I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“I don’t like imagining my enemies complexly. It really ruins the whole “revenge at all costs” thing I'm doing this week.”


Say a Little Prayer surprised me. I'm not one to dive into books where characters are super religious. But, honestly, I really enjoyed this one. Maybe it's because Riley is so relatable and unapologetically herself. Plus, her little revenge tour of the seven deadly sins sounded way more fun than being suspended for a week. So, let's go to church camp.

Riley has an interesting relationship with God. Well, okay, it's more with the pastor. She honestly thinks he's full of shit and doesn't like how he turns on people who don't fit his narrative. The only downside is that he's the father of her two best friends. They are also neighbors. So, when her principal says she can go to church camp, learn, and then write an essay instead of being suspended... well, she doesn't really leap up with joy.

There's an upside to this, I'm sure, because she gets to spend a week with Ben and Julia. Now I've never been to church camp, like ever. Couldn't even tell you if that's something my church even did. So, the things they went through were a little shocking. It just feels like the only time they had fun was when they were going against the lesson... or playing that game of capture the flag. I also enjoyed when Riley questioned these lessons because, my god... are they just supposed to be robots this week?

Of course we get our fair share of drama throughout this book. Whether it's at camp, school, or even in church. If anything, I think the pastor should not be a pastor anymore. He definitely crossed way too many lines and should be replaced. I'm happy some people were standing up against him towards the end of the book but honestly, I wanted way more.

In the end, I'm glad that Riley and Julia have one another. I'm also glad that Julia has Ben for a brother because their dad surely sucks.

this book was so fun but also emotional. i especially loved the ending and how they all were there to support each other

I've nestled this book gently on my shelf of "YA Titles I Wish Existed When I Was a Teen" and I've recommended it to anyone who will listen. This examination of what it feels like to be a queer teen in a religious space, and how to survive having a crush on your best friend who you're pretty sure is straight holds so true. I really loved watching Riley as she moved through shifting her hate of the institution and everyone in it to a dislike of the fear and power that men in power hold in churches. Definitely a book for anyone struggling with finding their footing after being cast from a religious community.

A bi girl and a pastor's daughter had me hooked but unfortunately, Say a Little Prayer was a bit of a disappointment for me. I appreciate that it tried to tackle an important topic—queer identity within a church setting—but the execution wasn't what I was expecting.

I’ve read a lot of YA, so I understand teenage characters can be immature but the characters in this book seemed a bit underdeveloped. The main character seemed to struggle with seeing beyond her own perspective and that made it hard to connect with her. The story line tries to explore themes such as church hurt, exclusion, and identity , but it feels almost stereotypical and repetitive. The story line felt forced, the characters growth seemed to plateau mid storyline, and the what should've been BIG moments were kinda shrugged off.

The church seen (iykyk) seemed a bit cliche but I did like the overall storyline of the book and was glad to see that some of the 'mean girls' ended up standing up for each other.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I used to think that my religious trauma was not a big enough deal because other people had it worse. Is that not THE most religiously traumatized way to think? Reading books like this one heal something in my bi, recovering Catholic heart. This book is light and heavy at the same time, but the balance is crafted so beautifully. So many people will be able to relate to this story in some way, big or small. I was lucky enough to get the ARC from NetGalley and the Educator ALC from Libro.fm, so I was able to enjoy both versions. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and Libro.fm for the ALC!

This was a really good story. If it the premise itself hadn't hooked me the funny chapter titles would have. I don't think I've laughed this hard at chapter titles since I was in middle school reading the ones Riordan was writing for Percy Jackson. These ones were all funny and relevant and some even had a few layers of nuance that you wouldn't get unless you knew what Voris was parodying. Irregardless, the book itself was also very funny and I enjoyed the characters in it immensely! They all felt very flushed out with complicated backstories and feelings. Even though the scene in the church was a bit cliche I still really liked it. I was glad to see all these girls standing up with one another and presenting a united front. The ending was really sweet too.

This was fun! I liked the "gay the pray away" angle and thoroughly enjoyed the rebellious spirt throughout.

