Love the Sinner

"Insightful and thoughtful."

"Refreshing and helpful."

"Relatable. Not just to those in the LGBTQ+ community, but to anyone that has ever been made to feel ashamed or unacceptable by the church."

What if the sinners we need to love are those who claim they hate the sin?

Erica Talbot "hates the sin" of same-sex attraction and homosexuality. When she enrolled at one of England's most established boarding schools, she didn't expect to develop feelings for another girl. Priding herself on being a committed Christian, the sixteen-year-old faces homophobia in both herself and those she thought were her friends. Branded a "sinner," Erica must deconstruct harmful beliefs, learn to love herself, and try to forgive the "sinners" who have sinned against her.

As a tongue-in-cheek homage to the classic British boarding school story, Love the Sinner journeys with a naive young heroine as she and her pals get up to all kinds of mischief. Amongst midnight adventures, pillow fights, and taking on the school bullies, Erica saves the day. That said, this debut novel also gives the time-honoured genre a fresh approach. With a religious lens and LGBTQ perspective, Love the Sinner asks the question: is it really possible to be a gay Christian?

Based on genuine experiences of growing up immersed in evangelical Christianity, Love the Sinner is more than just a fun coming out story. It's a fictional narrative that explores the real challenges of how to reconcile faith and sexuality. With biblical interpretation interwoven throughout her coming-of-age tale, Susanna Adlem makes theological concepts more relatable, understandable, and easy to read. Love the Sinner is a must for anyone questioning or struggling to accept God's inclusive love and affirmation. You are loved just the way you are!

Note of caution: This book contains some scenes of a sexual nature and the occasional use of strong language that readers could find offensive. Love the Sinner is a useful resource for Christian teens, but parents, guardians, and youth workers may want to read it themselves before making it available to under 18-year-olds.

About the Author: Susanna Adlem, MDiv
Susanna is a PhD student, full time mum, and the author of Love the Sinner. She spent over 10 years reconciling her own sexuality with an evangelical faith, so her writing reflects this journey of acceptance. Susanna is passionate about sharing the unconditional love of God, the all-inclusive grace of Jesus Christ, and the compassionate guidance of the Holy Spirit. She has a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, where she is currently working towards a doctorate in Christian history. Susanna grew up in the United Kingdom but now lives in Chicago with her wife and son.