Gay the pray away

As Valerie explores her feelings for Riley, she begins to see that the world she knows is a carefully crafted narrative.

Publicly, the girls are close friends—holding hands in prayer, rooming together at a conference. Val’s budding hope, wonder, and joy leap off the page, and will no doubt be a lifeline for readers who see themselves in her experience.

And for the people who loved Shiny Happy People. It’s achingly authentic, composed with equal parts sweetness, care, and stubborn queer perseverance. And if you don’t obey? And when the cutest girl she’s ever met shows up to Bible class, she starts to question everything.

Riley is so confident and kind, and she and Valerie bond quickly over existing as multiracial teens in a very white Christian community.

I inhaled this book in just one afternoon.”—Ann Zhao, author of Dear Wendy

“Sweet as peach slices, Gay the Pray Away is a gentle, passionate, and hopeful tale of love conquering fear.”—Elliott Gish, author of Grey Dog

“A moving journey of discovery, first love, and resilience, with a timely and urgent message.

Despite reports of individuals submitting themselves to reparative therapy and subsequently getting married and having children, there is no evidence that this treatment permanently changes people's attractions to their own sex. Naudus has long been a narrator to revere, and now she’s absolutely an author to watch.”—Dahlia Adler, award-winning author of Cool for the Summer

“A moving, fiercely tender book that I will hold dear to me for a long time.

I’m so thankful it exists.”—Casey McQuiston, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Red, White & Royal Blue

“Through heartfelt and often personal storytelling, Natalie bravely explores the complexities of identity, faith, and queerness, shedding light on the powerful transformation that comes from embracing who you truly are, despite the expectations of those around you.”—Hayley Kiyoko, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Girls Like Girls

“Gay the Pray Away is a captivating debut novel, filled with self-discovery, authenticity, and, above all, love.

From first impressions to favorite chapters to how Natalie’s voice brought the entire experience to life…here’s everything we felt while listening.

Gay the Pray Away

by Natalie Naudus
Narrator:Natalie Naudus
Published by: Quirk Books
on June 4, 2024
Genres:Contemporary, LGBTQIA+, Young Adult
Bookshop, Amazon
Goodreads

Valerie Danners is in a cult.

Gay the Pray Away is raw, funny, furious, and full of heart: a deeply personal story about queerness, faith, family, and the long, complicated road to self-acceptance. I’ve read a lot of YA cult books but this is the first one I’ve read set in the one I grew up in. Naudus’s story is a necessary joy.”—Alix E.

Harrow, New York Times best-selling author of Starling House

“Beautiful, gripping, and crafted with such care, Gay the Pray Away is a vitally important book about how love and hope shine through the darkness. An impressive debut!”—Julie Tieu, author of Fancy Meeting You Here

“Achingly heartfelt and resoundingly beautiful.

It is also so cool to know that narrating queer books helped Natalie understand her own sexuality, which parallels, Valerie’s experiences when she reads queer books for the first time.

The Writing & Storytelling:

Christy:
Natalie did an amazing job showcasing how easy it is for religious cults to prey on people.

Every romance and YA reader is likely familiar with Natalie’s voice and to hear her narrate her own words…about an experience we both shared (separately, of course, but the beats are the same)…

Kelly:
The thing that makes Natalie an amazing narrator, is that you can feel the story through her words and emotions, and that is the same this time, even though it is her own words, maybe she even emoted more than other times, getting to put her words and voice on this story makes it even more special.

So adorable and self-deprecating. As someone who knew nothing about religious cults growing up, and still eschewed the faith I was brought up in, this book really helps people through some religious trauma, and knowing that real faith wouldn’t hurt others just because of who they are!

Themes & Takeaways:

Christy:
Nostalgic is the wrong word here because I definitely do not want to relive those times.

Privately, they grasp at any chance to continue their forbidden romance—until they are found out. In fact, there are many reports of people undergoing treatments offered by ex-gay ministries who not only return to homosexuality but have also been traumatized by this so-called therapy.

I also tell clients that reparative and conversion therapies, besides being ineffective, are psychologically harmful to gays and lesbians, which is another reason I do not recommend them and will not assist clients in procuring such treatment.

People like Marcus and Michele Bachmann believe that accepting and even celebrating gay and lesbian people will inevitably lead to the moral decline of our society.

Natalie Naudus’s debut marks her as an author to watch.”—Ann Liang, New York Times best-selling author of I Hope This Doesn’t Find You

“For any reader who had their identity or sexuality constrained or compressed by religion, this book offers hope, compassion, and healing.”—Maia Kobabe, author of Gender Queer: A Memoir

“A brave, compassionate story about deconstructing the harmful messages queer people internalize from religious extremism.

Natalie Naudus has created characters with nuance and life. When she finds a queer book at the library and smuggles it home, her conservative Christian homeschooling world begins to crack.