Ghosted: An American Story

by Nancy French

A riveting look inside a life of poverty, success, and the inner circles of political influence--from the foothills of Appalachia all the way to the White House. New York Times bestselling ghostwriter Nancy French is coming out of the shadows to tell her own incredible story. Nancy's family hails from the foothills of the Appalachians, where life was dominated by coal mining, violence, abuse, and poverty. Longing for an adventure, she married a stranger, moved to New York, and dropped out of college. In spite of her lack of education, she found success as a ghostwriter for conservative political leaders. However, when she was unwilling to endorse an unsuitable president, her allies turned on her and she found herself spiritually adrift, politically confused, and occupationally unemployable. Republicans mocked her, white nationalists targeted her, and her church community alienated her. But in spite of death threats, sexual humiliation, and political ostracization, she learned the importance of finding her own voice--and that the people she thought were her enemies could be her closest friends. A poignant and engrossing memoir filled with humor and personal insights, Ghosted is a deeply American story of change, loss, and ultimately love.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Politics, Biography, Biography Memoir, Religion

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Nancy French is author of the 2025 Evangelical Memoir of the Year, GHOSTED: an AMERICAN STORY. She has also collaborated on multiple books for celebrities - six of which made the New York Times best seller list. She has conducted a multi-year journalistic investigation, written commentary, and published for the nation’s most prominent newspapers and magazines.

She lives in Chicago with her husband – journalist David French – and family.

Reviews

[Raymond Muraida · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I received an email from Goodreads that I had been selected to read Nancy French’s Ghosted, I was, at first, elated that I had been selected to read Ms. French’s book. When the book arrived, I saw that the publisher was Zondervan and my elation turned to dread. As a regular practice, I do not find myself reading any Christian fiction or non-fiction books. However, that said, I owed it to Goodreads, Zondervan and Ms. French to step outside my comfort zone and take a peek at Ghosted and give a good-faith (no pun intended) review. When I finished the book three days later, I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the book a whole heck of a lot.
Ms. French, a ghostwriter by trade, tells her story of growing up in a conservative and religious household in a small town, the struggles and heartbreaks during her college days, her rather quick decision to marry (with a wedding in Paris, no less), her own family’s triumphs and setbacks (wartime enlistment, childbearing/rearing and adoptions), and her career as a writer. Boiling beneath those years growing up are sexual, mental and physical abuses that she quietly endured; but struggled with immensely.
As I read the book, I first struggled a lot with Ms. French’s religious and political ideology. As I read more, I could see that she, in fact, was having those same struggles. Particularly when Donald Trump took his escalator ride and announced that he was running for President. She and her husband, political writer David French, found themselves quickly becoming outsiders after being nearly in the inner circle of all things conservative.
I am glad I set aside my own personal feelings and took the time to read Nancy French’s Ghosted.

[Mandi Ehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't stop thinking about this book. I've long been a fan of David French's writing — even when we disagree politically — and have known parts of this story. But Nancy is a fanstastic writer, and this raw and authentic memoir shares both her story as the daughter of "Tennessee hillbillies" turned wife of a prospective presidential candidate as well as her experiences within — and without — the evangelical church and the changing Republican party.

[Rick Lee Lee James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant, funny, heartbreaking, just an amazing tale of an amazing lady. Though abused at an early age by a man in her church, she felt it was her fault. She ran from God but God wouldn’t let go. She became a ghost writer for Republican celebrities, went from Republican poster girl to pariah because of her refusal to support a sexual predator for President. This is just a small part of her story that is marked by a gracious God who continues to unfold her story. Just a powerful book.

[Jaran]

This is a story told well. Nancy French spends time with the Church of Christ and the Republican National Committee, two institutions that I have had some exposure to, but not with the clarity that this book offers. Her words about sexual abuse badly need to be heard.

[Debbie Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy French is my new hero. I am inspired by her courage and compassion in telling her own story of sexual abuse and reporting on the Kanukak Camp sexual abuse scandal. She and her husband David have persevered through intense criticism to speak truth with integrity to those in powerful positions. She’s also a really good writer- I laughed and I cried, sometimes on the same page!

