Dee Constructing: (mis)adventures of a former evangelical

by Christina Maelynn Thomas

Deborah Landry has always been The Perfect Christian TM. She's grown up in a world where everything is black and white, right or wrong, and anyone who believes differently will spend eternity in Hell unless she can save them.

When she loses her belief in God, she finds herself starting from scratch. Navigating the world outside of her Christian bubble leads to meeting a delightful cast of characters who help her question her perspective, construct a new identity, loosen up, and enjoy the chaotically colorful world around her.

This story, which is part fiction and part memoir, is hilariously relatable to anyone who identifies with the term "exvangelical." But it's also a perfect read for anyone who wants to understand what it's like for someone to leave their religion.

449 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2024

Reviews

[Arianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an exvangelical who deconstructed in my early 20s, I found Dee's story so real and relatable. The author describes this book as part memoir and I can definitely see it. Deconstructing from faith isn't "fun" or a "fad" or "sexy". It is an obliteration of everything you built your life and beliefs on. In short, it's devastating. Trying to rebuild your beliefs and figure out who you are outside of the religion you were raised in is so confusing and frustrating. I find this book to wholly represent that devastation while also bringing a light-hearted humor to the story, showing how there is still so much that is beautiful about the human experience. Whether you are deconstructed and atheist/agnostic or deconstructed and rebuilt your faith, I think you would find a lot of validation and value in this story.