I want to preface this by saying that me dnf-ing this book was to no fault of the actual story, it was due to the fact it was hitting a little too close to home in some aspects. I would still recommend it though, and I will hopefully revisit it someday!

dnf @ 22%

This is a memoir talking about what it's like growing up Christian while realizing that you're gay, which then makes you feel isolated from your friends, your family, and your community. It details Stace's path from when she first started having those feelings, through the immense shame and guilt that came with those feelings, trying to "fix" yourself, and ultimately finding acceptance and making peace with yourself.

I will say I'm not Canadian, nor have I practiced religion in the same way depicted in the book (and strangely enough my immediate family wasn't particularly religious), but as a kid, I was doing my absolute most to be (what I thought was) a good Christian. The feelings of shame and thoughts of 'something was wrong with me' in this book resonated very much with me. The research Stace does in the book, trying to figure out what the Bible says and thinking about going to hell hit a little too close to home - which is why I had to, sadly, dnf this book. I thought as those feelings weren't as strong anymore and as this is, all in all, a happy story of acceptance, that it would be a good thing for me to read, but it seems I have more work to do with myself.

I still think this book could be very significant to a lot of people who've dealt with similar experiences, we all experience unlearning those things differently, so I'm sure there are many people who will love this!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

listening to the audiobook i think made this book more emotional. hearing Stacey tell her story was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once.

i'm not Christian but i have family that are and so i have my own struggles with being gay and Christianity. this book is so raw and real and just so emotional. no one should have to feel they need to choose between who they are and their faith.

i think this book/memoir is so important for newly coming out people, especially those that grew up in Christian households. you can be authentic and follow God.

This was really really good I recommend this basically everybody I can’t wait to own my own copy its ok for all

Still Stace examines an issue I've long been curious about, but haven't found much material on - the intersection of Queer people who are also Christian. Growing up around very strict Christians I wondered how they dealt with homosexuality in their lives. It was sad to read about how Stacy's mother dealt with her daughter, but heartening to see her father come around. Stacy has a relatable voice and I feel like this would be an excellent book to give to someone struggling with Stacy's situation, but also to Christians who might be wondering about this themselves.

4.5 rounded up.
I liked this audiobook. I did not have access to the illustrations that are available in the print version, so I missed that aspect of the book. This is aimed at a YA audience, though you do not have to be YA to enjoy this autobiography. Since this is the author's story, I cannot critique her personal experiences, but will comment on the writing style.
The writing style was engaging and emotional. She narrative allowed the reader to feel for her "struggles". For the first half of the book, the author overused the term "struggle" and all of its variants. I understand that she was struggling and having great difficulties dealing with her sexual orientation and religious beliefs. The author made her point very plainly that this part of her life was indeed a struggle. I just wish she would have varied the vocabulary a little bit so the initial half of the book did not feel quite so repetitive.
Fortunately, the second half of the book focused more on the author's experiences after she moved on with her life and gained more independence. The tone changed; and, while she was still having difficulties, it was obvious that she was on the path toward taking control of her life. I rooted for Stace throughout her story.
This is a book many people should read, and not just young people becoming aware of their sexual orientation. This is an important work. I would not be surprised if it becomes controversial (if it isn't already). It's a very good read.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review.

When I first saw the title and summary of this book, I just knew I had to read it. It sounded so close to my own experiences and struggles, I was very moved to see someone else’s story reflect that, and I had a feeling it would make me cry (spoiler: it did). It was a very short audiobook to listen to – I was done in a few hours – but it gave me all the feels. I read that the physical version also has beautiful illustrations by the author so I’m gonna try to find that!
Still Stace tells the real story of the author, Stacey (who is also the narrator of the audiobook), who discovers as a teenager that she’s attracted to girls. As she’s also a fervent Christian, loves her Church and learning about Jesus, she starts feeling very confused and guilty about her attraction and relationship with a girl from her youth group. And that’s how her over a decade long struggle with her own sexuality and identity, as well as the prejudice from her community and family, starts.

