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Take Me to Church #1
Born in Sickness
Luka Thomas is a God-fearing Christian. When his family moves to the Bible Belt right before his senior year of high school, he knows he’ll blend right in. Sort of. Being gay is a sin, so he's not gay. He’s just…experimenting.
Then he meets Harlan Sharp and begins to question everything he knew to be true.
Harlan stopped believing in fairytales when the darkest days of his past left him scarred, angry, and questioning God’s motives. He doesn’t trust anyone, let alone Luka, who reminds Harlan of the very same person who hurt him.
When blatantly ignoring all of Luka’s attempts at conversation doesn’t deter him, Harlan begins criticizing the one thing that Luka seems to believe wholeheartedly: his faith in God.
With Luka’s incredibly strict step-father pressuring him to date a girl, he desperately makes a deal, but at what cost to his budding relationship with Harlan?
The Take me to Church series is a real depiction of falling in love as a gay teen amidst the rampant homophobia of the south and the mental health issues many people face. It's explicit in the way that life is. It's raw, beautiful, and real. Readers will scream in anger and cry in pain, but also laugh in joy and healing as they grow with these characters.
Then he meets Harlan Sharp and begins to question everything he knew to be true.
Harlan stopped believing in fairytales when the darkest days of his past left him scarred, angry, and questioning God’s motives. He doesn’t trust anyone, let alone Luka, who reminds Harlan of the very same person who hurt him.
When blatantly ignoring all of Luka’s attempts at conversation doesn’t deter him, Harlan begins criticizing the one thing that Luka seems to believe wholeheartedly: his faith in God.
With Luka’s incredibly strict step-father pressuring him to date a girl, he desperately makes a deal, but at what cost to his budding relationship with Harlan?
The Take me to Church series is a real depiction of falling in love as a gay teen amidst the rampant homophobia of the south and the mental health issues many people face. It's explicit in the way that life is. It's raw, beautiful, and real. Readers will scream in anger and cry in pain, but also laugh in joy and healing as they grow with these characters.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 23, 2021
18 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
L.M. Archer
8 books37 followersL.M. Archer was first drawn to writing as a way to express my feelings when oftentimes, she found that she couldn’t say them out loud. That’s why her writing is more on the dark side of the romance spectrum. She tends to write in a way that showcases real scenarios and events. Her books tackle mental health, moral values, religion and many other topics that are raw and real.
Archer is not afraid to make her readers look at the darker side of humanity and question the very foundation of life and existence. The topics in her books can be triggering, but she is a firm believer that you need to shed light on certain situations. Keeping them in the dark only hurts more.
Archer is not afraid to make her readers look at the darker side of humanity and question the very foundation of life and existence. The topics in her books can be triggering, but she is a firm believer that you need to shed light on certain situations. Keeping them in the dark only hurts more.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 23, 2021
I was sent this book By L.M. Archer or Lena as I know her and I truly am soo honoured to be one of the first people she has trusted this book with. So thank you soo much for that. This is the second of L.M. Archer's books I have read and this is the first in a brand new take me to church series of hers.
Born in Sickness is a male on male romance novel. It is quintessentially about 18-year-old boys from a small Christian and faith-driven town, who believe that God is the almighty and that homosexuality is an abomination (by the way loved that word, Lena)
Luka is an 18-year-old who knows that he finds men attractive, he also can't find it in himself to admit the truth out loud. Luka's home life is very regimented and strict as his stepdad used to be in the army. They are a very Christian family and his stepdad has very strong beliefs about what is right and wrong in the world and in people which causes Luka to bottle up the way he feels and see it as a sin rather than what it actually is. Due to them moving a lot throughout his life Luka tries not to get attached to people that is until a tall dark and mysterious young man is sat in his choir class stealing all his thoughts and attention.
Harlen is a man from a poor background, living with his mom who always works and never has time to feed him or get food in. He is strong and courageous but he keeps himself to himself. He doesn't talk to anyone other than his best friend Caden (who is hilarious and I just loved his nature throughout the book) Harlen knows he is Gay and doesn't care about what anyone thinks or so he appears but he has a bad history where people and his sexuality are concerned which is why he doesn't let people in until Luka forces his way through the walls he has built up to protect him.
