Natalie Naudus

Yes, I 100% picked this book up because of the title. I didn't even read the description. I just wanted to read a book that has this title.

But hey, bonus, there's a good story too. At seventeen, Valerie Danners, finally begins to realize that the biggest sin in her extremely religious household may not be the attraction she feels to other girls but rather the sexist and emotionally abusive way in which her fundamentalist parents are raising her. The plot unfolds in an unsurprising manner, show more but the author brings a lot of truth and depth to the questioning and awakening that Valerie experiences. show less

An extremely powerful story about a girl in a strict religious family, homeschooled and loaded daily with guilt and admonitions to obey God (mostly through the edicts of the males in the church). When Riley a new girl starts attending church, Valerie notices her...and more. Her awareness of her possibly being other than straight is fueled by a book she surreptitiously reads at the library. It makes her start to question her sexual orientation, then gradually everything in her life. When show more Riley responds to her awkward reaching out, a romance blossoms.
Following the girls as they navigate not only their attraction to each other, but having to do so while under the thumb of the cult as they come to see it, makes for not only a heck of a read, but mirrors the reality many teens face when raised by hardcore religious parents. I have known several such families in my role as a public librarian and am thrilled that this book is available for more 'Valeries' to find and read. show less

Content Note: child abuse, (critical treatment of) queermisia, misogyny, cults and religious trauma, racism

Plot:
Valerie lives a very, let’s say sheltered life with her family. She and her brother are homeschooled and their curriculum mostly consists of the Bible. Her life consists mostly of devotionals, prayers and a tight-knit group of like-minded people. But then Valerie stumbles on a book in the library. A queer book. And she knows that she has to read it, even if her parents would show more never allow it. It is the start of an awakening for her that is only accelerated when the beautiful, confident Riley joins her church.

Gay the Pray Away is an obviously very personal, soft and warm book – well, as soft and as warm as a book about growing up in an abusive environment can be. I was completely caught up in it and was rooting for Valerie and Riley so hard, I practically inhaled the book.

Read more on my blog: https://kalafudra.com/2026/01/26/gay-the-pray-away-natalie-naudus/ show less

Another 'how do you handle finding out you have same-sex feelings when you have been brought up in a 'homosexuality is wrong' church?' book.

It is a broadly very sweet and quick read. And unlike much of my fluffy middleschool queer books it does have real consequences, Valerie's dad really does disown her for her sexuality when she escapes. And it has some really grim bits, the abusive parenting and the cult are well drawn and horrid.

One of my favourite bits was when she is clearly stealing a show more gay romance from the library, and the librarian has clearly noticed, and he does all he can to help her.

The happy ending is a little unrealistic (the 17 year olds run off into the sunset to make a go of it in their own apartment) but I was rooting for them. show less