This was an emotional read, covering serious topics including identity, sexuality, and religious fundamentalism. The author has experience of growing up in a super conservative religious environment and it shows in how sensitively things are handled. I think this would be a perfect read for a younger teen!

I absolutely adored this beautiful and heartbreaking story and read it in one weekend. It hurt my heart but also made me feel seen. "To everyone who was served hatred and told it was love: We deserve better." Growing up in a high control catholic conservative family, isolated and homeschooled, told that I wasn't queer, and if I was, no I wasn't, this book spoke to me on multiple levels. There were so many moments reading this that I felt with such pain and knowing in my chest.

This should be required reading. To anyone that has ever felt alone, not enough, been told you're loved when it's really hate, please read this book and I hope you feel seen and accepted.

Thank you to Quirk and NetGalley for the advanced E-book!

I blurbed this book back when Natalie self-pubbed it, so here's what I had to say then: Gay the Pray Away is a beautiful, hopeful story. Valerie and Riley’s romance is a delightful depiction of first love, and Valerie’s faith deconstruction journey feels incredibly rich and real. Natalie Naudus has created characters with nuance and life. I inhaled this book in just one afternoon.

Actual rating 3.5 stars

Gay the Pray Away is a love letter to small town queer teens. Naudus makes you feel seen, relating the experience of living in a small town with a very conservative family in an unflinchingly raw way. This is the kind of book that saves lives.

As a fan of Natalie Naudus and their narrating career, I can't wait to revisit this one with my ears!

'To everyone who was served hatred and told it was love. We deserve better.'

The dedication in this book already nearly put me in tears, the first chapter made me teary eyed. That's how my experience of this wonderful story started and ended. This was a beautiful story about first love and finding your true self. I also feel like this was a bit of a love letter to books and how important they are. Reading about Valerie finding herself through books made me, at first, feel angry when I noticed how manipulated she had been, and then, all warm and giddy when Valerie finally felt like she could put words to her feelings. It all started with a book, a friend, love, and then ultimately freedom to be who she wanted to be.

However, at times the writing and the inner monologue felt a bit juvenile for the age of the main character, but I believe this might have been intentional to express how sheltered Valerie had been throughout her whole life. She got a bit overly excited and wanted to move quickly when she finally got to experience what she had been told was wrong her whole life and scared she wouldn't get to experience these feelings again or get caught. And I get that. I also couldn't help but feel like some passages felt more like an argumentative essay than Valarie's own thoughts. I would have apperciated if these were written more in her voice, rather than list fact after fact. As someone who has watched documentaries on this subject, I had a keen interest to read these passages, but I can imagine some people might feel like it is a case of info dumping. Still, I adored this story and the message. It made me feel all the emotions, turn the page eagerly, and root for our main character, which is why it to me is a great read. I would definitely recommend it.

4.25 stars - shout out to NetGalley for access to an e-arc. This book was actually impossible to put down. I found myself thinking about Valerie’s story during random moments of the day and thinking about the beautiful and quiet strength she possessed throughout the maddening experience that was not only her entire family, but the whole world she knew.
Gay the Pray Away is a YA book following the story of a girl’s journey through self-discovery while in a very constricting and conservative cult. It’s a straightforward cult, no matter how you paint it. Filled with ideas of misogyny and racial bias, our POC character not only figures out that she might be queer, she also happens to meet the one girl that she will risk it all for. This book was incredible and heart breaking and I loved every minute of it.

I absolutely devoured this book, reading it cover to cover in one sitting. Despite the world that the FMC, Valerie, has been forced to grow up in, there is so much queer joy packed into this short book. The trauma that Valerie and others in the Goddard “quiverfull movement” (cult) experience isn’t sugar coated, but there is a thread of hope throughout. Though some aspects of the plot seemed to me to be a little convenient, the ending moved me to tears and drove home the hope that there are better days ahead.

I highly recommend Gay the Pray Away for any queer individuals who are healing from religious trauma inflicted upon them by the church and/or their families. For those who haven’t been able to get out yet - who haven’t yet had the chance to start healing - I hope your local library has a copy or two on hand so you can see that there is life & joy beyond your wildest dreams on the other side of this. You, too, can make it out. You, too, can know true & unconditional love.

