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Life and How to Live it: Near Wild Heaven
At first, silence felt holy. Then the music started—and nothing was ever the same.
In the second volume of his memoir series, Chaz Holesworth moves beyond the chaos of his Philadelphia childhood and into the uncertainty of adolescence, where longing, rebellion, first love, and identity begin to collide.
Raised in a world where fear passed for faith and obedience was survival, Chaz grows up disconnected from himself and unsure how to exist outside the rules that shaped him. Questions are dangerous. Emotions are weakness. Desire is something to bury. But as music, friendship, and love slowly enter his life, the walls around him begin to crack.
With every forbidden song, every late-night escape, and every moment spent searching for freedom, Chaz starts discovering pieces of himself he was never allowed to know. Music becomes more than an escape—it becomes a lifeline. Friends become family. And the silence that once protected him begins to give way to confusion, shame, curiosity, and the painful process of becoming real.
As drugs, heartbreak, adventure, and self-discovery collide, Chaz tries to outrun the weight of his past before it catches up to him. But survival alone is no longer enough. To reclaim his voice, he must confront everything he was taught to fear.
Raw, reflective, and deeply human, Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven is a coming-of-age memoir about breaking free from indoctrination, surviving first love, and learning how to live after years of emotional silence. Set against the backdrop of mid-90s music and youth culture, it speaks to anyone who has ever felt trapped by their past while searching for a way forward.
In the second volume of his memoir series, Chaz Holesworth moves beyond the chaos of his Philadelphia childhood and into the uncertainty of adolescence, where longing, rebellion, first love, and identity begin to collide.
Raised in a world where fear passed for faith and obedience was survival, Chaz grows up disconnected from himself and unsure how to exist outside the rules that shaped him. Questions are dangerous. Emotions are weakness. Desire is something to bury. But as music, friendship, and love slowly enter his life, the walls around him begin to crack.
With every forbidden song, every late-night escape, and every moment spent searching for freedom, Chaz starts discovering pieces of himself he was never allowed to know. Music becomes more than an escape—it becomes a lifeline. Friends become family. And the silence that once protected him begins to give way to confusion, shame, curiosity, and the painful process of becoming real.
As drugs, heartbreak, adventure, and self-discovery collide, Chaz tries to outrun the weight of his past before it catches up to him. But survival alone is no longer enough. To reclaim his voice, he must confront everything he was taught to fear.
Raw, reflective, and deeply human, Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven is a coming-of-age memoir about breaking free from indoctrination, surviving first love, and learning how to live after years of emotional silence. Set against the backdrop of mid-90s music and youth culture, it speaks to anyone who has ever felt trapped by their past while searching for a way forward.
- GenresNonfiction
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 5, 2026
About the author
Chaz Holesworth
4 books95 followersChaz Holesworth writes emotionally honest memoirs about survival, addiction, faith, memory, and growing up in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood.
Raised in an environment shaped by poverty, struggle, and resilience, Chaz transforms deeply personal experiences into stories that connect with readers searching for truth, hope, and humanity. His writing blends raw vulnerability with humor, heart, and social awareness.
Readers of literary memoirs, working-class stories, and recovery narratives are drawn to his unflinching storytelling style and emotional authenticity.
When he’s not writing, Chaz enjoys live music, exploring new places, and advocating for workers’ rights and animal welfare. He currently lives in the suburbs with his wife and their dog, though Philadelphia remains at the center of his voice and perspective.
His memoir series, Life and How to Live It, explores the darker corners of memory while reminding readers that survival and meaning are still possible.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 10, 2026
A powerful, unflinching memoir about first love, rebellion, and finding your voice after a childhood of enforced silence. Excellent volume 2!
January 15, 2026
What do you do when the dogma you took as ultimate truth fails you and you’re ostracized by your family and friends? You can find out about what one young man did in the excellent second installment of Chaz Holesworth’s Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven.
In this volume, covering the years of 1995-2000, we pick up with Chaz having been kicked out of his Christian school. As he states, he was expelled and hurled into the “big, bad, secular world.” Having spent my teenage years in the crucible of Orange County, I have seen these kinds of things transpire with regularity. The intolerance can be brutal, and in Chaz’s case, it not only prevented him from seeing his girlfriend, Laura, but it also led to Laura being brutally and physically abused by her father, whose rage exploded after he learned the news.
She was apparently not “Living for Jesus.”
There’s much darkness and tribulation for Chaz at this point, as everything he has known is thrown into question. He moves to Wildwood with his friend Ray, and he discusses how other kids his age end up there for a summer, trying to eek it out, half-homeless, squatting, and making do. He experiments with drugs like LSD and has the kind of adventures that young men have when on a path of rediscovery.
I am no critic of any philosophical or religious school of thought, but it is clear that Chaz is still affected by the dualist notions of Christianity that defined his worldview. He often sees things in the Manichean way, God vs Anti-God, Good vs Evil, and Beauty vs Ugliness: “All the ugliness I saw from the worst people was balanced with the beautiful ones I met and will always hold dear to my heart. They are the real heroes of this book…”
This is no criticism of Chaz, because as we see, he is evolving away from this kind of dualism, and even if he does not recognize it yet, he’s becoming someone new.
What I found most interesting – being a huge music geek myself – is the way the author finds solace in music, and in the lyrics of R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, Chaz is able to construct a kind of alternative scripture to follow, one more in tune with his values and goals. Chaz puts it perfectly: “There is a R.E.M. song for every situation. If I felt it, they had a song about it. I fit their songs into my life, looking for insight and strength to push through the mess I was dealing with.”
