''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 Sexual assault is an act in which one intentionally sexually touches another person without that person's consent, or coerces or physically forces a person to engage in a sexual act against their will. It is a form of sexual violence, which ...

domestic violence Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. ''Domestic violence'' is often used as a synonym for ''intimate partner ...

, and growing up

closeted ''Closeted'' and ''in the closet'' are metaphors for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and other (LGBTQ+) people who have not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity and aspects thereof, including sexual identity and human ...

. Buttigieg also details his experiences during his husband's 2020 presidential campaign.

Content

The autobiography describes Buttigieg's early life through his marriage to

Pete Buttigieg Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg ( ; ; Sometimes pronounced or , but not by Buttigieg himself. born January 19, 1982) is an American politician and former military officer who is currently serving as the United States secretary of transp ...

and his role on Pete's US presidential campaign.

Reception

The hardcover edition debuted at number 12 on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list for hardcover non-fiction. The book received mixed reviews, with some critics feeling it did not live up to its most promising moments. For ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...

'', Stephen Pedro 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." He went on, "The blind spot the memoir has for Mayor Pete’s lack of support among Black and Latino voters makes the book, which in some ways is so powerful, so ultimately frustrating.”

References

2020 non-fiction books American memoirs Books about politics of the United States English-language books LGBT autobiographies Political memoirs Atria Publishing Group books 2020s LGBT literature LGBT literature in the United States {{Authority control