[Kelsi Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok. My 4⭐️ rating does NOT mean that I am in agreement or on board with French’s opinion on everything. This book was really interesting and engaging and I think worth a read, so that’s why I gave it a 4. Firstly, French has great cause for her position and I can understand and respect where she is coming from. That being said…I think Christians, the Church, and Republicans were poorly represented here. Y’all, there’s bad and evil people EVERYWHERE. Nancy had a terrible lot with some church people and conservatives…she did a great job of uncovering some real bad people…but she never shared any positive or good in the church, which she still attends one so it was sad her audience didn’t get to hear about the existence of good churches. She said it wasn’t fair of her in the past to lump the left in one group yet she has no problem lumping the right altogether as guilty when her position didn’t align anymore. Lastly, I think grace and redemption were absent from this book, (I’m NOT talking about her abuser) the character of Jesus wasn’t super prevalent, most of the talk of the church, evangelicals and the GOP was negative and I think its pretty extreme to jump ship when you don’t like one of the captains that won’t be there forever. She never once tried as a Christian to win anyone to Christ through this book and her identity seems far deeper rooted in her lived experiences than in Christ (perhaps it’s not but that is definitely how the book read to me). The book did not share the hope and grace of Jesus, a really big missed opportunity in my opinion.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional read. First, I think many of us have learned a hard lesson that unwholesome words are that regardless of who’s saying them-and this was a hard lesson for Nancy to learn when the people she used to provide them for turned them back on her and David. The hurt from that created empathy that had to come from life experience (I’ve had this as well, and it’s a VERY painful lesson). Lastly, I’m thankful she’s using her own voice in her writing as I’m not a fan of ghost writing. The most important things though are how many terrible things she’s had happen to her, and how awfully she (& family) have been treated. It’s a disgrace. I commend her bravery, vulnerability, courage, love, and grace. So many difficult things have been done to her, and the shame thrown at her by supposed “Christians” is disgusting. I am thankful for her continued work on the Kanakuk Camp story, as we cannot continue to allow God’s children to be abused without accountability. Highly recommend.

[Heidi Chiavaroli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would put this authentic, courageous memoir right up there with A Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore and Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri. Ghosted is a necessary and even inspiring book that is not without difficult and challenging topics. It held me captivated from page one. I highly recommend!

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m constantly dumbfounded by Christians who support Trump. When I found Nancy on Twitter and heard some of her back story, I was immediately curious to read her book. I wanted to know what it was like to be in the room of the GOP as Trump wrestled control.

Nancy’s memoir gave me more than I bargained for. I have spent the past few years deconstructing my own evangelical past and searching for faith and meaning in a way that is more authentic for me. Nancy certainly has not tread the same path at me but there was much of her journey that I could relate to.

She has sat right in the middle of the conservative world and has managed to avoid the craziness of Trump and for that I have the upmost respect for her. Her journey is heartbreaking and fascinating at the same time.

I’m always saying to my children - I don’t want you to be thinking exactly the same thing in 5, 10 years time. I want you to be curious and ready to evaluate new information and be open to changing your mind and growing. Nancy’s memoir is an excellent example of someone who has done this in her own life. Even down to the final pages where she talks about recording her parents’ stories. She has processed their past and their relationship so well. I was moved by her gracious understanding of what her parents had sacrificed to get her where she is now.

[Caleb Stechschulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two years ago I started reading to David French's columns in The Dispatch and listening to him on the legal analysis podcast Advisory Opinions. I was drawn to him because his niche in the field of journalism is his perspective as a conservative of the Reagan-Romney eras of Republican thought. His wife (Nancy) was also in this realm as a ghost writer for Republican politicians through the 2000's, before something happened that changed the trajectory of their careers: Republicans (and disappointingly the majority of Evangelical Christians) started accepting, then justifying, then supporting, and finally embracing a presidential candidate who has cheated on each of his three wives (one time with a porn star while his wife was at home with their young child), has appeared in a Playboy softcore porn movie, and has 28 detailed accusations of sexual assault and misconduct against him.

