In a lyrical and hard-hitting exploration of betrayal and healing, the son of a Connecticut socialite comes to terms with his abuse at the hands of a beloved priest ("Kirkus Reviews," starred review).
As sixteen-year-old Aidan Donovan s fractured family disintegrates around him, he searches for solace in a few bumps of Adderall, his father s wet bar, and the attentions of his local priest, Father Greg the only adult who actually listens to him.
When Christmas hits, Aidan s world collapses in a crisis of trust when he recognizes the darkness of Father Greg s affections. He turns to a crew of new friends to help make sense of his life: Josie, the girl he just might love; Sophie, who s a little wild; and Mark, the charismatic swim team captain whose own secret agonies converge with Aidan s.
"The Gospel of Winter "maps the ways love can be used as a weapon against the innocent but can also, in the right hands, restore hope and even faith. Brendan Kiely s unflinching and courageous debut novel exposes the damage from the secrets we keep and proves that in truth, there is power. And real love."