Angelino AF (Asian Flavor)

I just finished Devout by David Archuleta, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

What struck me most isn’t just his story as an artist, but his story as a person trying to survive in a space where he felt he had to choose between faith, family, and identity. Growing up in a deeply religious environment, with so much control over his life and career, he learned early on how to silence parts of himself just to be accepted.

And that’s something many gay people know too well.

For a lot of us, the struggle isn’t just about coming out—it’s about unlearning years of fear, shame, and the belief that who we are is somehow “wrong.” It’s about sitting in that quiet tension of wanting to belong while feeling like you never fully do. That kind of internal conflict can be exhausting and deeply isolating.

David’s journey of breaking free—from control, from expectations, and from the version of himself others tried to shape—is incredibly powerful. Choosing authenticity often comes with loss, but it also creates space for something we don’t talk about enough: peace.

I related to this more than I expected. Having spent years in the closet myself, I understand that weight—the constant editing of who you are just to feel safe.

This book is raw, honest, and ultimately hopeful. It reminds me that living truthfully is not just brave—it’s necessary.

Spread your wings, David.