Help me remember a series about LDS?

[MsMuffinWalloper]

I'm trying to remember the series about the LDS where children escaped to the town and had to leave the cult - loads of great descriptions about how they could try on jeans and read magazines for the first time etc. I think the girl then got into drugs, but I may be confusing it with a drama instead? I am sure it came out in the early 2000s and I thought it was written by someone who used to be in LDS?

Can anyone remember what I'm on about?

I'm afraid I don't know that series, but if you're interested in the LDS, I'd strongly recommend The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff.

Thank you! I read that one too and remember thinking it was great - I think I have that on one of my bookshelves still!

Was there some sort of trend for LDS books in early 2000?

There's one on Netflix called keep sweet: pray and obey. Might that be the one?

Although I felt like it was more recent than early 2000s

I think there was- I feel like there was a big upsurge in public awareness about them at around that time.

Yes - I watched that too. I'm definitely thinking of a book though. There were at least 2 books I read and I think more, the first one focused on a girl and the second on a boy who left. They had quite different experiences and memories. It felt like it was set more in the 90's in the book but am sure it came out around 2005ish.

Breaking Amish?

Just had a google and I don't think so. It was more of watching them grow up, become disillusioned, then their escape and adjusting to life outside.

Were they fiction or non-fiction?

I want to say fiction but I also felt that perhaps they were based on the author's own experiences. Annoyingly my best friend who also read them while living with me at the time died last year and she would have known what I'm waffling on about!

I've found my copy of The 19th Wife though, thank you @IdgieThreadgoodeIsMyHeroine for reminding me about that one!

There's one called Sons of Perdition, not quite what your after but pretty close.

Miriam Toews wrote a couple of books about the Mennonites, but I can’t think either massively match your description

Thank you! I have been wanting to watch this, and forgot the name! @MsMuffinWalloper Hope you find what you are looking for. It sounds good!

@cherryassam I've just read a little about those books and the cult sounds fascinating too!
I'm going to start adding to that pile of books by the bed, aren't I?

@Pashazade that's a bit more action and politics. I think there was mention that they had their own police force who largely upheld their laws and religion. Then there was a dividing line where the US cops would find escapees and take them to a shelter for clothes. I remember the main character looking at posters on the walls in the shelter of pop stars and not knowing who any of them were...
Frustrating snippets!

I find reading about cults fascinating! Was it the FLDS in the series you’re trying to remember?

I remember reading several memoirs about leaving the FLDS in the mid 2000s by Carolyn Jessop, Elissa Wall and Flora Jessop.

I can’t remember any fiction though, and it sounds like something I’d enjoy

I think it might be Escape and Triumph! Thank you so much @cherryassam - I've only read a bit of the blubs but I think that I recognise the covers! Thank you so much 🌺🍾

You mean RLDS. I used to be LDS and it's a perfectly normal church and free to read magazines and watch TV. It's the Reorganized church that's rather culty.

Ah, no I think I might have read Escape but not Triumph.
Dammit, thought I had them there!

Sorry @FitAt50 no offence intended, my memory is hazy on the details unfortunately and my ignorance is showing!

It’s worth having a look at all of the ex-FLDS memoirs if you think that might be the right kind of thing - they all share quite a lot of similarities!

The one about the boy might be Lost Boy by Brent Jeffs?

I'm googling and having to stop myself filling my amazon basket!
Lost Boys sounded familiar but I think that is because it's the common name for them. I haven't read that one though.

https://www.freejinger.org/topic/27312-books-about-polygamy/

There is a very good list on this forum - I’m adding to my To Be Read at quick speed. some are on Kindle Unlimited so that should stop me spending money for a little while…