I Have Something to Tell You; A Memoir

New York: Atria, 2021. First Atria Paperback Edition [stated]. First printing [stated]. Trade paperback. Very good. xiii, [1], 241, [7] pages. Signed by the Author sticker on front cover. Signed by the author on the title page. With a new Preface. Chasten James Glezman Buttigieg (born June 23, 1989) is an American teacher, writer, and LGBT+ activist. He is married to Pete Buttigieg, the current U.S. secretary of transportation. He was an advisor, spokesperson, and social media campaigner during his husband's 2020 presidential campaign. In September 2020, Buttigieg released a memoir titled I Have Something to Tell You. Buttigieg was a Harvard Institute of Politics Fellow for the fall 2020 virtual semester. On September 1, 2020, Buttigieg released his debut memoir, I Have Something to Tell You. The hardcover edition debuted at number 12 on The New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover non-fiction. In December 2020, Buttigieg criticized Joseph Epstein's op-ed about Jill Biden's academic credentials, calling it sexist. The couple got engaged in December 2017 at O'Hare International Airport and married on June 16, 2018, at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. James in South Bend; the two appeared at the South Bend Gay Pride block party following their nuptials. On August 17, 2021, Buttigieg announced on his personal Twitter account that he and his husband had become parents. On September 4, Pete Buttigieg tweeted a photo of the couple with their newborn twins, a son and a daughter. Buttigieg used to perform improv comedy in and around the Chicago area. I Have Something to Tell You is a 2020 memoir by Chasten Buttigieg. It was published by Atria Books in September 2020 and includes topics from his early life in a conservative Midwestern family including sexual assault, domestic violence, and growing up closeted. Buttigieg also details his experiences during his husband's 2020 presidential campaign. In The Washington Post, Stephen Petrow wrote, "His book reveals an emotional honesty about his life story, which includes sexual assault, homelessness, estrangement from his family of origin and bullying. His candor is refreshing, and it extends the success he had in humanizing his husband on the campaign trail." Derived from a Kirkus review: The husband of the former Democratic presidential candidate reflects on his early struggles and eventual triumphs. In this candid and unabashedly tender memoir, Buttigieg offers a story that is refreshingly different from what is normally served up by the spouses of political figures. Well before Chasten met Pete and they became one of the most prominent gay couples in America, Chasten endured plenty of hardships. He recalls his lonely childhood, feeling like an outsider and bullied by classmates. Chronicling the agonizing decision to come out to his loving yet deeply conservative family, the author delivers penetrating insight on how difficult this issue can be when you lack the support of a progressive local community. Chasten continued to struggle as a young man navigating his way into adulthood, and his experiences will be relatable to a variety of people, regardless of sexual orientation. As many are today, Chasten was uncertain of his goals for college and a potential career, worked multiple dead-end jobs as a means of support, and incurred massive financial debt through student loans. Meeting Pete dramatically altered the course of his future. Through Pete's loving support and guidance, Chasten completed graduate school and began a teaching career. When Pete embarked on his run for the Democratic nomination, Chasten quickly emerged into the spotlight as well. In the final section, the author takes readers on the campaign trail as he sought to establish his own active voice in support of Pete and the causes closest to his heart. An engrossing and deeply inspiring memoir, especially recommended to young readers grappling with insecurity issues.