Reader, I sobbed. This heartbreaking and heart-mending story about a teenager raised in an emotionally abusive evangelical community discovering freedom in her own queerness is completely gorgeous. Natalie Naudus writes from her own experience with such vulnerability and strength and gentleness and compassion for anyone raised with religious trauma. I can't recommend this book highly enough. And of course, you've gotta check out the audiobook version!

Es gibt Bücher, deren Cover sieht man einmal, und zack! Man muss dieses Buch haben. Um andere schleicht man länger herum, ehe man Lust darauf bekommt. „Gay the Pray Away“ gehört für mich in die zweite Kategorie und ich bereue kein bisschen, dass ich mich letztendlich dafür entschieden habe. Eine queere Liebe inmitten eines religiösen Kults und zwei Mädchen, die sich gegen den Glauben, der ihnen aufgezwungen wurde, auflehnen – klingt doch schon mal vielversprechend, oder? Und das war es auch!

Ich war zwar (zum Glück) nie in so einem Kult und, ehrlich gesagt, auch nicht sonderlich religiös, obwohl ich katholisch erzogen wurde und die Kirche erst im Erwachsenenalter verlassen habe – aber damn, dieses Buch beschreibt das Leben in einem fundamentalistischen, christlichen Kult so hautnah, das ich mich unweigerlich gefühlt habe, als wären Valeries Erfahrungen meine eigenen. Ihre Trauer, ihre aufgestaute Wut, ihre Verzweiflung – alle ihre Emotionen waren so greifbar, dass ich das Buch nicht zur Seite legen konnte.

Versteht mich nicht falsch: Gerade die Szenen, die mit dem Kult, seiner Weltanschauung und der normalisierten Praktiken einhergehen, sind alles andere als eine leichte Lektüre. Neben religiösem Trauma thematisiert das Buch auch häusliche Gewalt (physisch und psychisch, auch gegenüber Kindern), Misogynie, Queerfeindlichkeit und Rassismus – und das auf eine Art und Weise, die einen einfach nur wütend macht. Nicht, weil die Umsetzung davon schlecht gewesen wäre, sondern weil sie so realitätsnah war und man sich immer wieder ins Gedächtnis rufen muss, dass dieses Buch vielleicht Fiktion ist, es aber durchaus Menschen gibt, die diese Ansichten teilen. Hier hat Natalie Naudus, die selbst das Leben in so einem Kult hinter sich gelassen hat, ganze Arbeit geleistet.

Aber so schwer das Religionsthema auch war, dafür waren die Szenen zwischen Valerie und Riley umso schöner. Valerie, wie sie langsam ihre Queerness erkennt und beginnt, für Riley zu schwärmen. Riley, die ihre Gefühle erwidert. Und die beiden, wie sich eine zarte Liebe zwischen ihnen entwickelt – wundervoll!!! Und das ganz ohne unnötiges Drama oder Konflikte, die sie an ihren Gefühlen füreinander zweifeln lassen. Ich genieße ja immer sehr, wenn sich die Protas gemeinsam gegen den Konflikt stellen, anstatt dass dieser zwischen ihnen ausbricht.

Bis dahin: Perfect. No notes.

Ein kleines Manko hat „Gay the Pray Away“ aber doch: Das Ende. Denn das ging mir viel zu schnell und zu reibungslos. Das wäre der Moment gewesen, um noch mal den Konflikt hochkochen zu lassen. Die ganze Zeit habe ich auf die Explosion gewartet, die nicht kam. Es war einfach zu … einfach. Nicht, dass ich mit dem Ende nicht zufrieden wäre, aber ich glaube, es wäre zufriedenstellender gewesen, wenn es schwerer zu erreichen gewesen wäre.

Reading this book sometimes felt like an exercise in anxiety. I enjoyed it, and liked seeing Valerie's growing relationship with Riley, but also her locked down life was anxiety inducing. The only place where I felt like the book faltered was that she felt almost too independent already at the beginning with how locked down her life was. Maybe that was the author's truth, but it felt like Valerie never really bought-in to the religious indoctrination; but then, perhaps that's what was different between her and her friend Hannah. Anyways, I enjoyed this but the entire time they were hiding from Valerie's parents felt super anxious since the consequences could have been so dire to me based on the level of control The Institute had.

