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The Jezebel List
Unleashing her inner Jezebel on camera was not part of Christina Edmondson’s plan, but nobody said rebuilding your life after religious and family trauma was going to be easy. A radical and heartfelt debut that celebrates the pursuit of joy, The Jezebel List is perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and B.K. Borison.
✔ Attend a pagan festival
✔ Get a Brazilian wax
☐ Watch pornography
☐ Explore a science museum
☐ Have a one-night stand
☐ Take the Lord’s name in vain, with relish
These barely begin to scratch the surface of Christina Edmondson’s Jezebel List. As the daughter of a once-respected fundamentalist pastor and running out the clock on her last semester at the ultra-conservative (read: ultra-backwards) Hilltop University, Christina is ready for a drastic change. Following months of intense therapy and years of being told that the enchanting evils of the modern world would lead to eternal damnation, attending a pagan festival feels like freedom. And then she catches the eye of documentarian Danny Reeves.
After meeting Christina and her Jezebel List, Danny is immediately inspired. Despite the recent burnout from his professional career investigating the injustices of the Evangelical South, Danny is certain that Christina’s story is one with the potential to resonate with millions. A fan of his work, Christina agrees to be the subject of his next documentary, but under one condition: they must complete her list together.
As they begin checking items off the list, neither one expects the spark burning brighter and hotter between them. But for Christina, outsmarting old demons is hard, and rediscovering yourself takes courage
✔ Attend a pagan festival
✔ Get a Brazilian wax
☐ Watch pornography
☐ Explore a science museum
☐ Have a one-night stand
☐ Take the Lord’s name in vain, with relish
These barely begin to scratch the surface of Christina Edmondson’s Jezebel List. As the daughter of a once-respected fundamentalist pastor and running out the clock on her last semester at the ultra-conservative (read: ultra-backwards) Hilltop University, Christina is ready for a drastic change. Following months of intense therapy and years of being told that the enchanting evils of the modern world would lead to eternal damnation, attending a pagan festival feels like freedom. And then she catches the eye of documentarian Danny Reeves.
After meeting Christina and her Jezebel List, Danny is immediately inspired. Despite the recent burnout from his professional career investigating the injustices of the Evangelical South, Danny is certain that Christina’s story is one with the potential to resonate with millions. A fan of his work, Christina agrees to be the subject of his next documentary, but under one condition: they must complete her list together.
As they begin checking items off the list, neither one expects the spark burning brighter and hotter between them. But for Christina, outsmarting old demons is hard, and rediscovering yourself takes courage
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2026
About the author
Alisa Dean
2 books34 followersAlisa Dean writes romance primarily at her favorite local coffee shop, hopeful that anyone sneaking a peek at her steamy screen will be intrigued and even liberated by stories of love, desire, self-discovery, and partnership. As a university professor, Alisa also writes less-liberating academic articles about how writing works in the world, and she will likely encourage her students to analyze this very bio for its patterns. Alisa favors long walks among very tall trees with her characters for company.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
July 17, 2026
What do you mean religious trauma romance?! This has to be a first. The EQ? 10/10. The character development? 10/10. The sex, MF1000000/10.
You can just tell a REALLY smart person wrote this book.
But for real, this book means so much to me. I’ll be processing and highlighting it for a long time to come. Thank you Alisa for writing something so special that will resonate with so many women in the South.
You can just tell a REALLY smart person wrote this book.
But for real, this book means so much to me. I’ll be processing and highlighting it for a long time to come. Thank you Alisa for writing something so special that will resonate with so many women in the South.
August 29, 2026
This was potentially the best debut author romance book I’ve ever met. Alisa Dean handled the religious trauma subject with so much nuance, understanding and grace. I truly cared and understood the characters and all of the relationships with each other felt so authentic. I can’t say enough good things about this book!
September 1, 2026
⭐️4.5⭐️
I have no idea why I am so drawn to romances set in and around purity culture, but this may be the best one I’ve read.
Christina is a senior at a southern evangelical college one year into questioning and leaving behind the teachings she was raised with as a preacher’s daughter. As part of figuring out what life looks like outside that world, she creates her “Jezebel List”. Her bucket list of completely normal experiences that most of us would never even think twice about.
Going to a science museum. Buying alcohol at a liquor store. Attending a pagan festival. Dating instead of courting. She wants to be light and flirty and fun. A modern, sex positive woman.
At the pagan festival, she meets Danny, a documentary filmmaker who has spent years making films about Southern evangelical culture. He approaches her for an interview without realizing that his documentaries have meant the world to Christina as she’s slowly emerged from the oppression and shame of her upbringing.
When she shows him the Jezebel List he decides his next documentary will follow her as she checks things off. I loved this premise SO much.
The book does an incredible job exploring the damage caused by a culture built around shame and control including the way ordinary preferences sexuality and even mental health can be reframed as spiritual failures or almost always as a moral defect.
And it is also genuinely funny.
They think Brazilian waxes are somehow connected to CHILD PORN??? Excuse me???
Christina absolutely charmed me. She is funny and curious and incandescent and watching her experience things we take completely for granted was both heartbreaking but endearing. When she Googled how to swirl and taste wine before trying it, I actually went awww. Of course Danny catches feelings. And I loved that, too. Because underneath the documentary premise and all of Christina’s experiments with becoming the person she thinks a normal modern woman should be, this is really about her learning that freedom isn’t just doing the opposite of everything she was taught. It’s figuring out what she actually wants.
I also really appreciated that Danny never felt like the person who was there to “save” her from religion. He gives her space to explore, change her mind and decide for herself what parts of her upbringing she wants to reject and what parts, if any, she wants to keep. That distinction mattered to me.
Christina’s journey is messy and sometimes awkward. You don’t spend your entire life being taught that desire is dangerous and your body is something to police then magically wake up as a carefree sex positive adult because you decided you no longer believe those things. The shame and fear linger.
Christina’s curiosity is what makes her such a compelling character. She wants to know what is out there. She wants to experience it for herself. She wants a life that belongs to her. And Danny falling for her while she is still figuring all of that out made the romance feel really tender.
Funny, thoughtful, romantic and genuinely insightful about religious deconstruction without turning Christina into nothing more than her trauma.
This may be my favorite purity culture romance I’ve read.
I have no idea why I am so drawn to romances set in and around purity culture, but this may be the best one I’ve read.
Christina is a senior at a southern evangelical college one year into questioning and leaving behind the teachings she was raised with as a preacher’s daughter. As part of figuring out what life looks like outside that world, she creates her “Jezebel List”. Her bucket list of completely normal experiences that most of us would never even think twice about.
