Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Gay the Pray Away — Heartbreaking, Hopeful, and So Needed (4/5 ⭐) Author: Natalie Naudus Genre: YA Contemporary / LGBTQ+ / Coming-of-Age / Religious Trauma ⚠️ TRIGGER WARNINGS Religious trauma & cult dynamics Homophobia & conversion ideology Emotional abuse Child abuse (non-graphic) Shunning / family estrangement Control of bodily autonomy Threatened physical violence π¨ SPOILER WARNING π¨ This review includes a FULL, COMPLETE plot summary , including the ending. Proceed accordingly π₯ π What Is Gay the Pray Away About? At its core, Gay the Pray Away is about unlearning shame . It follows Valerie Danners , a 17-year-old girl raised in an ultra-religious community governed by the Institute of God’s Basic Principles (yes, it’s as suffocating as it sounds). Valerie has been taught that her feelings are sinful, her body is dangerous, and obedience is love. Then she meets Riley —and everything cracks open. This book is clearly written for qu...