The story itself is beautiful with plenty of challenges and fears to try and overcome. It is the very early days in people meeting and discovering their feelings therefore there is not a lot of sexually charged scenes but when there are they are saucy. For me the passion in this book comes from their beliefs in each other and belief in trying to figure things out in life and what others view around them. This book is really moving and has you seeing the way others who have or are going through similar circumstances would feel. I found it very eye-opening BUT The ending has pretty much killed me and I seriously need to read the next book like NOW!!
My only critique for this book would be in the middle I got a little lost in a sense of the book is written in the third person with plenty of dialogue between the characters however in the middle it felt like I was reading a script like an announcer would for sports so I felt a little disconnected at that point but around about 60% it picked straight back up and I was emersed in the emotions and feelings that were beings shared within the story.
My favourite line was "This has to be what Eve felt like in the garden if Eden because Harlen's Taste is the very definition of sin." It doesn't seem like much but when you read everything that unfolds in that scene it's just brilliant.
My Overall Rating is 4 💋💋💋💋
My passion Rating is 2 1/2 💋💋😘
Born in Sickness is a male on male romance novel. It is quintessentially about 18-year-old boys from a small Christian and faith-driven town, who believe that God is the almighty and that homosexuality is an abomination (by the way loved that word, Lena)
Luka is an 18-year-old who knows that he finds men attractive, he also can't find it in himself to admit the truth out loud. Luka's home life is very regimented and strict as his stepdad used to be in the army. They are a very Christian family and his stepdad has very strong beliefs about what is right and wrong in the world and in people which causes Luka to bottle up the way he feels and see it as a sin rather than what it actually is. Due to them moving a lot throughout his life Luka tries not to get attached to people that is until a tall dark and mysterious young man is sat in his choir class stealing all his thoughts and attention.
Harlen is a man from a poor background, living with his mom who always works and never has time to feed him or get food in. He is strong and courageous but he keeps himself to himself. He doesn't talk to anyone other than his best friend Caden (who is hilarious and I just loved his nature throughout the book) Harlen knows he is Gay and doesn't care about what anyone thinks or so he appears but he has a bad history where people and his sexuality are concerned which is why he doesn't let people in until Luka forces his way through the walls he has built up to protect him.
The story itself is beautiful with plenty of challenges and fears to try and overcome. It is the very early days in people meeting and discovering their feelings therefore there is not a lot of sexually charged scenes but when there are they are saucy. For me the passion in this book comes from their beliefs in each other and belief in trying to figure things out in life and what others view around them. This book is really moving and has you seeing the way others who have or are going through similar circumstances would feel. I found it very eye-opening BUT The ending has pretty much killed me and I seriously need to read the next book like NOW!!
My only critique for this book would be in the middle I got a little lost in a sense of the book is written in the third person with plenty of dialogue between the characters however in the middle it felt like I was reading a script like an announcer would for sports so I felt a little disconnected at that point but around about 60% it picked straight back up and I was emersed in the emotions and feelings that were beings shared within the story.
My favourite line was "This has to be what Eve felt like in the garden if Eden because Harlen's Taste is the very definition of sin." It doesn't seem like much but when you read everything that unfolds in that scene it's just brilliant.
My Overall Rating is 4 💋💋💋💋
My passion Rating is 2 1/2 💋💋😘
November 29, 2021
This is a YA LGBTQ+ contemporary novel that follows two boys who live in a small town where religion is everything (Bible Belt). It doesn't shy away from darker themes (see trigger warnings) while still being a good romance. While it deals with heavy themes, it's still worth the read.
TW:
Born in Sickness follows two boys, Luka and Harlan, who couldn't seem more different than they already did. Though both known throughout the school, Luka is the new kid in town/school whereas Harlan is the "weirdo". Luka goes to church whereas the town believes Harlan to worship the devil (and maybe he's even gay). In reality, Harlan is an atheist. Luka comes from a well-off, highly religious, military family (don't forget controlling), whereas Harlan is both poor and doesn't have anyone other than his best friend Cadeon.
As the story progresses, we follow Luka doing his best to break down Harlan's walls and get to know him. Harlan has severe trust issues and questions Luka's every move, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. The author manages to write about these trust issues through actions rather than words, and we can see them from both Harlan's and Luka's perspectives.
