What is the author's tone in the nonfiction book, Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing?

The tone of Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing changes frequently, moving from sentimental to ironic to comedic frequently within individual essays. The predominant tone of the book, however, is a reflective one: Hough recalls her experiences in childhood and adulthood, evaluates them, and shows how they have shaped her into the person she is now. She also reflects on her life in order to lend readers insight into experiences with which they may not be familiar – growing up in a cult, of course, but also spending time in jail, working in the service industry, and experimenting with drugs. Thus, Hough's reflective tone allows her to speak candidly about her own life, something she has rarely done up until this point as she was always lying about her past. Furthermore, Hough's reflective tone develops her into someone who is reliable and thoughtful. When she encourages her readers to question idealistic concepts like the "American Dream," for example, she has already shown herself to be someone who is observant and understanding, making readers more likely to trust her arguments about broader societal problems.