If you grew up fundamentalist, you probably want to stay far away from Say a Little Prayer. While I did grow up Southern Baptist, it was not a fundamentalist upbringing and so I have less baggage than some of my friends.

Main character Riley is a high-school junior, and she is given two options: school suspension and miss out on her big role in the school musical, or attend a church camp over her Spring break. (This coming from a public school principal seems pretty sketchy, but ... I digress.)

Riley has left the church and made some enemies there, too: the former friends of her sister, Hannah. After Hannah had an abortion, she was called out by the pastor in front of the whole church and her friends stopped coming around.

Some of the youth camp activities felt a little too cliche ... but also like things that could happen. As Riley explores her thoughts on the faith she's left behind, she rekindles her friendship with her next-door neighbor, the pastor's daughter Julia. And maybe there's more there.

This YA novel has its ups and downs, but overall it felt like something that could easily happen. I enjoyed Jenna Voris's third novel and might have to check out her earlier ones!

Why Did I Listen To Say A Little Prayer by Jenna Voris?
Say A Little Prayer by Jenna Voris immediately appealed to me. I love YA books that have a camp setting. Also, books about LGBTQ characters! And deconstruction! That is a recipe for a book to rise pretty high up on my TBR list. There’s just something a well-narrated YA contemporary book — especially one I can relate to, as someone who went to church camp as a young adult and also is no longer religious.

What’s The Story Here?
Say A Little Prayer is about Riley who is being punished for shoving a girl by being forced to attend church camp during spring break — so that she can perform in the school play once she’s served her time. Only, the issue is that Riley has given up on church after a bad experiencing involving something her sister went through as well as feeling that the church would judge Riley for her sexuality. Complicating matters is that Riley’s best friend, Julia, her father is the preacher for the church that Riley left. And so, Julia has a vested interested in the church.

And Riley is starting to feel feelings for Julia. But, they’ll never be anything more, because Julia couldn’t like Riley given how religious she is. Riley, chafing against having to go to this camp that is antithetical to everything she stands for, decides to spend the week committing the seven deadly sins instead of engaging in the seven virtues that is the focus of the camp. Riley may just be leading a little camp revolution.

How Did I Like Say A Little Prayer?
Say A Little Prayer by Jenna Voris was EXCELLENT. I mean, I felt like I could really relate to this book. If you are someone who has deconstructed or maybe questioned the religion you grew up with, this is the perfect book to pick up. Riley is not straight, I think from what I remember she is bisexual. And what happens with her sister and the church is the BS you would expect. I loved Riley and how tenacious she is. She is headstrong and I like that she doesn’t cower about certain things. She undergoes so much growth and in turn, inspires that growth in others – particuarly when it comes to questioning. But, I also felt the portrayal of Julia who is still religious adds interesting dimension too – she isn’t very one note. I appreciated the depth that each of the girls in this book had.

How’s The Narration?
The audiobook of Jenna Voris’ Say A Little Prayer is narrated to perfection by Caitlin Kinnunen. I really felt like the narrator nailed the emotions of the different scenes. It was so easy to feel what Riley was feeling because Kinnunen put so much into the audiobook. It is 9 hours and 19 minutes and honestly, was such a superb listen. This was a standout book for me.

A lighthearted but poignant journey for a young woman figuring out who she is while navigating her way through religious intolerance. I liked the creative look at religious trauma and female friendship and love. An important reminder that the human spirit is separate from dogma.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed reading Say A Little Prayer. Riley is a fun main character that I rooted for even when she was kind of being an asshole, and Voris’ characterization through details and dialogue really shines through. I particularly loved the amount of thinking and forgiveness included in this book, because it’s easy to want revenge and to be angry, but it takes more to see people as full, rounded humans (which Riley admits she doesn’t always want to do) and to work to fix things instead of give up on them.

I will likely continue to read Voris’ sapphic books, because I flew through this and laughed several times. Voris has a great character voice. However, I will likely not post about this on Instagram (even though this would be such a fun cover to play with with scrapbook paper) because I don’t like to promote white authors who stay silent on certain important issues, like police brutality and genocide. Of course, no one is obligated to do anything on social media, just as I am not obligated to post about people who are silent.

