Godstruck: Seven Women's Unexpected Journeys to Religious Conversion

by Kelsey Osgood

“Osgood’s reporting takes us down the winding back roads of belief . . . [her] subjects find their way to Mormonism, evangelical Christianity, Islam, Quakerism; one of them becomes a Catholic nun. Like Osgood, they are earnest, funny, and articulate.” —The New Yorker

“A lyrical, philosophically astute account . . . Godstruck is an affirming [tale] about the value of understanding ourselves as part of a wider community of a community that, in asking the big questions about God, the universe—everything—is also doing the most important work of being human.” —The Wall Street Journal

A candid, thought-provoking exploration of contemporary women’s experiences of religious conversion and the relationship between faith and fulfillment in our time

Religious involvement has been declining in the West for decades—and, though men have historically outnumbered women among the disaffiliated in the U.S., a greater share of the young adults leaving religion today are women. A young, secular Kelsey Osgood would have been surprised to hear that she would be among those moving in the opposite direction. And yet, after the conversion to Orthodox Judaism that transformed her life, she began to wonder about the other contemporary women who, like her, had been startled to find a home in organized religion.

In Godstruck, she profiles six other converts—some raised firmly atheist, others agnostic or religious—navigating independent paths to religious devotion. From Angela, a data-driven writer and journalist who finds herself drawn to Quaker meetings, to Hana, whose conversion to Islam leads her halfway around the world, to Christina, whose Amish faith transforms her relationship to modernity, these women’s unexpected revelations introduce them to new and sometimes radically different ways of living. Along the way, Osgood charts a fascinating course through a wide range of cultural references—from Saint Augustine, Simone Weil, and Tolstoy to desert hermits, Alcoholics Anonymous, and contemporary feminism—to explore some of our attempts to understand and cope with the mysteries of life and the human condition.

Driven by a profound curiosity and anchored by intimate reporting, Godstruck is a provocative, insightful, and refreshingly nuanced exploration of both the joys and the challenges of faith that reveals what these seekers can teach all of us about modern life and our own searches for meaning.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Audiobook, Feminism

Audible Audio

Published April 8, 2025

Reviews

[Derek Driggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a person who has left (and, personally, feels actually liberated from) religion but maintains religious belief, and for whom that belief plays an important daily role, conversion stories are always interesting. Here we get to see a handful of real, recent conversion experiences of women to various religious traditions. Their experiences are interesting and, to a degree, inspiring.

For me, I would also have appreciated seeing more of the “wrestle” that comes with adopting religion as a convert. What does it mean to accept something as truth when a person surely has a rich supply of personal experience and core values which that religion may not fully align with? To what extent does a person choose to abandon previous convictions and adopt wholesale the prescribed truths of their new religion? For me the process happened in the reverse, with my own values taking shape against the religious ones I was born into, and that juxtaposition has led me to my (perhaps classically millennial, but honest) “spiritual but not religiously affiliated” reality.

I would have liked to see more of that depth of struggle, because to me even my ongoing sincere beliefs are a site of struggle at the same time they grant me peace. I guess I don’t understand a spirituality that doesn’t involve both.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed Hana's story most, but was baffled by the way the author kept interrupting the flow of each woman's story by segueing into her experiences as a Jewish convert. I had to go back several pages to make sure I wasn't in a new chapter - staying on topic for each religion would have made the story much more cohesive and easier to follow. It feels like a disjointed mess, constantly switching back and forth.

[Chrisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title is misleading. While it is about 7 women and their individual journeys to various religious beliefs, it is at least 1/3 Osgood's own story and 1/3 explorations of various religious themes. At the beginning, it felt slightly self-obsessed because the triple focus was unexpected and including all three in each chapter was a bit much.

Some of the tone was a bit skeptical---and this hit me before she covered my faith. Perhaps this is because the people and relationships were sought out specifically because they fit a mold, instead of friends first, book later.

