Rae | The Finer Things Club CA's Reviews > A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy

In her memoir 𝘈 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭-𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘞𝘪𝘧𝘦: 𝘔𝘺 𝘌𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘺, writer Tia Levings shares in vivid detail her journey from an awkward girl yearning to be accepted in a new town to a young woman seeking out senses of purpose and security in the church and in marriage; a parent struggling to create a safe, nurturing environment for herself and her children despite stifling religious guidelines and a cruel, capricious husband; and finally a trauma survivor and anti-fundamentalist activist. By showing how her agreeable, people-pleasing nature and appreciation for rules and community were taken advantage of by religious leaders and her abuser, she is able to truly show readers the dangers of Christian fundamentalism. But by also depicting frequent inner conflicts due to her desires for knowledge and self-expression and then her family’s successful escape, she presents a story of strength, perseverance, and self-redemption as well.

This is a powerful, well-written autobiography. My only caveat is that sometimes Levings gets too in the weeds when explaining the tenets of different Christian sects, which I felt slowed down the narrative’s momentum. However, if you have an interest in religious studies or fundamentalist churches, this may not be a negative for you.

4.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.