Going to a science museum. Buying alcohol at a liquor store. Attending a pagan festival. Dating instead of courting. She wants to be light and flirty and fun. A modern, sex positive woman.
At the pagan festival, she meets Danny, a documentary filmmaker who has spent years making films about Southern evangelical culture. He approaches her for an interview without realizing that his documentaries have meant the world to Christina as she’s slowly emerged from the oppression and shame of her upbringing.
When she shows him the Jezebel List he decides his next documentary will follow her as she checks things off. I loved this premise SO much.
The book does an incredible job exploring the damage caused by a culture built around shame and control including the way ordinary preferences sexuality and even mental health can be reframed as spiritual failures or almost always as a moral defect.
And it is also genuinely funny.
They think Brazilian waxes are somehow connected to CHILD PORN??? Excuse me???
Christina absolutely charmed me. She is funny and curious and incandescent and watching her experience things we take completely for granted was both heartbreaking but endearing. When she Googled how to swirl and taste wine before trying it, I actually went awww. Of course Danny catches feelings. And I loved that, too. Because underneath the documentary premise and all of Christina’s experiments with becoming the person she thinks a normal modern woman should be, this is really about her learning that freedom isn’t just doing the opposite of everything she was taught. It’s figuring out what she actually wants.
I also really appreciated that Danny never felt like the person who was there to “save” her from religion. He gives her space to explore, change her mind and decide for herself what parts of her upbringing she wants to reject and what parts, if any, she wants to keep. That distinction mattered to me.
Christina’s journey is messy and sometimes awkward. You don’t spend your entire life being taught that desire is dangerous and your body is something to police then magically wake up as a carefree sex positive adult because you decided you no longer believe those things. The shame and fear linger.
Christina’s curiosity is what makes her such a compelling character. She wants to know what is out there. She wants to experience it for herself. She wants a life that belongs to her. And Danny falling for her while she is still figuring all of that out made the romance feel really tender.
Funny, thoughtful, romantic and genuinely insightful about religious deconstruction without turning Christina into nothing more than her trauma.
This may be my favorite purity culture romance I’ve read.
August 27, 2026
.... WOW.... This was done so well. Cute story while addressing things that most people shy away from. I'm very impressed with how this story seemed so light and fun with such heavy subjects. Amazing!
August 25, 2026
I devoured this book in the span of a weekend. Let me say that when you hear a synopsis that includes “religious trauma rom-com”, a bingeable read is most likely NOT what comes to mind. But consider the reader; like Christina, I too grew up in the age of True Love Waits ceremonies, and mega church spawning and although not exactly evangelical to the extent she experiences, definitely found many of her life experiences relatable.
Christina is on the other side of her trauma. She’s in her senior year of school at an evangelical Hilltop College (Hillsong church anyone?), where she’s found a group of friends who may attend the school in name, but do not partake in any of their religious or moral activities. As part of working through her grief she’s created The Jezebel List; a list of things she was either banned from partaking in or things that were highly frowned upon for a woman within the highly conservative evangelical background. When Christina checks off the first item from her list, attending a pagan festival, she meets filmmaker Danny of Unsweet Tea film productions known for making videos on the South and Southern philosophies/religion. Christina is at once captivating to Danny by her natural charm and charisma and easy manner in which she can speak about her past. Likewise Christina therapeutically watched Danny’s videos to help her through some of her most difficult times. Agreeing to be Danny’s next source of content seems an easy fit which naturally progresses to him helping her cross off items on The Jezebel List.
I appreciated how thoughtful and introspective this novel was. Christina is instantly likable and I think any reader would find her outlook and responses to secular vs non secular activities as open minded and inclusive. Hindsight is 20/20 and Christina narrates her own traumatic experiences with open eyes and an open heart, never apologizing for her experiences, but with the confidence of someone who has grown from them. In reality I think it would take quite a bit of work to get to an emotional point quite like Christina is, and this endeared me to her and simultaneously made her feel older than her 21 years.
Not to be outdone, Danny is the unflappable sidekick to Christina’s boundary pushing list. He amiably goes along with her and experiences the items, even when it leads to even his own nervousness or horny response. And boy is this book horny! Sex is on the table (and a one night stand is literally on the list) and shame has completely been taken out of the equation which was so refreshing to read. Sure there’s learning and discovering but also fun and the romance develops between Danny and Christina. So you have deeply sexy intimacy scenes combined with the freedom from judgment. If that wasn’t clear, this book is so joyful and as much as therapy and learning deals with the past, it’s so forward thinking in the way the characters want to experience the world with open arms.
I would absolutely recommend this book, especially if the reader has ties to the South with its churches on every corner, or is just interested in reading an intellectual take on how overcoming trauma can result in freedom to experience love. I’m excited to see what Alisa Dean will write next. She’s one to watch for sure.
I read and listened to The Jezebel List. The dual narration worked really well for alternating between Danny’s and Christina’s voices. I thought both Ryan Lee Dunlap and Carly Larson brought their characters to life with Southern accents that felt realistic! A great audio narration.
Christina is on the other side of her trauma. She’s in her senior year of school at an evangelical Hilltop College (Hillsong church anyone?), where she’s found a group of friends who may attend the school in name, but do not partake in any of their religious or moral activities. As part of working through her grief she’s created The Jezebel List; a list of things she was either banned from partaking in or things that were highly frowned upon for a woman within the highly conservative evangelical background. When Christina checks off the first item from her list, attending a pagan festival, she meets filmmaker Danny of Unsweet Tea film productions known for making videos on the South and Southern philosophies/religion. Christina is at once captivating to Danny by her natural charm and charisma and easy manner in which she can speak about her past. Likewise Christina therapeutically watched Danny’s videos to help her through some of her most difficult times. Agreeing to be Danny’s next source of content seems an easy fit which naturally progresses to him helping her cross off items on The Jezebel List.
I appreciated how thoughtful and introspective this novel was. Christina is instantly likable and I think any reader would find her outlook and responses to secular vs non secular activities as open minded and inclusive. Hindsight is 20/20 and Christina narrates her own traumatic experiences with open eyes and an open heart, never apologizing for her experiences, but with the confidence of someone who has grown from them. In reality I think it would take quite a bit of work to get to an emotional point quite like Christina is, and this endeared me to her and simultaneously made her feel older than her 21 years.
