be having a moment at the beginning of 2025. Everybody was talking about it, probably because we all grew up on One Tree Hill and couldn’t wait to get our hands on the inside scoop.
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I figured I would at least give it a try, I do love Bethany Joy Lenz, and I was absolutely blown away by her writing, her story, and the way she brought her story to life in the audio version (the audiobook is a must!).
The story details her slow descent into a high control, religious group (aka a cult), an abusive marriage, and how she finally got out.
The entire story was so good. A lot of it was surprisingly relatable. She shared about just wanting to belong, and how initially the group was just a casual Bible study. I think as a young woman we all went through a phase of wanting to belong somewhere, and for many of us religious groups (like a Bible study) probably felt like the best way to do that.
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The book is well written and engaging. She does swear quite a bit (including the f-word) but I would say it’s fitting and doesn’t overpower the story.
I only wish we’d gotten a little bit more about her life since then- it seems like she left about ten years ago. I would have loved to hear more about her life since then.
Fantastic memoir, I highly recommend if it sounds like a good fit for you!
