Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for providing me with this e-book ARC to review.

This coming-of-age memoir charts Sara’s journey from an arranged marriage in her Hasidic community at a young age to embracing her true identity as a woman attracted to other women. We get an inside look at the convoluted process of obtaining a divorce for women in a Hasidic community, and the sacrifices Sara must make to retain custody of her children. Spurned by her sisters and fearing for her children’s future, Sara forces herself to remain compliant with the rules of Orthodox Judaism and marries another Jewish man. But, after a devastating loss and with her children’s future at stake, Sara finally connects with the right resources and releases the fear that’s held her back so she can start loving herself for who she really is.

What an emotional read! There is a lot to digest here as the author discusses mental health, sexuality, and ultra-conservative religion. While I learned a lot about the realities of living within the restrictions of a Hasidic community, I felt at times like the book was becoming a list describing the many painful events of the past to the point where the nuances that could be afforded by reflection were lost. Because the narrative is lacking, sections of the book felt too slow and hard to get through as a reader. I had trouble connecting to the author, and therefore my biggest takeaways became what I learned about Hasidic Judaism, rather than what I gleaned from the memoir as a whole.