Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

A good youth edition of a groundbreaking memoir; perhaps better for younger teens than for the high school aged set given how accessible the original is.

Full disclosure, I had no idea who Chasten was besides Mayor Pete's husband when I saw the offer for this ARC, but the synopsis and the reviews were so positive.
This is a fantastic book, and you need to get it for the teens in your life, especially if they're in a small town, or unfortunately anywhere in some of the most populated states. I did find the start to be a little slow, but I was also reading the memoir of someone I wasn't actually invested in at that point, so YMMV.
Thank you very much to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

I'd never had any interest in reading the memoirs of a political spouse till after I picked up this book. It's an adaptation of Chasten Glezman Buttigieg's 2021 autobiography, originally written for adults, but with a message that's so, so necessary for younger readers, too.

I mean, even for a grown person like myself who is older than both Mr Buttigieg and his more famous husband, this was a much needed look at how much better life has gotten for queer people in the United States in the last fifteen to twenty years alone. The author candidly discusses how he went from being a closeted, unhappy teen in a Traverse City, Michigan high school that had no out queer students, to returning as an adult to speak to their LGBTQ+ Club. Mr Buttigieg's honest recounting of his own experiences and feelings underscores just how awful things used to be only a very short time ago.

But the memoir isn't just a stark, if necessary reminder of how things were (and, obviously, what any person with an ounce of empathy and human feeling should seek to avoid going back to.) It's also a great example of how much we can change things for the better in only a decade or so. While the book doesn't go into the kind of activism necessary for such change, it does set a mostly good example in being true to yourself and following your dreams, as young Chasten figures out who he is and what he truly wants to do with his life. It's a tough road and he inevitably stumbles along the way, but he navigates it with heart and a hell of a lot more forgiveness than I'm personally capable of.

The only time that he actually fails himself is also a valuable object lesson for people still battling internal homophobia, or self-hatred of any kind. When he's finally ready to come out to his parents, he automatically assumes that they're going to kick him out of the house, so makes plans to leave immediately after telling them. Even tho his mom pleads with him to come home, he's so frozen in flight mode that he feels compelled to stay away, despite being stuck in circumstances that are bad for both his emotional and physical well-being. I breathed a sigh of relief when he finally let his mom persuade him to move back in, when he accepted that his parents weren't mad or looking to punish him for being honest about who he is.

Of course, not all kids are this lucky: some families are terrible and cruel. But there's a lot to be said for not locking yourself into your own imaginary worst case scenario such that you punish yourself worse than others are willing to, just because you fear their scorn so much that it causes you to do the very thing -- in this case, estrange yourself from your loved ones -- that you don't want them to do to you. The world is going to be hard enough on you without you beating yourself up, too. I Have Something To Tell You reminds every reader to be a good friend to yourself first and foremost.

Readable and compelling, this book also includes resources for mental health and LGBTQ+ support. The political stuff, tho relatively sparse, serves to underscore the more important lessons of self-esteem and self-acceptance. It does genuinely feel like Mr Buttigieg is using his platform not for any personal or political gain but to offer a message of hope for vulnerable kids. It's really great to read.

I Have Something To Tell You ― For Young Adults: A Memoir by Chasten Glezman Buttigieg was published May 16 2023 by Atheneum Books For Young Readers and is available from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9781665904377">Bookshop!</a>

This is a YA adapted version of Chasten's memoir. I haven't read the original memoir to compare the adaptation to it, but this version is short and focuses mainly on Chasten's identity journey as a young boy in small town USA in the 90s. It does mention the presidential campaign trail with his husband, the famous US politician Pete Buttigieg, but the main focus is on Chasten and the life he had leading up to the now.

I liked this memoir! I thought it was good for a YA audience. I liked the stories he shared. I think my main complaint would be that the timeline in this book jumps all over the place and isn't chronological (even within the same chapters sometimes). This is probably because it is a shortened adaptation from a larger work, but it made it kind of hard to determine what stage of his life we were reading about.

Overall, it's a short, genuine, and inspiring story of a small town gay man and his husband who ended up in the throws of big time USA politics.

