phenomenal memoir. the writing is impressive, the story is harrowing, and it was an interesting read. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Pamela Jones takes the reader into her life as a child growing up in a fundamentalist Mormon cult, her marriage at 15, and her courageous decision to leave with her 9 children. Polygamy, poverty, and violence are interwoven into the community, yet she finds the positive parts as well: deep love for her family and fulfillment in raising her children. As harrowing as some parts of her story are, she asks for no pity and always moves forward with optimism.
The structure of the book is straightforward, moving chronologically from her birth and early childhood in the 1960s through 2024, and she shares some history of how this group came to be through splits from the main Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and later from other fundamentalist groups. I appreciate her openness and desire to help other women through educating the general public about this oppressive culture of patriarchy..
4 stars
This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.