A deeply troubling assessment of one woman's experience in the Children of God, a cult known for troubling sex practices (among a myriad of other issues). This isn't so much a book *about* the cult as it is a memoir about one person's experience within said cult. I wish the history of the cult had been given throughout the book, rather than a rushed introduction -- I listened to the audiobook of this so it was impossible for me to flip back to the history section and cross-check anything I was confused about.

That said, I feel for the author and her experiences and hope she is healing.

A first hand look into the Children of God cult and over seas compound of the group. I found it to be written stating events that happened to the author without a lot of emotion and this made it hard for me to connect with the author sometimes.

Ew Ew Ew. Much too much for me. I didn't finish. It was poorly written and had very little development. I put it down quickly and have never regretted it,

Unfortunately I found the writing of this to be a little all over the place and unengaging. I ended up DNF'ing about 20% in.

This was so well done. I really admire the author's bravery to talk about her life in this cult. This gave a very different insight from the documentaries I have seen about this cult.

I hate to say this, but the title of this book had me expecting a story that was a bit more salacious (think: NXIVM cult). But admitting that about a memoir makes me feel like I'm wishing ill on the author, which I'm not. Her story is already painful to read and I'm glad she's begun her path to healing. I just expected something different from this book.

I received an advanced reading copy of this title at no charge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good cult memoir, and this was no exception. I ended up switching to the audiobook about halfway through in order to be able to keep reading on a road trip as I didn't want to put it down. I recommend to those who are interested in memoirs, cults, and stories on surviving sexual abuse. Warning that there is sexual abuse content (including the abuse of children).

TW: child abuse, sexual abuse

Although this book is extremely hard to read at parts, I could not put it down. I read the entire book in a day, which I haven't done since childhood. Faith Jones's exodus from the Children of God cult is harrowing, shocking, and moving.

I must note: I think the title does not match the content. So don't base your expectations on the title alone.

This is a memoir following a little girl growing up in the Children of God cult in the 80s and how she escaped as an adult. The story was very compelling, but almost too detail oriented. It was super interesting to hear about a lot of her crazy, bizarre, but abusive experiences, but sometimes it felt like I was being told the same things over again. I wish it was a bit more reflective and little less storytelling. It felt like it could have been much shorter. If you’re interested in the day-to-day living of cults this might be for you though!

I could not finish this book. I had very high hopes for it. The title is fantastic and the summary sounded right up my ally. Cults are fascinating to me and to get a memoir from the granddaughter of one the the leaders sounded great. I do not want to diminish the hardship the author has gone through, she is very brave to have written her story. However, the writing style wasn't for me. The history given prior to the story felt very rushed and I could have used more information. I also was having a hard time reading a memoir in present tense. It made it difficult to believe that is exactly what happened.

I think this is a really important story and hat's off to Jones for making more than lemonade out of a terrible, terrible situation. The writing itself is a little basic for me, and felt more like a blog than a book, but honestly, good on her for getting out of it, she should forever feel successful.

A fascinating account of a woman who was raised in the religious cult Children of God. If it sounds familiar, you may be a River and/or Joaquin Phoenix fan (they and their siblings were also raised in it though the author, Faith Jones, never mentions them) or have heard the tragic story of Ricky Rodriguez, who videotaped himself getting ready to kill his former "nanny" for molesting him throughout his childhood, then killed himself. (He could not find his mother to kill her as well.) The cult is infamous for espousing that it is natural and "Godly" for children to have sex with adults. The cult leader, David "Moses" Berg, sent out regular newsletters are essentially child pornography. Female members were required to "flirty fish" - that is, prostitute themselves to anyone who could bring the group money, favors, or political power. The cult also embraced philosophies that are still highly popular today, especially about dropping out of society.

Jones grew up in the Portuguese colony of Macau, a small island off China, with her father, who was David Berg's son, her biological mother and a second woman who also acted as her mother (polygamy was routine), and several siblings (birth control was not allowed). When Jones was still young, the family moved to a rural Chinese village that didn't have electricity or plumbing and eventually settled what became one of the group's larger, more successful home bases.

Jones is an intelligent and headstrong child who, while seeming to believe fully in most of the cult's teachings, and being a true believer in God and Jesus, nevertheless was confused about her squeamishness in not wanting to have sexual relations with adult men, which she began being pressured into around eleven years old. When she shows no interest in this, her mother chastises her for being "unloving" and "unwilling to share." (Share is code for having sex). Her father is a strict disciplinarian who isn't shy about using corporeal punishment. It's a childhood that could, and did, undo many of those who grew up in it. Jones was fortunate in that, despite being blood-related to Berg, who went by "Moses" and remained the cult's leader until his death, never lived with him. Those children that did were subjected to crushing amounts of sexual abuse.

Jones is able to sneak enough books and outside influences to eventually realize she wants to further her former education (considered a waste of time by the cult, now called The Family). After years of bouncing around proselytizing in China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and America, Jones finally achieves her dream, attending Georgetown University, where she graduates summa cum laude. She then becomes a successful lawyer.