I read this novel within a day mostly in my breaks and free time, started in the morning and finished just now.
It caught me, sucked me in and basically forced me to continue reading (not that I'm complaining).
The story is so great, and gave me flashbacks to documentaries and tellings about certain church, or better, cult circumstances.

We start as the main Character, Valerie, has her awakening about that something is not quite right in the way she is told her life is supposed to be. We follow through with her troubles, the loves she finds and how she finally decides and takes the chance to free herself from the chains her family and their community wrap around her and every young woman who lives with them.
It's really quite just walking along Val until she is ready to start a new life.

The story is written very heartfelt and also emotionally challenging but somehow also very comforting at the same time. Val and her girlfriend get through everything together instead of going against each other at the slightest misunderstanding.

Most characters are quite "flat build", they don't really seem to have a character, so the focus is even more on Valerie.
Just (former) childhood friend Hannah seems to be a more complex and paradox character.
I'd actually love to read more on how the story continues for her, if she also breaks free from the church or just how her story goes further on. What just bothers me is that we didn't get a closure for Hannahs little brother Ezekiel, it just so much to read about how he is being abused. I just wished this little child who now is a living person inside of my mind (also due to the great writing) would've somehow made it to a better home still within the story and not just made up in my mind :)

Absolutely loved this book <3

Gay the Pray Away is the story about Val, a young teenager stuck in a White Christian Nationalist cult. For the longest time, she is going through the motions, doing what she believes her parents will want to, but not being fully committed to the teachings of her church. Until she finds "One Last Stop" an LGBTQ book that opens up her perspective on the world outside her narrow one. As the wheels in her brain are churning, wondering about the world outside, she meets Riley, a new girl in the church. Riley is a breath of fresh air for Val, exposing the cultish nature of her church and helping her discover herself. With Riley's help, Val is able to learn more about herself and break free.

The story was good, and there were parts of the plot that really hit home, especially after growing up in an incredibly religious house. I found that it didn't really have much of a climax, as it felt pretty "flatline" through out. Not that it wasn't enjoyable though. At the beginning of the book, the story seemed to carry out through dialog, and rushed. I wish I could've had a little more at the end, maybe a little "2 years later" where Val was thriving in her new life.

This powerful and deeply heartfelt story is an emotional journey of self-discovery, first love, and breaking free from the constraints of an oppressive environment. Valerie’s awakening—sparked by a single book—feels raw and real, making her struggle between faith, family, and identity incredibly compelling. The romance is tender and hopeful, offering moments of joy and connection that shine through even in the face of overwhelming obstacles. The bond between Valerie and Riley is beautifully developed, making every stolen moment feel significant and deeply earned.
Beyond the romance, the novel explores themes of resilience, belonging, and the courage it takes to challenge everything you’ve ever known. The emotional stakes are high, and the writing captures the intensity of Valerie’s experience with honesty and care. This is a gripping, thought-provoking read that blends longing, fear, and hope into a story that will stay with you long after the last page. Perfect for anyone drawn to coming-of-age stories about love, identity, and the fight to live freely and authentically.

Okay wow. The undercurrent of dread I felt reading this was top notch because the main character is suffering and so unsafe at home and I FELT THAT. I loved how realistically awful her parents were, and how her religious cult was full of the conservative talking points we hear all the time. I read this one in one sitting and have zero regrets. Can’t wait to add it to my library’s collection!

This book isn’t just about falling in love, it’s about fighting for your identity and realizing you don’t have to live by someone else’s rules. It’s emotional, honest, and full of hope, showing that choosing yourself is always worth it

Gay the Pray Away feels like such a vitally necessary book that I know it will be immediately met with book challenges. This is a strength, not a weakness. Naudus sheds light on the life-saving potential of queer literature, particularly in the hands of queer adolescents. It is unflinchingly brave, and I hope it finds its way into the hands of young readers who, like Valerie, need to see themselves represented in the pages of the books they are reading. The final passages brought me to tears, and I look forward to adding to my shelf once it is published.