What we see here is a young man forging his own identity, finding his own way, and learning to think for himself. The book does not throw Christianity under the bus, far from it. But it shows us that when we find our beliefs and values do not parallel those of the large social unit we inhabit, when our insistence on authenticity and truth is framed as delinquency, then we face some tough life choices. Chaz made the right choice: he chose truth over dogma, true friendship over acceptance based on conformity, and salvation in art. More importantly, his story stresses a truth that we all need repeated and rarely want to hear: life is tough, and success is forged in persistence.
If you know anyone who needs a reminder, send them a copy of Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven.
In this volume, covering the years of 1995-2000, we pick up with Chaz having been kicked out of his Christian school. As he states, he was expelled and hurled into the “big, bad, secular world.” Having spent my teenage years in the crucible of Orange County, I have seen these kinds of things transpire with regularity. The intolerance can be brutal, and in Chaz’s case, it not only prevented him from seeing his girlfriend, Laura, but it also led to Laura being brutally and physically abused by her father, whose rage exploded after he learned the news.
She was apparently not “Living for Jesus.”
There’s much darkness and tribulation for Chaz at this point, as everything he has known is thrown into question. He moves to Wildwood with his friend Ray, and he discusses how other kids his age end up there for a summer, trying to eek it out, half-homeless, squatting, and making do. He experiments with drugs like LSD and has the kind of adventures that young men have when on a path of rediscovery.
I am no critic of any philosophical or religious school of thought, but it is clear that Chaz is still affected by the dualist notions of Christianity that defined his worldview. He often sees things in the Manichean way, God vs Anti-God, Good vs Evil, and Beauty vs Ugliness: “All the ugliness I saw from the worst people was balanced with the beautiful ones I met and will always hold dear to my heart. They are the real heroes of this book…”
This is no criticism of Chaz, because as we see, he is evolving away from this kind of dualism, and even if he does not recognize it yet, he’s becoming someone new.
What I found most interesting – being a huge music geek myself – is the way the author finds solace in music, and in the lyrics of R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, Chaz is able to construct a kind of alternative scripture to follow, one more in tune with his values and goals. Chaz puts it perfectly: “There is a R.E.M. song for every situation. If I felt it, they had a song about it. I fit their songs into my life, looking for insight and strength to push through the mess I was dealing with.”
What we see here is a young man forging his own identity, finding his own way, and learning to think for himself. The book does not throw Christianity under the bus, far from it. But it shows us that when we find our beliefs and values do not parallel those of the large social unit we inhabit, when our insistence on authenticity and truth is framed as delinquency, then we face some tough life choices. Chaz made the right choice: he chose truth over dogma, true friendship over acceptance based on conformity, and salvation in art. More importantly, his story stresses a truth that we all need repeated and rarely want to hear: life is tough, and success is forged in persistence.
If you know anyone who needs a reminder, send them a copy of Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven.
January 30, 2026
Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven, by Chaz Holesworth, drops readers right into the chaos of a teenager trying to rebuild himself after being torn apart by a strict, fear-driven religious upbringing. The book moves through Chaz’s numb early days outside the born-again world, his collapsing sense of self, and the fragile moments of hope he finds in friendships, music, and small sparks of love. The story follows him as he wrestles with trauma, confusion, and the constant pull of old beliefs that shaped him. Page after page shows how he hangs on to whatever beauty he can find while walking through one emotional storm after another.
As I read, I kept feeling this knot in my stomach. The writing has a raw honesty that hits fast. Chaz explains his inner world with simple words that land hard. I could feel his panic when he talks about losing feeling in himself, and I could feel the heaviness in the way he walks for miles just to outrun his thoughts. The book does not try to sound wise or polished. Instead, it feels like sitting across from someone who is finally telling the truth about their worst moments. Sometimes the scenes moved almost too quickly, and I wanted him to stop and breathe, yet that speed felt real for a kid trying to stay ahead of his own mind.
What surprised me most was how the writing mixes dark confusion with sudden beauty. One moment, Chaz is talking about cutting himself or chanting old religious phrases to fight his fears. The next moment, he is describing a song that lights him up again. The whole story feels like that. Heavy. Quiet. Then alive for a second. I love how he talks about music. Those parts felt almost tender. It made me care even more because you can see how these songs kept him going when nothing else did. The book sometimes circles the same worries again and again. Still, that repetition feels true to what panic actually is. It does not move in straight lines. It loops, digs, and drags you back.
By the end, I walked away feeling protective of this kid he used to be. The story works because it does not offer easy answers. It simply lets you see the fight inside someone who was thrown into adulthood without a map. I would recommend Near Wild Heaven to anyone who grew up in a controlling or religious home, anyone who struggled with feeling lost as a teen, or anyone who holds music close because it saved them at least once. It carries a strange kind of hope. Holesworth's work is a must-read for readers who appreciate honest memoirs about trauma and survival.
As I read, I kept feeling this knot in my stomach. The writing has a raw honesty that hits fast. Chaz explains his inner world with simple words that land hard. I could feel his panic when he talks about losing feeling in himself, and I could feel the heaviness in the way he walks for miles just to outrun his thoughts. The book does not try to sound wise or polished. Instead, it feels like sitting across from someone who is finally telling the truth about their worst moments. Sometimes the scenes moved almost too quickly, and I wanted him to stop and breathe, yet that speed felt real for a kid trying to stay ahead of his own mind.
What surprised me most was how the writing mixes dark confusion with sudden beauty. One moment, Chaz is talking about cutting himself or chanting old religious phrases to fight his fears. The next moment, he is describing a song that lights him up again. The whole story feels like that. Heavy. Quiet. Then alive for a second. I love how he talks about music. Those parts felt almost tender. It made me care even more because you can see how these songs kept him going when nothing else did. The book sometimes circles the same worries again and again. Still, that repetition feels true to what panic actually is. It does not move in straight lines. It loops, digs, and drags you back.
By the end, I walked away feeling protective of this kid he used to be. The story works because it does not offer easy answers. It simply lets you see the fight inside someone who was thrown into adulthood without a map. I would recommend Near Wild Heaven to anyone who grew up in a controlling or religious home, anyone who struggled with feeling lost as a teen, or anyone who holds music close because it saved them at least once. It carries a strange kind of hope. Holesworth's work is a must-read for readers who appreciate honest memoirs about trauma and survival.
May 8, 2026
Life and how to live it by Chaz Holesworth is a set of memoir books by the author that I will be talking about today. First there is mention of drug use and sexual abuse so be warned y'all. The first volume is entitled Begin the Begin. In the first installment of Chaz's memoir we get to hear about his early life as a young child and how he grew up. Chaz grew up in a drug and gang infested area of Philly, aka Philadelphia. His parents were both from broken homes and had their own problems. Chaz's own grandfather was involved in criminal activities in Philly. His own mother was asssulted and had trauma from that and then she met Chaz's dad. Chaz's father was a drug addict that was on heroin for most of his life and that at the time in the rough neighborhood was not a big issue. Chaz talks about his self esteem issues coming from his mother and how it affected her entire life, she never talked at all about her past. However the author does tell us the readers, about how Chaz's mother was involved with someone who was also a Heroin addict and overdosed on it at a younger age. That is a important message for readers, trauma sometimes shapes who you are and who you become/ love in your later life. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse if you don't take the negative and change it into a positive. In the second volume of the memoir books, entitled: Near Wild Heaven, Chaz continues his memoir we get to hear about his teenage years and how he still loves music and how it is still very important in his life. This second installment to the memoir shows much more emotion in my opinion. I really liked that the author spoke directly to the readers in these books, it made the story about Chaz's life more connectable to the readers. It's an interesting memoir read and if you are a fan of coming of age memoirs in 1980's and 90's northeast US you will resonate with this book a little bit.
January 28, 2026
Thank you LBT for having me on this review tour and for my beautiful copy of this amazing book.
Ok so this is the second book in Chaz’s story and I feel like this was even more powerful than the first book. His writing is just so real and raw and just sucks you right in and you feel every sort of emotion in this book. Well least I did.
I loved how Chaz writes and how he doesn’t lecture or preach he just talks like he’s talking to me personally directly. He just has a way with words and gets it. Like growing up is hard enough but if the pain of the past stays with you or lingers seems to make it harder. I related to this. I had a great childhood well for the most part I thought I did but then the more I thought and really sat I didn’t. My dad wasn’t around. I have major daddy issues. And just trying to sit in the quiet makes me so uncomfortable I just don’t know to sit and really listen and just be. It’s something I want to do but just don’t know how I think that is why I struggle with money and people and doing things I shouldn’t because I don’t know how to be.
I loved how Chaz’s love for music is still present. That for me just made the book. I love music especially now that I’m an adult but even growing up I loved music. This I really connected with Chaz on. I felt so connected to him in this book. I really did I absolutely loved that. This is book I may go back and read again and again. Just because I feel like I may get more out of it each time.
Overall best read. I loved this one more than the first one if I’m being honest. I just felt so connected to the author and what he went through and how despite it all he still turned out amazing !!! Something I worry about with my kids did I mess them up are they gonna grow up to be decent people. Something I think about a lot !!!
Ok so this is the second book in Chaz’s story and I feel like this was even more powerful than the first book. His writing is just so real and raw and just sucks you right in and you feel every sort of emotion in this book. Well least I did.
I loved how Chaz writes and how he doesn’t lecture or preach he just talks like he’s talking to me personally directly. He just has a way with words and gets it. Like growing up is hard enough but if the pain of the past stays with you or lingers seems to make it harder. I related to this. I had a great childhood well for the most part I thought I did but then the more I thought and really sat I didn’t. My dad wasn’t around. I have major daddy issues. And just trying to sit in the quiet makes me so uncomfortable I just don’t know to sit and really listen and just be. It’s something I want to do but just don’t know how I think that is why I struggle with money and people and doing things I shouldn’t because I don’t know how to be.
I loved how Chaz’s love for music is still present. That for me just made the book. I love music especially now that I’m an adult but even growing up I loved music. This I really connected with Chaz on. I felt so connected to him in this book. I really did I absolutely loved that. This is book I may go back and read again and again. Just because I feel like I may get more out of it each time.
Overall best read. I loved this one more than the first one if I’m being honest. I just felt so connected to the author and what he went through and how despite it all he still turned out amazing !!! Something I worry about with my kids did I mess them up are they gonna grow up to be decent people. Something I think about a lot !!!
July 9, 2026
Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven stayed with me long after I finished it because it understands something many coming-of-age memoirs only hint at: sometimes the hardest part of growing up isn't surviving your childhood—it's figuring out who you are once you're finally free to ask your own questions.
What struck me most was the way Chaz Holesworth captures emotional awakening through ordinary moments. A song on the radio, a friendship, first love, a late-night escape—these become milestones in reclaiming an identity that had been buried beneath fear, shame, and rigid expectations. The memoir never sensationalizes trauma. Instead, it quietly shows how years of emotional silence shape a person's inner world and how healing often begins in small acts of curiosity and courage.
The role of music is especially powerful. It isn't simply a nostalgic soundtrack to the 1990s—it becomes the language Chaz never had growing up, offering freedom, belonging, and hope when words alone aren't enough. Anyone who has ever found themselves through music will immediately recognize that feeling.
What makes this memoir particularly compelling is its honesty. Chaz doesn't present healing as a straight path or pretend that leaving a restrictive environment instantly solves everything. The confusion, setbacks, heartbreak, and self-doubt all feel authentic, making the moments of growth even more meaningful.
This is far more than a memoir about adolescence. It's about recovering your own voice after years of believing it didn't matter. It's about choosing authenticity over fear, even when that choice comes with uncertainty. I finished the book feeling hopeful, reminded that becoming yourself is often the bravest journey of all.
