Devout is a collection of poems about growing up in the kind of church that teaches queerness is a sin, that depression can be cured by prayer, and if you just have enough faith all the love you feel for a girl might turn to friendship. It's a collection about fighting back against a predator who hides behind his title and his clothes. Devout is about hope and horror, about wanting to die but trying to live, it's about acceptance and self-love and survival.
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In their debut collection,
Devout-a "miracle of the unholy divine"-Hadley Jones transforms the white page into a sacred space, a holy altar where truths are offered as communion and shame is sacrificed for self-acceptance. As we travel with Jones through a world of church hymns and Christian colleges, first love and final attempts, a silent God and a mega-church CEO, we're always aware of the journey, the seat in the front row, the faith, the rage, the isolation, the trauma. The poems pulse with pain, yes, but, again and again, Jones takes "the thorn from my own side" and baptizes us in the saltwater of faith, sexuality, and mental health until we arrive with them, at last, into "the home I built myself." Ultimately,
Devout is a lyrical collection about resilience and grace and the unflappable power-and persistence-of the human spirit. Laurie Rachkus Uttich, author of
Somewhere, a Woman Lowers the Hem of Her SkirtWith unflinching honesty, Hadley Jones'
Devout explores the emotional weight of growing up under the expectations of religious devotion, and the powerful reclamation that comes with breaking free and undressing the imperfectly beautiful from within. In this electrifying debut, their poems resonate with vulnerability and strength and reflect on the difficult journey of losing faith and finding self. In one striking line, Jones writes,
"You are not broken, you are a miracle," a sentiment that serves as a mantra for anyone seeking their own empowerment amid doubt and worry.
Devout is an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, urging readers to live in the present and embrace the full complexity of their existence. In their first collection, Jones' voice is fierce, transformative, and unafraid to confront the deepest questions of identity, faith, and empowerment. Bree Bailey, author of
Wailing on Whisper Street"At 12 years old, I want to die / for Jesus." So begins Hadley Jones' book
Devout, the opening lines setting the stage for the dissonance that a religious community can bring, particularly for a queer person. But with every page Jones loudly and defiantly speaks their truth, unshackling themselves from a world that would rather see them suffer than see them be themselves. They don't shy away from even the lowest moments of their past: "You didn't dig the grave. / The dirt under your fingernails / came from digging yourself out." I can say as a fellow queer person with religious trauma, this book healed something in me. What could be more devout or holy than that? Caroline Earleywine, author of
I Now Pronounce You
