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In the Arms of Mountains: A Memoir of Land, Love, and Queer Resistance in Red America
Rural America deserves more than an elegy: A powerful story of hope, resilience, and political resistance where you least expect it, from Idaho’s first openly LGBTQ+ lawmaker
"One doesn’t need to be queer to feel seen, heard, and empowered...A reminder that activists need to believe that the impossible can happen."
—Carole King, singer, songwriter, activist, and author of A Natural Woman
Cole LeFavour was 11 years old when their hippie parents moved the family to a guest ranch in Idaho. Hours to the North, as the LeFavours unpacked pots and pans, Richard Butler dreamed of establishing a white separatist nation. It’s here, in one of the reddest states on the map, where Cole learned to raise ducklings, hike the wilderness alone, and build political resistance where you least expect it.
This is the story rural America deserves to tell—and that the rest of the country needs to hear. Follow LeFavour’s journey from their 2-mile walk to the school bus along a dirt road to their monumental election as Idaho’s first openly queer state senator. Cole recounts anti-apartheid protests in Berkeley, the solitary life of a fire lookout, and the gravitational pull of unexpected romance and loss. In the Arms of Mountains is a memoir with dirt under its nails and heart on its sleeve. It shatters the carefully constructed “monolithic heartland” myth and rewrites Hillbilly Elegy’s bleak epitaph.
Haunting, hopeful, and full of fight, Cole’s story reminds us of what’s possible when we look beyond red and blue, right and left, to meet each other at the edge of the wild.
"One doesn’t need to be queer to feel seen, heard, and empowered...A reminder that activists need to believe that the impossible can happen."
—Carole King, singer, songwriter, activist, and author of A Natural Woman
Cole LeFavour was 11 years old when their hippie parents moved the family to a guest ranch in Idaho. Hours to the North, as the LeFavours unpacked pots and pans, Richard Butler dreamed of establishing a white separatist nation. It’s here, in one of the reddest states on the map, where Cole learned to raise ducklings, hike the wilderness alone, and build political resistance where you least expect it.
This is the story rural America deserves to tell—and that the rest of the country needs to hear. Follow LeFavour’s journey from their 2-mile walk to the school bus along a dirt road to their monumental election as Idaho’s first openly queer state senator. Cole recounts anti-apartheid protests in Berkeley, the solitary life of a fire lookout, and the gravitational pull of unexpected romance and loss. In the Arms of Mountains is a memoir with dirt under its nails and heart on its sleeve. It shatters the carefully constructed “monolithic heartland” myth and rewrites Hillbilly Elegy’s bleak epitaph.
Haunting, hopeful, and full of fight, Cole’s story reminds us of what’s possible when we look beyond red and blue, right and left, to meet each other at the edge of the wild.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published May 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 21, 2026
I am deeply moved, deeply troubled and profoundly grateful to Cole LaFavour for telling their story. I share their commitment to and love for Idaho, for all its people and its wild and primitive places. I feel inadequate to comment on their story, especially their work on Add the Four Words. (I highly recommend watching the documentary “Add the Words” in conjunction with reading their memoir.) As a privileged, old, White man I am humbled by their willingness to share their story, by their trust that a sincere reader could receive it gratefully yet with respectful acceptance of the difficulties of really fully appreciating another’s life experience even when their story is so well told. I hope I would have joined their band of activists willing to stand for the silenced. I will make opportunities to love and support the vulnerable in this very conservative state. (BTW- I wonder why the Idaho Freedom Foundation was not mentioned as a source of political fear and coercion. I have seen their pernicious influence in the most local of issues and elections.) I think our state- and country- would be well served if more people would read their memoir.
May 30, 2026
Real Rating: 3.5* of five
The Publisher Says: Rural America deserves more than an elegy: A powerful story of hope, resilience, and political resistance where you least expect it, from Idaho’s first openly LGBTQ+ lawmaker
Cole LeFavour was 11 years old when their hippie parents moved the family to a guest ranch in Idaho. Hours to the North, as the LeFavours unpacked pots and pans, Richard Butler dreamed of establishing a white separatist nation. It’s here, in one of the reddest states on the map, where Cole learned to raise ducklings, hike the wilderness alone, and build political resistance where you least expect it.
