Shawn Alex Nemeth

Thorns of Chester Street Shawn Alex Nemeth

Growing up in an abusive household can stunt your personal development. When you're constantly afraid of being punished simply for being who you are, it gets harder and harder to just be.

In Thorns of Chester Street, Shawn Alex Nemeth tells a frank story of abuse, shame, and deep internal conflict. For years, Nemeth was taught that homosexuality was a sin, setting the stage for a crisis of identity when he discovered he was gay. Despite all these emotional entanglements, Nemeth learned to love himself, and he found success as an entrepreneur.

Nemeth paints an honest, intimate, and courageous portrait of his journey to self-compassion, forgiveness, and emotional healing. Much of Nemeth's story is challenging, but his resilience and optimism shine through, treating the reader to a message of hope.

Though Nemeth was traumatized by a tumultuous childhood, he found the strength to recover and thrive. Confronting his past demons and accepting his sexuality have provided Nemeth with a sense of catharsis, and his story will be an inspiration to anyone fighting a personal war.

Proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the Chester Street Foundation.