Hi y’all!

I hope you’re doing well. We are trying to survive the last few days of crazy heat before our vacation next week in California!

Today I’m excited to share some thoughts on More Than the Tattooed Mormon by Al Carraway. I’ve heard about Al and her story for several years now. I follow her on Instagram and love her positive attitude despite all she’s been through. Her faith and devotion to God are amazing.

I actually bought the limited 2nd edition on Amazon because it has a new chapter and I am a sucker for limited editions 😉 Plus my sister recommended it to me!

This isn’t a typical review for me. I don’t feel like I can critique it in the same ways I do other fiction books. This is her true story and it feels inappropriate to say it isn’t worthwhile. It’s not always a page turner, and Al’s voice isn’t the most sophisticated or impressive I’ve ever read. It’s fairly short and I mostly read it on a few Sunday afternoons last month. But I really enjoyed this book.

I will say that if you don’t enjoy memoirs or don’t have a background in the LDS church, this might not be the book for you. But I also think that everyone can benefit from stories of faith, hope and God; this book will lift you up and strengthen your own faith.

More than the Tattooed Mormon is a memoir by Al Carraway detailing her conversion to God and struggles for faith. Goodread summarizes, “Being baptized and following the Lord has made Al’s life harder than it ever was before. She endured criticism from friends and family for becoming a Mormon. She faced harsh judgments from Church members for her appearance. She gave up everything and felt more alone than she ever had in her life. All because she chose God. Now she shares an up-close look at how trusting God has led her to places she never expected. As a blogger, YouTuber, and award-winning public speaker, her message has reached millions. Sharing her love of the Savior, Al goes beyond her own conversion and encourages readers to choose God above anything else. This uplifting book inspires readers to build a true relationship with the Lord that will bring them real, lasting happiness.“

I loved this memoir by Al Carraway! Al has a talent of making her readers feel like they are understood and belong. She is honest and vulnerable about her struggles and imperfections and insecurities. And I love her all the more for them. I wanted to underline so many lines and put them on my walls to remember them. Al is real and genuine.

Her story is not unique on the surface, but her courage is amazing. I loved her personal stories like how she met her husband and her experience in Cafe Rio or her first time speaking. I would have loved even more of those! She has struggles and successes like us all. But her determined faith and reliance on the Lord are inspiring. I couldn’t believe all she had to go through because of her decision to choose God. I was surprised she stayed true to her new found beliefs. I’m not sure I would have that courage. But I was so glad that she stuck through it and has found such happiness in her life! It’s fun to have read this after following her on Instagram for a while. I knew how it ended before I started reading it. I knew she had her own family and had moved back to be near her family in New York. What an awesome ending for this story!
Being LDS myself, I especially appreciate her testimony and spiritual strength. Al’s story especially her conversion story touched my heart. I feel part of something bigger than myself and reminded of how to strengthen my own testimony. I am grateful to have read Al’s story. But this is a book for everyone about the power of faith and the important role of Jesus Christ in our lives.

Now my bucket list includes hearing her speak in person! As this isn’t a traditional review, I’m not going to give a star rating. But I do recommend this book!

Do you read many memoirs?
Have you read any religious memoirs you enjoyed?