A review by stephe
Hell Is a World Without You by Jason Kirk

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

 “I’m sick of believing God loves us in a way that’s basically hate.” 
 
One of the prayers I’ve prayed most in my life has been, “Please don’t be as cruel as people say You are.” Most of my high school life was spent believing that I was almost certainly going to hell. The parts where I didn’t feel completely consumed by that all the time were spent believing that most of the people I really cared about (not to mention those I didn’t) were also going to hell. It’s a horrible way to live. HIAWWY really gets what it’s like to have that be the all-consuming message running through your mind—all in between wacky youth group games, ever-changing crushes, and all the frustrations of just being a youth. 
 
Also, this book is hilarious. I was a little worried it might be to painful a read, but it made me laugh sooooo much. 
 
This book feels like it was written for the insiders. By that I mean, I imagine it probably feels inaccessible, if not outright ridiculous to anyone who didn’t grow up in this world. What amazed me, though, was that none of this seemed farcical or parodical. With a couple major exceptions, just about everything that is said or done in this book are things I’ve witnessed (or at least experience secondhand through other youth group kids). 
 
I adored this book. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that I felt healed a little reading it. 
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