Throughout the book, Harlan and Luka discuss religion and faith. Harlan knows a lot about Christianity and has a lot of knowledge about it. At the beginning of the book, Luka blindly believes the bible and has never thought twice about it. But throughout the book, as Harlan and Luka discuss religion and Harlan points out the inconsistencies that are in the bible, Luka begins to question his faith and what the bible actually says. Religion has never been a part of my life, and where I live (Sweden), it's not a huge part of the culture either. During this book, I've learned about what it could be like to live in a town or place where religion plays a big role in the everyday life. It's such a culture shock for me, reading an entire book about it.
While all of this is happening, we also follow Harlan and Luka's journey where they open up to each other step by step and their feelings for each other only grow. And see how they act upon those very feelings in a town where they can't be openly out. Whatever trauma Harlan has gone through has him doubting whether Luka is actually flirting with him or not.
If you can handle the darker themes of this book, I highly recommend picking this book and series up. It's informative and you learn a lot without making the book toe the line to non-fiction. The writing is easy to follow, the language is also easily understood (as a non-native English speaker) and overall just good.
TW:
Born in Sickness follows two boys, Luka and Harlan, who couldn't seem more different than they already did. Though both known throughout the school, Luka is the new kid in town/school whereas Harlan is the "weirdo". Luka goes to church whereas the town believes Harlan to worship the devil (and maybe he's even gay). In reality, Harlan is an atheist. Luka comes from a well-off, highly religious, military family (don't forget controlling), whereas Harlan is both poor and doesn't have anyone other than his best friend Cadeon.
As the story progresses, we follow Luka doing his best to break down Harlan's walls and get to know him. Harlan has severe trust issues and questions Luka's every move, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. The author manages to write about these trust issues through actions rather than words, and we can see them from both Harlan's and Luka's perspectives.
Throughout the book, Harlan and Luka discuss religion and faith. Harlan knows a lot about Christianity and has a lot of knowledge about it. At the beginning of the book, Luka blindly believes the bible and has never thought twice about it. But throughout the book, as Harlan and Luka discuss religion and Harlan points out the inconsistencies that are in the bible, Luka begins to question his faith and what the bible actually says. Religion has never been a part of my life, and where I live (Sweden), it's not a huge part of the culture either. During this book, I've learned about what it could be like to live in a town or place where religion plays a big role in the everyday life. It's such a culture shock for me, reading an entire book about it.
While all of this is happening, we also follow Harlan and Luka's journey where they open up to each other step by step and their feelings for each other only grow. And see how they act upon those very feelings in a town where they can't be openly out. Whatever trauma Harlan has gone through has him doubting whether Luka is actually flirting with him or not.
If you can handle the darker themes of this book, I highly recommend picking this book and series up. It's informative and you learn a lot without making the book toe the line to non-fiction. The writing is easy to follow, the language is also easily understood (as a non-native English speaker) and overall just good.
April 16, 2021
DNF. I can't finish this book, it's not really for me. The story is well written so that's not the problem, but I found it too candid, obvious and predictable. Somehow, I know it's a high school story, but the writing seems too naive to be plausible. Maybe I'm getting too old for this kind of story? Still, I have enjoyed many other novels dealing with the same themes.
The characters seem too caricatured to me. Harlan is the poor misunderstood emo who sets himself apart and feels that everyone is out to get him. Boo-hoo. Luka wants to get to know him so badly when he has everything to lose if his attraction to guys is discovered and yet he flirts in a not-so-hidden way with Harlan. And Caldeon, everyone loves him and blah blah blah, but of course he's always with the one person no one notices... Too cliché, too forced and unlikely.
Maybe it's just me... but the writing seems to lack nuance and subtlety. It is too much in the stereotype to make the whole plausible and harmonious. I felt like I was reading a kind of Twilight, the movie not the novel, which I blame for the same weaknesses.
The characters seem too caricatured to me. Harlan is the poor misunderstood emo who sets himself apart and feels that everyone is out to get him. Boo-hoo. Luka wants to get to know him so badly when he has everything to lose if his attraction to guys is discovered and yet he flirts in a not-so-hidden way with Harlan. And Caldeon, everyone loves him and blah blah blah, but of course he's always with the one person no one notices... Too cliché, too forced and unlikely.