I’m not sure how to review this book. It was what you’d expect from a story of self-discovery: painful and sad but also full of hope. It was heart-wrenching to see young Stacey convince herself she was sinful and that something was wrong with her, talk about going back on the “right path” and taking all the burden of her parents’ happiness and approval on herself. I think there was a double layer to the story as well: on the one hand, it’s about her own journey of accepting that she can be both Christian and gay, and feeling accepted by God, but on the other it was also about the self-loathing and shame that came from her community and her own parents, and having to get through that. I was so happy when Stace met supportive and loving friends, and later on a partner, who were able to comfort her and help her throughout her personal and spiritual journey. I especially loved her brother and how they were able to be there for each other, in a very quiet but core way. I thought the contrast between her previous abusive relationship and her ultimately happy, healthy one strongly highlighted how a partner shouldn’t make you feel ashamed or wrong, but on the contrary push you closer to God if that’s what’s important to you.
In a way, I want to force everyone to read this book, both religious people who reject queer people, AND members of the LGBTQ+ community who look down on religion and how important it is to some queer people. I feel like that intersection isn’t addressed very often in the LGBTQ+ community and it was so important to me, as a queer believer (although not Christian), to read about it.

TWs: homophobia, religious trauma, parental rejection, abusive relationship.

I received this as an ARC in audio format by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book is an autobiography of the author, Stacey Chomiak, and goes into great detail about the highs and lows of discovering herself while coming to terms with her sexuality and what that meant in the light of her faith in Jesus and the Catholic Church.

I had to sit on this for the past few days, to really let this book set in. While my story is pretty different because I'd say my faith isn't as strong and as important as Stacey's own is to her, I myself have been raised catholic in a small town in the most catholic place there is: Italy, I also have been struggling with juggling the beliefs I have been taught and what I believe to be true regarding gay relationships, same-sex marriage, sex before marriage, abortions, and so on.

Stacey's story really resonated with me on so many levels, I really enjoyed reading about her growing up, her struggles, and her thoughts, I will be recommending this book to everyone who will listen and I will be buying the hardcover edition for sure (it has pictures!!).

Many thanks to Netgalley, OrangeSky Audio and the author for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t usually review memoirs, because it feels like I am rating someone's lived experience. And who am I to do it? The book was difficult to listen to as one would expect. There is just so much pain and self-loathing, but the joy towards the end of self-discovery and reconciliation with self is just worth it.

This book takes us on the journey of Stacey (the author) as she realized that she is attracted to women, and then hated herself for it. Because how can she be both Gay and Christian at the same time?

This dilemma and the mental torture she puts herself and her partners through is painful to say the least. The way she shoulders the responsibility of her parents happiness is so relatable that I felt the pain. I absolutely loved how Stacy talked throughout the book about her beliefs, her conversations with God and her inner turmoil. The fact that this book was narrated by the author only just added to the experience.

As a cis-gendered atheist queer woman, I did not much relate to the belief part of it. But having grown up surrounded by people who believe in God and religion with every fiber of their being, I saw them in this story. This book is truly a resource with its strong humanity and empathy which connects one to spirituality and religion.

I think if you are gay and looking to continue being religious, this book could be for you. As a queer person who grew up atheist, this book wasn’t for me. Ninety percent of the book is about the deep guilt and shame of being gay, dealing with the problem of being attracted to women, the author being awful to her women partners by dragging them into the religious trauma fest etc. Then the happy ending was just a blip in the road after the author figures out God is okay with her being gay.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc of Still Stace in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio book and I think it made an even bigger impact that the recordings where done by the author Stacey Chomiak herself.

The impact this book will have on gay Christians specifically and queer people of different faiths will be great. Chomiak showed how it was more than possible to resolve the differences between her faith and her gayness. Happiness and contentedness was always waiting for her once she decided to accept herself fully.