Not to be outdone, Danny is the unflappable sidekick to Christina’s boundary pushing list. He amiably goes along with her and experiences the items, even when it leads to even his own nervousness or horny response. And boy is this book horny! Sex is on the table (and a one night stand is literally on the list) and shame has completely been taken out of the equation which was so refreshing to read. Sure there’s learning and discovering but also fun and the romance develops between Danny and Christina. So you have deeply sexy intimacy scenes combined with the freedom from judgment. If that wasn’t clear, this book is so joyful and as much as therapy and learning deals with the past, it’s so forward thinking in the way the characters want to experience the world with open arms.
I would absolutely recommend this book, especially if the reader has ties to the South with its churches on every corner, or is just interested in reading an intellectual take on how overcoming trauma can result in freedom to experience love. I’m excited to see what Alisa Dean will write next. She’s one to watch for sure.
I read and listened to The Jezebel List. The dual narration worked really well for alternating between Danny’s and Christina’s voices. I thought both Ryan Lee Dunlap and Carly Larson brought their characters to life with Southern accents that felt realistic! A great audio narration.
July 13, 2026
So I was immediately sold on reading this book based on the description (it’s a freaking religious trauma rom-com, how can you go wrong?), but GODDAMN this book was everything and more!
The FMC, Christina, was written with such care and intention. She had already gone through a year of trauma therapy so we got to witness her journey of coming into her own and reclaiming her life outside of the church. It felt like an appropriate amount of time was dedicated to each facet of her healing journey throughout the story where nothing felt forced or lost. She was also such a relatable character with so much heart!
The MMC, Danny… wow, wow, wow. I am simply obsessed with this absolute green flag of a book boyfriend. He’s the documentarian who falls so hard for his subject (Christina!) and has such a filthy mouth on him! The way he endlessly supported Christina was so beautiful, from helping her cross items off her Jezebel List to giving her the space to discover and embrace her bravery.
This story was so perfectly spicy! The intimacy added to the narrative in just the right way. I loved how Christina and Danny’s whole relationship was written, both their initial friendship and their romance. My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard multiple times while I was reading because they were both so wholesome! I also definitely cried.
Last but not least, the side characters really rounded out this book. Christina’s found family and Danny’s biological family were such delightful additions! They were integrated into the story so tastefully and complemented the main characters well.
I loved this book and I highly recommend it! Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book.
The FMC, Christina, was written with such care and intention. She had already gone through a year of trauma therapy so we got to witness her journey of coming into her own and reclaiming her life outside of the church. It felt like an appropriate amount of time was dedicated to each facet of her healing journey throughout the story where nothing felt forced or lost. She was also such a relatable character with so much heart!
The MMC, Danny… wow, wow, wow. I am simply obsessed with this absolute green flag of a book boyfriend. He’s the documentarian who falls so hard for his subject (Christina!) and has such a filthy mouth on him! The way he endlessly supported Christina was so beautiful, from helping her cross items off her Jezebel List to giving her the space to discover and embrace her bravery.
This story was so perfectly spicy! The intimacy added to the narrative in just the right way. I loved how Christina and Danny’s whole relationship was written, both their initial friendship and their romance. My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard multiple times while I was reading because they were both so wholesome! I also definitely cried.
Last but not least, the side characters really rounded out this book. Christina’s found family and Danny’s biological family were such delightful additions! They were integrated into the story so tastefully and complemented the main characters well.
I loved this book and I highly recommend it! Thank you so much to the author and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book.
August 19, 2026
While covering hard topics, such a religious trauma, this book had such an innocence in it when it came to Christina coming into her self-realizations. Her childlike innocence was endearing to read. I liked the building tension between her and Danny, but what I enjoyed most was his comfort for her. Danny really has such an understanding about him. Very aware of the next human being and their feelings. He never hesitated to say his true feelings, or to acknowledge hers, or to tell her he was proud of her. It was refreshing, and so healthy.
Also really enjoyed that since this was setup as a documentary style plot, that the characters truly dove deep into each other, and got to know each other on a whole other level. While the attraction was instant, it didn’t feel like insta-love to me because of that.
I was shocked at the spice this one had 👀 Danny shocked me more than once, and Christina exploring her sexual side was so fun to read.
Overall, I found this to be an entertaining and healing read. But if you’re not a fan of religious trauma, I would steer clear. Thank you Crooked Lane Books/Alcove Press for the advanced copy!
“Oh! One more thing. Hey, Dad? Fuck off.” 🤣🤣🤣
Also really enjoyed that since this was setup as a documentary style plot, that the characters truly dove deep into each other, and got to know each other on a whole other level. While the attraction was instant, it didn’t feel like insta-love to me because of that.
I was shocked at the spice this one had 👀 Danny shocked me more than once, and Christina exploring her sexual side was so fun to read.
Overall, I found this to be an entertaining and healing read. But if you’re not a fan of religious trauma, I would steer clear. Thank you Crooked Lane Books/Alcove Press for the advanced copy!
“Oh! One more thing. Hey, Dad? Fuck off.” 🤣🤣🤣
August 17, 2026
I'm still wrapping my mind over the fact that this is a debut novel. The Jezebel List is so well done that I would have thought Alisa had been writing novels for YEARS.
I loved the premise of the Jezebel List from just the blurb, but nothing could have prepared me for how much I would fall in love with this novel.
As someone with a ~boatload~ of religious trauma, Christine's story was so cathartic, healing, and special to me. Watching her navigate ex-vangelical life and learning how to find herself, and then learning that big lesson at the end (no spoilers here!) felt like watching a friend learn to live and love and honestly made me think about my own journey and the work still left to do. Christine has such a pulling energy to her that she really felt like someone I'd befriend IRL. And her little found family? Incredible. It's so showing that a group of people can find each other and have that joy in the middle of such a joyless place. I don't know off the top of my head if this is a standalone or if we'll ever see those side characters again, but I hope that each and every Sloppy B*tch & Runzhou get their happily ever afters too.
And Danny? I'm not usually one for a "love at first sight moment" because it can feel so forced, but with Danny, it was so incredibly believable. His instant infatuation with Christine wasn't based on looks alone but the fact that he just KNEW how special she was. I hope we all find that person that looks at you like Danny looks at Christina. And his family? Ugh. The family I hoped that little me had. Jim and Trish and Charlie 4ever.
I wish that I could re-read this book for the first time as a fresh 20 year old in college who had also just left the church and had no idea where to go next, but I hope that TJL gets to be that for someone else, too. The Jezebel List will easily be in my top 10 novels of the year, and I hope to read more from Alisa Dean in the future!
