Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you have ever experienced religious trauma or deconstructed… I highly recommend this book. It will absolutely wreck you and then give you the tenderest hug.
I feel so seen
I feel so seen
The religious trauma depicted in this book felt entirely too familiar, even though I grew up in a less strict religious group than this one. I remember also feeling like the library was a safe place growing up, and I honestly just really enjoyed this book. The audiobook was great!
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
✨ Sapphic YA Romance
✨ First Person, Single POV
✨ 0.5/5 Spice Level
✨ Religious Cult/Trauma
✨ Coming of Age
✨ Stand Alone
✨ Rep: bisexual MC, Asian-American MC
> content warnings after review
Being a re-release, this is actually not the first time I’ve gotten to this book. I previously had listened to the audiobook (narrated by the author, Natalie Naudus), and I absolutely loved it. This time around, I read a digital copy, and I loved it just as much. I am a huge fan of Natalie’s work as a narrator, so I was extremely excited to find a book of her own was being published. (Also, I absolutely love the new cover!)
Pray the Gay Away feels like a very personal book. At times it is difficult to read, both with the fact the main character is in a religious cult as well as the disconnect she feels with her culture (considering everyone is very, very white). It was easy to cheer on Valerie throughout the book with each little micro-protest she made. She is a strong character despite being in a situation that continually tries to make her small, weak, and meek.
I’m honestly a bit at a loss for words other than I really hope this book finds all the people who really need it, and I am thankful to Natalie for writing it. This book means a lot to me as I am sure it will mean a lot to many others.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
religious trauma, cult, religion-based homeschooling, homophobia, transphobia, child ab*se
✨ First Person, Single POV
✨ 0.5/5 Spice Level
✨ Religious Cult/Trauma
✨ Coming of Age
✨ Stand Alone
✨ Rep: bisexual MC, Asian-American MC
> content warnings after review
Being a re-release, this is actually not the first time I’ve gotten to this book. I previously had listened to the audiobook (narrated by the author, Natalie Naudus), and I absolutely loved it. This time around, I read a digital copy, and I loved it just as much. I am a huge fan of Natalie’s work as a narrator, so I was extremely excited to find a book of her own was being published. (Also, I absolutely love the new cover!)
Pray the Gay Away feels like a very personal book. At times it is difficult to read, both with the fact the main character is in a religious cult as well as the disconnect she feels with her culture (considering everyone is very, very white). It was easy to cheer on Valerie throughout the book with each little micro-protest she made. She is a strong character despite being in a situation that continually tries to make her small, weak, and meek.
I’m honestly a bit at a loss for words other than I really hope this book finds all the people who really need it, and I am thankful to Natalie for writing it. This book means a lot to me as I am sure it will mean a lot to many others.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
religious trauma, cult, religion-based homeschooling, homophobia, transphobia, child ab*se
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thank you so much to netgalley and publishers for this ARC!
What a book. As someone with a very, very similar experience, it felt so validating and beautiful to read a story that directly reflects my own. To show that there is healing for people like me, to show that we get to have our own happiness and our own stories, is something very very special. If I had had this book as a teen, maybe my journey would've been easier and I would've felt less alone. This is a very important, very impactful read.
What a book. As someone with a very, very similar experience, it felt so validating and beautiful to read a story that directly reflects my own. To show that there is healing for people like me, to show that we get to have our own happiness and our own stories, is something very very special. If I had had this book as a teen, maybe my journey would've been easier and I would've felt less alone. This is a very important, very impactful read.
dark
emotional
hopeful
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Natalie Naudus ripped out my heart and put it back together again in this young adult story that shows that love wins and that it is possible to unlearn what you have been taught.
At seventeen, most of us don't know who we are just yet. Valerie Danners knows who she is because the Institute tells her that her purpose is to finish homeschooling, get married, have as many babies as possible, and praise Jesus. After stealing a book from a library (don't worry the librarian helped her get away with it), Valerie starts questioning the Institute and her own sexuality. That questioning turns into knowing once Riley enters the picture. Wearing pants and having short hair *GASP* Riley helps Valerie realize she might be in a cult. But under the scrutiny of her parents and the Institute Valerie has to choose if she wants to stay in the only world she's ever known.
Gay the Pray Away not only has queer teenagers trying to learn about themselves and the world, but we also get to see inside a (mostly white) religious cult. Even Valerie's friend Hannah says that everyone has same sex attraction and thoughts, showing that everyone has been brainwashed, not just Valerie. While this book was an extremely easy read, I really just wanted to hold Valerie until she felt like she was loved and accepted for who she is.
Thank you to Natalie Naudus, Quirk Books, and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy.
At seventeen, most of us don't know who we are just yet. Valerie Danners knows who she is because the Institute tells her that her purpose is to finish homeschooling, get married, have as many babies as possible, and praise Jesus. After stealing a book from a library (don't worry the librarian helped her get away with it), Valerie starts questioning the Institute and her own sexuality. That questioning turns into knowing once Riley enters the picture. Wearing pants and having short hair *GASP* Riley helps Valerie realize she might be in a cult. But under the scrutiny of her parents and the Institute Valerie has to choose if she wants to stay in the only world she's ever known.
Gay the Pray Away not only has queer teenagers trying to learn about themselves and the world, but we also get to see inside a (mostly white) religious cult. Even Valerie's friend Hannah says that everyone has same sex attraction and thoughts, showing that everyone has been brainwashed, not just Valerie. While this book was an extremely easy read, I really just wanted to hold Valerie until she felt like she was loved and accepted for who she is.
Thank you to Natalie Naudus, Quirk Books, and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy.