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Recommend this book:
 is a genre-blending travel memoir and emotional self-investigation that follows a man unraveling in the aftermath of heartbreak. The narrative begins with Luke’s breakup with “Warboy,” a relationship defined by absence, longing, and unfinished endings, leaving him suspen...){kind=link}
The Third Person
Rewriting Him (The Warboy Chronicles)
Luke Stoffel
2026 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Luke Stoffel’s The Third Person: Rewriting Him (The Warboy Chronicles) is a genre-blending travel memoir and emotional self-investigation that follows a man unraveling in the aftermath of heartbreak. The narrative begins with Luke’s breakup with “Warboy,” a relationship defined by absence, longing, and unfinished endings, leaving him suspended in grief. Seeking motion as a form of survival, he throws himself into painting, then writing, and eventually escapes through travel. The book moves through vivid episodes of anxiety and displacement, from a chaotic airport visa crisis to an ER visit sparked by an absurd accident with insulation foam. Luke’s journey becomes internal as he chases old memories of Ohme and the fantasy of a different life. An AI “observer” voice is threaded throughout, logging patterns of avoidance, pursuit, and collapse, turning Luke’s story into a meditation on grief, movement, and becoming.
Luke Stoffel writes with lyrical intensity and sharp psychological honesty, balancing intimate confession with experimental structure. The pacing shifts between fast-paced travel scenes and quieter moments of reflection, mirroring Luke’s emotional instability and need for momentum. The inclusion of AI observation logs gives the book a distinctive hybrid form, part memoir and part diagnostic narrative, in which the protagonist is both living and being studied in real time. Stoffel’s prose is vivid and sensory. Readers who enjoy introspective contemporary memoirs, travel writing infused with emotional realism, and experimental storytelling that plays with voice and perspective will find The Third Person deeply absorbing. Anyone familiar with David Foster Wallace’s work will recognize Stoffel’s same emotional and literary depth. Overall, it’s a book about the stories we repeat, the places we run to (and from), and the slow work of rewriting the self. Beautifully told and lasting.
Luke Stoffel’s The Third Person: Rewriting Him (The Warboy Chronicles) is a genre-blending travel memoir and emotional self-investigation that follows a man unraveling in the aftermath of heartbreak. The narrative begins with Luke’s breakup with “Warboy,” a relationship defined by absence, longing, and unfinished endings, leaving him suspended in grief. Seeking motion as a form of survival, he throws himself into painting, then writing, and eventually escapes through travel. The book moves through vivid episodes of anxiety and displacement, from a chaotic airport visa crisis to an ER visit sparked by an absurd accident with insulation foam. Luke’s journey becomes internal as he chases old memories of Ohme and the fantasy of a different life. An AI “observer” voice is threaded throughout, logging patterns of avoidance, pursuit, and collapse, turning Luke’s story into a meditation on grief, movement, and becoming.
Luke Stoffel writes with lyrical intensity and sharp psychological honesty, balancing intimate confession with experimental structure. The pacing shifts between fast-paced travel scenes and quieter moments of reflection, mirroring Luke’s emotional instability and need for momentum. The inclusion of AI observation logs gives the book a distinctive hybrid form, part memoir and part diagnostic narrative, in which the protagonist is both living and being studied in real time. Stoffel’s prose is vivid and sensory. Readers who enjoy introspective contemporary memoirs, travel writing infused with emotional realism, and experimental storytelling that plays with voice and perspective will find The Third Person deeply absorbing. Anyone familiar with David Foster Wallace’s work will recognize Stoffel’s same emotional and literary depth. Overall, it’s a book about the stories we repeat, the places we run to (and from), and the slow work of rewriting the self. Beautifully told and lasting.
Recommend this book:
Excuse Me, Sir!
Memoir of a Butch
Shaley Howard
2026 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Robert A. Groves for Readers' Favorite
Shaley Howard’s Excuse Me, Sir! Memoir of a Butch is an honest and often darkly funny recounting of growing up queer, navigating identity, and spiraling through addiction before clawing her way back to herself. The book traces her life from childhood, marked by family instability, gender nonconformity, and early feelings of being different. As Shaley gets older, hiding the fact that she’s a lesbian becomes something she carries with her every day. Her secret shapes how she moves through daily existence and how much of herself she shares with others. It is a heavy burden for a teen to carry. As Shaley transitions into adulting, she continues to search for a sense of belonging and meaningful relationships. Somehow, those encounters never seem to work out, and eventually she turns to substance use to fill the void. Shaley does find moments of escape that never really touch the pain underneath. A multiple-themed memoir, the author doesn’t sugarcoat the harder parts, dealing with homophobia, shame, damaging relationships, and addiction. At its heart, though, this is a survival story. Shaley’s rollercoaster of a life makes for a powerful coming-of-age revelation.
Excuse Me, Sir! Memoir of a Butch by Shaley Howard is a work of profound, thought-provoking writing. She brilliantly transitions between the phases of her life, keeping the chronology intact, which lends to exceptional readability. The structure gave me a sense of progression from the worst of times to Shaley’s successful recovery. While her writing style is direct, almost blunt, and emotionally honest, it has moments of humor, allowing the reader to take a deep breath between heavy content. The result is a superbly written memoir that is accessible and deeply personal. The author has balanced a difficult subject matter with reflection and candor. Her voice will resonate worldwide with people undergoing the same struggles. No less than a standing ovation is deserved here!
Shaley Howard’s Excuse Me, Sir! Memoir of a Butch is an honest and often darkly funny recounting of growing up queer, navigating identity, and spiraling through addiction before clawing her way back to herself. The book traces her life from childhood, marked by family instability, gender nonconformity, and early feelings of being different. As Shaley gets older, hiding the fact that she’s a lesbian becomes something she carries with her every day. Her secret shapes how she moves through daily existence and how much of herself she shares with others. It is a heavy burden for a teen to carry. As Shaley transitions into adulting, she continues to search for a sense of belonging and meaningful relationships. Somehow, those encounters never seem to work out, and eventually she turns to substance use to fill the void. Shaley does find moments of escape that never really touch the pain underneath. A multiple-themed memoir, the author doesn’t sugarcoat the harder parts, dealing with homophobia, shame, damaging relationships, and addiction. At its heart, though, this is a survival story. Shaley’s rollercoaster of a life makes for a powerful coming-of-age revelation.
Excuse Me, Sir! Memoir of a Butch by Shaley Howard is a work of profound, thought-provoking writing. She brilliantly transitions between the phases of her life, keeping the chronology intact, which lends to exceptional readability. The structure gave me a sense of progression from the worst of times to Shaley’s successful recovery. While her writing style is direct, almost blunt, and emotionally honest, it has moments of humor, allowing the reader to take a deep breath between heavy content. The result is a superbly written memoir that is accessible and deeply personal. The author has balanced a difficult subject matter with reflection and candor. Her voice will resonate worldwide with people undergoing the same struggles. No less than a standing ovation is deserved here!
Recommend this book:
Finding God in Vegas
A Gen X Spiritual Awakening
Donald Young
2026 Bronze Medal
338 Pages
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Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Finding God in Vegas traces Donald Harold Young’s journey from professional success and material comfort to a growing realization that something essential was missing. As a pharmaceutical executive with a theology degree, he enjoyed prestige, wealth, and societal approval, but those didn’t bring him peace. He believed in the typical markers of fulfillment: achievement, status, and control. Over time, he became disillusioned, seeing that chasing these things had hollowed out his sense of self and purpose. The turning point in his story happens in Las Vegas, a city often linked with excess and illusion. There, among the glitz and noise, Young undergoes a change: he starts to face the emptiness of his previous beliefs and opens himself up to a kind of love that isn’t based on achievement or looks. Along the way, he deals with doubt, shame, and fear. He admits that rejecting spirituality won’t end his longing and that belief can exist alongside uncertainty.
Donald Harold Young writes with honesty and doesn’t present a tidy roadmap to spirituality; instead, he shares real missteps, struggles with identity (including his sexuality), and the slow work of learning what matters most. His voice is warm, often wry, and he balances introspection with moments of laughter. Finding God in Vegas: A Gen X Spiritual Awakening invites the reader to reconsider what they value; to question whether success is sufficient; to consider what love might look like when it’s not earned or conditional. It suggests that fulfillment might be simpler, quieter, and more honest than many of us assume. If you’re wondering whether chasing more can ever be enough, this book gives you space to pause and consider something different and more essential.
Finding God in Vegas traces Donald Harold Young’s journey from professional success and material comfort to a growing realization that something essential was missing. As a pharmaceutical executive with a theology degree, he enjoyed prestige, wealth, and societal approval, but those didn’t bring him peace. He believed in the typical markers of fulfillment: achievement, status, and control. Over time, he became disillusioned, seeing that chasing these things had hollowed out his sense of self and purpose. The turning point in his story happens in Las Vegas, a city often linked with excess and illusion. There, among the glitz and noise, Young undergoes a change: he starts to face the emptiness of his previous beliefs and opens himself up to a kind of love that isn’t based on achievement or looks. Along the way, he deals with doubt, shame, and fear. He admits that rejecting spirituality won’t end his longing and that belief can exist alongside uncertainty.
Donald Harold Young writes with honesty and doesn’t present a tidy roadmap to spirituality; instead, he shares real missteps, struggles with identity (including his sexuality), and the slow work of learning what matters most. His voice is warm, often wry, and he balances introspection with moments of laughter. Finding God in Vegas: A Gen X Spiritual Awakening invites the reader to reconsider what they value; to question whether success is sufficient; to consider what love might look like when it’s not earned or conditional. It suggests that fulfillment might be simpler, quieter, and more honest than many of us assume. If you’re wondering whether chasing more can ever be enough, this book gives you space to pause and consider something different and more essential.
Recommend this book:
I Can’t Believe I’m Not Dead
Escaping Abuse, a Cult, Attempted Murder and Other Insanities
Kendra Petty
2026 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Joe Wisinski for Readers' Favorite
I Can’t Believe I’m Not Dead by Kendra Petty is an account of her remarkable life. Petty has undergone more negative experiences than any human being should have, including being abused as a child, fighting extremely serious diseases, and being the target of a murder plot. Additionally, her parents became involved in a religious cult and Petty suffered all the associated mistreatment connected with that. When she got married, her spouse, who she discovered had a drug problem, physically abused her, including breaking her nose several times. But despite all the problems Petty faced, she managed to become a successful career woman. More importantly, she survived and continues to have an upbeat and optimistic view of life and to make positive contributions to the world.
I Can’t Believe I’m Not Dead is perfectly titled. The experiences that Petty has undergone are incredible and it’s all but a miracle that she is still alive. Kendra Petty writes with passion, and yet without a trace of self-pity, which is remarkable considering all that she’s experienced. Although Petty’s book is non-fiction, it reads like a fast-paced novel. It’s a story of sadness and tragedy, but most of all of overcoming and eventual victory. Petty writes with brutal honesty about her life and reading her book will make many people appreciate the relative lack of problems in their own lives. I highly recommend this well-written book to anyone who wants to read a tale of sorrow and misfortune, but most of all of overcoming and eventual victory.
I Can’t Believe I’m Not Dead by Kendra Petty is an account of her remarkable life. Petty has undergone more negative experiences than any human being should have, including being abused as a child, fighting extremely serious diseases, and being the target of a murder plot. Additionally, her parents became involved in a religious cult and Petty suffered all the associated mistreatment connected with that. When she got married, her spouse, who she discovered had a drug problem, physically abused her, including breaking her nose several times. But despite all the problems Petty faced, she managed to become a successful career woman. More importantly, she survived and continues to have an upbeat and optimistic view of life and to make positive contributions to the world.
I Can’t Believe I’m Not Dead is perfectly titled. The experiences that Petty has undergone are incredible and it’s all but a miracle that she is still alive. Kendra Petty writes with passion, and yet without a trace of self-pity, which is remarkable considering all that she’s experienced. Although Petty’s book is non-fiction, it reads like a fast-paced novel. It’s a story of sadness and tragedy, but most of all of overcoming and eventual victory. Petty writes with brutal honesty about her life and reading her book will make many people appreciate the relative lack of problems in their own lives. I highly recommend this well-written book to anyone who wants to read a tale of sorrow and misfortune, but most of all of overcoming and eventual victory.
Recommend this book:
Straight to Hell
Memoir of an Ex-Evangelical Pastor
John Wesley Wilson
2026 Finalist
320 Pages
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Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
In John Wesley Wilson’s Straight to Hell: Memoir of an Ex-Evangelical Pastor, Wilson grows up in rural Alabama inside a world shaped by Pentecostal religion, family violence, poverty, and fear of divine punishment. After becoming a pastor, husband, and father, he spends years trying to build the stable home he never had while secretly believing his attraction to men puts him outside God’s acceptance. The death of his brother Terry forces him to question the beliefs that governed his entire life and sends him toward a painful separation from his church, his marriage to Tammey, and the identity he spent decades protecting. As Wilson leaves the ministry behind, he enters unfamiliar places that slowly replace shame with self-acceptance. His story follows one man’s attempt to understand whether faith can survive once the fear surrounding it finally disappears.
John Wesley Wilson’s Straight to Hell reads like somebody finally sitting down after years of hiding behind a pulpit and deciding to tell the plain truth, no matter how ugly parts of it look. Wilson does not clean himself up for the audience. When his wife, Tammey, announces she is leaving for Cleveland and he faces his congregation knowing the marriage collapsed in public view, the writing has the kind of honesty most memoirs sidestep because it makes the author look weak. Later, Terry’s death from AIDS complications tears through the rigid sermons Wilson once preached about sin and punishment, forcing him to look at the human cost attached to doctrine delivered with certainty. What gives this memoir its power is that Wilson owns the damage he caused. When he smashes Tammey’s porcelain angels during an argument and suddenly sees his father staring back at him through his own behavior, the moment lands hard because he does not excuse himself. His years at Valley Psychiatric Hospital, especially his friendship with Shirley, slowly replace fear-driven religion with compassion grounded in actual human experience. Readers who appreciate memoirs willing to confront faith, shame, sexuality, and personal accountability head-on will likely find this one especially memorable.
In John Wesley Wilson’s Straight to Hell: Memoir of an Ex-Evangelical Pastor, Wilson grows up in rural Alabama inside a world shaped by Pentecostal religion, family violence, poverty, and fear of divine punishment. After becoming a pastor, husband, and father, he spends years trying to build the stable home he never had while secretly believing his attraction to men puts him outside God’s acceptance. The death of his brother Terry forces him to question the beliefs that governed his entire life and sends him toward a painful separation from his church, his marriage to Tammey, and the identity he spent decades protecting. As Wilson leaves the ministry behind, he enters unfamiliar places that slowly replace shame with self-acceptance. His story follows one man’s attempt to understand whether faith can survive once the fear surrounding it finally disappears.
John Wesley Wilson’s Straight to Hell reads like somebody finally sitting down after years of hiding behind a pulpit and deciding to tell the plain truth, no matter how ugly parts of it look. Wilson does not clean himself up for the audience. When his wife, Tammey, announces she is leaving for Cleveland and he faces his congregation knowing the marriage collapsed in public view, the writing has the kind of honesty most memoirs sidestep because it makes the author look weak. Later, Terry’s death from AIDS complications tears through the rigid sermons Wilson once preached about sin and punishment, forcing him to look at the human cost attached to doctrine delivered with certainty. What gives this memoir its power is that Wilson owns the damage he caused. When he smashes Tammey’s porcelain angels during an argument and suddenly sees his father staring back at him through his own behavior, the moment lands hard because he does not excuse himself. His years at Valley Psychiatric Hospital, especially his friendship with Shirley, slowly replace fear-driven religion with compassion grounded in actual human experience. Readers who appreciate memoirs willing to confront faith, shame, sexuality, and personal accountability head-on will likely find this one especially memorable.
Recommend this book:
Mapito
Embrace Yourself
Chani Getter
2025 Gold Medal
236 Pages
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Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Stewart Brian for Readers' Favorite
Mapito: Embrace Yourself by Chani Getter is a well-written book that offers individuals a deeper connection to accepting and loving everything about themselves. This book is divided into five crucial parts. Each part discusses topics that are essential to embracing oneself, which include understanding, knowing, being, feeling, and integrating. The author emphasizes the impact change could have on a person from personal experience. It requires hard work, patience, and kindness to oneself during the process. The book covers grief and how to apply the process of change, to grieve for what no longer works while embracing what is changing. The book further explores the concept of attachment and authenticity, how they compete with each other, and the four kinds of attachment styles, which include secure, ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized attachment.
This book offered me some life-changing tools that have transformed how I see myself for good. I found most of the clients' stories to be very similar to mine, making the writing appeal more deeply to me. I also loved that the author shared from their personal experiences and interactions with clients, which made the writing engaging. The writing is well-organized, detailed, easy to comprehend, and straightforward. The stories featured were excellently paced and full of humor, which proved Chani to be a skilled and intentional writer. This book features themes of self-love, self-acceptance, grief, and more. I loved the reflection section, as it allowed me to carry out self-assessments on the topics discussed. I highly recommend Mapito by Chani Getter to anyone struggling with accepting who they truly are.
Mapito: Embrace Yourself by Chani Getter is a well-written book that offers individuals a deeper connection to accepting and loving everything about themselves. This book is divided into five crucial parts. Each part discusses topics that are essential to embracing oneself, which include understanding, knowing, being, feeling, and integrating. The author emphasizes the impact change could have on a person from personal experience. It requires hard work, patience, and kindness to oneself during the process. The book covers grief and how to apply the process of change, to grieve for what no longer works while embracing what is changing. The book further explores the concept of attachment and authenticity, how they compete with each other, and the four kinds of attachment styles, which include secure, ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized attachment.
This book offered me some life-changing tools that have transformed how I see myself for good. I found most of the clients' stories to be very similar to mine, making the writing appeal more deeply to me. I also loved that the author shared from their personal experiences and interactions with clients, which made the writing engaging. The writing is well-organized, detailed, easy to comprehend, and straightforward. The stories featured were excellently paced and full of humor, which proved Chani to be a skilled and intentional writer. This book features themes of self-love, self-acceptance, grief, and more. I loved the reflection section, as it allowed me to carry out self-assessments on the topics discussed. I highly recommend Mapito by Chani Getter to anyone struggling with accepting who they truly are.
Recommend this book:
, which developed as a response to childhood abuse. With unflinching honesty, Shelton recounts the complexities of managing his multiple personalities, some of whom led lives of their own, as he na...){kind=link}
Memoir of a Mangled Mind
How Concealing My Dissociative Identity Disorder Unleashed Multiple Personalities
Steven Simmons Shelton, MA, JD
2025 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Memoir of a Mangled Mind by Steven Simmons Shelton is a courageous and raw memoir detailing the author's battle with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which developed as a response to childhood abuse. With unflinching honesty, Shelton recounts the complexities of managing his multiple personalities, some of whom led lives of their own, as he navigated adulthood, a legal career, and efforts to conceal his condition. The memoir explores his ethical compromises, the emotional and professional toll of his concealed disorder, and his journey toward healing and redemption, offering a powerful narrative of resilience in the face of trauma.
Author Steven Simmons Shelton crafts a narrative that reads with all the intensity of a psychological thriller while never losing sight of the deeply personal nature of his story. It's one of those books where you sometimes have to step back and take a beat to remember it's all from real life. His writing strikes a remarkable balance between professional insight and raw emotion, drawing readers into the complex reality of living with DID in a way that creates genuine understanding and empathy, yet it never feels off-topic or uncomfortably personal. I was profoundly moved by his ability to examine his past actions and their consequences without self-pity, offering instead a nuanced exploration of survival and healing, but in a narrative that is friendly and welcoming, and never too clinical. The way he describes the influence of his alters and their impact on his life creates an intimate portrait that helped me understand DID in ways that no clinical description ever could. Another outstanding feature is his extraordinary courage in sharing not just the trauma, but also the ethical compromises and mistakes made along his journey, creating a story that feels completely honest and deeply human. Overall, Memoir of a Mangled Mind is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the complexity of trauma and the profound strength required for healing.
Memoir of a Mangled Mind by Steven Simmons Shelton is a courageous and raw memoir detailing the author's battle with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which developed as a response to childhood abuse. With unflinching honesty, Shelton recounts the complexities of managing his multiple personalities, some of whom led lives of their own, as he navigated adulthood, a legal career, and efforts to conceal his condition. The memoir explores his ethical compromises, the emotional and professional toll of his concealed disorder, and his journey toward healing and redemption, offering a powerful narrative of resilience in the face of trauma.
Author Steven Simmons Shelton crafts a narrative that reads with all the intensity of a psychological thriller while never losing sight of the deeply personal nature of his story. It's one of those books where you sometimes have to step back and take a beat to remember it's all from real life. His writing strikes a remarkable balance between professional insight and raw emotion, drawing readers into the complex reality of living with DID in a way that creates genuine understanding and empathy, yet it never feels off-topic or uncomfortably personal. I was profoundly moved by his ability to examine his past actions and their consequences without self-pity, offering instead a nuanced exploration of survival and healing, but in a narrative that is friendly and welcoming, and never too clinical. The way he describes the influence of his alters and their impact on his life creates an intimate portrait that helped me understand DID in ways that no clinical description ever could. Another outstanding feature is his extraordinary courage in sharing not just the trauma, but also the ethical compromises and mistakes made along his journey, creating a story that feels completely honest and deeply human. Overall, Memoir of a Mangled Mind is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the complexity of trauma and the profound strength required for healing.