Thank you to Alisa, Alcove Press, and NetGalley for the e-arc. This is my honest review.
I loved the premise of the Jezebel List from just the blurb, but nothing could have prepared me for how much I would fall in love with this novel.
As someone with a ~boatload~ of religious trauma, Christine's story was so cathartic, healing, and special to me. Watching her navigate ex-vangelical life and learning how to find herself, and then learning that big lesson at the end (no spoilers here!) felt like watching a friend learn to live and love and honestly made me think about my own journey and the work still left to do. Christine has such a pulling energy to her that she really felt like someone I'd befriend IRL. And her little found family? Incredible. It's so showing that a group of people can find each other and have that joy in the middle of such a joyless place. I don't know off the top of my head if this is a standalone or if we'll ever see those side characters again, but I hope that each and every Sloppy B*tch & Runzhou get their happily ever afters too.
And Danny? I'm not usually one for a "love at first sight moment" because it can feel so forced, but with Danny, it was so incredibly believable. His instant infatuation with Christine wasn't based on looks alone but the fact that he just KNEW how special she was. I hope we all find that person that looks at you like Danny looks at Christina. And his family? Ugh. The family I hoped that little me had. Jim and Trish and Charlie 4ever.
I wish that I could re-read this book for the first time as a fresh 20 year old in college who had also just left the church and had no idea where to go next, but I hope that TJL gets to be that for someone else, too. The Jezebel List will easily be in my top 10 novels of the year, and I hope to read more from Alisa Dean in the future!
Thank you to Alisa, Alcove Press, and NetGalley for the e-arc. This is my honest review.
August 25, 2026
HAPPY PUB DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alisa Dean just gets it.
The Jezebel List is EVERYTHING I love about romance. There’s swooning, of course, there’s laughter, theres’s blushing, and there’s that real, human intimacy of going to darker places and coming up for, and through, the light, still.
Christina and Danny, Danny and Christina. Oh, but don’t forget Ally, K, Runzhou, and Reese. These are the “sloppy bitches” (iykyk). Can I be a sloppy bitch, too? Can I join movie church?
The Jezebel List is a love story, yes, but it’s a love story of many things: of self, of place, of home, of friends, of found family, and of that person who sees the real you. There’s no performing, period.
I think that’s what I loved the most about Alisa Dean’s book: from the first Waffle House documentary consult (which was, might I add, so cozy to me!) to the final, published UNsweet Tea product (you’ll get no spoilers from me, please and thank you!), being your full self can be scary, accepting all the parts of you that you want to leave behind, cut away, but you do it anyway, because it’s scary, and you can do it with love.
The Jezebel List is brave. The Jezebel List is cozy. The Jezebel List is hard. The Jezebel List is sweet, and UNsweet (haha). It’s everything.
Finishing this book doesn’t mean putting away these characters. You can take them with you. And let me say, I’m so excited for what will come next from Alisa Dean.
Alisa Dean just gets it.
The Jezebel List is EVERYTHING I love about romance. There’s swooning, of course, there’s laughter, theres’s blushing, and there’s that real, human intimacy of going to darker places and coming up for, and through, the light, still.
Christina and Danny, Danny and Christina. Oh, but don’t forget Ally, K, Runzhou, and Reese. These are the “sloppy bitches” (iykyk). Can I be a sloppy bitch, too? Can I join movie church?
The Jezebel List is a love story, yes, but it’s a love story of many things: of self, of place, of home, of friends, of found family, and of that person who sees the real you. There’s no performing, period.
I think that’s what I loved the most about Alisa Dean’s book: from the first Waffle House documentary consult (which was, might I add, so cozy to me!) to the final, published UNsweet Tea product (you’ll get no spoilers from me, please and thank you!), being your full self can be scary, accepting all the parts of you that you want to leave behind, cut away, but you do it anyway, because it’s scary, and you can do it with love.
The Jezebel List is brave. The Jezebel List is cozy. The Jezebel List is hard. The Jezebel List is sweet, and UNsweet (haha). It’s everything.
Finishing this book doesn’t mean putting away these characters. You can take them with you. And let me say, I’m so excited for what will come next from Alisa Dean.
August 24, 2026
The Jezebel List: Alisa Dean
Narrators: Carly Larson & Ryan Lee Dunlap
Pub date: Aug 25
Religious trauma rom com? I was sold when I read the synopsis and I immediately loved this. Alisa Dean handles a tough subject with care and knowledge. I felt so seen by Christina and her experiences and emotions, things you feel guilty about that people who haven’t experienced growing up in church would realize. The way Danny handles every situation was so perfect! Also the spice?! 🥵
I loved this! And the narration was so good!!
Narrators: Carly Larson & Ryan Lee Dunlap
Pub date: Aug 25
Religious trauma rom com? I was sold when I read the synopsis and I immediately loved this. Alisa Dean handles a tough subject with care and knowledge. I felt so seen by Christina and her experiences and emotions, things you feel guilty about that people who haven’t experienced growing up in church would realize. The way Danny handles every situation was so perfect! Also the spice?! 🥵
I loved this! And the narration was so good!!
August 6, 2026
A fascinating debut about recovering from religious trauma. Christina Edmondson is a fundamentalist pastor's daughter finishing her last semester at an ultraconservative Evangelical college, and after intense therapy and a major church scandal, she's ready to figure out who she is outside of the faith she was raised in. She meets documentarian Danny Reeves at a pagan festival — the first checkmark on her Jezebel list — and agrees to be the subject of his next film, on the condition that he complete the rest of the list with her.
Dean handles the religious trauma without ever getting preachy about it, which is the tightrope this kind of story lives and dies on. Christina's deconstruction feels earned, not performative, and the romance with Danny develops alongside her self-discovery rather than replacing it. Good pacing throughout, and the narration is good too.
Content notes: religious trauma, family trauma, spiritual abuse, church scandal.
This is for deconstruction and ex-vangelical readers who want to see themselves in a romance — and for anyone who wants a love story that takes seriously the long, hard work of leaving a controlling faith community behind.
Dean handles the religious trauma without ever getting preachy about it, which is the tightrope this kind of story lives and dies on. Christina's deconstruction feels earned, not performative, and the romance with Danny develops alongside her self-discovery rather than replacing it. Good pacing throughout, and the narration is good too.
Content notes: religious trauma, family trauma, spiritual abuse, church scandal.