Showing the full span of where Stacey had started out as a young teen until present day was really profound and I loved how she told her story of struggling alongside finding love for god, herself, and the people she loved at different stages.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4853631360

From the initial description of this memoir, heck, even the full title, I knew this was going to hit hard. I didn’t expect however to be crying listening to the initial dedication to Stace’s younger-self. I felt wholly seen and understood from the beginning, and continued to through out the story. Even though my own story happened differently than hers I felt like I was reading my own thoughts trying to balance inner-truth and scripture against what the church tried to teach. I could feel the all too relatable fear of your parent’s feelings and expectations. It was liberating to hear another person’s story, especially with an ending so happy. Listening to the author narrating her own story in the audiobook made it almost feel like she were telling me this story over coffee. Additionally, I didn’t realize when I requested the audiobook that this was an illustrated memoir, so afterwards I borrowed a copy from my library to flip through the pictures, and the art is also beautifully done.

thank you to Beaming Books and NetGalley for providing me access to the audiobook ARC of this title.

This is a really beautiful book and it touched me on a lot of levels. Not only does the author's journey mirror mine in a lot of ways -- we're the same age, so the teenage pop cultural references hit pretty hard, but even the timing of major events in our stories overlapped to some degree. This memoir is beautiful and honest, and dripping with grace for everyone, something that is all-too rare in the LGBTQ2S+ Christian space. This will be a book I will gift to friends and family trying to manage these questions of faith, sexuality, and personal integrity, and look forward to promoting it closer to the publication date!

One final note: I listened to the audiobook version of this book, which was read by the author. She did an excellent job of telling her story in this format.

• LGBTQIA+
• Christianity
• Young Adult

Stace is a teen / young adult who grew up Christian and has a very close connection to God. She is also gay. In this memoir, Stace battles with what she thinks is right and wrong. This is especially tough because everyone around her thinks being gay Is a sin and she needs to “pray the gay away”.

I feel like it’s hard to comment on someone’s life story because it is theirs to tell. What I can say is that I had a hard time putting this down. I’m not religious in any way, but I think many people in the queer community can relate to her story. I liked that the author is also the narrator. It made it feel more real for me.

#StillStace #NetGalley #AudioARC #BeamingBooks #OrangeSky #ARC #Audiobook #BookReview

<i>Thank you to Stacy Chomiak, Beaming Books and OrangeSky Audio for the Audio ARC in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.<i>

I started this reading, expecting too much, and thinking that I would finish it quickly, which in fact I did, but about the rating???. I really think this should be added a tag "AUTOBIOGRAPHY". By this I think me as a person who doesn't have a religion , I can't rate this for the story, because it's the story of a real person, her struggling with her sexuality and also with the guidelines of Christianity's. I can rate this by the writing.

Don't get me wrong the history is really touching, and beautiful. But I just hate these prejudices in certain religions. About sexuality, about our bodies, our desires and thoughts...This is just wrong. I know that almost all parents don't react very well when you come out. Yeah I've been through that. And idk this rules in religions make this discovery process even more difficult

The writing is great, as a not native speaker, I sped up the audiobook and finished before dawn.

This book was not my vibe, but maybe if a person who a person who has been through a similar situation, or has religious parents, or something to do with religion will like it more than I do

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

*As is the nature of a memoir, many topics are discussed and could be considered trigger warnings for many people.*

Trigger Warnings: Christianity, homophobia, christian shame/guilt, toxic relationship, control/manipulation, threats of suicide/blackmail, counseling, coming out, drinking, drugs, jail, sex, Gay conversion therapy

Representation: Lesbian, Bisexual, Christian, Canadian, Gay

Still Stace is an illustrated memoir about Stace’s journey growing up as a Christian, while also being gay. Raised in the church, Stacey loves God, her church, her church friends, and bible camp. This is thrown for a loop one summer while at camp, she meets a girl who makes her heart sing. This sparks a decade long journey of self discovery and how to feel at peace with her identity and spirituality.