This is the story rural America deserves to tell—and that the rest of the country needs to hear. Follow LeFavour’s journey from their 2-mile walk to the school bus along a dirt road to their monumental election as Idaho’s first openly queer state senator. Cole recounts anti-apartheid protests in Berkeley, the solitary life of a fire lookout, and the gravitational pull of unexpected romance and loss. In the Arms of Mountains is a memoir with dirt under its nails and heart on its sleeve. It shatters the carefully constructed “monolithic heartland” myth and rewrites Hillbilly Elegy’s bleak epitaph.
Haunting, hopeful, and full of fight, Cole’s story reminds us of what’s possible when we look beyond red and blue, right and left, to meet each other at the edge of the wild.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: I liked this read just fine. I was more interested in the author's journey to becoming an Idaho state legislator than their family history, but both held my attention.
Seeing myself in their life's journey was not simple, but my curiosity pulled me along, and I ended my read feeling "here's someone I think would not like me personally but would be interesting to chat with at a cocktail gathering."
Beacon Press politely holds out a hand expecting you to put $17.95 in their palm for an ebook.
The Publisher Says: Rural America deserves more than an elegy: A powerful story of hope, resilience, and political resistance where you least expect it, from Idaho’s first openly LGBTQ+ lawmaker
Cole LeFavour was 11 years old when their hippie parents moved the family to a guest ranch in Idaho. Hours to the North, as the LeFavours unpacked pots and pans, Richard Butler dreamed of establishing a white separatist nation. It’s here, in one of the reddest states on the map, where Cole learned to raise ducklings, hike the wilderness alone, and build political resistance where you least expect it.
This is the story rural America deserves to tell—and that the rest of the country needs to hear. Follow LeFavour’s journey from their 2-mile walk to the school bus along a dirt road to their monumental election as Idaho’s first openly queer state senator. Cole recounts anti-apartheid protests in Berkeley, the solitary life of a fire lookout, and the gravitational pull of unexpected romance and loss. In the Arms of Mountains is a memoir with dirt under its nails and heart on its sleeve. It shatters the carefully constructed “monolithic heartland” myth and rewrites Hillbilly Elegy’s bleak epitaph.
Haunting, hopeful, and full of fight, Cole’s story reminds us of what’s possible when we look beyond red and blue, right and left, to meet each other at the edge of the wild.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: I liked this read just fine. I was more interested in the author's journey to becoming an Idaho state legislator than their family history, but both held my attention.
Seeing myself in their life's journey was not simple, but my curiosity pulled me along, and I ended my read feeling "here's someone I think would not like me personally but would be interesting to chat with at a cocktail gathering."
Beacon Press politely holds out a hand expecting you to put $17.95 in their palm for an ebook.
June 1, 2026
An incredibly inspiring, uplifting memoir of the courage to stand up for your beliefs and community in the face of bigotry, intolerance and ignorance. A story of resilience and perseverance in the face of long odds, not always being successful but never giving up the fight to make things better for their community. At times hilarious other times heartbreaking, always fascinating. With cameos from an interesting cast of characters including gonzo journalist Hunter Thompson and singer-songwriter Carole King. Cole LeFavour is a superbly talented writer & storyteller. The perfect read for Pride Month or any month of the year. Highly Recommended!
Review of advance copy received from Author
In the Arms of Mountains is about a person finding beauty in nature and in others and how that beauty helped them to find their place in the world. And how finding their place helped others to find theirs.
The fire lookout stories are intense. I felt like I was right there with them. The love story is so tender. I cried.
The fire lookout stories are intense. I felt like I was right there with them. The love story is so tender. I cried.
June 14, 2026
I listened to the audiobook. Not a fan of it.
Read
June 25, 2026 "He told me he wanted to vote yes, but the church told him he could not."
is one of the most infuriating quotes from this book.
This is a straight forward account of the author's life, with most of the focus on her unsuccessful campaign to "Add the Words" of sexual orientation and gender identity to the state's nondescrimination law.
is one of the most infuriating quotes from this book.
This is a straight forward account of the author's life, with most of the focus on her unsuccessful campaign to "Add the Words" of sexual orientation and gender identity to the state's nondescrimination law.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book was moving, made me cry. It makes you think about the safety of individuals in red states who are just trying to live their lives.
The audiobook is also moving but funny too. The reader does an excellent job.
The audiobook is also moving but funny too. The reader does an excellent job.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews