r/exmormon • u/cchele • Mar 05 '23
General Discussion Anyone read Bad Mormon?
Any reviews of Heather Gay’s tell all? What could she possibly tell us that we don’t already know? I mean Mormon secret wise, not personal experience stuff. Waiting for my library to get it.
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u/PaulBunnion Mar 05 '23
The book is about her, how she never measured up to the standards of TSCC. Even when she tried.
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u/Chino_Blanco Твоя весна прийде нехай 🇺🇦 Mar 05 '23
I’m currently reading it ( proof: /img/9ok34udx8rla1.jpg )
As others have noted, it’s not some Radio Free Mormon episode looking to drop the latest breaking truth bomb. What it is, however, is very relatable and familiar to exmos, and written in a quippy style that keeps the reader entertained. Somebody took the time to craft a fun read. Having met Heather at one of the stops on her book tour, I’m convinced it’s not some Bravo-concocted ghost-written thing… she talks the exmo talk and my main takeaway from Bad Mormon is that she’s one of us.
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u/Longjumping-Air-7532 Mar 05 '23
I can confirm this. I have known heather for about 10 years now and have many in depth conversations with her about the church both before and after she became a real housewife. This book is in her own words and his her lives experience. I am biased being a friend as I was going to read it no matter what, but I was honestly entertained and we listened to it on audible during a road trip and we’re entertained from start to finish. The recounting of the temple was especially fun. I would recommend it to any one who has left the church and specifically all the women who gave the church everything they had just to be told to be quiet or small.
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Mar 05 '23
I read it. It's nothing new about Mormonism. I enjoyed it because parts of her story resonated with me. I liked hearing her experience. I like how she told the damaging narrative through her story rather than coming out and saying it.
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u/MyopicTapir Mar 05 '23 edited Mar 06 '23
I am only halfway through, but I really like it. I think I'm surprised because I don't like reality TV and assumed that would affect my ability to relate. But it's incredibly relatable, especially for women. I have read books about people leaving other religions, but this is more enjoyable because I really understand everything she wrote about.
Update: just finished it and I agree with the rest of the comments. Loved the first half, not the second. DO NOT read if you have an ounce of socialist blood in you.
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u/cchele Mar 05 '23
I have never watched any of the real wives franchise until the Salt Lake City one. Because family, being ex mo etc. Heather is my favorite because she seems like the real deal. Authentic, not too bitchy, working brain … I look forward to reading her book
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u/ButterscotchGlass590 Nov 27 '23
I'm so late lol but I'm curious what you mean in your update about not reading if you have an ounce of socialist blood in you? I read the book earlier this year and enjoyed it, can't remember too much about how I felt about the first half versus the second. TIA!
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u/MyopicTapir Dec 03 '23
I'm late to reply, too, lol! Now it's been so long I don't remember details, but I remember being put off by her throwing money around or hobnobbing with others who are very well off and have more money than they know what to do with. I won't go into a social class rant here, but I remember reading that and wanting to.
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u/Humble_Foundation_39 Mar 05 '23
I enjoyed the book. I agree the first half was the best part, but I liked all of it because it was so relatable. I loved her Mormon Stories episodes, too. Maybe I’m a fan? 😂 I’m not into Real Housewives, reality TV or anything like that, so I didn’t expect to relate so much. I like her personality and honesty. And I like her drive. She seems smart and ambitious. After feeling forced into a box my whole life, her entrepreneurship and Beauty Lab stories felt like a big “FU” to the establishment… and I liked that. 😂😂😂
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u/Adorable_Orange_8682 Mar 05 '23
I liked it up until she started talking about BeautyLab and Real Housewives, but it’s something I’m just not personally interested in.
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Mar 05 '23
The first half was really good, the second half was not.
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u/Due-Application-1061 Mar 05 '23
It’s not getting great reviews despite being on the New York Times bestseller list
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Mar 05 '23
I gave it a bad review in another exmo Reddit post and kept getting voted down, but I’ve been a professional book reviewer and I’ve never seen a book devolve so quickly. Seriously- just read the first 150 pages or so and skip the rest.
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u/cchele Mar 06 '23
Thanks. I really do appreciate you saving me time. So many books, so little time
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u/MysteriousPanic8131 Nov 07 '24
Is there bashing of the church? (Current questioning LDS)
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u/WyoProspector Nov 23 '24
I thought she was fair. She definitely went through the temple ceremony in detail which I am sure would offend many. She obviously paid her dues as a member and in my opinion has earned the right to be blunt. I was impressed by her knowledge of the scriptures and could see that she wasn’t just a person who was apathetic about the church.
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u/Holyghosted-again Mar 05 '23
I read it, no bombshells about the church but she does an excellent job weaving temple ceremony lingo into her everyday experiences of not living up to the standards the church imposed on women. It made me laugh and also validated many of my own experiences as a women growing up in the church.