This is for deconstruction and ex-vangelical readers who want to see themselves in a romance — and for anyone who wants a love story that takes seriously the long, hard work of leaving a controlling faith community behind.
September 15, 2026
I am fully cognizant of the importance of a book like Alisa Dean’s The Jezebel List, but oh my goodness I did not like this reading experience at all.
The biggest issue I have, honestly, is simply how cringe-inducing I found the writing and characters to be. As far as the plot goes, I generally liked the vast majority of it and found the whole story rather promising. But the lead characters and the way they generally thought about each other made me gag multiple times throughout the book. I should have finished this book rather quickly, given my reading speed—but I had to keep putting it down to take breaks from being inside their heads.
I swear, every time I spent a second inside of Danny’s head, I wanted to throw his thought process as far away from me as I could. The weird obsessive mental situation he had going for Christina was, quite simply, too much for me. And the unfortunate truth is that he just got worse the farther along I got. More obsessed. More extra. More too much.
And Christina? She was fine, for the most part, primarily when she was thinking about her trauma and family. Even the third act breakup nonsense that I usually hate with immense passion made sense here, given her background religious trauma and her desire to experience life in a way she’d never been allowed. That said, if I ever hear the word Maestro used to describe a romantic interest again, I may vomit. This relationship was, at every turn, the definition of cringe kill me I need to get away.
This last bit that I just couldn’t stomach, honestly, was the explicitness of the sex scenes. And I get it. I understand why they needed to be this way and I applaud the author for managing it. But eugh, no thank you. Not for me. And even more not for me when I’m in Danny’s head with all his thoughts about Christina’s body. I didn’t knock any stars for this, though, because given the nature of the novel, I do genuinely believe that these scenes were important and there’s definitely a plot-centered reason for them. But, in all honesty, after the first one…I had to skip the rest. It was too much for me (I generally have a habit of skipping most of these if they’re long in just about any book, so that’s not really new). Also, you read a book Iike this you know what you’re getting. I’m not against sex scenes, but damn, I wasn’t expecting that. To each their own. This was way spicier than I’d anticipated, so for some that may be a selling point.
I dunno. I just. I loved the plot. But I hated how cheesy and cringe the characters were when it came, very specifically, to their romantic connection. And I read a lot of books for the romantic connections, so…. I definitely think this book has an audience and I hope that they find it. There’s incredible importance to exploring the ways in which religious trauma affects people’s lives and giving those who have been impacted a way to unpack what they’ve been trough—the entire purpose of the in-book documentary, after all. It’s why I picked up the book in the first place. I really felt and agreed with the main characters in every aspect of this. I just wish they hadn’t annoyed me so much with everything else.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The biggest issue I have, honestly, is simply how cringe-inducing I found the writing and characters to be. As far as the plot goes, I generally liked the vast majority of it and found the whole story rather promising. But the lead characters and the way they generally thought about each other made me gag multiple times throughout the book. I should have finished this book rather quickly, given my reading speed—but I had to keep putting it down to take breaks from being inside their heads.
I swear, every time I spent a second inside of Danny’s head, I wanted to throw his thought process as far away from me as I could. The weird obsessive mental situation he had going for Christina was, quite simply, too much for me. And the unfortunate truth is that he just got worse the farther along I got. More obsessed. More extra. More too much.
And Christina? She was fine, for the most part, primarily when she was thinking about her trauma and family. Even the third act breakup nonsense that I usually hate with immense passion made sense here, given her background religious trauma and her desire to experience life in a way she’d never been allowed. That said, if I ever hear the word Maestro used to describe a romantic interest again, I may vomit. This relationship was, at every turn, the definition of cringe kill me I need to get away.
This last bit that I just couldn’t stomach, honestly, was the explicitness of the sex scenes. And I get it. I understand why they needed to be this way and I applaud the author for managing it. But eugh, no thank you. Not for me. And even more not for me when I’m in Danny’s head with all his thoughts about Christina’s body. I didn’t knock any stars for this, though, because given the nature of the novel, I do genuinely believe that these scenes were important and there’s definitely a plot-centered reason for them. But, in all honesty, after the first one…I had to skip the rest. It was too much for me (I generally have a habit of skipping most of these if they’re long in just about any book, so that’s not really new). Also, you read a book Iike this you know what you’re getting. I’m not against sex scenes, but damn, I wasn’t expecting that. To each their own. This was way spicier than I’d anticipated, so for some that may be a selling point.
I dunno. I just. I loved the plot. But I hated how cheesy and cringe the characters were when it came, very specifically, to their romantic connection. And I read a lot of books for the romantic connections, so…. I definitely think this book has an audience and I hope that they find it. There’s incredible importance to exploring the ways in which religious trauma affects people’s lives and giving those who have been impacted a way to unpack what they’ve been trough—the entire purpose of the in-book documentary, after all. It’s why I picked up the book in the first place. I really felt and agreed with the main characters in every aspect of this. I just wish they hadn’t annoyed me so much with everything else.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2026
I was a little hesitant to start this book as religious trauma is not really something I'm interested in reading about, however, I am so glad I ignored that feeling! I had so much fun with The Jezebel List and it was funny, tender, and spicy!
Christina comes from a very religious background, her father is a Pastor, her grandfathers were Pastors, her brothers are in the church, and she even goes to a religious college. All of that comes crashing down when her father's unsavory actions are discovered and Christina realizes the church is not for her. What I liked most about Christina is she puts in the work! She immediately went to intensive therapy and we don't spend any of time in the book shaming women for having desires or feelings. One of the things, post therapy, that Christina did was create The Jezebel List, with all the items that she'd never been allowed to do previously. While at a pagan festival, she runs in to Danny, a documentary filmmaker who has dedicated that last 7 years of his life to showing inconsistencies in the church. Christina actually has watched every video Danny has made, and when Danny hears about the list, he wants to create a documentary about Christina.
The found family in this book is the best, Christina's best friends love and accept her the way she is, and they bring light to a really emotionally intense time. Even though her best friends also go to the same religious university, they are very much NOT there for the religious aspect and I love that they help Christina come out of her shell. There is no element of sex shaming and they are incredibly sex positive, which was so refreshing to see. And Danny's parents! Oh they're the absolute sweetest and I love that she had this huge family even after having stopped talking to her own. Danny is also so down bad for Christina, she's his muse and he's just obsessed with her.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think if you're someone that has religious trauma, there could be some healing moments in this for you. I do think it's still light and funny enough to enjoy even if that's something you aren't interested in though, because I had such a good time!
Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC!