All that being said, I really enjoyed a lot of it. I enjoyed the foray into Tolstoy's life, I enjoyed getting to know the girls(and was disappointed there wasn't more). And I thought a lot of her essays, particularly on women and feminism were quite good. We can't do it all. And I say that as someone who works remotely 20 hours a week. Does it feel fulfilling? Yes. But is it absolutely draining on the days when you have to tack on laundry(with a broken washer), sickness, food, medical appointments, errands, shopping, and school? And all on 3 hours of sleep because one of your kids didn't sleep well the night before? 100%. Especially when your husband has deadlines to meet and it's just you and the kids until bedtime.

Anyway, I'd give it 3.5 stars. Rounded up because the end was pretty solid.

[Lottie from book club · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was fascinating. I love learning. some sections felt a bit more fleshed out than others (couldn’t help but feel that Osgood could not care less about Catholicism) but the whole thing was super compelling and weirdly quite fun! and as someone who routinely gets told they buy clothes that make them look like they’re in a cult I’m glad to hear that dressing modestly is in.

[Umar Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read the parts of the book discussing a woman living in San Diego who converted to Islam and lived in Saudi Arabia, the nun from Toronto who spent time in my hometown of St. Louis, and a woman who converts to Judaism. I admit, I don't find Protestants and (or Eastern religions) that interesting. However, the most enlightening parts of this book to me are when Kelsey Osgood talks about her own Orthodox conversion to Judaism, experiences, and religious teachings. The chapter on the Muslim convert had some interesting parts such as some converts, usually white females of a progressive orientation, seeking a sexy or marginalized identity to cosplay; but the chapter could've used some more insight.

[Dave Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was lovely. Osgood, a convert to Judaism, sets out to write a book exploring seven different woman's stories of conversions to different religious Traditions. Glancing at the written version, I will say that listening to the audio loses some of the distinctivness that is necessary for tracking between the three-fold focus of the book's structure. Because we are jumping between Osgood's own story, the story of the seven women, and broader more objective observations, the singular voice of the audio isn't always helpful. Having those visible markers to track between the three different POV's I think would have worked better.

However, the structure is very much in the mold of a storytelling approach, which was a good fit for the audio version. So a bit of give and take. In any case, the most interesting part of the book was the way it helps capture what are very different paths to very similar places. It helps to show how similar questions shape very different circumstances, anchoring the spiritual quest in a clear universal longing.

[Zehava (Joyce) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book really interesting. I am religious so it was very interesting to hear about these modern women who felt the pull to a religion they did not grow up with. I especially appreciated hearing about the author’s personal journey to embracing Judaism. Excellent audiobook narrated by the author.

[Clara! · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was unimpressed by this book, though I went in expecting to be uplifted and awed. She spent no time on being “Godstruck” - the reality of *calling* and *obedience* and all of her time on explaining the life stories of seven women - personal experience is fine, but not what was advertised. I was also irritated by how frequently she stopped telling the stories of unusual and really fascinating women to continue part of her own story, even though the seventh woman was herself and there was ample room to tell her own story.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deeply researched and expansive across religious experiences. Rated 3.5 overall some technical parts that dragged. Overall the author has a lot of insight from her personal journey which she also weaves into other stories, might have worked better if she kept each chapter more biographical and saved her story for the chapter she writes of her own chapter at the end.

Not a light read but thoughtful and deep and inspiring.

[Aly Szczublewski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Granted I listened to the audiobook, but from other reviews I feel that I am not alone in saying that this book is incredibly disorganized. Perhaps it makes more sense on paper -- but that's a hefty job to rely on organization to accomplish. Numerous times I had to go back several minutes to see what we were talking about or if I missed a chapter break -- typically, it was the doing of a quick and maybe lopsided transition.

The author wanders in and out of a topic - the topics of which make up the books advertised synopsis. Osgood spends what feels like at least half of each chapter talking about herself and her own Judaism. This wouldn't be a problem, if each of the first six chapters were not supposed to be about her. I was interested in hearing these other women's tales, and felt instead the served merely as a jumping point for Osgood to say "...and that made me think about this thing that is about myself and I will now talk about for pages." Truly, this could have been two different books - or a longer book with more thorough tellings of each woman's story. And then, funnily enough, when Osgood gets to her own chapter, I felt as though she talked about her actual conversion process very, very little.

