Chuck Tingle

Camp Damascus

Katheryn

I’m living, breathing proof these “conversions” are all smoke and mirrors, the outward appearance of change over something that’s internally immutable. Nobody who’s graduated the Camp Damascus program is ex-gay, they’re just even more tormented than before. They’ve been frightened and threatened into submission, a tactic that’s been used against queer people for centuries.

Slowly disconnecting from your community—from your family—is difficult, and while it seems like unearthing their sinister motives and dark secrets might make the process easier, it will never entirely quell the pain.

The more I sit with this truth, the more several lifelong points of interest begin to connect like a beautiful web. This is the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle that’s been sitting right in front of me.\n\nI may be physically battered and broken, but my soul feels complete in a way that brings tears of joy to my eyes.

Pachid is clearly following a system of rules I don’t understand, and her attachment to me is nothing short of a mystery. I still have no idea who the girl with the short dark hair is or why I can’t remember her, but there’s one thing I do know.

I’m gay, and there’s a demon out there who really doesn’t want me acknowledging it.

I’m sorry but these characters - I would die for them!!! 

erin alise 

I don’t have many in depth thoughts about why I loved this book, but it was relatable in the oddest ways. Thankfully, I wasn’t sent to an evil camp tasked with praying the gay away. However, I did attend religious schools my entire life and understand the internal struggle the main character has balancing her beliefs, what she’s taught, and her own experiences. Additionally, I clocked from the first page that she’s autistic, and her thought processes aligned with my own. It was comforting to read from the point of view of someone with a brain like mine. I find the marriage of science and faith a fascinating aspect of the book as well and think the author did an amazing job portraying it.

Shoutout to the homie, Cloud, for recommending this!

Nik ✨

I don’t have many in depth thoughts about why I loved this book, but it was relatable in the oddest ways. Thankfully, I wasn’t sent to an evil camp tasked with praying the gay away. However, I did attend religious schools my entire life and understand the internal struggle the main character has balancing her beliefs, what she’s taught, and her own experiences. Additionally, I clocked from the first page that she’s autistic, and her thought processes aligned with my own. It was comforting to read from the point of view of someone with a brain like mine. I find the marriage of science and faith a fascinating aspect of the book as well and think the author did an amazing job portraying it.

Shoutout to the homie, Cloud, for recommending this!

kelsey

can’t believe this was written by a guy with dozens of erotic porn books

the pacing felt very clumsy. some plot points/characters were seemingly forgotten, and towards the latter half of the book some ideas/characters were introduced that, in my opinion, should've been introduced way sooner in the story. our main character, rose, also gets over her religious upbringing very quickly and without much difficulty. overall it reads more like a first draft than anything. i was very excited to read this book, but unfortunately my expectations were too high.

on a positive note, tingle is very creative and i really liked the horror aspects of the book; they were very creepy!

hannie

the pacing felt very clumsy. some plot points/characters were seemingly forgotten, and towards the latter half of the book some ideas/characters were introduced that, in my opinion, should've been introduced way sooner in the story. our main character, rose, also gets over her religious upbringing very quickly and without much difficulty. overall it reads more like a first draft than anything. i was very excited to read this book, but unfortunately my expectations were too high.

on a positive note, tingle is very creative and i really liked the horror aspects of the book; they were very creepy!

My first foray into the Tingle-verse and I couldn't put the book down! Following the story of Rose, a young Christian from a seemingly perfect little town, the book quickly takes eerie turns until we find out about an ex-gay conversion camp and the sins of the folks in charge. 

Queer and trans folks should absolutely proceed with caution - there is intense homophobia here. But there's also triumph for gay kids who shut the shit down, leave their hateful families, and fight their own ways to autonomy. 

It's a great dark thriller with a strong and happy ending. 

Krys C

My first foray into the Tingle-verse and I couldn't put the book down! Following the story of Rose, a young Christian from a seemingly perfect little town, the book quickly takes eerie turns until we find out about an ex-gay conversion camp and the sins of the folks in charge. 

Queer and trans folks should absolutely proceed with caution - there is intense homophobia here. But there's also triumph for gay kids who shut the shit down, leave their hateful families, and fight their own ways to autonomy. 

It's a great dark thriller with a strong and happy ending. 

Camp Damascus

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