I loved this memoir! I may be biased based on my religious upbringing but I thought this was an excellent look into what it is like to be raised in the church but also gay. I thought the writing was clear and well organized. I loved the honesty and truthfulness from the author. I loved how Stacey put her entire heart on her sleeve and was willing to be so vulnerable for her readers. I thought this was incredibly brave and made her journey so much more relatable. While I read, I was hoping for the author to identify when they were the problem more but I think that capability comes from a place of privilege and reflection, which is unfair to assume.

I felt Stacey did a wonderful job on the audiobook. Her reading was clear and smooth. She also brought true emotions to the story. Overall, a fantastic book that religious, ex-religious, and non-religious readers alike should read!

Still Stace was a beautiful autobiography about a woman who struggles with coming to terms with both her Christianity and homosexuality. It is so heartfelt and heartbreakingly sad as Stacey takes us on a journey from teenager to married woman. This is a perfect book for anybody feeling the same struggle. God bless you Stacey for sharing your story. We need more stories lke this!

This memoir is heart wrenching and crushingly honest, I liked it a lot! The author does a great job of capturing the journey of her identity and how it’s evolved through her life! I also loved listening to her as a narrator for the audiobook! I cant wait to see this in print though to see the illustrations!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc!

Thank you NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my opinion.

This book was a well-written account of what a journey could very well look like for a woman navigating finding her authentic self while still trying to embrace her faith….and exactly what it did look like for our author.

This memoir details the abominations of conversion therapy, “pray the gay away,” and YEARS of psychological abuse that people truly experienced by those who claim to be extensions of Jesus Christ.

As a cis-gendered heterosexual woman, I can acknowledge the mind-shift that I have gone through with accepting people for who they are and loving them with my whole heart. Period. It is convenient to forget that there are real human people who have gone through everything that Stace went through and more. This story is powerful and necessary to bring humanity and empathy into all thought processes regarding the human condition as well as our spiritual connections.

Though well-written, it was difficult to read because of the painful, painful more-than-a-decade of struggle and self-loathing our author endured.


I know it is the author’s hope, and also this reader’s, that this book will help people understand that they don’t have to choose between loving Jesus and God and being authentic. She hit the nail on the head when she discovered that perhaps her path and purpose from God was being a bridge that can connect people-all perfectly made in His image-back to the church. That they do not have to choose one facet of their life over being God’s child. They can be whole.

This book is really sad and tough and bittersweet. I read this on audiobook, so regrettably I did not see any of the illustrations. I feel neutral about this book; it wasn’t really for me. The narrator is very good though. Three stars.

Stacey was enjoying Christian youth summer camp the first time she realized she was attracted to girls, but was it possible to be a Christian and gay at the same time? Many relationships, prayers, and struggles later, Stace has to make a decision, but no matter what, she has to give up something.

The 90s and early 2000s were a tough time to be a gay Christian, and in many ways, the ripples of that still affect families and culture. While everyone has to come to their own conclusions, this book offers one poignant perspective on what it's like to wrestle with longing, loneliness, lust, guilt, and a desire to do what's right, no matter who it hurts. The writing style was a bit amateur; this combined with the slow narration style leached a bit of life from this story, but it didn't ruin it. While I'm not gay, the part that resonated most with me was the end when dozens of well-meaning Christians warned Stace that God didn't approve of homosexuality, as if she could have somehow missed that and a bit of a warning and some prayers would be enough to change a lifelong struggle. I'm reminded of one of my own camp counselors who advised, "if you have to choose between being right and being kind, choose to be kind." This book doesn't set out to answer the question "can you be a gay Christian?" but it does offer empathy and hope.

It was interesting reading an illustrated memoir on audio, but I went back to check out the sweet illustrations, and I think this one is just fine either way ;)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this audio ARC. All opinions are my own.