Reader Reviews
Stars: 4.5 (There is profanity early on. If memory serves me only once. The remainder of the book is clean.)
Inheritance of Silence is what I'm looking for with every book I pick up. IoS is why I read. A less confident and less educated woman might think Dunnam had gotten inside her brain, heart and soul. This is written in a lyrical fashion. There are a multitude of fonts and bolding used; however they are consistent. It took about ten pages for me to get the rhythm down, once I did It was just read, learn, think, and enjoy.
The book's main speakers are primarily a male couple. The story's lessons and teachings are for everyone.
I truly appreciate Dunnam keeping the intimacy classy. There is a light kiss, hand holding, a passionate hug, but not once an explicit sex scene. While Theo and Chase were speaking, the story resonated so well with me that I could see Mary and Mike.
Inheritance of Silence may be my favorite book of the year.
This one's a quiet, emotional queer contemporary about grief and learning to find your voice again. We follow Chase as he moves on from a partner who wasn't good for him and slowly unpacks how his childhood and parents trained him to stay small and silent. Eli kept silencing him, and Chase really did lose his sense of self-worth while he was with him, so watching him relearn that he doesn't have to be quiet anymore felt very personal and real. I also loved that he found really good friends and a new partner who helped him heal - it has a gentle found-family vibe that made those uplifting moments land. There are a lot of really good, intimate parts i enjoyed, and the author makes his grief and slow metamorphosis hit; it pulled at my heartstrings and left me more hopeful than I expected. That said, some sections felt a little repetitive and the pacing dragged in places, but I still liked it overall and would recommend it. Reading this as part of my LGBTQ/queer reads, I did most of it on my pink couch with iced coffee - perfect energy for it!
As someone in my 60's, I have read a lot of books over the years, but Inheritance of Silence touched my heart in a way I wasn't expecting. John Erik Dunnam has a beautiful way of writing that draws you into the lives of his characters and makes you feel every emotion alongside them. This isn't just a story about loss or healing - it's about finding the courage to be yourself, even after life has tried to convince you to stay silent. As the adoptive mother of a bisexual son, this book gave me a perspective that was both eye-opening and deeply moving. It reminded me how important it is for everyone to feel seen, heard, and loved for exactly who they are. The story is honest, compassionate, and full of hope, and I found myself thinking about it long after I finished reading it. I especially appreciated how genuine the characters felt. Their struggles, friendships, and personal growth never came across as forced. Everything felt authentic, and that made the emotional moments even more powerful. If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh a little, cry a little, and leave you with a full heart, I highly recommend Inheritance of Silence. John Erik Dunnam has written a meaningful debut novel, and I can't wait to read what he writes next!
A Story That Sticks With You
Man, Inheritance of Silence by John Erik Dunnam just wrecked me in the best way. It’s not one of those flashy novels with a million plot twists. Instead, it sneaks up on you with quiet, honest storytelling that feels so real it almost hurts.
It follows Chase as he navigates grief, identity, healing, and the long, hard fight to reclaim his voice after years of feeling like it didn’t matter. There were moments that genuinely broke my heart, but the hope woven through it all? That’s what got me. His growth feels earned—messy, slow, and completely believable. I was rooting for him so hard the whole way.
What really blew me away was how authentic everything felt. The relationships don’t feel forced, the dialogue sounds like actual people talking, and every emotional beat lands because it’s earned. It dives deep into emotional abuse, building a chosen family, and the quiet courage it takes to heal after massive loss—without ever slipping into clichés.
The writing is compassionate and thoughtful, mixing the heavy stuff with warmth, humor, and real optimism. Even if you haven’t lived through the same things, you’ll feel seen in the universal ache of just wanting to be accepted for who you are.
This is an outstanding debut. John Erik Dunnam has a distinctive voice and a real gift for emotionally resonant stories.
Look… I closed this book feeling hopeful, reflective, and a little lighter. But here’s the part that hit me like a truck: Holy ****, this is the kind of book people need right now. If you’ve ever felt silenced, broken, or wondered if healing was even possible for you, drop whatever you’re doing and get Inheritance of Silence. Buy it, borrow it, whatever—just get it in your hands. It’ll stay with you long after the last page, and you’ll be better for it. Seriously. Go.