ATONEMENT CAMP FOR UNREPENTANT HOMOPHOBES BY EVAN J. CORBIN : BOOK REVIEW

 BLURB 

The oldest translation of a Gospel is returned to the world by a secret society long dedicated to its preservation. In it, Jesus explicitly condemns bigotry and homophobia. In a new world in which LGBTQ passengers receive preferential boarding for flights and the United States has elected its first lesbian President, Pastor Rick Harris is stalwart, closeted preacher who doggedly holds onto his increasingly unpopular convictions.

When an incendiary sermon goes too far and offends an influential family, Rick makes a painful choice to keep his job: He attends an atonement camp run by drag queens for society’s most unrepentant and terminally incurable homophobes.

Atonement Camp is immersion therapy for Pastor Harris, and it might be working. An open bar with pedicures, a devastatingly attractive roommate and an endless supply of glitter help him manage to make new friends. Soon, Rick and his cohorts learn the camp may hold its own secrets. Amid the smiling faces and scantily clad pool boys who staff the camp, a clandestine group plots to discredit the New Revelation and everything it stands for.

If Rick has the conviction to confront his own hypocrisy, he might be able to uncover the conspirators with help from his adopted flock—and find new truths within himself.

REVIEW 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“No one is hopeless. No one is beyond redemption”

In a world where the oldest Gospel of Mark, that was previously sworn to secrecy, has been rediscovered and the world as we know it has evolved and progressed and all people are treated with respect, no matter how they identify. One Pastor refuses to accept the New Revelation and continues preaching the old ways.

Pastor Rick Harri's homophobic sermons are turning away loyal Parishners away from the church.

John Beck is one parishner in particular who has helped the Parish flourish. Not only does his family fund nearly forty percent of the Church's revenue, but he is also instrumental in organizing activities and festivities that help get the church get recognition and thrive.

If they lose his family, the other Parishners will soon follow in his footsteps.

But Rick is adamant to follow in his father's footsteps and preach the old ways. Despite the church elders orders he continues preaching his crude, homophobic sermons.

But when he admonishes Ryan, John Beck's son and tries to turn the town against him, it doesn't bode well in his favor.

He has two options, get fired or go to an atonement camp.

He needs the Church's support  to help pay his bills and support his ailing mother. So, going to the atonement camp was never a choice for him.

Here, Pastor Rick is transported to a whole new world. With fierce drag queens and scantily clad pool boys. He struggles adapting with the vibrant, out and proud people around him. At first, he hates the place, their ideals and the people there, but slowly but slowly they start growing on him. Moreover, his new roommate is quite easy on the eyes too and all his deep buried desires that he kept locked away for so many years, come rushing back.

“We don’t cry because we lost something,”

“We cry because we realize we never had what we thought we did.”

Pastor Rick has been struggling with his inner demons for a long time. 

He is closeted and refuses to accept himself for who he is.

This book throws light on how people struggle with self acceptance and self love, and then project that same self hatred towards people around them.

The author has beautifully captured the essence of this book in creating a refreshing and accepting world with progressive times. The world building was quite unique and refreshing.

The author depicts toxic masculinity in a whole new light!

I absolutely loved the growth and evolution of Pastor Rick. It was an emotional, poignant and touching journey. It was a journey towards self discovery and finally letting go of the inhibitions that held him behind.

We also get snippets of his back story and the reason why he is so closeted and so firmly rooted in his beliefs.

"Beneath that crass shell and behind that Bible, I think you’re a good guy at heart. Handsome too. Just a tadpole out of the water, they say."

Finally, at the end, he emerges a changed man, through self discovery, learning to love again and through heartache he evolves. Along the way he also gets a chance to get reacquainted with someone he thought he lost forever.

This book address issues of homophobia and touches upon self acceptance and self discovery.

The dialogue was authentic and hilarious at times, and each character had a unique voice. 

The  mystery behind the letters and the artifact was intriguing and made the plot all the more compelling.

Overall a poignant and enjoyable  read of one's man journey towards self discovery.

Eileen and Marilyn were absolute Queens and I loved them. The twist at the end had me reeling and I never saw it coming.

The ending is a HFN and gives a hint at a promise for more. Maybe a sequel?

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(Available in ebook and paperback)

CONTENT WARNING: 

This novel addresses issues related to the infliction of emotional abuse by a homophobic parent who suspects his son to be a homosexual. Separately, while not the author's intent, some readers may interpret the story's attempt to confront issues of religious hypocrisy as an assault on religion itself. No such conclusion is intended. Lastly, the novel follows a protagonist who, at times, uses hateful slurs to refer to members of the LGBTQ community. Such language is intended to give authenticity to a self-hating, closed member of that same community. Readers may appreciate the protagonist's growth as he embraces his sexuality and reconciles himself with his faith.