Christina comes from a very religious background, her father is a Pastor, her grandfathers were Pastors, her brothers are in the church, and she even goes to a religious college. All of that comes crashing down when her father's unsavory actions are discovered and Christina realizes the church is not for her. What I liked most about Christina is she puts in the work! She immediately went to intensive therapy and we don't spend any of time in the book shaming women for having desires or feelings. One of the things, post therapy, that Christina did was create The Jezebel List, with all the items that she'd never been allowed to do previously. While at a pagan festival, she runs in to Danny, a documentary filmmaker who has dedicated that last 7 years of his life to showing inconsistencies in the church. Christina actually has watched every video Danny has made, and when Danny hears about the list, he wants to create a documentary about Christina.
The found family in this book is the best, Christina's best friends love and accept her the way she is, and they bring light to a really emotionally intense time. Even though her best friends also go to the same religious university, they are very much NOT there for the religious aspect and I love that they help Christina come out of her shell. There is no element of sex shaming and they are incredibly sex positive, which was so refreshing to see. And Danny's parents! Oh they're the absolute sweetest and I love that she had this huge family even after having stopped talking to her own. Danny is also so down bad for Christina, she's his muse and he's just obsessed with her.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think if you're someone that has religious trauma, there could be some healing moments in this for you. I do think it's still light and funny enough to enjoy even if that's something you aren't interested in though, because I had such a good time!
Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley for providing this eARC!
August 25, 2026
Synopsis: After a scandal in the church, Christina cuts off contact with her fundamentalist pastor father and the rest of her family to pursue life outside the influence of the church. She makes a bucket list of sorts, The Jezebel List, full of experiences she felt too guilty to try before. When she meets documentary filmmaker, Danny, she agrees to become the subject of his next film, and they begin to complete her list together.
Thoughts: A religious trauma rom-com? I wasn’t sure what to expect from this, and I can’t say I’ve read anything else that comes close to capturing the ex-vangical experience in such a realistic and endearing way. Christina’s journey, while definitely on the more extreme side, will be so relatable to anyone who has experienced any level of deconstruction. This is such a tough subject to tackle, and I’m so impressed with the way this DEBUT author handled it. The story is both emotional and very funny. Danny and Christina’s chemistry is off the charts, their banter is top notch, AND they just make sense together. There is A LOT of spice - from the lens of Christina’s journey of self discovery and exploring her sexuality in a healthy way, it makes sense…but it was enough that I got a bit tired of it to be honest. Otherwise though, I ate this up and really loved it! It will most definitely not be for everyone, but if it sounds interesting to you I’d encourage you to go grab a copy asap!
Read this if you like:
✅ documentaries
✅ religious trauma/deconstruction
✅ journey of self discovery
✅ found family
✅ bucket list
✅ spicy
Thoughts: A religious trauma rom-com? I wasn’t sure what to expect from this, and I can’t say I’ve read anything else that comes close to capturing the ex-vangical experience in such a realistic and endearing way. Christina’s journey, while definitely on the more extreme side, will be so relatable to anyone who has experienced any level of deconstruction. This is such a tough subject to tackle, and I’m so impressed with the way this DEBUT author handled it. The story is both emotional and very funny. Danny and Christina’s chemistry is off the charts, their banter is top notch, AND they just make sense together. There is A LOT of spice - from the lens of Christina’s journey of self discovery and exploring her sexuality in a healthy way, it makes sense…but it was enough that I got a bit tired of it to be honest. Otherwise though, I ate this up and really loved it! It will most definitely not be for everyone, but if it sounds interesting to you I’d encourage you to go grab a copy asap!
Read this if you like:
✅ documentaries
✅ religious trauma/deconstruction
✅ journey of self discovery
✅ found family
✅ bucket list
✅ spicy
September 7, 2026
This book was incredibly special! I cried, I swooned and most of all I felt connected to everyone else who is on a journey to recover from religious trauma. My favorite part of The Jezebel List was the way it does justice to the grief of the recover process. Every freedom gained can be a painful reminder of what you've lost and this book captures that struggle so well. As well as handling that complex subject with an incredible amount of care, the central romance was both swoony and incredibly hot. It was so sweet to see Christina find someone like Danny who was able to give her the unconditional love she hadn't experienced and who genuinely relished every step of her journey to discovering who she is post-deconstruction. This book is for anyone else who has made the painful choice to walk away from their church community and needs to know that they are not alone.
Thanks to Alcove Press for the eARC!
Thanks to Alcove Press for the eARC!
August 25, 2026
A religious trauma rom-com is something I have never read before, but it sounded fun, so I was like, "Count me in!" OMG! This book was freaking everything! Christina has created what she called her Jezebel List because she is all about reclaiming her life and finding herself and her identity outside of the church. I absolutely adored her character. She was fun, fierce, and open to new possibilities. Then there's Danny, the documentarian, who wants to video her journey of crossing off the items on Christina's list, but it's not long before he's helping her cross them off. Danny falls for Christina, and he falls hard. He is the book boyfriend of all book boyfriends. He is sweet, kind, but boy, does this man also have a filthy mouth on him. When the spice finally hit in this book, it was so hot. I was not expecting the levels of heat this book delivered. The side characters of this book were just as phenomenal as the two MCs. The found family vibe in this book was everything. I really hope that Alisa decides to make this into a series and write books with these other characters because I would be there to read them!
Carly and Ryan did a phenomenal job bringing these characters to life. I was hooked on this story from the minute I started listening. This was my first time listening to both of these narrators, and I would definitely listen to them again.
Carly and Ryan did a phenomenal job bringing these characters to life. I was hooked on this story from the minute I started listening. This was my first time listening to both of these narrators, and I would definitely listen to them again.
August 26, 2026
The way The Jezebel List went from, “Oh wow, what an interesting story of this girl and her healing from religious trauma—making a kind of break from her family and community—coming into her own. Whoa, wait a minute here! Hello, spice! You go, girl! Get it and explore!” And Christina did!
Author Alisa Dean’s debut novel, The Jezebel List, takes on a typically heavy topic and lightens it not only through the plot but also through its two characters. I liked Christina’s personality—she was funny, a bit sarcastic, and very direct. And Danny, who is a sweetheart and more than accommodating in helping her out, also helps him with his next documentary.
Christina’s experiences also provided food for thought, given her background. I enjoyed the story. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books/Alcove Press and Author Alisa Dean for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Author Alisa Dean’s debut novel, The Jezebel List, takes on a typically heavy topic and lightens it not only through the plot but also through its two characters. I liked Christina’s personality—she was funny, a bit sarcastic, and very direct. And Danny, who is a sweetheart and more than accommodating in helping her out, also helps him with his next documentary.