David and Nancy French figured that this man probably was not someone that Republicans nor Christians should throw their weight behind, and spoke out. For Nancy this was also vulnerable, as she is a survivor of sexual assault. Due to their courage to speak out they lost friends, lost jobs and contracts, were ridiculed online and in person, and have been called traitors and much worse. Despite all that, they have stood for their faith, have spoken up for survivors of sexual assault, have carved out a niche as conservatives who have not changed or compromised on their political or religious beliefs, even as their old party compromised every single one of them at the altar of power. I have great respect for David and Nancy, and am thankful that I, a politically homeless person, stumbled across their voices and have been able to find sane voices in an insane world.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed the writing and podcasting of Nancy French's husband for years. It is not an exaggeration to say that David French is the most consistent, powerful voice of political reason in my life. His integrity, compassion and courage in speaking out against Trumpism as a conservative Christian and legal expert in the First Amendment is so stabilizing for me amidst the chaos.

Through David, I've heard several interviews with Nancy and been impressed with her lengthy investigation into Kanakuk camp. I was eager to hear more about her. The Frenches have both taken a strong stance against the prevailing mindset that's so prevalent in religion and politics nowadays, namely: "If this news doesn't help our side, just ignore or deny it! The end justifies the means! We need to win at all costs!" They're modeling a posture of public engagement that puts truth and character ahead of public image or short-term political gain, and it's outrageously refreshing.

Nancy's memoir is full of stories, some familiar to me, some not. It was interesting to get a fuller picture of her life and work. She's honest, vulnerable and humble as she describes the toll that her anti-Trump stance has taken on her career and personal life.

In short, I found her memoir inspiring and heartening. Recommended. (If you live in Denver, I can loan you a copy... my house accidentally bought two.)

[Ella Edelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have followed David French for several years now and respect him and his work immensely. I was introduced to his wife when she was recently interviewed by Russell Moore on his podcast and I was intrigued by her story, which she tells in this memoir. It’s impossible not to like Nancy: she is forthright and honest, comes across as humble and open-hearted, and she is grounded in a faith that balances both truth and love. I was moved by her insistence that there is goodness and common ground to be found across political and cultural divides, that God can in fact, be found anywhere we choose to look, and that he cares enough to guide our every step. This is a story of pain and loss, abuse and disillusionment, abandonment and betrayal. But it is also a story of love and redemption, and there were moments that nearly brought me to tears. I really enjoyed this one, and listening to the author narrate it was a bonus.

[Linda Filcek · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read. Well written. Good autobiography. I appreciated reading her perspective on faith and politics. I would love to meet her in real life!

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was written from a very interesting perspective, I think it is really important to read books from a variety of authors. I disagree with a lot of her political standpoints, but I have a lot of respect for Nancy French for sharing her stories and standing up for herself.

I also discovered “monteagle mountain” by Johnny Cash because of this book, which is an excellent song.

[Elizabeth McMahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy French’s memoir is a page-turner, but it certainly does not inspire happy feelings. Everyone needs to read Nancy’s story, yet she has shared it before and people have mocked her and called her a liar. This memoir calls for compassion for those who are abused, for those disillusioned by the church, and for our own neighbors and loved ones. Nancy writes with so much vulnerability, mixed with humor. She does not shrink away from the lies she has told, mistakes she has made, abuse she has experienced, and depression she has fought. Despite all the evils Nancy and her family faced (and continue to face today), Nancy remained a faithful Christian, patriot, and neighbor. The last two pages of the book reveal her heart and the book is a testament to God’s work in her life.

[Joshua Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me love the Frenches all the more! Grateful for Nancy telling her story and for the many ways she’s seeking to give a voice to the voiceless. Unfortunately, her story is another sad example of the church and conservatives seeking to protect their own and strive after power instead of telling the truth and defending the oppressed and abused. May we listen and learn from Nancy and all those for whom she speaks.

[Mary Kenyon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I selected this book because I was interested in hearing the experience of a conservative who had enough conviction to know that Donald Trump was a terrible person from the outset. It takes strength to go against the tide. But this book doesn’t really explore that at all. She doesn’t own up to or express regret for her role in stoking the climate that laid the groundwork for someone like Trump to rise to power.