Say A Little Prayer is out now! Thank you Viking and Netgalley for an advanced ecopy for review consideration. Opinions are my own.

This compelling novel is tailor-made for readers who are drawn to Young Adult fiction that is both poignant and thought-provoking. It will resonate with those who appreciate stories that explore the complexities of queer identity and the challenges of navigating faith and relationships, all while maintaining a sharp wit and rebellious humor. The narrative delves into the emotional landscape of its characters, offering a raw and honest portrayal of their experiences. With its blend of emotional depth, social commentary, and relatable characters, this book is sure to captivate and leave a lasting impression on readers who crave stories that are both entertaining and impactful.

This book was heart wrenching, sweet, and incredibly readable. Riley's anger and frustration over her community's treatment of her sister was understandable and so hard to see. As someone who went to Christian summer camp and who worked at non-Christian summer camp, I have seen the big emotions that teens go through at these programs, especially when the adults who should be caring for them are actually doing the exact opposite.

I loved Riley's character development throughout the book and was so happy to see her gain a community of people who love and respect her for who she is. And to also make amends with people who she had hurt in her rage against the church. It was heartwarming to see all the girls band together in the end, and I thought the book ended about as happy as could be while still being realistic. All in all, this was a cute, fast read that took a heavy topic and gave it hope.

This book was so wonderful. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical at the beginning as it was reading VERY young adult - but as I kept going it got much better. The social/religious commentary about Evangelical churches and shame-based faiths was very well done and as a former Evangelical kid who was raised in a church like Riley's where perfection was very much expected, if not demanded, and being LGBTQ+ or having an abortion was the gravest sin, this book felt like a warm hug. I'm so grateful I got to read and review this and am just so thankful for Jenna Voris's courage to write about what it means to survive as a queer teen in the Midwest who is constantly told the life you're living is a sin. Thank you Jenna!!!

A hilarious and moving look at the perils of church camp as a queer teen. Voris does a great job of showing readers that you can engage in religion in whatever manner makes you comfortable and that sometimes, the organizational aspect is really the issue. The sibling relationships in the book were strong and quite sweet, while the various friendship conflicts felt very real and not contrived to move the plot forward. The main romance did feel a bit lacking, but overall the messaging was solid and it's definitely a first rec for teens who are grappling with queerness and religion.

4.5 stars

loved this book!!! right up my alley, especially with the comp title to “i kissed shara wheeler”!!

queer kids being defiant for existing and by living their lives even under not the best circumstances makes my heart happy. so reading about riley and her subterfuge plot with the seven deadly sins while also falling in love? chef’s kiss

the handling of religion was done with plenty of care here, and i enjoyed the verisimilitude about both camp and protestant christianity.

Say A Little Prayer is far from my story, but it felt so relatable. This is a story queer readers need to add to their TBR!

Say A Little Prayer stood out to me because, although there is a romance element, this is primarily about Riley and her journey.

This book was an emotionally rollercoaster that I wholeheartedly enjoyed.

Loved loved loved ! I could not put it down. And the cover is gorgeous! Thank you netgalley for the chance to read the advanced copy!

This is a quick read about a queer teen's relationship with religion after her pastor makes it clear she and her sister don't fit his narrative. I enjoyed Riley's snarky quips and her mission to commit the seven deadly sins during her week at youth church camp. The side characters are fun and this was a cute story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the copy.

4.5 🌟

"People who are this moved by worship music clearly didn't drive four hours to see the Eras Tour last year. Talk about a spiritual experience"

Riley finds herself unwittingly forced into a week long Baptist church camp after hitting a girl for talking shit about her sister. Instead of using the week to repent for her wrong doings, Riley decides to double down and use each of the seven days of camp to devote to enacting one of the seven deadly sins.
This book surprised me with how hilarious it was. The whole book showcases Riley's struggles with faith after her eyes were opened to the prejudices taught at her church. I think this is something a lot of people could relate to. Yes, Riley is flawed, but she was very relatable and human in her choices.

Here's a dialogue between Riley and her dad about her luggage she packed for church camp.
"Whoa, what on earth did you put in here?"
I glower down at the bag. "A spirit ready to receive the lord. It was required."

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.