Christina’s experiences also provided food for thought, given her background. I enjoyed the story. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books/Alcove Press and Author Alisa Dean for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 30, 2026
this book isn’t bad, I would have rated it a three star until 80% in and then I hated it
OF COURSE, OF FUCKING COURSE. let’s make an excuse for her dad for cheating on her mom, the entire book her mom was the one hurt by people around her and brainwashed into blind submission but no! we won’t talk about her.
We will talk about the disgusting wretched man who had affairs in his congregation and insulted his wife, but this is all okay because the world is cruel to him and he had his own jezebel list and fell in love with another woman. this internalized need to make men heros and women villains will never end, will it? no matter how “progressive” this author is.
this book could have gone a whole different route if it had not thrown in that shit with her father and justifying his actions. also what about the mother? she was “emotionally abusive”, really? really? or was she emotionally abused? she lost everything she had built because of a fucking man. yeah she had ideologies that were different from what you and I might think but the author is willing to make us understand and give context for the father and not the mother.
no matter how progressive you get, your internalized misogyny is not cool, miss author. the entire scene with money for the sewing machine, i am not even sure why we are supposed to hate the mom. she’s trying to give her kids stuff while her husband goes philandering about but no lets all call her abusive and full stop. but the dad can have an entire chapter dedicated to to his “trauma”.
what a terrible end to the story.
OF COURSE, OF FUCKING COURSE. let’s make an excuse for her dad for cheating on her mom, the entire book her mom was the one hurt by people around her and brainwashed into blind submission but no! we won’t talk about her.
We will talk about the disgusting wretched man who had affairs in his congregation and insulted his wife, but this is all okay because the world is cruel to him and he had his own jezebel list and fell in love with another woman. this internalized need to make men heros and women villains will never end, will it? no matter how “progressive” this author is.
this book could have gone a whole different route if it had not thrown in that shit with her father and justifying his actions. also what about the mother? she was “emotionally abusive”, really? really? or was she emotionally abused? she lost everything she had built because of a fucking man. yeah she had ideologies that were different from what you and I might think but the author is willing to make us understand and give context for the father and not the mother.
no matter how progressive you get, your internalized misogyny is not cool, miss author. the entire scene with money for the sewing machine, i am not even sure why we are supposed to hate the mom. she’s trying to give her kids stuff while her husband goes philandering about but no lets all call her abusive and full stop. but the dad can have an entire chapter dedicated to to his “trauma”.
what a terrible end to the story.
Did Not Finish
August 8, 2026I am choosing to DNF this one. I went into it with an open mind as a religious person myself, and wanted to make a review based on that, but couldn’t get past the first few chapters. I do hope that this book resonates with others, but I am choosing not to continue due to personal beliefs (nothing against the author or the story, I am just feeling convicted!)
August 22, 2026
Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (0-5) I’m bumping up for when he’s had enough at the clubbbbb (public places)!!
What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Gorgeous dual narration by these two narrators, Carly Larson & Ryan Lee Dunlap. They are amazingly cast as Christina & Danny, bringing out all the sweet and spicy emotions.
🤩 The title! The forbidden bucket list! The instant “Are you filming me?” captivation!
🤩 The chemistry is so cute and fresh and fun (even in all the serious topics of purity culture and religious & family trauma)!
🤩 Oh my dirty talk! 🥵😮💨
🤩 The sweet, natural “baby(s).” ❤️🔥🫠
🤩 Loving support.
🤩 Found family.
🤩 I bawled about home.
🤩 The timing is all just terrific!
🤩 So many other things, but I just can’t ruin them with teaser spoilers!
What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 More books by this fabulous debut author! 🙌🏻
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (0-5) I’m bumping up for when he’s had enough at the clubbbbb (public places)!!
What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Gorgeous dual narration by these two narrators, Carly Larson & Ryan Lee Dunlap. They are amazingly cast as Christina & Danny, bringing out all the sweet and spicy emotions.
🤩 The title! The forbidden bucket list! The instant “Are you filming me?” captivation!
🤩 The chemistry is so cute and fresh and fun (even in all the serious topics of purity culture and religious & family trauma)!
🤩 Oh my dirty talk! 🥵😮💨
🤩 The sweet, natural “baby(s).” ❤️🔥🫠
🤩 Loving support.
🤩 Found family.
🤩 I bawled about home.
🤩 The timing is all just terrific!
🤩 So many other things, but I just can’t ruin them with teaser spoilers!
What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 More books by this fabulous debut author! 🙌🏻
Did Not Finish
August 26, 2026DNF @ 20%. Promising premise, cringey execution, and too much insta-love for me.
August 30, 2026
I love the reality of The Jezebel List! Growing up in religious NC, I’ve seen this plot unfold firsthand! Had the pleasure of attending Alisa’s book appearance with No Bad Books last evening and couldn’t wait to finish up my reading today! Looking forward to the next release in March!
August 27, 2026
Review coming soon
September 1, 2026
The Jezebel List is such a fulfilling listen. Christina’s journey of rebuilding her life after religious and family trauma is written with so much intention and care. Watching her step into freedom, starting with that pagan festival that feels like her first real breath of air, made the story tender and brave.
Her instant connection with Danny at the festival is one of my favorite parts. Their spark grows as they complete her Jezebel List together, and I loved how supportive and gentle their dynamic is without ever turning Christina into her trauma.
Her instant connection with Danny at the festival is one of my favorite parts. Their spark grows as they complete her Jezebel List together, and I loved how supportive and gentle their dynamic is without ever turning Christina into her trauma.
July 6, 2026
This was a really great read!! The description immediately intrigued me and it definitely lived up to what I was hoping for. I found the story and Christina relatable and there are few things I love more than a good found family.
The MCs have great chemistry with each other. I tend to skim over spicy scenes because I find that they can become repetitive but I did not have that issue at all with this book.
Thank you so much to the author for the chance to read an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
The MCs have great chemistry with each other. I tend to skim over spicy scenes because I find that they can become repetitive but I did not have that issue at all with this book.
Thank you so much to the author for the chance to read an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
August 5, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for my free copy of this book.
