https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2HQTKLV/
Editorial Review For Her Name Was Chas
This story follows Chas as she grows up in a strict Southern
Baptist home. After her mom catches her kissing her best friend Jess, she is
sent to a program called Restorative Hope, which tries to change her. She
becomes Chastity for a while and does everything she is told. She dates Brian,
gets engaged, and marries him, even though she keeps fighting fear and doubt.
Her life looks steady from the outside, but inside she feels stuck. In time,
she chooses herself. She walks away from her marriage, her parents’
expectations, and the life that never fit her. The book shows her slow push
from pressure to honesty, and her choice to stand by who she is.
The strength of the book is the way it sits with Chas’s
inner thoughts. Her fear, her humor, and her stubborn streak come through. The
scenes with her family and the church feel clear and grounded. The story also
builds tension in quiet ways as Chas tries to please everyone until the cost
becomes too high. The writing shows how she thinks rather than telling the
reader what to think.
This book fits within queer contemporary fiction that deals
with identity, faith, and family. It also lines up with current trends that
look at deconstructing harmful systems and finding chosen family. The themes
reflect the author’s note, which explains that the story is inspired by real
experiences of queer people dealing with rejection, religious trauma, and the
long road to self trust.
Readers who want a story about coming into your own will
connect with this. Anyone who grew up in a strict home or church may feel seen
in uncomfortable ways but also supported. Readers who like character driven
stories with emotional tension will find plenty here. People who enjoy a little
dry humor mixed with heavy subject matter will also get a kick out of Chas’s
inner commentary.
Her Name Was Chas gives a steady pull from compliance
to self acceptance, and the journey is worth following. It lands with impact,
and it leaves space for hope without pretending the hard stuff is simple.