“This memoir is about love—its elusiveness, its tempers, its promise—and the journey to finding it in oneself and in another. Marina DelVecchio’s voice is honest, pragmatic, and powerful even when she feels weak. Her story reminds us that vulnerabilities can bring strength, mistakes can build confidence, and an absence can give us the incentive to find fulfillment. We know we’re in capable hands as DelVecchio tells a story that cries, that stings, that trudges, but never flinches, always endures, and eventually overcomes quite beautifully.”
—Shuly Xóchitl Cawood, author of The Going and Goodbye

“The Virgin Chronicles by Marina DelVecchio is a beautifully wrought, heartbreaking, and redemptive story of a young woman’s struggle for control of her life, mind, and body. She claims her agency to define her choices about her sexuality while dealing with seemingly insurmountable challenges from an adoptive mother who neither trusts nor nurtures her. A riveting page-turner, rich with sensual detail, you’ll be rooting for the protagonist’s happiness and self-discovery.”
—Carla Sameth, author of One Day on the Gold Line: A Memoir in Essays

“In The Virgin Chronicles, Marina DelVecchio delivers a searing study on self-possession. Routinely shamed by her distrustful adoptive mother, DelVecchio embarks on a rocky yet indefatigable journey to physical, sexual, and emotional liberation. With bracing wit and candor, through poignant prose, she reveals the beauty and pleasure found in independence, establishing boundaries, and connecting with one’s origins.”
—Anjali Enjeti, author of Southbound and The Parted Earth

“Marina DelVecchio’s strong writing paints a portrait of a woman who overcomes the obstacles life has thrown in her path with grit and determination. Definitely an inspiring and thought-provoking read.”
—Pamela Stockwell, author of A Boundless Place