Dear Alyne

My Years as a Married Virgin

De: Alyne Tamir

Narrado por: Alyne Tamir

From world traveler, entrepreneur, and content creator @DearAlyne, a vulnerable and hilarious memoir of how she escaped the restrictive expectations of her family and faith and found herself in the process.

Alyne Tamir was raised to live her life for others: for her husband, her family, and the Mormon church. For twenty-five years, she put them ahead of herself, repressing things that didn’t fit the neat, traditional story that had been written for her. On the surface, her life seemed picture-perfect. But in reality, Alyne was miserable, struggling to reconcile her flawless image with the pain and humiliation of abuse, an eating disorder, infidelity, and depression.

Until Alyne reached a breaking point: the day her husband asked for a divorce—over email. Thank God! Or, not God. Finally free from the expectations of her family and faith, Alyne had to start a new life, which meant rediscovering herself and what she secretly wanted all along: the liberating life of a digital nomad.

In a singular voice brimming with honesty and humor, Alyne invites us on a journey of strength and self-discovery—with a little bit of irreverence along the way. Dear Alyne is a one-of-a-kind, coming-of-age story and a testament to the limitless possibilities that await those brave enough to defy convention.

©2024 Alyne Tamir (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Very interesting life…

Alyne’s story is a story of religious trauma, overcoming it and finding yourself. I found it fascinating since my knowledge of Mormonism is close to none. The effects of religion in women can be pretty harsh. Overcoming that message of purity and living a certain way all your formative years has a lasting impact and not a positive one. I love how she grew as a person. I must admit I wanted more info on her life traveling with Nas but I guess that’s for another book. I just wish that at some point she would have seeked therapy. I think she may still need it and it seems she may deal with some depression.
Tha narration by the author was ok for being her first book. Her entonation was a bit strange and not like she does her videos. She would do a high pitch voice some times that made me think this was AI with her voice. But hey it may be nerves or her way of adding emotion to her story. Nevertheless if you follow her on social media or you want to learn how strict religion affects women’s self esteem and sexuality, please listen to this book.

Honesty

It is so difficult to be honest in this world of opinions. Alyne was transparent which could not have been easy. Such a brave self reflection of her own experiences and her own feelings about them. To me this is a story of learning to listen to yourself.

A raw story about losing faith and finding self

This book is undeniably brave. Alyne opens her life to the reader with such vulnerability. It’s raw, at times unfiltered, and often painful to witness. She invites us into her inner world as she struggles to untangle her identity, beliefs, and relationships. In doing so, she offers a mirror for anyone who has ever questioned the narrative they were raised in.

Parts of her story will resonate with those who have grown up in high-demand religions. The tension between belonging and authenticity is something many of us struggle with. I truly hope this book helps young people in similar situations feel less alone and more empowered to seek truth and create their own paths—even when it’s difficult.

One of the most striking aspects of the book is how the author’s voice evolves. At times, we hear from someone naive and eager to please; at others, from someone wounded, reactive, and immature. But gradually, that voice deepens, gaining confidence, self-awareness, and perspective. It feels like watching someone grow up in real time.

This is not a tidy narrative with easy lessons. But it is a bold one, written by an imperfect person who is sharing her hard-won lessons and acknowledging that she still has a lot to learn. For those navigating their own questions of identity, belief, and belonging, it may be just the kind of honest storytelling they need.