A review by zinelib
Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney

emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

We all know the stories about preachers' kids--how they're secretly the most wild in the flock. When we meet Monique, she's not much of a wild child, but she's also not super into church. Her one dereliction is that, despite the purity ring she wears, Mo has tried, on multiple occasions, to have sex with her boyfriend of two years, Dom. She and Dom were childhood best friends before they started dating at 15, and Dom is practically a member of her family already. Everyone assumes they'll get married when it's time. 

Mo's preacher dad and hardass mom put a lot of pressure on Monique to be a good Christian. They want her to be like good girl Sasha, who, as we learn, has secrets of her own. As the story unfolds, we learn about Sasha, about Mo's dad's latest bad boy project Reggie, about Dom, and about Mo, herself. 

The story is maybe a hair too pat, but it's still a sweet coming-of-age tale with compelling teen and adult characters, and even a prodigal daughter.