Leap

by Brent Love

In a small Texas town, Brent comes out to his parents, and on that night his place in the world cracks wide open. Unmoored from his family but unwilling to give up on his dream, Brent enters the Peace Corps with the incredible task of navigating an unfamiliar land, a new language, and a new identity as a gay man in post-Soviet Armenia.

As he grapples with a religious past and a queer future, Brent finds himself immersed in a culture he’d never imagined. He moves in with Armenian families, celebrates his first Nor Tari, hunts mushrooms in the mountain mists, and dances in Yerevan at his first gay bar, all while hoping for and trying to find romance, even love. When his Peace Corps commitment begins to take unexpected turns, Brent must decide what matters to him most and where he thinks he belongs.

454 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2024

Reviews

[Brent Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love great books. And as I read this for the twelfth or thirteenth time… after all my final edits, I felt simply very, very proud. This book is for anyone who has ever had to be true to themselves in a way that terrified them… and through the fear they did it anyway. And this book is for the young queer kid I was who needed a book like this one.

And if you’re reading this review right now… this book is for you, too. ❤️❤️❤️

[Jennifer Motz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written!

[Jenny Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible book. I truly didn’t want to put it down. Brent did such a beautiful job taking us through coming out, navigating a new culture and language, learning relationships in a new and expansive way. From one gay ex-church kid to another: thank you for writing this, Brent. Please keep writing.

[Dylan Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5: This compelling, fast-paced, and moving memoir can teach us so much about Armenia, the meaning of family in all its forms (blood, chosen, found), and the power of queer self-discovery. The author’s captivating storytelling made this book difficult to put down, and the beautiful relationships and realizations formed within its pages made it stick with me long after I finished reading.

[Jared Gulian · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a gay American who was briefly in the Peace Corps and has Armenian heritage, this book has many points of interest for me. It’s a memoir that deals with very difficult moments bravely and shows impressive courage through authenticity and honesty. There’s a kind of humility and fearlessness in saying, “Yeah, this was me at my worst,” while also showing how you can transcend those really difficult moments in order to cobble together a fantastic life, despite the odds. I was sometimes uncomfortable while reading this, which shows how powerful the book is. Well done.

[Liana Sargsyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author's first book but I hope not the last! The way he describes his experiences of going through tough challenges, how beautifully he connects, I'd say waives the people, things and big and small incidents into the big picture of his life, brilliant!

[Leslie Plesser · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story about a gay man coming out to his tight-knit Christian family, and then leaving for Armenia a few days later to work in the Peace Corps. The book delves into found family, the importance of friendship, and finding and loving yourself when you are all that you have. I barked out laughter at some points (cowboy boots) and teared up at many others. A wonderful debut.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a hard time sleeping while I was reading this. I was so caught up and engaged that it was keeping me awake. I didn’t want to put it down. There are themes around coming out, living abroad, making community, and family dynamics. For Brent, these were all happening at once while going to Armenia for the Peace Corps. I also kept wanting to talk to him throughout the book. You might want to grab a copy of the book along with a friend and read it together. I don’t doubt that you will find yourself relating to his experiences in some way. Another amazing read this year. Run out and get this book!!

[Carlee Pascual Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

just finished my second read, first listen on audiobook and listening to brent tell this story himself made me cry and laugh harder than the first time ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

i still hate chase so much!! like he gives me rage!! 😙