I am a Jewish convert myself. I love learning and listening to people talk about loving Judaism. But this book was frustrating, as it was not well placed and, I feel, detracted significantly from the other women and their stories. I also tasted a sour note when Osgood openly said that the conversion processes of the "less observant" movements of Judaism (so, Reform and Conservative), quote - "had all the spiritual sustenance of being a product on a conveyor belt", and noted that she was offended that a Conservative rabbi assumed she didn't know she wouldn't be able to have a Christmas tree. For a book about being open and looking at the journeys of others, and as a reform Jew, these moments of "holier than thou" attitude struck me negatively.

I really, really wanted to like this book. What could have been beautifully done instead feels like it is an ego bolster for the author. Shame.

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fascinated by these women's journeys into faith. The writer was largely informed by her own conversion into Judaism, but her insights and research seemed pretty thorough. That most of the religions found were Christian seems pretty consistent with the religious bearings of our country. I appreciated that the chapter titles gave a good outline to the book:
1. Angela, to the inner light of Quakerism
2. Sara, to the ecstatic healing of Evangelicalism
3. Kate, to the overpowering revelation of Mormonism
4. Hana, to the collective embrace of Islam
5. Christina, to the pastoral restraint of the Amish
6. Orianne, to the expansive silence of Catholicism
7. Kelsey, to the divine femininity of Judaism.
I learned about each religion in a more intimate way than a dispassionate study, or even a devotional delving would have given me. I value education and individual development highly, and I think the spiritual side of development and growth is often overlooked in today's guidance for women in general.
A quote that appealed to me was this one, from the Hungarian rebbetzin (not sure what that is) Esther Jungreis, found on p. 274 in the hardbound book:
"[T]o those feminist friends who mock this 'slave mentality' I ask: Is caring for children slavery? Is hassling in the world of business freedom?. . . The American emphasis on separatism, independence, and individuality [has resulted in] the new folk hero, the 'anti-mother,' a product of Pavlovian conditioning, doomed to existential angst.... College graduates are conditioned to equate achievement with financial remuneration, and therefore motherhood, which is a non-salaried position can accord one no status [sic]. The young housewife is led to believe that motherhood stifles all creative instincts and dooms one to bovine passivity."
There was much for me to learn and to ponder about in this book.

[Travis English · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blurb is wrong… but, OK book nevertheless.

This book is not what the blurb says. It says we’re going to get seven women’s conversion stories. There’s seven chapters. You’d figure one chapter per woman. But, most of the text is memoir from the author, Kelsey. She’s a converted Jew. She does tell the stories of the other six girls, but, she uses each one to launch into topics, which she then writes about herself. So, the book is probably 70% memoir of the author and 30% stories of the other girls.

The book is still pretty good though. I liked her memoir essays. She takes a very modern view of religious devotion. I don’t think there’s anything in the book of fundamentalist ideas: there are no supernatural beings who are doing these women favors. There’s no miracles. Nobody is praying away cancer. I’m not even sure any of these women believe in heaven. Rather, It’s a book about the life of ritual, tradition, and devotion, deliberately turning one’s self over to a program of living (that’s not prescribed by five corporations).

[Angel Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author herself is Jewish, but she covers six other religions and treats each one with respect and genuine curiosity. She covers the beliefs and history without judgment, and discusses the women with love and care. I feel it's rare to find someone who is devout in one religion but can discuss other religions without coming across as judgmental or unapproving at all. Handled the subject matter with absolute grace. Recommend to anyone with an interest in the concept of religion, but not any one specific religion. I also like that she pushes back against the idea that religion is inherently oppressive to women!

also recommend if you like to go on a little tangent from time to time, which she does a lot. but I think it works here, and I like it!

(slight disclaimer: my opinion of this book may have been influenced by the fact that the book i read right before it, which was also about religion in the modern world, was rather bad. so i did find myself comparing the two while reading this one, and being glad that this one was better.)

[Frimet Goldberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found GODSTRUCK totally absorbing. Kelsey Osgood tells the story of religious conversion through the eyes of seven women, each of whom chose to join traditionalist—sometimes even stringent—religious communities. In an age of hyper-secularism and endless personal freedom, she asks a fascinating question: why would anyone, especially women, choose the rigidity of religious life?