It's during her time in college that she starts to question the teachings she grew up with, and to realize the extent to which she had been gaslighted by her parents and every other adult in the cult, and to work to reclaim her body and her mind.

Anyone interested in cults should definitely pick up this shocking, sad, and ultimately triumphant memoir. I knock off a star because I found Jones' writing style a tad dry for my personal tastes. It was difficult for me to know how Jones felt about anything as it was happening - other than two rapes she suffers as a young adult, which are vividly and harrowingly described. But mostly while scenes were duly recorded, Jones doesn't have the flair to make an abuse memoir transcendent in the way that, say, Frank McCourt or Jeannette Walls does. All of her insight comes in one chapter at the end as a long "now I see the light" info dump. I feel it would have been a more powerful memoir if this reflection had been present throughout. But still very compelling, and fans of "I had a helluva childhood" memoirs should run out and snatch this up.

Thank you to Net Galley, Harper Collins, and Faith Jones for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

1 stars
Not at all what I expected. I do feel there is a audience for this book. It is not for me. Thanks for the ARC of this book.

Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones tells the story of her experience growing up in "the Family", a notorious sex cult started by her grandfather. Jones' story is fascinating; she provides an inside look into the cult's machinations and daily activities, and just how far the members were willing to go in the name of God. However, Jones' writing style leaves a lot to be desired, and the memoir frequently comes across as a mere recitation of facts and memories with no style or substance. While the topic is enough to keep you reading, Sex Cult Nun is ultimately too easy to put down.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I came into this book knowing a lot about the Family, but it was nice to have a first person account of what it was like to be a part of it. Overall, I enjoyed the book and it was well written, however I wish there was less focus on the early portions of Faith’s life and more focus on her later experiences. I was surprised she didn’t discuss how her childhood experiences affected her faith currently. I also understand her desire to discuss her accomplishments, because she came so far from a cult and with a minimal early childhood education, but she doesn’t have to justify her success, in my opinion. I’m just glad she’s out and alright- if she didn’t make anything of her life I’d feel the same as her becoming a successful lawyer.
I will say that what faith learned about rape and abuse is very much “preaching to the choir”, but I recognize she had to overcome a lot of shame in order to acknowledge her trauma. I hope she’s in therapy, just as I hope everyone is in therapy. Overall, I recommend the book, but there are times where it runs a little slow or reads a little preachy.

Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m sure you’ve seen this recently released title floating around. It’s a brilliantly written nonfiction.

I was pulled in by the description of being similar to Educated. I have to agree that it was similar, and I enjoyed it very much. At times, this one is hard to read, but the author describes her abuse and experiences without intense descriptions. I still recommend doing some research before diving in as there are still triggers.

I found the last half of the book most interesting as it was her finding herself. But it was also the most rushed; I wished we would have gotten more of her insight. I also don’t really know why the word “nun” is in the title.

Overall, people interested in cults will find this read compelling.

I really think this needed a lot more work to be a truly readable book. I felt like I was reading sworn legal testimony, like it was so careful to present things chronologically and without a lot of editorializing or emotion. But the editorializing and the emotion are what I want to help make sense of this bananas story, not account after account of horrific sexual abuse. It gets there a little bit by the end but it was too little, too late for me. I am glad that the author has come out on the other side of this horror show, however!

This book's copy compares it to Educated which I think is very valid because, like Educated, I feel like this is a book where the sheer story is very compelling and the author's struggle is admirable, while the quality of the writing is like, fine. If you're into cult shit I'd recommend it, but it's not like, for example The Glass Castle where the story was bonkers AND the writing was gorgeous.

Despite the very provocative title, this book is really a memoir. As the granddaughter of Children of God founder David Berg, Faith was raised in the cult from birth, mostly on a farm in Macau. She certainly lived a very interesting life and if you're fascinated by cults (as I am) it will probably be an interesting read, but if you know anything about the Children of God you'll understand why the title references a "sex cult." The Children of God-- or Family of Love, as they later refer to themselves--was rampant with abuse, particularly child abuse. Though Faith experiences many periods of happiness on her family farm in Macau, like most children, she did not escape the abuse, central to the cult's doctrines of free love. No surprise then that this books touches on some deeply disturbing topics and features pretty much every trigger warning you might imagine.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of Sex Cult Nun, by Faith Jones. The book is riveting, and I could not put it down. I want to thank Faith for being so brave in so many ways and taking the reader into the world of the Children of God.
The book reminds me a bit of The Uneducated, as both women were from religious families that had very strict lifestyles, but Faith's is not only her life story but the history of the Children of God.

After finishing the book, I can truly say that the book is about resilience, perseverance, and learning to deal with great adversity. It would be unfair to criticize this book, as Faith had such a traumatizing upbringing. Adults are shockingly immoral and are not really parents in the way most people understand parents. The organization is ripe with abuse, to children and to other adults. They skirt the law in every country they are in and live on the margins of society.

The book has some very disturbing material and is intense as each page packs a punch. I highly recommend reading the book. My only problem was I did not like the title. (less)