Fearfully & Wonderfully Made: Stories from Conversion Therapy Survivors in Singapore

by Koh An Ting

This is a book of stories from conversion therapy survivors in Singapore.

Honest, vulnerable, and heartbreaking, the book aims to explain the harm repressing one's innate sexual orientation can cause.

This is the first book to chronicle detailed accounts of what went on behind the scenes in the programme.

78 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2025

About the author

Koh An Ting (she/they) is a writer based in Singapore.

Her first book of poetry, Food Haikus, is published by Purple Ink Press in 2025.

Her favourite books include Pride & Prejudice (Jane Austen), Fun Home (Alison Bechdel) and Tender Delirium (Tania DeRozario).

Reviews

[prawn]

earlier last year, i read Walking with Same-Sex Attracted Friends, published by christian organisation graceworks and was, while trying hard to remain open-minded, deeply disappointed that it seemed the only published work on the conversation of queerness and christianity in singapore. and especially that it did not involve free community church (to my knowledge, please correct me if wrong). walking with ssa friends came from a good intention, but it was not queer affirming, held many outdated notions, and mentioned conversion therapy without addressing its obviously harmful effects. at that point Fearfully and Wonderfully Made was truly the voice I needed to have and hear. i hope that people who read graceworks’ book would have the grace and curiosity to pick this up too. i hope it allows them a flipside view on what long lasting harm both a blatant or implicit lack of acceptance could bring.

cannot express how grateful i am to An Ting’s labour. of bringing together these queer experiences and holding space for them. just two weeks after i got to read her wonderful work, An Ting faced health difficulties and rainbow lapis press and the queer bookstore announced its sudden closure. while wishing her a good rest, and a fruitful recovery, i implore EVERYONE AND YES I MEAN EVERYONE to read this. if you cannot afford it, TELL ME. IF I AM ABLE TO I WILL BUY FOR YOU.

https://rainbowlapispress.com/product...

[Grace Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I have no idea that conversion therapy happens in Singapore. Thought it was just an American evangelical thing. I started this book expecting just bashing on the entire therapy thing but I emerge with a more nuanced understanding. I see the varied reasons why people would choose to go for conversion therapy. And I also see how lonely it can be to hold two different identities: Christian and Gay. It gave me more compassion towards people who are navigating seemingly contradictory identities and to be able to find space for both to exist.

I am so thankful that I receive this book and have bought another copy for a cousin who wanted to understand conversion therapy better. I think we should have more open conversations about this: about both the positive uses and abuses of religious teaching when it comes to helping people to find their identity and place in the world.

Having said that, there were a few minor formating issues: repetition in 1-2 paragraph. (Like the whole chunk is the same) and I think these could be taken into account when making the next print. I think it will be interesting to include the POV of gay pastors or members of the Free Community Church in this. Like on their views of conversion therapy and how they reconcile their faiths and biblical teachings about homosexual relationships.

-Gracie

P.S. Anting, I resurrected my dead GOOD READS account just so I can write this review. HAHA!

[Titus Hutch · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important, no frills insight into the world of conversion therapy in Singapore, a world that is often sanctified or concealed or sanitised or ignored - oxymoronically so. What struck me was the gentleness of conversion therapy. That the harm isn’t in being crucified or vilified, but in its ability (ability is weird word, given that it is really closer to being a sin, but is chosen nonetheless to acknowledge its capacity for active corrosion) to change the way one things about themselves. Just as how one may be made to believe that their fingers are no longer functional or natural, but phallic and shameful. The insult is not physiological or immediate, but the constant hiding, cognitive dissonance, shame and sense of being damaged. Given this characterisation or conversion therapy, what we need is not revenge or retribution for the harms that has been done (or at least not have it be the end all and be all), but greater love and acceptance. And isn’t that easy enough?

[Enea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vote: 3.4

Insightful and touching. I would have preferred more interviews, as it feels very narrow with only 3, but it is true that most likely it was not easy to find people in Singapore who went through conversion therapy and were open to speak about the consequences. Jonathan’s story was particularly touching.

Hopefully there will be more research on the topic and maybe a follow-up of this book.

[Louisa]

totally not the point of the book but who is jonathan’s father!!