A really great book of essays. I loved everyone and her story was so interesting and she spoke about it so plainly. I couldn’t put it down. I loved her point of view and clear style.

I received an advance copy of, Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing, by Lauren Hough.  I did not like this book. The language, the situations.  It is a sad story though.

I very seldom read anything that mentions “Essays” (especially written for “Adults”), but I am so glad I found Lauren through Twitter and discovered her book, because this was something special. 

Lauren’s writing is extremely approachable and even though you read some traumatic things in this book, something about her delivery makes it not hard to push through. She can also be incredibly funny, and I found myself cackling quite a few times.

The last chunk of the book is very very good. While my mom may not connect or want to read this, I will definitely be having her read the last 2% of the book because of the discussions we’ve had this year about the state of our country and the world. This was one of my favorite parts of the book. 

If you’re a fan of memoir, of essays, of books about moving through life overcoming any obstacle in your way, this is for you. Or, if you’re like me, and you love reading about strong queer people, this is also for you. 

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review. Please go buy this book. I know I will be.

This is a stunning collection of essays. There are some truly harrowing circumstances within these pages -religious sex cults, gay military life, a stint in solitary confinement, installing cable in Dick Cheney's house. The fact that the author not only survived them, but is able to write about them with such clarity, humor and raw, unflinching honesty is damn near miraculous.

Do you ever click with someone at a party or a bar? Not romantically but you're just on the same level at the same time and you're telling stories and sharing confidences and they are the most interesting person in the room, on the block, maybe the whole planet. You leave that night, high on a friend crush but then never manage talk to them again.
That's how reading this book felt, each essay is part of that long conversation, in turns smart, intimate, nihilist, and funny as hell. Hough writes in places like she's sharing a smoke with you (Badlands) and in other places like the single voice of reason in a world that is a cacophony of bullshit (Everything That's Beautiful Breaks My Heart.)

Overall, I enjoyed this essay collection and would recommend it. The writer has lived a truly unique, interesting life, which makes the book inherently intriguing. Hough is a talented writer. Her voice, especially, is what shines here; consistent throughout, Hough is wry, dark, funny, and sharp. She covers a number of topics well, including depression, sexual assault, lesbian identity, and leaving the military. Unfortunately, because the collection is very much "telling" (as opposed to being written in scenes), sometimes the voice misses the mark. Sometimes the voice felt too abrasive and argumentative, and the use of "you" and "we" was never fully interrogated in a way that made me cringe. Some of the book also felt inconsistent; we're told that mom buys the narrator a car, and pays for an extra attorney, but talk about borrowing money (or even moving in with family) doesn't come up when the narrator lives in her car. We're told the writer came out and started dating women in DC, but an ex is referenced back in South Carolina. These aren't huge points in the overall book, but left me, as a reader, feeling a little disjointed. Overall, I do still recommend the book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

I want to high-five Lauren. She is a total badass, and I can’t imagine how she has done it. Her writing was descriptive and kept me interested the entire time. From the military to the cable company... I laughed, I cried, I was angry and yet I wanted more. I think Lauren is able to capture so much detail in each essay. My only complaint would be I wished it was more cohesive- from beginning to end- based off the locations and time periods of her life. I loved this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book prior to publication in exchange for my honest review.  Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing by Lauren Hough is a very powerful, honest collection of personal essays.  The essays range from Hough's experiences growing up as part of the abusive cult The Children of God, joining the Air Force and being forced out because she is a lesbian, and finally to her becoming comfortable with who she is.  Hough's essays are so moving that I was just overwhelmed by the unfairness of everything she had to deal with.  This is one of those books that make you see things through different eyes and will stick with you long after you turn the last page.  I highly recommend it.