I do strongly empathize with the betrayal she felt at the lack of accountability within her church and other Christian churches. Covering up sexual abuse because the abuser is willing to “bring the word of God to others” is despicable. She was not at fault and no church or home teaching ever should have let her feel this way. This is why it is vital for children to have access to non-faith-based, age-appropriate sex education.

This was a very hard book to be reading the same week Donald Trump was reelected.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truly grateful for the French family and others like them who find a way to be politically involved without getting swept up in the expediency of winning at all costs. Something about French’s voice was just too narrow and tightly controlled. Her story—from hillbilly upbringing to national platform—is a great one and she’s courageous to share some of the worst moments of her life. I just sensed a lack of self-reflection that made her too ready to cast herself as the hero of every episode.

[Brenda Shirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written book. Although the story line is gut-wrenching and heavy at times, it is still worth the read and the conclusion the author comes to at the end.

[Desiree Kuhns · Rating 4 out of 5]

A needed perspective on issues such as sexual abuse, institutional corruption, and the religious right.
Her narrative explanation of the damage caused to an individual by abuse was eye-opening.

[Lauren Klomparens · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a ghost writer, this author shares an interesting perspective. I related to her struggle in this political climate feeling like she doesn't belong in any political party.

[Kelsey Williams]

Well written and read by the author!

[Mattie Vandiver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was initially drawn to this book for a couple of reasons: French’s Appalachian/Southern upbringing and her feeling politically homeless in the post-Trump era. This book is French’s life story. On the surface, it’s about a girl who faces abuse from a pastor in her youth, becomes a ghostwriter for high level political conservatives, and then was part of the larger #MeToo movement. On a deeper level, it’s a story about a woman who would no longer sit by as sexual abuse pervaded in political and church settings she was a part of and how she reconciled this with her faith.

[Brooke Lathram · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I listened to the entire ten-hour audio book over a 48-hour period. The stories were captivating, the author’s beautiful southern accent a pleasure to listen to. I’ve described it as the perfect antidote for those who liked _Hillbilly Elegy_ but are disappointed by JD Vance’s turn to the dark side, or for those who, like me, are glad they never read it. Nancy French has her finger on the pulse of what it’s like to be a woman in the rural south.

[Chris Frakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most captivating book I’ve read in 2024. Absolutely incredible story telling.

[Amy Simpson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Separating the book from the person (because I really respect and admire David and Nancy, and have considered them both to be trustworthy guides in our current culture), I found the actual storytelling to be lacking. As one reviewer has already mentioned, the book is written in a tightly controlled voice - and while I generally agree with where the Frenches stand on issues, the narrative felt like it existed to serve the purpose of an eventual viewpoint, more heavy handed than I would have liked. 5 stars for bravery in putting her story out there.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghosted is the personal memoir of Nancy French and her family as she chronicles their journey among the religious right of the early 21st century. The book is refreshing in that Nancy does not go down the deconstruction road as so many of these stories do, but it is an object lesson more reminiscent of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". After being thrown out of influence within the GOP, Nancy takes us on an unlikely journey of "MeToo" that doesn't fit the political narrative. In facing her own childhood abuse, she discovers how to comfort others and break with the prevailing, corrupting political partisanship that now invades our public spaces.

I count the National Review as one of my favorite periodicals. I still identify with William Buckley, e.g. as our government creeps into every facet of our lives and tyranny grows, I feel myself crying like Buckley, "Stop!". Buckley's National Review has been a consistent source of conservative libertarian wisdom since I have been born. For many years, David French was one of the greatest legal minds that educated us on its pages. Little did I know he was married to a wonderful woman who is an excellent storyteller in her own right.

Nancy was born in the Appalachian foothills of Kentucky and is an 1/8th Cherokee. They didn't have much money and moved to Tennessee when she was a little girl. While only 12 and 13, a pastor raped her in her own house and pretended to be in love with her. The 'affair' lasted some time, but was finally broken off by him. Given she was so young, she did not know how to process this, so she took the blame of this herself and thought it was her sin that created the whole situation. Not until she revisited the events during "MeToo" did she begin to understand how much innocence was taken from her.

