Hello friend!
Long time, no blog.
That’s how I’ve been feeling lately.
This semester has been crazy! I absolutely love teaching, but I always find myself tired in the evenings and blogging is the last thing I want to do to unwind (usually).
I have been reading a lot in the evenings though, and today I have a book I’d like to share with you!
It’s called Gay Girl Good God* and it was SO GOOD!
Also, I recorded a podcast episode reviewing this book. You can listen to that below or on the Anchor app (search for Joy Because Grace).
This post includes affiliate links. You can see my disclosure page here; thanks for your support!
What’s Gay Girl Good God about?
Gay Girl Good God is the testimony of Jackie Hill Perry. It’s the story of how she used to be a lesbian before God entered her life.
The subtitle of this book is “The Story of Who I Was and Who God Has Always Been” and I think that perfectly explains this book. This book is about how Jackie was a gay girl and how God has always been a good God.
This book is an autobiography of Jackie’s life, but it reads like poetry. (Seriously, she’s such a beautiful writer!) The book tells about her childhood, her teenage years, and her young adult life. It explains her journey to homosexuality and then her journey to God.
About the Author:
Jackie Hill Perry is a writer, poet, and artist whose work has been featured on the Washington times, The 700 Club, DesiringGod.org, The Gospel Coalition, and other publications. Since becoming a Christian in 2008, she has been compelled to use her speaking and teaching gifts to share the light of the gospel of God as authentically as she can. At home she is a wife to Preston and Mommy to Eden and Autumn.
-From the back cover of Gay Girl Good God.
Who’s It For?
Everyone.
Heterosexual or homosexual. Christian or not. This book is for you.
“My love for the LGBT community makes me desperate for them to know God. My love for the church makes me desperate for them to show the world God, as He is, and not as we would prefer for Him to be.” -pg. 2
In my opinion, every Christian needs to read this book. Especially if they haven’t had very much exposure to the LGBT community in real life (like me). I think this book would help them understand LGBT people better.
Jackie has several chapters at the end of the book that are written specifically for Christians who are tempted by same sex attraction. These chapters are titled, “Same-Sex Attraction and Identity,” “Same-Sex Attraction and Endurance,” and “Same-Sex Attraction and the Heterosexual Gospel” (I found this chapter enlightening). Jackie wrote at the start of this section that she hopes that these chapters would be a resourse for same-sex attracted Christians (see page 147).
What I liked about Gay Girl Good God:
I loved hearing Jackie’s story. I don’t have any LGBT friends and so I was so grateful to read her story so I could understand that community better.
Her writing was BEAUTIFUL. I’ve already touched on that before, but seriously, it’s so good.
An example of Jackie’s beautiful imagery: “Sin, when in the body, cannot stay put. It’s not a guest that stays in one room, making sure not to disturb the others. It is a tenant that lives in everything and goes everywhere. It can bleed into every part, choking out anything holy. The glass shattered and broke when it moved in.” -pg. 20
I also love how she weaved the gospel into every part of her story. She wasn’t afraid to write about the struggles she faced before- and after- she became a Christian. She constantly points to God’s grace and how ALL of us need His saving grace in our lives.
Reading this book made me so grateful for Jesus and His salvation!
What I didn’t like about Gay Girl Good God:
Jackie hopped around some in her storytelling, instead of presenting her life story on a clear timeline. Sometimes it was confusing when she would jump ahead to a future point in her life at the end of a chapter, only to hop back to the past at the start of the next chapter.
As a whole though, I don’t think this detracts from the book as a whole. It’s a small complaint, and it’s my only complaint :)
Where to buy Gay Girl Good God:
You can buy Gay Girl Good God on Amazon.
It’s also available at Christian bookstores, such as LifeWay.
*I received a copy of Gay Girl Good God for free in exchange for this honest review.
Hari Dhameliya
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Mavis
May God continue to bless you Kara, can you please send me a ebook copy of praying for your future husband, thank you