What struck me most was the way Chaz Holesworth captures emotional awakening through ordinary moments. A song on the radio, a friendship, first love, a late-night escape—these become milestones in reclaiming an identity that had been buried beneath fear, shame, and rigid expectations. The memoir never sensationalizes trauma. Instead, it quietly shows how years of emotional silence shape a person's inner world and how healing often begins in small acts of curiosity and courage.
The role of music is especially powerful. It isn't simply a nostalgic soundtrack to the 1990s—it becomes the language Chaz never had growing up, offering freedom, belonging, and hope when words alone aren't enough. Anyone who has ever found themselves through music will immediately recognize that feeling.
What makes this memoir particularly compelling is its honesty. Chaz doesn't present healing as a straight path or pretend that leaving a restrictive environment instantly solves everything. The confusion, setbacks, heartbreak, and self-doubt all feel authentic, making the moments of growth even more meaningful.
This is far more than a memoir about adolescence. It's about recovering your own voice after years of believing it didn't matter. It's about choosing authenticity over fear, even when that choice comes with uncertainty. I finished the book feeling hopeful, reminded that becoming yourself is often the bravest journey of all.
February 25, 2026
‘Time to show some courage, Chaz’ – A life worth knowing!
Pennsylvania author Chaz Holesworth offers his second novel in his ongoing series – LIFE AND HOW TO LIVE IT – a memoir of his own life that began in the slums of Philadelphia with a heroin addict father and a religious mother, and now progresses into adolescence with all the challenges that coming-of-age present to a lad carrying the scars of his childhood. The immediacy of his writing is evident as he opens with ‘Welcome to volume two of Life and How to Live It. The beginning of the crazy, whacky Chaz years. A mesh of Forrest Gump, Jack Kerouac, and whatever it takes to survive. The story picks up after my first emotional breakdown,,,after getting kicked out of the born-again Christian schools that ruined me.’
Chaz quite adroitly retraces his progress through his life as a teenager, struggling with drugs, heartbreak, and discoveries in his new world where ‘Emotions are weakness. Questions are sin. Desire is the enemy. But when first love cracks open the cage, and forbidden music floods in, everything he has been taught about identity, God, and himself begins to unravel.’ Or as he shares in the Epilogue, ‘I ended this volume at a pivotal moment, as I tried to take my life for the first time. All because another round of negativity was coming, thanks to my girlfriend cheating one me and wanting to leave me. I didn’t know if I had the courage to face another letdown and heartbreak.’ Reading this second volume initiates interest in following the subsequent books. Immensely interesting!
Pennsylvania author Chaz Holesworth offers his second novel in his ongoing series – LIFE AND HOW TO LIVE IT – a memoir of his own life that began in the slums of Philadelphia with a heroin addict father and a religious mother, and now progresses into adolescence with all the challenges that coming-of-age present to a lad carrying the scars of his childhood. The immediacy of his writing is evident as he opens with ‘Welcome to volume two of Life and How to Live It. The beginning of the crazy, whacky Chaz years. A mesh of Forrest Gump, Jack Kerouac, and whatever it takes to survive. The story picks up after my first emotional breakdown,,,after getting kicked out of the born-again Christian schools that ruined me.’
Chaz quite adroitly retraces his progress through his life as a teenager, struggling with drugs, heartbreak, and discoveries in his new world where ‘Emotions are weakness. Questions are sin. Desire is the enemy. But when first love cracks open the cage, and forbidden music floods in, everything he has been taught about identity, God, and himself begins to unravel.’ Or as he shares in the Epilogue, ‘I ended this volume at a pivotal moment, as I tried to take my life for the first time. All because another round of negativity was coming, thanks to my girlfriend cheating one me and wanting to leave me. I didn’t know if I had the courage to face another letdown and heartbreak.’ Reading this second volume initiates interest in following the subsequent books. Immensely interesting!
January 28, 2026
Life and How to Live It is a memoir by Chaz Holesworth about growing up in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, where addiction, poverty, and faith defined his daily life.
I’ll be featuring the first volume of Chaz’s memoir in an upcoming review on my blog here as well. Near Wild Heaven is the second volume, set in the mid-1990s - 2000, during Chaz’ teenage years. Music and movement are how Chaz forges a new chapter.
Throughout the novel, we see the powerful role that art - and in particular - music can play in life. For Chaz, in particular, the music of R.E.M., Tori Amos, and Radiohead had a profound impact on Chaz.
R.E.M.’s music specifically is a source of healing, resilience, reclaiming identity, and new beginnings.
Music can be eye-opening; music can be healing; music can build community. Music and art meet us where we are at as individuals. Music meets the moment. In the memoir, Chaz writes how R.E.M.’s catalogue has a songs for every occasion.
The memoir is poignant, raw, thought-provoking, and hopeful. I look forward to reading the next volume of Life and How to Live It.
Thank you to Chaz Holesworth for the gifted copy of your memoir and to Love Books Tours for the opportunity to read and review the book! Thank you for sharing your story!
I also recommend Chaz’s poetry collection, When the Light is Mine: Poetry for the People!
I was provided a copy of this book for free and am leaving an honest review.
I’ll be featuring the first volume of Chaz’s memoir in an upcoming review on my blog here as well. Near Wild Heaven is the second volume, set in the mid-1990s - 2000, during Chaz’ teenage years. Music and movement are how Chaz forges a new chapter.
Throughout the novel, we see the powerful role that art - and in particular - music can play in life. For Chaz, in particular, the music of R.E.M., Tori Amos, and Radiohead had a profound impact on Chaz.
R.E.M.’s music specifically is a source of healing, resilience, reclaiming identity, and new beginnings.
