Act Normal: Memoir of a Stumbling Block

In the summer of 1999, eighteen-year-old Kristy's life is upended by a stalker who sits three pews behind her every Sunday morning. At first, she tries to ignore him, but when he breaks into her bedroom, she realizes she can't stay silent any longer. When Kristy turns to her church family for help, she finds herself dismissed by a fundamentalist council more interested in preserving their rigid beliefs than in protecting her. As her stalker's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and threatening, Kristy is faced with a heart-wrenching choice between her life and her faith.

Act Normal is a gripping and thought-provoking journey through the emotional and spiritual aftermath of trauma. As reviewers have noted, this memoir offers a powerful commentary on the destructive effects of objectification and bad theology.

With its raw and honest portrayal of the devastating effects of religious trauma, Act Normal is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. As one reviewer noted, "this is one of the most honest and gripping stories I have ever read," a sentiment that echoes throughout the many glowing reviews of this must-read book. Whether you're seeking a thriller about being stalked or a deep dive into the complexities of faith and femininity, Act Normal is a book that will leave you both disturbed and inspired.

Praise for Act Normal:

"Not merely a thriller about being stalked, Act Normal raises important questions on the church, feminine sexuality--and most challengingly, how to be a peacemaker in a violent world when it comes at great cost." --Tanya Marlow, author of Those Who Wait: Finding God In Disappointment, Doubt, And Delay

"It is, all at the same time, disturbing and delightful, frightening and funny, horrifying and hilarious. It is a book that unmasks the 'norms' of typical American Evangelical Christian 'churchhood, ' and calls us to be aware of the dangers which lie beneath the calm surface of our established religious routines and habits." --Kenneth N. Myers, author of Salvation (And How We Got It Wrong)

Amazon Reviewers said:

"I could not put this book down. I honestly read it in one sitting, but it stayed with me long after."

"An eye-opening narrative of what you get when the devastating effects of the objectification of women are multiplied by bad theology."

"I started this book as soon as I received it in the mail, hoping to get a feel for it over dinner. I found myself turning page after page while my soup got cold and ended up finishing around midnight. It's that gripping."

"This is one of the most honest and gripping stories I have ever read. I am also a trauma survivor and can say that this story will break your heart and build it back up."