The Freed Church Boy

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Pub Date 02 Nov 2021 | Archive Date 27 Dec 2021

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Description

Burned by his faith. Abandoned by his family. Coming out was nothing compared to finding forgiveness…

Lawrence Greene churns with bitterness. Regretting his dead-end job and excruciating love life, he’s exhausted by the world tearing him down. And when his religious mother returns begging for reconciliation, he’s torn apart by resentment and his own need to heal.

With his estranged family’s proximity dragging up memories of his painful revelation of being gay, Lawrence escapes to his anti-church group sanctuary. But when a better future finally comes knocking in the form of Hakee Mitchell, a sexy and good-hearted man, Lawrence must bare all to claim true absolution.

Will Lawrence let go of his grief and put a firm grip on a fresh start?

The Freed Church Boy is a stirring LGBT contemporary fiction novel. If you like complex characters, heart-rending conflict, and new beginnings, then you’ll adore Lloyd Johnson’s powerful tale.

Burned by his faith. Abandoned by his family. Coming out was nothing compared to finding forgiveness…

Lawrence Greene churns with bitterness. Regretting his dead-end job and excruciating love life...


Advance Praise

"There are times when you are lucky enough to read a story that speaks to your heart and your soul. The Freed Church Boy is spiritually sound and heartbreakingly tender. Religion shouldn't be a platform for hate but spiritual succor. Life is hard enough without adding bigotry and small-mindedness."

"There are times when you are lucky enough to read a story that speaks to your heart and your soul. The Freed Church Boy is spiritually sound and heartbreakingly tender. Religion shouldn't be a...


Available Editions

ISBN 9798985220506
PRICE $4.99 (USD)

Links

Available on NetGalley

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Average rating from 3 members


Featured Reviews

Is literary fiction featuring queer characters my new favorite very specific book genre? After reading this, I think so.

It’s giving me Less by Andrew Sean Greer vibes, but our main character isn’t quite so white nor quite so lucky. He’s not beautiful, and his struggles aren’t the same at all, but he’s real. You’ll just trust me on this one!

The Freed Church Boy follows Lawrence, a black gay man in his early 40s who has lost his way spiritually after enduring a childhood growing up in a homophobic Christian household. He’s unhappy and lonely and realizing that things in his life may just need changing when a tragedy brings his estranged family back into his life forcing him to really consider how his friendships, sexuality, religion, and family and how to find his happiness in all of it.

I felt for the main character as if this was my own story. The author does a fantastic job of bringing you into his character’s life- this experience isn’t my own but it was so endearingly relatable that I couldn’t put this book down once I started. My favorite books are ones that make me laugh and ones that make me feel something, and I really felt something.

Trigger Warnings: homophobic language, religious abuse, sexual assault attempt, past suicide attempt, domestic abuse (side character)

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Wow. This was such An emotional read that will have your feelings on a roller coaster. Lawrence is a black man in his early 40 who is also gay. This book tells his story from his abuse as a child from family and the church until now. Be careful if you choose to read this book, only because it contains several triggers. There are also some life lessons that are sprinkled throughout the story.

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

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