About The Book

FITTING IN

Fitting In is a powerful and unflinchingly honest memoir about identity, survival, and the lifelong struggle to belong in a world that punishes difference. Written by Jeremy Tyler, the book chronicles a journey shaped by relentless childhood bullying, sexual abuse, religious conflict, incarceration, and the daunting process of rebuilding a life after prison.

From an early age, Jeremy is marked as an outsider targeted for his appearance, sensitivity, and perceived sexuality. Growing up gay in a rigidly religious environment, he learns to suppress his identity in order to survive, while enduring daily verbal and physical abuse at school. Books, music, and food become his refuge, offering moments of safety in a world that repeatedly rejects him.

As the memoir unfolds, Fitting In moves beyond childhood trauma into the adult consequences of unresolved pain. Jeremy’s life takes dramatic turns, culminating in a decade-long sentence in the United States federal prison system for a nonviolent offense. What follows is a rare, inside look at incarceration, the prison-industrial complex, and the systemic failures that make rehabilitation nearly impossible. The book explores how prison strips people of agency, identity, and dignity and how those effects linger long after release.

Equally compelling is Jeremy’s account of life after prison. Fitting In examines the emotional, psychological, and practical challenges of reentering society: learning new technology, securing employment, navigating stigma, rebuilding relationships, and confronting the internalized belief of not deserving a place in the world. It is a candid portrayal of reentry, mental health struggles, and the quiet despair that many formerly incarcerated people face in silence.

At its core, Fitting In is not only a prison memoir it is a story about resilience, accountability, forgiveness, and transformation. Through food, fitness, education, and self-discipline, Jeremy begins the long process of healing. His Greek heritage, family history, and the wisdom passed down by his Yia Yia anchor the narrative, weaving culture, memory, and tradition into a story of survival.

The memoir also addresses broader social issues, including bullying, LGBTQ identity, religious shunning, body dysmorphia, trauma, and the unequal realities of the American justice system. Written with emotional clarity and introspection, Fitting In gives voice to those who have never quite fit into society’s narrow expectations.

This book is for readers interested in:

Prison memoirs and life after incarceration
LGBTQ survival and identity stories
Overcoming trauma, abuse, and social isolation
Memoirs about resilience, redemption, and second chances
Honest accounts of mental health and belonging

Fitting In is ultimately a testament to the human capacity to endure, evolve, and reclaim one’s life even after profound loss. It is a reminder that fitting in is not about conformity, but about learning to live truthfully in a world that often demands silence.