Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing: The New York Times bestseller

Lauren Hough's writing is conversational and blues-like, narrating her heartbreak in verse. Her essays explore resilience, agency, and the darkest elements of working-class America, finding light and humor in unexpected corners. She was raised in the cult The Children of God and had her own self robbed from her. Hough's essays interrogate our notions of ecstasy, queerness, and freedom, offering a reckoning of survival, identity, and how to reclaim one's past.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2021
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Lauren Hough's conversational prose is reminiscent of a blues singer's voice, interspersed with verses that narrate her heartbreak between songs. She skillfully cajoles her audience to laugh, preventing them from crying. Roxane Gay, author of Difficult Women, praises Hough's writing for its ability to break hearts. The Telegraph describes her work as possessing the wit of David Sedaris and the insight of Joan Didion.

Hough's moving account of resilience and hard-earned agency brims with fresh originality. Publishers Weekly highlights the searing and extremely personal essays from the heart of working-class America, exploring the darkest elements the country can manifest, such as cults, homelessness, and hunger. Despite these challenging circumstances, Hough discovers light and humor in unexpected corners.

As an adult, Lauren Hough has had diverse identities, including an airman in the U.S. Air Force, a cable guy, and a bouncer at a gay club. However, her childhood was marked by a lack of identity due to her involvement in the infamous cult The Children of God. The cult took her around the world, but it wasn't until she finally left for good that she realized she could have a life beyond The Family.

In her journey to start over, Hough packed her car and embarked on a new adventure, trading one life for another. Throughout her journey, she relies on the support of friends, family, and strangers, as she navigates the underbelly of America. While her past continues to haunt her, Hough actively excavates a new identity, shaping her relationships and perceptions of self.

Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing is a collection of essays that delve into profound themes of ecstasy, queerness, and the pursuit of freedom. Each piece serves as a reckoning, exploring survival, identity, and the process of reclaiming one's past while carving out a future. Hough's writing is razor-sharp, profoundly brave, and often filled with humor, offering a unique and captivating perspective on the human experience.

Weight: 386g
Dimension: 175 x 347 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529382495