Fr. Boyle has recently been given the Presidential Medal of Honor by President Biden in 2024 for his work with rehabilitating gang members in Los Angeles. His books have been an inspiration to me for many years, and his stories are poignant, stark, and have great impact on his readers and listeners. This book tends to be a bit more disjointed than some of the other books, but Fr. Boyle has a way of tying in ideas, virtues, and God's character throughout his books that even if a reader isn't following along initially, they will get there eventually. Recommended for progressive Protestant Christians socially conscious Catholic readers.

I want to preface by saying I absolutely love Father Greg Boyle's teachings and stories! I've read all of his previous works and was really looking forward to this one (especially in such a divided time in the U.S.).

Filled with Father Greg Boyle's whimsical stories, the book shares the power in becoming more of a WE and less of an "us vs. them." It touches on the importance of community and how we can't be curious and judgmental at the same time. I enjoyed hearing insights from some of the Homeboy and Homegirl, but felt some of the stories jumped around a bit too much. Overall, the book feels like a warm hug and reminder of the importance of loving others. This is a great introduction to Father Greg Boyle, as it focuses on the values he upholds. For more on the amazing work he's done, I recommend "Tattoos on the Heart"!

Cherished Belonging is the fourth book by Gregory Boyle that I’ve read, and I’ve read his first three books as audiobooks multiple times each. I love his emphasis on loving others and the importance of learning from others and approaching every relationship ready to learn something. In this book, he focuses on two central ideas: that each of us is good and that we belong to one another. He posits that if we could truly grasp and remember those things, we’d solve the world’s problems.

I went back and forth between the audiobook and the ebook versions of this book. (I received the ebook version through NetGalley but purchased the audiobook version myself.) I liked being able to read the text more slowly, stopping to think about the ideas Boyle presents and then return to the beginning of a chapter and listen to the author read the audiobook version.

I struggled with some of the concepts in the book. He labels believing conspiracies or behaving in racist ways as evidence of mental illness. No one whole/well, he writes, would do those things.

I think I understand what he’s trying to say, but for me, this bumped against some of the ways people have used mental illness as a scapegoat for terrible things, which adds to the stigma of mental illness.

The way that he writes about mental illness makes it clear that there should be no stigma. This isn’t about blaming people for being unwell or anything. It’s about looking at people who act out of anger or hate and seeing that through a lens that acknowledges that they’ve been hurt or are not thinking clearly or seeing others clearly. They’ve forgotten that we belong to one another.

Nevertheless, if you have feelings about the way that language surrounding mental health issues is used, this is going to be, at best, a challenging read. I’m not sure what I would think if this was the first book by this author that I picked up.

On the other hand, I think Gregory Boyle raises many great questions and offers some profound insight into the cultural moment in which we stand. He specifically talks about how we tend to wear clothing with messaging and its impact on people around us. He pulls quotes and wisdom from many different spiritual disciplines, connecting truths from many different perspectives across time and faiths.

Conclusion
I don’t think I would describe this book as my favorite of the four I’ve read by this author. It might be the one that made me think the most, though. The most critical aspects of faith that I’m currently pursuing are loving others and understanding God’s love for us. The book offers some profound insights on both those topics, and I enjoyed reading it.

Like all Fr. Boyle's books, this is a keeper. My favorite parts are the stories he tells of his life at Homeboy Industries, and I'd love to read more of them. He does such a good job of using those stories to make his points about how we're all in this life together. Many thanks to NetGalley, Fr. Boyle, and Simon and Schuster for the ARC of this title.

Thank you so, so much to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for an advance copy of this book.

Wow - truly a profound, deep, and rich book. I took my time savoring every page, and really found Father Boyle's writing filled with wisdom. As a future clergy person, I know that I will be turning back to this book to explore how love and God influence even the most difficult relationships we have.

Highly recommend this book.

At first I worried this book might be a little more religious than what I was comfortable with. But the book quickly settled into Fr. Boyle's signature homie anecdotes showing warmhearted love and affection for all humans. This book touched on some recent political events and characters, but really stuck to the theme that everyone must belong to us and we must belong to them. Just like with his other books, there were parts that brought me to tears and parts that made me laugh. It felt like a balm to read during this election season. “People change when they are cherished.”

Title: Cherished Belonging
By: Gregory Boyle
Pub. Date: November 5, 2024

Genre:
Non-fiction, Memoir, Self-Help, Christian, Spirituality

Trigger Warnings:
Lives of incarcerated adults, experiences involving as such.

Summary/Review:
In "Cherished Belonging," Father Gregory Boyle shares heartfelt stories that showcase the love and compassion fostered by Homeboy Industries. Boyle offers a proactive perspective on bridging the societal divide, emphasizing the importance of belonging and the belief that we are all "unshakably good." Through his distinctive approach, he reminds us of our shared connections and the light within each of us. While my beliefs differ somewhat from Boyle’s, his Christian message resonates with readers from all backgrounds. I highly recommend this book!

Similar books to:
Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle
What Does it Feel Like? By Sophie Kinsella
The Story of the Heart by Rachel Clarke

Thank you Gregory Boyle, Avid Reader Press, Simon and Schuster, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#CherishedBelonging
#GregoryBoyle
#AvidReaderPress
#SimonandSchuster
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

Another wonderful book from Father Greg. Although my beliefs aren't entirely aligned with the authors he delivers a powerful message of acceptance, compassion and open heartedness. His message is Christian, however he offers stories that have a universal thread. Homeboy Industries is featured prominently. I love hearing updates about the people and organization over the years with each new release . Cherished Belonging is the first book by Father Greg I've read in print. I have loved all of his books as audiobooks and admit that I miss hearing his voice and humor when he tells a story. I will definitely listen to this when it becomes available. As with all of Father Greg's books...highly recommended.
Many thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for an advance readers copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for this advanced copy. I have been a fan of Father Boyle since Tattoos on the Heart. I have such respect and admiration for his work and the community he has created. I’m finding it incredibly difficult to critique his work in any way! My only comment is that I enjoyed the personal stories from his earlier books, and I think in this book he was preaching more and relied less on personal narratives. But with that said, his message is beautiful and powerful.