She’s not just telling their stories; she’s asking the deeper, sometimes existential questions too—about life's meaning, personal agency, and the strange modern freedom to choose constraint. The book is smart, layered, and incredibly thoughtful, while managing to remain grounded and not didactic.

It’s rare to read a book that speaks so honestly across lines—religious, secular, whatever—and still feels this personal. I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
OK, this one is hard to rate for me. I enjoyed most of the book. I felt like I learned a lot about religious experience and why people might make the choices they do. I liked all the six stories of the other women who joined a religion, and I liked the chapter about the author's religious experience as well. The only problem I had was the very long segments of the chapters about the other women that the author wrote extensively about herself and digressed off into some very murky and hard to read philosophical bits. It really broke up the flow of the womens' stories and made them harder to read, for myself personally. I wanted more info on the women in those chapters, and less digression.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy religion and stories of personal religious experience — I'm not a skeptic, and these women have interesting stories.

There were two flaws for me:

1) With only 7 profiles (one being the author) and 5 of them being branches of Christianity, it felt a little one-dimensional in terms of the range of experience portrayed. The varieties of Christianity were all different (Quaker, Evangelical, LDS, Amish, and Catholic), and I suppose it's inevitable given the religious makeup of the US, but it still felt lacking.

2) Too much of the chapters on the other women end up being about the author's experience, and not necessarily in closely related ways. I won't speculate as to why she did that, but she took over the book a bit.

[Adrienne Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover material made me think this would be a series of spiritual biographies, and it is HALF that, but it's also a series of essays on how aspects of religious life may be affirming and healing ways to love in the modern age, most often through the lens of the author's autobiography.

For me, this created a conflicting rhythm in the book, where I greatly wished we either could dive deeper with the congressional biographical subjects or we could dive deeper into the thoughts about religious life, but I was actively annoyed by what felt very self serious and narcissistic in the author's constant return to her own experience.

This was a frustrating, interesting read.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The seventh woman is Osgood herself, and her story is interwoven with the other six. That is, in the process of telling the other women's stories, she relates their experiences to her own. I'm always fascinated by how people come to religion (I don't think I would have converted to my own religion if I hadn't been raised in it), so I found it all interesting.

[Stephanie Gorton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sorry when this book ended. Profound, fascinating, and funny. Osgood's writing vanquishes the gap between those of us who can't imagine really believing and those of us who do, through seven very different profiles. Highly recommend.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked this book Read just one chapter on woman becoming a nun. Very interesting. But since I was just picking it up now and then, I ran out of time. Library could not renew so I guess others are also curious about it. I will get it again to finish.

[Ashley Jurkuvenas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll admit that I skipped around in this book, but I like the sentiment!

[Debora Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I really enjoyed reading about the different conversion stories of each woman. The author tied her experiences with Judaism to each one as well.

[Becjoy13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appreciated she did a wide-spectrum of religions and was honest about the why’s and how’s of her own conversion.

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely fascinating.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

My AudioFile review:

GODSTRUCK
Seven Women's Unexpected Journeys to Religious Conversion
by Kelsey Osgood | Read by Kelsey Osgood
Philosophy & Religion • 11.5 hrs. • Unabridged • © 2025
In a light tone and quick cadence, Kelsey Osgood recounts the stories of seven millennial women who encountered God through different means, faiths, and worship experiences. Chinese American Angela became a Quaker, while Sara, who suffered from the trauma of the Boston Marathon bombing, found healing in evangelicalism. Kate was drawn to the stories and structure of Mormonism. Christina adopted the simple life of the Amish. Hana embraced Islam and moved to Saudi Arabia, while Orianne discerned a religious vocation with the Sisters of Saint Paul. Kelsey herself converted to Orthodox Judaism and weaves her story throughout the other accounts. The author/narrator's tendency to speed-read detracts somewhat from the narration, but the stories are fascinating, especially at a time when organized religions report declining numbers. S.G. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2025]

Trade Ed. • Penguin Audio • 2025
DD ISBN 9780593911723 $20.00

Library Ed. • Books on Tape • 2025
DD ISBN 9780593911730 $76.00