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Threads woven together in this book: polygyny, early Mormonism, Victorian aristocracy, the Mountain Meadows Massacre, a intra-family blood feud, theological debates, El Chapo and drug cartels, Keith Raniere and NXIVM, Mexican state politics, water rights, Indigenous activists, and America’s abysmal lack of gun control. In just over 200 pages, plus 60+ pages of citations. It’s a lot.

I haven't been an evangelical Christian for years and years, but I like to keep my eye on the people who are trying to save white evangelicalism in the US from itself. This book will be a great resource for people within white evangelicalism who are already feeling uneasy with the way that culture treats queer people. It makes effective arguments that will give them permission to, at the very least, just leave queer people alone to figure out their own faith.

I doubt it will reach people who are firmly entrenched in the anti-queer perspective that predominates in that community, but it seems like more and more people are at least starting to question it, and I hope they find their way to this book.

(Also, I cannot stop myself from saying that Bridget Eileen Rivera is so beautiful WOW.)

I read a first edition (owned by a spinster artist) and I am truly shocked to discover that it's been reprinted. Aside from some really "yikes" lines and the kind of heteronormativity/ableism/etc. you'd expect, it holds up surprisingly well? I'm tickled that the chapter on which alcoholic beverages to buy and serve is more in-depth than the money matters chapter. Worth reading for the extremely 1930s-working-girl of it all. Katharine Hepburn and Jean Arthur wouldn't need this book, but a Margaret Sullavan or Ginger Rogers character would probably have had it on her bedside table.

4.5 stars

I have some issues with some of the evangelical stuff in this, but omg, this is going to help so many women. There are millions of evangelicals who need to hear the message in this book to offset all the shit they've been taught. I hope it takes off and sells a zillion copies.

An easy and enjoyable read. Robinson is a delightful writer and I appreciate how she balanced a view of overall trends with the many anecdotes of individual women.

I wish it had been twice as long.

2.5 stars

This was well-written and its main plot is my ultimate bullet-proof narrative kink, so I'm unsure of why I don't feel more strongly about it than I do.

What a beautiful book!

I need to think about this some more.

Well, I have a new second-favorite Heyer. (Cotillion's still my favorite, in case you were wondering.)

Apparently the key to really appreciating this book is to read it again when you're over 30.

Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones said, "Screw the Greeks. No more Orientalism."