Music can be eye-opening; music can be healing; music can build community. Music and art meet us where we are at as individuals. Music meets the moment. In the memoir, Chaz writes how R.E.M.’s catalogue has a songs for every occasion.
The memoir is poignant, raw, thought-provoking, and hopeful. I look forward to reading the next volume of Life and How to Live It.
Thank you to Chaz Holesworth for the gifted copy of your memoir and to Love Books Tours for the opportunity to read and review the book! Thank you for sharing your story!
I also recommend Chaz’s poetry collection, When the Light is Mine: Poetry for the People!
I was provided a copy of this book for free and am leaving an honest review.
June 25, 2026
This second volume continues in a deeply personal, stream-of-consciousness style that leans into reflection over structure. The writing feels intentionally unfiltered, offering glimpses into the author's thoughts and experiences as they unfold rather than following a traditional narrative path.
There are moments that invite pause and consideration, particularly for readers who appreciate philosophical musings and emotional honesty. At the same time, the nonlinear approach means this is best suited for those who are comfortable moving through a more fluid, exploratory reading experience.
Readers drawn to raw, introspective storytelling may find meaningful connections here, especially if they value reflection over resolution.
Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven offers a deeply personal and reflective reading experience that leans into thought, emotion, and lived experience rather than traditional storytelling. Its unfiltered, exploratory style will resonate most with readers who appreciate introspection and philosophical reflection.
This is a book to approach with openness-one that invites you to move alongside the author's thoughts rather than follow a defined path. For the right reader, that journey may offer moments of quiet connection and reflection.
Read more of my book reviews at
Gina Rae Mitchell • Championing Indie Authors & Stories Worth Discovering
There are moments that invite pause and consideration, particularly for readers who appreciate philosophical musings and emotional honesty. At the same time, the nonlinear approach means this is best suited for those who are comfortable moving through a more fluid, exploratory reading experience.
Readers drawn to raw, introspective storytelling may find meaningful connections here, especially if they value reflection over resolution.
Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven offers a deeply personal and reflective reading experience that leans into thought, emotion, and lived experience rather than traditional storytelling. Its unfiltered, exploratory style will resonate most with readers who appreciate introspection and philosophical reflection.
This is a book to approach with openness-one that invites you to move alongside the author's thoughts rather than follow a defined path. For the right reader, that journey may offer moments of quiet connection and reflection.
Read more of my book reviews at
Gina Rae Mitchell • Championing Indie Authors & Stories Worth Discovering
May 6, 2026
Written by Chaz Holesworth, this second volume follows Chaz as he moves beyond the physical chaos of childhood and into something equally consuming. It talks about the psychological aftermath of growing up in an environment where obedience mattered more than emotion. As a teenager, he begins questioning the beliefs and expectations that shaped him. First love becomes a turning point that cracks open everything he has spent years trying to suppress. Through heartbreak, movement, music, and memory, he slowly begins searching for a voice that feels like his own.
Near Wild Heaven is raw, restless, and personal. This second volume throws us straight into emotional collapse, isolation, religious trauma, heartbreak, and the terrifying feeling of losing yourself while still trying to survive day by day. Chaz Holesworth writes with complete openness, and that honesty gives the memoir its strongest impact. The writing carries anger, sarcasm, vulnerability, dark humor, and exhaustion all at once.
This is not an easy read emotionally. But it stands out because of its brutal honesty. The references to pop culture and the atmosphere add personality to the story. The book is a reminder that even in its darkest moments, there’s a strong human voice pushing through the pain.
Near Wild Heaven is raw, restless, and personal. This second volume throws us straight into emotional collapse, isolation, religious trauma, heartbreak, and the terrifying feeling of losing yourself while still trying to survive day by day. Chaz Holesworth writes with complete openness, and that honesty gives the memoir its strongest impact. The writing carries anger, sarcasm, vulnerability, dark humor, and exhaustion all at once.
This is not an easy read emotionally. But it stands out because of its brutal honesty. The references to pop culture and the atmosphere add personality to the story. The book is a reminder that even in its darkest moments, there’s a strong human voice pushing through the pain.
April 21, 2026
I had the pleasure in reading Chaz Holesworth's Life and How to Live It, Vol. 1: Begin the Begin. I was happy to get my hands on their Life and How to Live it, Vol. 2: Near Wild Heaven. As a kid that grew up during the 1980s and 1990s, I definitely felt a connection with Chaz. It was like going back in time and reliving my own personal struggles and challenges. I liked how he used music as an outlet. I loved how he was able discover himself and finding his own way in life. The book covers a lot that many other readers would be able to find themselves in and connect with the author. It was intriguing to see how he found his own path of truth, hope, perseverance, redemption, and self discovery. I am inspired by how he overcame the heartbreak and struggles from his upbringing.
I am going to give Life and How to Live it, Vol. 2: Near Wild Heaven a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who have experienced challenges in their lives and looking for someone else's experiences. I would love to read more from Chaz Holesworth in the future. To me, this one should not be missed.
I received a paperback copy of Chaz Holesworth's Life and How to Live it, Vol. 2: Near Wild Heaven from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
I am going to give Life and How to Live it, Vol. 2: Near Wild Heaven a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who have experienced challenges in their lives and looking for someone else's experiences. I would love to read more from Chaz Holesworth in the future. To me, this one should not be missed.
I received a paperback copy of Chaz Holesworth's Life and How to Live it, Vol. 2: Near Wild Heaven from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
April 24, 2026
Raw, Reflective, and Deeply Human
Life and How to Live It by Chaz Holesworth is a compelling memoir that blends honesty, resilience, and introspection into a powerful narrative. Drawing from a challenging upbringing, the book delivers a vivid and immersive look at life shaped by hardship, faith, and personal growth.