This book!!! I adored this book! For a little background, while my family wasn’t fundamentalist or devout Christian’s I went to a Christian school from preschool to 10th grade. I was raised in a family influenced by Christianity, and one set of grandparents were practicing Christian’s. This book was healing to me in a way. Christina is an almost college graduate who has deconstructed and she had created this list to do things she wasn’t Lowe’s to do. And if you know the biblical story, you know why it’s called the Jezebel list. I could feel in this book how the author herself was healing from religious trauma. This book was so well done and in a way that I think is accessible to a lot of people.
The author has created to characters from very different backgrounds and showed how it shapes who we are but how we can change. And that it’s ok to change, to learn, and to grow. I also thought near the end, to me, it showed how while someone can go through intensive therapy and come out strong in the other side, there will still be moments when something will happen that will make you think something and you will need to continue to learn and change. Thank you Alisa Dean for writing this book!
It is also very spicy which I love for this type of book!
This book!!! I adored this book! For a little background, while my family wasn’t fundamentalist or devout Christian’s I went to a Christian school from preschool to 10th grade. I was raised in a family influenced by Christianity, and one set of grandparents were practicing Christian’s. This book was healing to me in a way. Christina is an almost college graduate who has deconstructed and she had created this list to do things she wasn’t Lowe’s to do. And if you know the biblical story, you know why it’s called the Jezebel list. I could feel in this book how the author herself was healing from religious trauma. This book was so well done and in a way that I think is accessible to a lot of people.
The author has created to characters from very different backgrounds and showed how it shapes who we are but how we can change. And that it’s ok to change, to learn, and to grow. I also thought near the end, to me, it showed how while someone can go through intensive therapy and come out strong in the other side, there will still be moments when something will happen that will make you think something and you will need to continue to learn and change. Thank you Alisa Dean for writing this book!
It is also very spicy which I love for this type of book!
August 10, 2026
I really really liked this one. It’s about a woman finding herself after rejecting her evangelical background. It’s really thoughtful and doesn’t trauma dump as hard as it could…but there isn’t a minimizing of what a traumatic childhood can look like. With all that said it somehow leaves you lighthearted. The focus is on joy while acknowledging the past? Also both characters are a joy and the found family in the Deep South is exactly who any of us would want in our corner
August 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙹𝚎𝚣𝚎𝚋𝚎𝚕 𝙻𝚒𝚜𝚝
𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘯
𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙢𝙖 𝙍𝙤𝙢-𝘾𝙤𝙢. Say that five times fast. I would have never thought to read one but boy am I glad that The Jezebel List was my first and from the first two pages, I knew I was going to love it.
Christina and Danny.. right from their first encounter at the festival I knew it was going to be fireworks between them. TJL is exactly what it sounds like, a Pastors daughter set free on her own accord and working through a list of firsts with none other than Danny, a popular filmmaker.
If you’ve ever wanted to venture into a genre you were unsure about, please let this be your sign. The Jezebel List comes out August 25!
Thank you so much for the ARC @alisadeanwriter 🫶🏻
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙹𝚎𝚣𝚎𝚋𝚎𝚕 𝙻𝚒𝚜𝚝
𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘯
𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙢𝙖 𝙍𝙤𝙢-𝘾𝙤𝙢. Say that five times fast. I would have never thought to read one but boy am I glad that The Jezebel List was my first and from the first two pages, I knew I was going to love it.
Christina and Danny.. right from their first encounter at the festival I knew it was going to be fireworks between them. TJL is exactly what it sounds like, a Pastors daughter set free on her own accord and working through a list of firsts with none other than Danny, a popular filmmaker.
If you’ve ever wanted to venture into a genre you were unsure about, please let this be your sign. The Jezebel List comes out August 25!
Thank you so much for the ARC @alisadeanwriter 🫶🏻
July 26, 2026
4.5 stars - I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For a religious trauma romantic comedy, this was not always an easy read. But the ending was worth it. The personal growth by not only Christina, but Danny too, was incredible.
Christina is determined to experience life to the fullest, hence the list she’s made of all the things that she was told were sinful and would damn her. Now free of the repression and abuse of her family and away at university, she vows to give these experiences all she’s got!
Enter Danny, a documentarian who’s spent years uncovering the religious south for what it is. Stumbling across Christina was the change he needed in his filming and interviewing. She’s magnetic in more ways than one and he can’t help but ask more about her story.
I adored the little charged moments they had checking off things from the list. Their chemistry showing from the very moment they started filming, or even before.
Out 25th August!
Add this to your list besties!
For a religious trauma romantic comedy, this was not always an easy read. But the ending was worth it. The personal growth by not only Christina, but Danny too, was incredible.
Christina is determined to experience life to the fullest, hence the list she’s made of all the things that she was told were sinful and would damn her. Now free of the repression and abuse of her family and away at university, she vows to give these experiences all she’s got!
Enter Danny, a documentarian who’s spent years uncovering the religious south for what it is. Stumbling across Christina was the change he needed in his filming and interviewing. She’s magnetic in more ways than one and he can’t help but ask more about her story.
I adored the little charged moments they had checking off things from the list. Their chemistry showing from the very moment they started filming, or even before.
Out 25th August!
Add this to your list besties!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm not sure how to even put into words how phenomenal this book is.
Yes, the writing is outstanding, but more than that, if you grew up in an ultra-religious home, there is so much identity with Christina and her story. If you haven't grown up in that type of environment, I imagine the story will feel a bit shocking and flabbergasting....but still a story definitely worth reading.
Danny is such a phenomenal MMC. He is patient, open, kind and genuinely wants to see Christina live her best life just as she is; without pretenses.
I cried. I yelled. I identified. I sobbed. I healed.
It's perfect. I simply cannot wait for the world to read it.
If I had to choose just one quote... It would be the following...
"Yes. When people are shocked or flabbergasted, it can make me feel really lonely. I think my particular brand of religious trauma is a little less widespread, or at least less openly discussed, so it seems worse to people because it's less familiar?”
Yes, the writing is outstanding, but more than that, if you grew up in an ultra-religious home, there is so much identity with Christina and her story. If you haven't grown up in that type of environment, I imagine the story will feel a bit shocking and flabbergasting....but still a story definitely worth reading.
Danny is such a phenomenal MMC. He is patient, open, kind and genuinely wants to see Christina live her best life just as she is; without pretenses.
I cried. I yelled. I identified. I sobbed. I healed.
It's perfect. I simply cannot wait for the world to read it.
If I had to choose just one quote... It would be the following...
"Yes. When people are shocked or flabbergasted, it can make me feel really lonely. I think my particular brand of religious trauma is a little less widespread, or at least less openly discussed, so it seems worse to people because it's less familiar?”
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