Nancy went to Lipscomb University, a conservative Christian college in Nashville, where David French also attended. Nancy had talked to David over the phone before she attended and this conversation inspired her to go to college. After losing a dear friend to a car accident during college, Nancy happened to run into David and they talked for hours. Sensing a deep connection, they started dating immediately and married shortly thereafter.

They moved to New York as he took legal positions and she enrolled at NYU. David's eclectic career (chairman of FIRE, JAG legal officer in the Iraq War, National Review columnist, NYTimes columnist) had them moving around a lot. They had two children and she started writing as a hobby. She discovered she had a tremendous gift and she started 'ghost writing' many famous folks (Bristol Palin, Shawna Johnson, etc) and actually had many bestsellers. At their 'high water' mark, she had lived with the Palin's and was on first name basis with the Romney's and McCain's. Then 2016 happened.

The French's were touched by families in Ethiopia who were displaced by the many famines there and pursued adoption of a little girl. Once Trump started to run for office, the alt right media outlets started personal attack campaigns against prominent 'RINO' conservatives who were pro immigration. One of these outlets was Breitbart news... Bannon's shock troops went on a scorched earth campaign to discredit David French and his black adopted daughter became a prime target. The French's were understandably revolted by this new development. Thinking most conservatives would see through this hate, Nancy was disturbed to find out that Trump had won the nomination. After months of having to go on Trump campaign stops due to her media job requirements, she finally couldn't stomach it any more and eventually severed ties with the the Trump movement.

Nancy and David continued to be startled by the hate leveled against them for not supporting Trump. Finally, they came to be in active opposition with Trump which started to become reflected in David's writing. He joined the Dispatch and then the New York Times. Seeing joining the Times as the ultimate betrayal, most of the GOP political establishment treated them as the enemy.

As they became exiles, and the MeToo movement started to come into its own, Nancy finally faced some of her own 'demons'. She was asked by some friends to do some investigating of the Kanakuk Camp history. For several years, she uncovered hundreds of incidents of abuse by this camp. She unfortunately wasn't able to drive as many legal prosecutions as she would have liked, but she discovered she was growing in her ability to research legal abuse cases and enable folks to find their own voice. She took the learnings from Kanakuk and turned them on her abuser in Tennessee. Nancy was alarmed that her abusive pastor was teaching high school and had a checkered track record of abusing many girls at the high school. She used her investigative skills to gain a closure of sorts on her own journey. She was able to present a clear, convincing case to the school board to remove him from his position and cancel his teaching license so he was not able to continue to abuse.

At the end of her volume, we find her and David finding friends among many non conservatives and learning how to love others despite what other political leanings they may have. Nancy feels liberated to learn how to love others no matter who they are. She does not find her faith getting less, but growing as God is teaching her grace and maturity.

[Tera]

This book dropped my jaw in nearly every chapter. I’m not sure how to rate it, but I couldn’t put it down.

[Kevin Rostron]

DNF. Gave it the old college try especially because I had a differing world view than the author. But about mid way through I just had to bail.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this book since the author and I are complete opposites, and I was curious to read the viewpoints of someone from "the other side of the aisle". This was such a great book!

Nancy does a great job of explaining her political and religious views and how they changed over her life, depending on events that happened to her and in the world as a whole, especially when Trump was elected.

The chapter on the adoption of her daughter came off as a "white savior" moment, but I understand that's not what she intended.

In the chapter about Bristol Palin, I completely agreed with Nancy's sentiment that Democrats can't say "believe all women" about SA, but then only believe people with their same viewpoints. I was glad to read further on that she felt supported when she wrote an article about her own SA experiences and how it affected her political beliefs.

There were certainly moments that were hard to read and viewpoints that I didn't agree with, but overall it was really interesting to read her experiences and learn about her life.

I would absolutely recommend this book to people with all political and religious beliefs. One of the quotes I highlighted that I think does a great job summarizing the book is, "Though I fiercely wanted people to be one thing and not two for simplicity's sake, people- as Walt Whitman wrote- contain multitudes. Me included."