The writing style is bold and conversational, giving the story an intimate, almost confessional tone that pulls readers in effortlessly. The journey unfolds through moments of struggle and self-discovery, creating a natural progression that feels both authentic and inspiring.
What truly elevates the book is its emotional depth, balancing grit with warmth, and hardship with hope. The presence of music, relationships, and inner reflection adds rich layers to the narrative.
Overall, it’s a gripping, heartfelt read that celebrates resilience and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Life and How to Live It by Chaz Holesworth is a compelling memoir that blends honesty, resilience, and introspection into a powerful narrative. Drawing from a challenging upbringing, the book delivers a vivid and immersive look at life shaped by hardship, faith, and personal growth.
The writing style is bold and conversational, giving the story an intimate, almost confessional tone that pulls readers in effortlessly. The journey unfolds through moments of struggle and self-discovery, creating a natural progression that feels both authentic and inspiring.
What truly elevates the book is its emotional depth, balancing grit with warmth, and hardship with hope. The presence of music, relationships, and inner reflection adds rich layers to the narrative.
Overall, it’s a gripping, heartfelt read that celebrates resilience and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
January 14, 2026
Between fear and freedom
Reading this book felt like listening to someone finally speaking honestly, as if they were telling their story to a friend. It does not try to teach or explain life, but it shows how confusing growing up can be when the past still feels heavy. What stayed with me was the way it captures that quiet moment when a person starts to question what they were taught, even if it feels scary or wrong. There is fear, mistakes, and choices that do not make sense at first, but also small moments of freedom that quietly change things. Music, friendships, and the need to belong become little shelters along the way. The book reminds me that growing up is messy, and finding ourselves often begins when we step away from what hurt us, even if we do not know where we are going.
Reading this book felt like listening to someone finally speaking honestly, as if they were telling their story to a friend. It does not try to teach or explain life, but it shows how confusing growing up can be when the past still feels heavy. What stayed with me was the way it captures that quiet moment when a person starts to question what they were taught, even if it feels scary or wrong. There is fear, mistakes, and choices that do not make sense at first, but also small moments of freedom that quietly change things. Music, friendships, and the need to belong become little shelters along the way. The book reminds me that growing up is messy, and finding ourselves often begins when we step away from what hurt us, even if we do not know where we are going.
January 16, 2026
A thought-provoking memoir
“Life and How to live it” is a touching and thought-provoking memoir. It lets me think along all the pages about the importance of being raised in a supportive and tender family. Chaz Holesworth put into words the chaotic,miserable and desperate events from his childhood and adolescence that left a mark and affected his adulthood. From the very beginning, he was raised with the idea that emotions mean weakness or that questions are a sin. He has gone through a lot during his life and he has chosen life above everything. So, this is a life lesson that shows that it's possible to change the course of your life despite the past.
It’s a captivating story, though a bit miserable. I liked it because in the end it leaves a sense of achievement and personal growth in the process.
“Life and How to live it” is a touching and thought-provoking memoir. It lets me think along all the pages about the importance of being raised in a supportive and tender family. Chaz Holesworth put into words the chaotic,miserable and desperate events from his childhood and adolescence that left a mark and affected his adulthood. From the very beginning, he was raised with the idea that emotions mean weakness or that questions are a sin. He has gone through a lot during his life and he has chosen life above everything. So, this is a life lesson that shows that it's possible to change the course of your life despite the past.
It’s a captivating story, though a bit miserable. I liked it because in the end it leaves a sense of achievement and personal growth in the process.
January 26, 2026
Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven is the second installment of the memoir series of Chaz Holesworth. This is the second of Mr. Holesworth’s work that I’ve read, and as a Christian, it makes me sad how much the church hurt him. However, I love how music is such a central part of his life. He and I are roughly the same age and a lot of the bands he liked were ones I liked as well.
His memoir is one that tells of a boy who had to grow up quickly due to many of the adults in his life. Poverty and mental health issues just added to the burdens he carried. However, there are also moments of love, friendship, and perseverance, many of those moments experienced due to his love for alt-rock and concerts.
I’m looking forward to the next installment of the series. 5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Highly recommend!
His memoir is one that tells of a boy who had to grow up quickly due to many of the adults in his life. Poverty and mental health issues just added to the burdens he carried. However, there are also moments of love, friendship, and perseverance, many of those moments experienced due to his love for alt-rock and concerts.
I’m looking forward to the next installment of the series. 5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Highly recommend!
February 20, 2026
While I can appreciate the honesty and vulnerability in Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven by Chaz Holesworth, this one didn’t fully connect with me. The writing is undeniably raw, and I respect how openly the author shares his experiences with faith, rebellion, and identity. The sections about music and its role in shaping his survival were especially powerful.
That said, the narrative sometimes felt repetitive, particularly when revisiting the same emotional struggles. I understand that this likely reflects the reality of anxiety and internal conflict, but it made the pacing feel slower than I would have liked. I also found myself wanting a bit more reflection from the author’s present-day perspective.
Overall, it’s a thoughtful and courageous memoir with strong themes of resilience and self-discovery, it just wasn’t a perfect fit for me personally.
That said, the narrative sometimes felt repetitive, particularly when revisiting the same emotional struggles. I understand that this likely reflects the reality of anxiety and internal conflict, but it made the pacing feel slower than I would have liked. I also found myself wanting a bit more reflection from the author’s present-day perspective.
Overall, it’s a thoughtful and courageous memoir with strong themes of resilience and self-discovery, it just wasn’t a perfect fit for me personally.
July 11, 2026
Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven feels less like a memoir and more like an invitation into someone's most vulnerable memories. What stayed with me was the honesty of Chaz's voice as he navigates adolescence, carrying the weight of fear and silence while slowly discovering the freedom that music, friendship, and genuine human connection can offer.