Recommend this book:
Scattershot
My Journey From the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive
Larry Chrysler
2025 Bronze Medal
292 Pages
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Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Rich Follett for Readers' Favorite
In Scattershot: My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive, nonagenarian bon vivant Larry Chrysler recounts his extraordinarily long and remarkable life adventures. The narrative exudes candor, earthy humor, gratitude, humility, and a rare and unwavering adherence to his firm conviction that angels are among us and magic is everywhere if we choose to believe and accept the gifts we are given. Chrysler’s adventures are jaw-dropping at times in their extravagance and privilege as he recounts his associations with luminaries from the worlds of fashion and entertainment. But they are also heartwarming and refreshingly modest in their sustained notes of wide-eyed wonder.
Scattershot offers spellbinding glimpses of exotic social and professional circles most readers will only have dreamed of while simultaneously rendering the central characters in tender and emotionally connected strokes that color the remembered moments as precious and his messages as timeless. Larry Chrysler’s life may have been epic in its arc and scope, but his easy, conversational storytelling genius invites us to pull up a chair and be both fully welcomed and present in his odyssey of small miracles. Scattershot offers irrefutable evidence that humankind’s greatest achievement is a life well lived. Larry Chrysler has lived well enough to supply the entire world with inspiration and hope. His memories are somehow magically important to us all, reminding us that anything is possible and no dream is out of reach if we can only find within ourselves the courage to reach up. Scattershot is a veritable textbook for dreamers, and Larry Chrysler is a born teacher.
In Scattershot: My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive, nonagenarian bon vivant Larry Chrysler recounts his extraordinarily long and remarkable life adventures. The narrative exudes candor, earthy humor, gratitude, humility, and a rare and unwavering adherence to his firm conviction that angels are among us and magic is everywhere if we choose to believe and accept the gifts we are given. Chrysler’s adventures are jaw-dropping at times in their extravagance and privilege as he recounts his associations with luminaries from the worlds of fashion and entertainment. But they are also heartwarming and refreshingly modest in their sustained notes of wide-eyed wonder.
Scattershot offers spellbinding glimpses of exotic social and professional circles most readers will only have dreamed of while simultaneously rendering the central characters in tender and emotionally connected strokes that color the remembered moments as precious and his messages as timeless. Larry Chrysler’s life may have been epic in its arc and scope, but his easy, conversational storytelling genius invites us to pull up a chair and be both fully welcomed and present in his odyssey of small miracles. Scattershot offers irrefutable evidence that humankind’s greatest achievement is a life well lived. Larry Chrysler has lived well enough to supply the entire world with inspiration and hope. His memories are somehow magically important to us all, reminding us that anything is possible and no dream is out of reach if we can only find within ourselves the courage to reach up. Scattershot is a veritable textbook for dreamers, and Larry Chrysler is a born teacher.
Recommend this book:
The Girls
From Golden to Gilmore
Stan Zimmerman
2025 Honorable Mention
238 Pages
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Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Randy B. Lichtman for Readers' Favorite
The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore by Stan Zimmerman is one of the most enjoyable backstage tours of the television and movie industries that I have ever read. Stan is definitely an excellent and entertaining writer who documents his journey from high school in Southfield, Michigan through his professional career, highlighting the ups and downs of the industry. It is a very personal account of his experience as well as the challenges of working as a writer, showrunner, stage director, and playwright, and the many facets that are involved. There are the highs and lows in working with some of the most well-known productions such as the Golden Girls series with some amazing stars; the Gilmore Girls series where he risked his job in speaking with the actors; the Brady Bunch movie where he met his favorite Marcia-Marcia-Marcia actress; and the Rosanne series where he was given a No. 13 T-shirt so that he and others could be fired without getting to know their names.
There are so many interesting stories in The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore about well-known stars and Stan's adventures working with them. So much was happening behind the scenes that the average viewer never could imagine. He also shares special stories about his family (especially his mother) and friends, which are very touching. Stan Zimmerman speaks very candidly about his personal life, having to pitch ideas for shows in the hope that a pilot would be picked up, and sometimes not being sure where the next show would come from. The narrative is told with great description and humor where he grows as a writer and a professional. It is clearly a challenging business but one that he is passionate about. I highly recommend The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore by Stan Zimmerman for anyone interested in the background of the entertainment industry. A very enjoyable read!