Thanks to Simon Teen and Pride Book Tours for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I recommend reading the original memoir by Buttigieg. I'm not a fan of rewriting books for younger audiences -- write a new book for them. Otherwise, it makes for a bore of a book that is sanitized and desperate to connect with the kids. I will buy this book for my library because the story itself is needed in the collection, but I don't think this book, in this form, is good.

I wrote the most beautiful review that disappered...ugh thanks/no thanks laptop with lightning quick decisions!

To recap: This is a moving and worthwhile read for young adults and middle graders, particularly those who are queer and those who live in non supportive communities (I see you "traditional values America" and I am calling you out!).
Very much the same as the previous adult edition, the book covers what it is like to grow up queer without any frame of reference for what that means and why it is normal. The book is supposedly entitely rewritten with all new content...okay, I don't see that. What iI see is adult content cut and new encouragement statements added (I was just like you!) . A big plus is the list of resources in the backmatter...if a queer kid gets the book, they may want to reach out for support, and that is the kind of energy I want to see from more books!

Chasten Buttigieg has an engaging mix of wit, intelligence, and sincere commitment to helping the queer community. He is a strong leader and this book is a gift to us all.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Chasten Buttigieg for providing me with an advanced copy of the Young Adult adaptation of 'I Have Something to Tell You'.

Available 16 May 2023 - will post to socials closer to the release date.

This is great storytelling of Chasten's childhood, coming out and growth into a young adult in rural, Midwest USA. I assume it is rural, I am not great with American geography! I hope that the aim for this is to have two copies in every library across the States, one with the fun yellow and rainbow cover and one as a plain cover for our young Queers that are not living in supportive and safe environments.

I really enjoyed the exploration into the exploitation of young people by the college debt schemes and the pressure that is placed on teenagers to have their entire life planned out! And that is for all the kids, let alone for that Queer teens! It is the Queer teens/Young Adults that need to place time, energy and mental resources into dealing with their sexuality or gender identity on top of dealing with normal teenage life!

This is a very easy read and has been pitched at the YA/Teen cohort of readers. I found Chasten to be very funny, I don't know if the 'kids these days' will be vibing it but I assume that is what editors are for. Is the content groundbreaking? No. But will it help Queer youth across the globe? Absolutely.

As an adult that is only about 5 years younger then Chasten I am very jealous of my partner not having run for Prime Minister yet!!! On this timeline he only has three years to get to the Prime Ministerial campaign trail but I can't even convince him to run for Local Government! LAMKIN for MAYOR 2024!!! (I would do it myself but I don't like talking to people)

But in all truth, I appreciate the ability for Chasten to speak opening about his and Peter's journey into politics, if only very briefly! As I am sure there is more to come for these two :)

This young adult adaptation of Chasten Glezman Buttigieg’s memoir was such a sweet and wholesome coming of age story. Through his own words, we learn about Chasten’s teenage years growing up in a small conservative Midwestern town, his experience as an exchange student in Germany and his dawning realization that him always being seen as “special” and “unique” might have something to do with his sexual orientation and his struggle to come to terms with that.

Even though Chasten is the husband of the former Democratic presidential candidate (Peter Buttegieg) this book was not a political one, but a personal story meant to give courage and inspiration to teenagers today by sharing the good and the bad, the hardship, fear and pain, as well as the joy and the relief, on the journey of being true to yourself. And it certainly succeeded in that! I Have Something to Tell You was a truly hopeful and earnest story. I enjoyed the direct conversational writing style and how Chasten used a lot of his humor when telling it, and how he wasn’t afraid of showing his own shortcomings nor shy away from awkward situations. It was also really heartwarming to see the love for and from his family even though they all went through a bit of a rough path after he came out.

A minor thing though is that I, personally, would have liked to read more about how Chasten and his husband Peter met and fell in love, not just being told about it in such a matter-of-fact kind of way that felt different from the other parts of the story. It would have added a lot to the story if it had included more of their first meetings, letting us readers feel the attraction and butterflies, and seeing it evolve into their current HEA. I would also have liked to know more about Chasten’s experiences after coming out and learning to be comfortable as a gay man before meeting Peter. But I’m guessing that those parts were included in the full memoir for adults and had been edited away to keep this story shorter and more focused on the early ages. Which makes complete sense, and also makes me want to read the full memoir to find out!