I especially appreciated how the book captures the messy, nonlinear process of finding yourself. There are moments of joy, heartbreak, rebellion, and reflection that feel incredibly genuine, and the backdrop of '90s music and youth culture gives the memoir an added sense of nostalgia without overshadowing its emotional core. It's a thoughtful and moving read that reminds us that healing often begins the moment we allow ourselves to question the stories we've always been told.
I especially appreciated how the book captures the messy, nonlinear process of finding yourself. There are moments of joy, heartbreak, rebellion, and reflection that feel incredibly genuine, and the backdrop of '90s music and youth culture gives the memoir an added sense of nostalgia without overshadowing its emotional core. It's a thoughtful and moving read that reminds us that healing often begins the moment we allow ourselves to question the stories we've always been told.
January 10, 2026
This is the second volume of the author’s memoirs. He was raised in Philadelphia’s mean streets, and they shaped and molded him, teaching him many hard lessons. However, the music surrounding him redeemed him. He heard some of the greats of the era in which he grew up, and the sound helped him escape.
This is not an easy read, as it’s about someone who was very fearful and tried to stay away from the dark parts of his mind that belonged to his past. As difficult as some of the sections are, there’s a great and redemptive power in this narrative. It’s proof positive that even if the odds against you seem overwhelming, you don’t ever have to give up hope as long as you have courage and resolve.
This is not an easy read, as it’s about someone who was very fearful and tried to stay away from the dark parts of his mind that belonged to his past. As difficult as some of the sections are, there’s a great and redemptive power in this narrative. It’s proof positive that even if the odds against you seem overwhelming, you don’t ever have to give up hope as long as you have courage and resolve.
January 14, 2026
This is one of the many stories that many people have experienced or are experiencing. Growing up in a home with strict rules or rigid religious beliefs can be challenging and leave an indelible mark on our adolescence. "Life and How to Live it’’ is a profound autobiography, and in this second part, you will see how the author managed to overcome the weight of that adolescence marked by prohibitions. This book offers different lessons, helps you understand yourself, offers healing, shows the power of growth and how to be brave, and creates empathy. This book is not just about a rebellious teenager, but about self-discovery and personal development. It's about learning to think for yourself and make your own decisions, even if they are not correct. This is a valuable read.
January 17, 2026
It is a great book, seeing someone's perspective like my dad. This person has gone through a lot of things deep inside. I can see the struggles the author has gone through the writings. The good thing about it is that music has been something constant in this author's life. It did entertain me and made me laugh a lot, this crazy life he has gone through but in the end still came out standing. The chapter about being on LSD was better than being alone was a little sad for me because I think that that's why most people turn to vices to fill up the emptiness or loneliness they are feeling. The good thing is that nowadays we have all kinds of therapy or even a lot of help around, especially for those who are lonely.
March 23, 2026
Great book
In this second book, the author offers simple yet profound lessons on how to live a peaceful yet balanced life, guided by ethics and all that it entails. One thing I appreciated was how the author emphasizes the importance of character, honesty, and compassion over material success. Acting with integrity will always be the path to success.
It's a deeply human account in which the author portrays the moment when curiosity overcomes fear and imposed norms begin to crumble. He speaks openly about his experiences with drugs, heartbreak, and spiritual confusion, revealing his vulnerability. This makes it a very human and transparent book, as he neither embellishes nor conceals his past.
In this second book, the author offers simple yet profound lessons on how to live a peaceful yet balanced life, guided by ethics and all that it entails. One thing I appreciated was how the author emphasizes the importance of character, honesty, and compassion over material success. Acting with integrity will always be the path to success.
It's a deeply human account in which the author portrays the moment when curiosity overcomes fear and imposed norms begin to crumble. He speaks openly about his experiences with drugs, heartbreak, and spiritual confusion, revealing his vulnerability. This makes it a very human and transparent book, as he neither embellishes nor conceals his past.
March 25, 2026
Very reflective
Life and How to Live It, by Chaz Holesworth, turned out to be a really thoughtful, reflective read. This reading delves into ideas surrounding life, purpose, and how one can grow personally, doing so in a pretty calm and meaningful manner. I did like how the author recommended readers to slow their roll and actually consider their choices, along with their values. Some bits did feel kind of philosophical, even though it did make me ponder my own goals, and what really counts. The writing was clear and flowed smoothly, making it simpler to stay hooked. It never felt rushed, with each idea allowed to flourish.
Overall, it was an insightful and peaceful book I'd recommend.
Life and How to Live It, by Chaz Holesworth, turned out to be a really thoughtful, reflective read. This reading delves into ideas surrounding life, purpose, and how one can grow personally, doing so in a pretty calm and meaningful manner. I did like how the author recommended readers to slow their roll and actually consider their choices, along with their values. Some bits did feel kind of philosophical, even though it did make me ponder my own goals, and what really counts. The writing was clear and flowed smoothly, making it simpler to stay hooked. It never felt rushed, with each idea allowed to flourish.
Overall, it was an insightful and peaceful book I'd recommend.
May 12, 2026
Excellent
It is a chronicle of letting go of old truths and exploring an identity that emerges amid chaos and curiosity.
The story explores the tension between the weight of the past and the desire for autonomy, tracing paths of rebellion that serve as an escape from repression. The work becomes a journey toward the recovery of one’s personal voice, inviting reflection on what it means to choose life when the environment imposed only isolation. Through an honest and rhythmic narrative, the author describes the clash between dangerous freedom and the aftermath of indoctrination. The text becomes a universal testimony to the courage required to stop running from the past and finally begin to live.
It is a chronicle of letting go of old truths and exploring an identity that emerges amid chaos and curiosity.
