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ramenhobbit 's review for:
Gay the Pray Away
by Natalie Naudus
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:
Yes
This one hit close to home for me. I grew up in a home similar to Valerie's, and all the details are painfully correct, down to the Elsie Dinsmore and GA Henty books on the shelves. What a beautiful, redemptive read to see Riley and Val get their cozy escape, and even have Valerie's Mom come around in some ways. It was heartwarming, had tension in all the right places, and the descriptions of the social ostracizing, shunning, and shame were so true to reality I could feel them in my body.
Would love to read a sequel and continue to follow Riley and Val through their early adulthood, as well as Hannah and Daniel updates.
Would love to read a sequel and continue to follow Riley and Val through their early adulthood, as well as Hannah and Daniel updates.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia