Gay Girl, Good God by Jackie Hill Perry: A Book Review

I knew Jackie Hill Perry from the rap scene. She is one of the few Christian, women rappers and she is so good. If you haven’t heard her, you really should listen if you’re a fan of rap. When I heard she was writing a book called Gay Girl, Good God, I knew I wanted to read it. I didn’t know her story and the title alone was enough to peak my curiosity.

As a poet, Jackie is a beautiful writer. This is a beautifully written book. I would also recommend the audio version, which she reads herself; it was recommended to me and it is powerful to hear her narrate her own story.

In this book, you will find the struggle of sin and the power of the gospel on full display. Jackie is real and so, so vulnerable. It is amazing how raw and honest she is about her past. She has laid her life bare on these pages for all of us to see so that we can truly see and savor the grace of God at work. From fatherlessness, to same-sex attraction, to identity struggles, Jackie holds nothing back from her story.

One thing that I love that Jackie chose to include in this book is Part 3: Same-Sex Attraction and… In this section, Jackie helpfully gives advice for those who struggle with same-sex attraction (which is more people than you think or know). I believe this is not only a valuable resource for those who struggle, but it also a valuable resource for those who don’t, but need help understanding those who do. The first chapter in the section is also especially helpful as an instruction manual for using Scripture to fight sin, which Jackie talks about in her own story.

The last chapter in the section, Same-Sex Attraction and the Heterosexual Gospel, is so valuable for helping people understand that salvation does not always equal heterosexuality. I believe every Christian should read this.

There are other books out there that helpfully explain this subject, but I believe Gay Girl, Good God is the most accessible for an audience who really needs help understanding this topic. Jackie is a powerful writer who uses her story to clearly teach others about something we could all use more help understanding.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.