Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing

by Lauren Hough

First published 2021

Lauren Hough examines her unconventional path through American society in this collection of autobiographical essays. The author traces her journey from childhood in a religious cult through her years serving in the Air Force and later working as a bouncer at a gay nightclub in Washington D.C. Hough applies both humor and unflinching honesty to these experiences as she explores how identity forms through unlikely circumstances. The essays reveal the peculiar and meaningful moments that shaped her understanding of truth in contemporary America. This debut collection offers readers an unvarnished look at the process of constructing a sense of self from fragments of vastly different worlds.

Genres: essays, autobiography, contemporary, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir

Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking

Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family

Setting: America, Washington D.C.

Period: 21st-century

306 pages · Paperback · Coronet

Content warnings: abuse

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