The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore by Stan Zimmerman is one of the most enjoyable backstage tours of the television and movie industries that I have ever read. Stan is definitely an excellent and entertaining writer who documents his journey from high school in Southfield, Michigan through his professional career, highlighting the ups and downs of the industry. It is a very personal account of his experience as well as the challenges of working as a writer, showrunner, stage director, and playwright, and the many facets that are involved. There are the highs and lows in working with some of the most well-known productions such as the Golden Girls series with some amazing stars; the Gilmore Girls series where he risked his job in speaking with the actors; the Brady Bunch movie where he met his favorite Marcia-Marcia-Marcia actress; and the Rosanne series where he was given a No. 13 T-shirt so that he and others could be fired without getting to know their names.
There are so many interesting stories in The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore about well-known stars and Stan's adventures working with them. So much was happening behind the scenes that the average viewer never could imagine. He also shares special stories about his family (especially his mother) and friends, which are very touching. Stan Zimmerman speaks very candidly about his personal life, having to pitch ideas for shows in the hope that a pilot would be picked up, and sometimes not being sure where the next show would come from. The narrative is told with great description and humor where he grows as a writer and a professional. It is clearly a challenging business but one that he is passionate about. I highly recommend The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore by Stan Zimmerman for anyone interested in the background of the entertainment industry. A very enjoyable read!
Recommend this book:
Queering Contemplation
Finding Queerness in the Roots and Future of Contemplative Spirituality
Cassidy Hall
2025 Finalist
170 Pages
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Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite
Can you find genuine safety in a religious space that doesn’t accept things like sexual expression? Can an LGBTQIA+ person be a Christian? Cassidy Hall explores these questions and other similar ones in her riveting philosophical memoir. In Queering Contemplation, Cassidy shares her perspective of being queer and its connection to her view of spirituality. It contains conversations involving those who narrate their stories as immigrants, people of color, queer, and disabled. We follow the author's brilliant anecdotes and tales about her path of enlightenment, from her first panic attack at work in 2011 to her first conference with the International Thomas Merton Society at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. Whether she's experiencing the peace and beauty of monasteries or speaking to amazing open-minded individuals, Cassidy's book conveys deep messages and insights that are worth contemplating and sharing with others.
Queering Contemplation is the type of book that compels you to constantly pause and reflect on its words since it's filled with many thought-provoking ideas from multiple people. I especially loved Assata de la Cruz's perspective on embracing boredom and rejecting the constant busyness epidemic in today's world. Cassidy Hall's lyrical words complement the book's spiritual topics excellently. I found myself joyfully revisiting her many poetic words, including her description of the inward monastery as "the place within ourselves of our deepest welcome, our clearest belonging." The book has an interesting collection of themes: diversity, religion, mysticism, silence, self-love, self-awareness, and more. Finally, Queering Contemplation is a must-read for all queer people seeking to become more spiritual and to embrace Christianity. I look forward to multiple rereads after enjoying engaging stories from awe-inspiring characters and their views.
Can you find genuine safety in a religious space that doesn’t accept things like sexual expression? Can an LGBTQIA+ person be a Christian? Cassidy Hall explores these questions and other similar ones in her riveting philosophical memoir. In Queering Contemplation, Cassidy shares her perspective of being queer and its connection to her view of spirituality. It contains conversations involving those who narrate their stories as immigrants, people of color, queer, and disabled. We follow the author's brilliant anecdotes and tales about her path of enlightenment, from her first panic attack at work in 2011 to her first conference with the International Thomas Merton Society at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. Whether she's experiencing the peace and beauty of monasteries or speaking to amazing open-minded individuals, Cassidy's book conveys deep messages and insights that are worth contemplating and sharing with others.
Queering Contemplation is the type of book that compels you to constantly pause and reflect on its words since it's filled with many thought-provoking ideas from multiple people. I especially loved Assata de la Cruz's perspective on embracing boredom and rejecting the constant busyness epidemic in today's world. Cassidy Hall's lyrical words complement the book's spiritual topics excellently. I found myself joyfully revisiting her many poetic words, including her description of the inward monastery as "the place within ourselves of our deepest welcome, our clearest belonging." The book has an interesting collection of themes: diversity, religion, mysticism, silence, self-love, self-awareness, and more. Finally, Queering Contemplation is a must-read for all queer people seeking to become more spiritual and to embrace Christianity. I look forward to multiple rereads after enjoying engaging stories from awe-inspiring characters and their views.
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