I hate to say this about a memoir, especially one about escaping a hateful cult like Westboro, but I found it dry. Mostly it read to me like an ode to her dearly beloved family, and oh yeah some other stuff happened too but we won’t dwell on that because my family was so wonderful even though I had to leave. And actually I get the sense that that was exactly her point- she wants her family to understand why she left and leave too. But as an outsider, I wanted more! More interrogation of the Bible quotes she spews (some comes later but not enough, also chapter/verse please), more about her father, more about her grandfather’s abuses, more about why she didn’t know there were suddenly elders, how the powerful women allowed the shift to patriarchy, when did Sam marry and how, was Margie married and where were her kids, what happened to Grace and her mood swings, how did they make money when they left…so many unanswered questions. I wish the book had spent one chapter on her youth, fast forwarded to when she left, dealt with that a while, and then spent some time on where she is now- how has she changed, how has the church shifted, if at all, etc.

Short summary: Megan had an ideal childhood..apart from the intense indoctrination, relentless chores, and 10 other siblings. Eventually, doubt seeped its way in and she plotted her way out, not without endless tears.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