All in all, this was a beautiful, raw and honest memoir focusing on Chasten Buttigieg’s early years, giving hope for teens struggling with the same questions, showing that they are not alone and that they deserve to be loved for exactly who they are. It’s also a wonderful resource to use for parents, teachers and others, to reflect on they way to support the LGBTQ+ community, to make this world a safe and inclusive place for everyone. I’m really glad that Chasten decided to share his experience in such a candid way, and I’m sure that this book will give courage and support to so many. Not only by the message in the book itself, but also by learning about Chasten and his husband’s groundbreaking presidential campaign and seeing in practice that there are no limits but that you can reach any goal you have while still being true to who you are.

4.5 stars rounding up to 5.

Thank you to Pride Book Tours and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. I can’t wait for the upcoming book tour to talk about it more!

Grateful to have received an advanced reader’s copy of this forthcoming memoir! It’s absolutely lovely. Fascinating and captivating look into Chasten Buttigieg’s life. More or less apolitical, this book is for everyone, but especially, importantly, critically, for our young LGBTQIA+ family. There is no right or wrong way to come out. There is no right or wrong time to come out. Many many thanks to the author for emphasizing this in his important effort for young people. It will save lives.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Atheneum Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this early copy

As the husband of former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, Chasten Buttigieg has seen his share of the spotlight. But his most recent moments of fame have primarily been in a supporting role, reinforcing the efforts of his husband. In this book, Chasten takes center stage, introducing readers to his history while encouraging them to embrace their own identities, even when the world around them feels scary. Originally written as an autobiography for adults, this edition has been modified to focus on young adults, instead. Using a conversational tone, Chasten sounds as though he is speaking directly to the reader, sharing moments of triumph and moments of hardship in raw and accessible ways. Regardless of the reader's background or preferences, this book invites everyone into Chasten's experiences in a way that serves as both a mirror and a window. Humor and cringe-worthy admissions endear Chasten to the reader, which allows for increased empathy when times get tough for him. Approachable and relatable, Chasten is fortunate to come from a loving household that gave him the skills and tenacity to become a success in his own right. As readers learn Chasten's story, they become more aware of the challenges he faced as a youth and how others' behavior and actions impacted him as he grew up. At the end of the book, a list of reflection questions and resources help guide young people and teachers in productive and transformative conversations pertaining to the material in this book. While some moments in Chasten’s life may be triggering to some readers, everything is presented in a way that reflects Chasten’s authentic experience, even when those moments were not very pretty. Immersive and engaging, this is an essential addition to nonfiction library collections for young adult readers.

Bravo! What a joy to read this honest, well-written, beautiful memoir from Chasten. As a Michigander, I loved the descriptions of life in our state and appreciated the complexity of being yourself in this quite-conservative state. I’m buying this for my young nieces. It’s important to have our leaders represented as a whole person with real stories about challenges and triumphs. I’m an ally and a mom of a queer teen and I Loved it. Heartfelt thanks to Simon & Schuster’s Children’s Publishing. .

I have learned quite a bit about Pete Buttigieg and really respect him, but hadn't known as much about his husband Chasten. I was so pleased by this funny, charming memoir that really captured the joy of life and lets the reader know who Chasten is. Having read the Young Adult version, I really felt that he did a good job letting teens know what life was like for him growing up and how they might use his experiences to navigate some of their shared experiences.

In fact, Pete didn't show up until almost the end of the book. In the meantime, Chasten's life and experiences really shined and showed teens that there is such a rich life to be lived as an LGBTQ person.

Wonderful and so needed. More LGBTQIA kids need assured that life, if it isn't what they hoped for now, is most definitely able to get better. Chasten, being raised in stereotypical rural America, hits the nail on the head when he describes how preconceived ideas of how men should dress, behave, drive, the activities they are "supposed" to like, and all the nonsense that accompanies those ideas can be so harmful to the ones who don't quite fit that mold. Buttigeg's story is told candidly and honestly, and I will be recommending it for friends who have kids needing to hear this message.