Maybe it's just me... but the writing seems to lack nuance and subtlety. It is too much in the stereotype to make the whole plausible and harmonious. I felt like I was reading a kind of Twilight, the movie not the novel, which I blame for the same weaknesses.
April 12, 2021
SO SO Good! There is a lot packed into this book. It's beautifully written. The reader gets to take a peek at the internal struggles of young LGBTQ people. Specifically those who grow up being taught that they're wrong for the feelings they have. The aftermath of trauma, struggles of faith, all while a sweet love story between the main character is trying to develope. I love this book and can't wait for the 2nd in the series to come out!
September 6, 2022
I read this originally when it was a fanfic but had to read it as soon as it was published! i loved it even more than i did the first time. i relate to a lot of why the characters are going through and the tight hold religion can have on someone, especially when they’re doing something “against” said religion. i loved seeing all the little changes the author made and i cannot WAIT to read the other books in the series!!
December 1, 2021
I love this book so much!! I read this series few months ago and it has stuck with me as one of my favorites. It’s a story about the non-linear road to healing and self-acceptance, about learning how to trust and open up again, and learning how to love in a healthy way. This story broke my heart and put it back together again.
September 8, 2022
L.M. Archer is such a brilliant writer! I am an avid reader, and Archer is definitely among my favorite authors. This series reads more like literary fiction than romance. The themes are deep, raw, and handled with such maturity. You won't regret reading this, and you'll want to pick up the second book in the series immediately.
October 17, 2023
This book is amazing! It immediately grabs your attention and takes you on an adventure of harsh reality and acceptance. Born in Sickness is the first book of the Take me to Church series and will leave you wanting more by the end. The story is raw and relatable. It shows you all perspectives of each character without delving into the minds of all of them. It is very well written. If you like contemporary romance then this series is for you!
March 23, 2021
This book is amazing!! The way the author has captured a small town in the south really resonated with me, especially when you think/feel/act a little differently than everyone else. I’m anxious to read the next books in the series!!
April 2, 2021
What an amazing story! Real, raw and I think for many people very relatable. This story has such an important educational side not only about religion but about being gay, that love is love, about finding yourself. But it’s also a fun love story. I totally recommend reading Born in Sickness!
June 5, 2021
I really enjoyed this book!!! The author has a peculiar mesmerizing way of writing and I’m liking it so much! I’m loving the characters and their development, can’t wait for book 2!!!!<3 sending a big hug to the author cause this is a masterpiece🤍 def one of my new favorites
March 23, 2021
One of my favorite books ever! Highly suggest the read :)
April 16, 2021
It's an amazing book. It really changed my views about religion. It explains religious trauma and internalized homophobia really well . can't wait for the second book .
May 24, 2021
I really liked this story. It is wel written and it takes you trough all the emotions.
I am looking forward to part 2 of the series.
I am looking forward to part 2 of the series.
May 26, 2021
I loved every second and can't wait for the second book!
June 5, 2021
Super well written book. In love with the characters and how complex they are. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a new read!
March 2, 2022
I love love love it, it was amazing! Couldn't put it down once I started it
February 19, 2022
Honestly I could kiss the brain of the author, there are so many feelings in this first book. I love the main characters as well as the second ones. It breaks my heart the way that Harlan is so broken but I’m so Happy that he find Luka. I can’t wait to read the second book
August 12, 2021
I love the characters and the plot. It's a great LGBT plus read. Highly recommended. The characters are likable and you can relate to them.
May 5, 2021
I had the pleasure of talking to L.M. about her book before it was released and then after it was released. She writes from a place of passion. You can feel the passion coming through in the pages of the book. The characters emotions invite you into their lives. I felt every single angst in this book along with the ups and downs of what the characters were going through. I am looking forward to reading this entire series. I am a woman of faith, I challenge every single person who believes that LGBT+ is a choice instead of how someone is born, to read L.M.'s books and feel the pain that her characters and those in real life must go through on a daily basis.
Bravo L.M.!!!
Bravo L.M.!!!
March 2, 2022
This book is incredible with a gorgeous cover. It was dark at times, but I loved it. I couldn't stand Luka’s stepdad! Anyway, it was a bit too YA for me personally, but I would totally recommend it! I'm looking forward to the sequel.
September 18, 2023
This book immerses you in a world of love and hate, challenging your beliefs and leaving you wanting more. It's an epic start to a four-part series.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews