— not too long ago, if you wanted to find an apartment for rent, buy a used car, pick up cheap furniture, or…

Writer helena dea bala started meeting people via a craigslist ad in 2014 and has been documenting their lives ever since.

That awkward moment when you find your husband's craigslist ads looking for casual encounters.

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Met a guy on craigslist for a discreet gay encounter, turns out to be my friend.

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Almost a form of therapy, the author listened to complete strangers, found through a craigslist ad, tell without judgment stories they would never confess in real life.

Not too long ago, if you wanted to find an apartment for.

Craigslist confessionala collection of secrets from anonymous strangers.

With consent, she began to take notes on the conversations and record them for this book.

— after speaking to a homeless man, she was inspired to post an ad on craigslist stating that she would listen to people's confessions, stories, problems, thoughts, etc.

In 2014, with the help of a craigslist ad — tell me about yourself, the subject said — i started meeting with people and listening to stories they'd never shared before due to fear of judgment, stigma, or ostracism.

Each story is told in the confessor’s voice;

— forty very intimate, very raw, and most of the time very troubled stories.

They range from devastating secrets (like addiction, depression, and trauma), to musings on lost love and reflections on a lifetime of hard choices.

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— this story is part of a series called craigslist confessional.

A free and anonymous listening project.

— 12 crazy craigslist “casual encounters” stories that prove you really can find anything online.

What would youconfess to a complete stranger?

The forty confessions in craigslist confessional are vivid, intimate, and real.