The story explores the tension between the weight of the past and the desire for autonomy, tracing paths of rebellion that serve as an escape from repression. The work becomes a journey toward the recovery of one’s personal voice, inviting reflection on what it means to choose life when the environment imposed only isolation. Through an honest and rhythmic narrative, the author describes the clash between dangerous freedom and the aftermath of indoctrination. The text becomes a universal testimony to the courage required to stop running from the past and finally begin to live.
January 15, 2026
Chaz Holesworth is the author of "Life and How to Live It", in which he candidly recounts his teenage years in Philadelphia. In a world where being a teenager isn't easy, and where his childhood wasn't exactly happy, Chaz tries to find his way, clinging to music and friends.
One of the things I appreciate most about this book is the author's courage in sharing his story. It's not easy when there are traumas and wounds to heal. Even so, Chaz managed to recover and find his way in life, setting goals and objectives.
Simply a book to get emotional and learn about the life of this author who had the courage to make a 180-degree turn and rewrite his story.
One of the things I appreciate most about this book is the author's courage in sharing his story. It's not easy when there are traumas and wounds to heal. Even so, Chaz managed to recover and find his way in life, setting goals and objectives.
Simply a book to get emotional and learn about the life of this author who had the courage to make a 180-degree turn and rewrite his story.
January 16, 2026
This book hit me more than I thought. It’s not an easy read, but it feels real. Chaz Holesworth writes in a rough, honest way, like he’s just saying things as they happened. While reading I felt sad, angry, and confused, mostly about faith and fear. You can really feel how stuck he was growing up. Music feels like an escape, maybe the only one. His teenage years are messy and lonely.
The book feels more like memories than a straight story. After I finished it, I couldn’t stop thinking about silence. Sometimes it hides you. Sometimes it hurts. This book is for people who grew up with too many rules.
The book feels more like memories than a straight story. After I finished it, I couldn’t stop thinking about silence. Sometimes it hides you. Sometimes it hurts. This book is for people who grew up with too many rules.
January 17, 2026
I really liked this autobiography for two main reasons: first of all, because the author himself recounts his life so the narrative feels authentic, emotional, and at times even moving. Second, there is a strong emphasis on overcoming not only personal challenges but also negative experiences in life. This allows each reader to relate to some point in their own life that required resilience.
I find it fascinating how Chaz shows that even the most difficult adversities can make you stronger. There is always a path to redemption, forgiveness, and rebirth; it is important that we learn to see it.
This is undoubtedly an invaluable and powerful read. I recommend not missing it.
I find it fascinating how Chaz shows that even the most difficult adversities can make you stronger. There is always a path to redemption, forgiveness, and rebirth; it is important that we learn to see it.
This is undoubtedly an invaluable and powerful read. I recommend not missing it.
February 17, 2026
This book hit me like a mixtape I was not ready for.
I tore through this memoir because it feels alive. Not polished. Not pretty. Alive. Watching Chaz stumble out of religious control, heartbreak, and full blown teenage chaos while blasting R.E.M. and Radiohead in his headphones felt raw in the best way. I could feel the numbness, the panic, the desperate hope that maybe one concert ticket or one song could save him. It is messy and brave and painfully honest. If you have ever tried to outrun your past or find yourself in the middle of noise, read this. It does not preach. It bleeds. And I loved every page. 🎧🔥
I tore through this memoir because it feels alive. Not polished. Not pretty. Alive. Watching Chaz stumble out of religious control, heartbreak, and full blown teenage chaos while blasting R.E.M. and Radiohead in his headphones felt raw in the best way. I could feel the numbness, the panic, the desperate hope that maybe one concert ticket or one song could save him. It is messy and brave and painfully honest. If you have ever tried to outrun your past or find yourself in the middle of noise, read this. It does not preach. It bleeds. And I loved every page. 🎧🔥
March 26, 2026
Life and How to Live it: Near Wild Heaven by Chaz Holesworth is a follow-on from his previous memoir. In this book, he takes the reader on a journey through his stormy adolescence, his discovery of music, and his breakaway from the restrictive teachings that limited him in his younger years. He explores drugs, love and adventure, experiencing life’s ups and downs to the fullest.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy personal stories and coming-of-age memoirs. The writing is raw and real, although I personally felt that it went into a lot of detail that I wasn’t necessarily interested in. I think it is still a solid memoir and am giving it four stars.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy personal stories and coming-of-age memoirs. The writing is raw and real, although I personally felt that it went into a lot of detail that I wasn’t necessarily interested in. I think it is still a solid memoir and am giving it four stars.
March 27, 2026
This autobiography made me notice how relatable the things that happened to the author in his early days are. From overcoming forced obedience to battling with drugs and having girlfriends who cheated on him, everything was poignant and deeply felt.
I liked the way in which Chaz Holesworth wrote honestly about every aspect of his life, without hiding how difficult many of the experiences were. Life and How to Live it serves as an invitation for the reader to take a step back and think about their own life and the challenges that they had to overcome. This story of resilience in the face of adversity is an inspiring read.
I liked the way in which Chaz Holesworth wrote honestly about every aspect of his life, without hiding how difficult many of the experiences were. Life and How to Live it serves as an invitation for the reader to take a step back and think about their own life and the challenges that they had to overcome. This story of resilience in the face of adversity is an inspiring read.
May 8, 2026
Life and How to Live It was less like a traditional self-help book and more like a quiet conversation with someone who has spent years observing both nature and human behavior. The concept of “Domestication Sickness” stayed in my mind long after reading. I started reflecting on how easy it is to live on autopilot, constantly entertained, constantly connected, yet somehow emotionally exhausted. The book challenged me to think about whether convenience has slowly replaced meaning in many parts of modern life.
After finishing the book, I found myself questioning how much of my daily life is intentional and how much is simply habit. That reflection alone made the book worth reading.
After finishing the book, I found myself questioning how much of my daily life is intentional and how much is simply habit. That reflection alone made the book worth reading.
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