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.

First, I want to say that if you are someone who struggles with healing from religious trauma, this may be a book you'll want to skip. It has the potential to be very triggering to those who are still processing.

I was first introduced to this book via a tiktok video that was posted by the author. A bisexual teen dedicated to commit the seven deadly sins instead of the seven heavenly virtues? Add to it a potential love interest with none other than the pastor's daughter? Sign me up! I absolutely loved the concept of the plot, so I was excited to see it offered on Netgalley.

Like I said at the beginning, there's a lot in the book that could be triggering for people who have not dealt with religious trauma. I went to a Nazarene church in high school, but eventually decided that my reasoning for going was because my friends were there, not necessarily because I believed fully in the message being taught. (Though I will say the church I went to was NOTHING like the Baptist one portrayed in the novel.) I mention all this because, even though I don't have underlying trauma associated with the church, there were parts of the book that were uncomfortable.

I enjoyed the characters of the book. At times, I did find Riley irritating and immature, I still felt like it was an accurate portrayal of being a teenager. Because let's face it... who wasn't irritating and immature when they were 16 or 17?

Overall the book was enjoyable, and I did like the ending. It's not exactly a rush out and grab it type of book. But if you can pencil it into your miles long TBR, it's worth the read.

God knows i love a queer camp story, and this was serving camp at camp. The threat of the father preacher was real, but god bless knowing that sins are just the inverse of virtues

I love Riley and how unapologetic she is. The inciting incident, defending her older sister from bullies after getting an abortion, tells you right away that she fiercely protects the people she loves and doesn't listen to the church calling her sister a sinner. The problem is, what happens when such an independent personality is forced to go to church camp with the pastor's daughter? The romance is very sweet, but also a bit stressful because the pastor is kind of scary and I was worried what would happen if he were to find out.

Julia and Ben (the pastor's kids) are complex characters because they were raised in a very restrictive environment with parents indoctrinating them into the Christian conservative mindset, But they've formed their own opinions about who they want to be and who they want in their lives. I thought it was great this book didn't bash all religion, but it doesn't have any patience for homophobia or other bigoted beliefs that often pop up in Christian circles.

Voris delivers another riveting and complex queer love story full of humor, heart, and small town family feeling, proving herself unafraid of tackling the fraught and underrepresented perspective of gays who pray. By developing a broad range of Christian characters of different sexualities and faith interpretations, Voris invites the reader to consider the intersection between faith, community, and identity, allowing room for characters (and readers) to love, reject, or embrace mixed feelings about church without a sense of judgment. As a queer Christian, I know I'm biased, but seeing books like this one hit the market makes my heart sing. Love is messy; church is messy, and Voris captures the reality perfectly.

Thank you Jenna Voris and Viking Books for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This was a book I deeply needed in high school/middle school. I grew up raised catholic and left the church in college. I always grew up questioning like Riley and I felt connected to her in that way. It was such a tasteful way of addressing hypocrisy in the faith without bashing the faith all together. So many moments in this book made me tear up, and I know that so many LGBTQ+ youth will benefit from this book. I want to give the author a huge hug for acknowledging and putting to life this character that I connect with deeply. My only critic is I would’ve liked more descriptors of the characters, AND also I understand this may have been the point of not giving a lot of descriptors (don’t just a person by their appearance). The ending was predictable but satisfying, and I felt like it was wrapped in a beautiful bow. So much praise for this YA masterpiece!

With a cute, brightly colored cover, one may think "Say a Little Prayer" is going to be just a quick, easy read. However, it was a pretty intense read, but with a lighthearted tone.

I loved the note by the author that set the tone, that characters were on different journeys with their faith, and they still are at the end. The novel seeks to share different viewpoints and experiences, and doesn't set out to make anyone feel a certain way as right or wrong.

The premise was a bit odd, with a school principal sending a student to a church retreat for spring break, and using it as an opportunity to avoid punishment. It doesn't really set the best tone, in my opinion.

However, I loved the goal of our main character setting out to implore themselves in the seven deadly sins. It was interesting to read how she interpreted things and was set out to show that they are not bad in moderation, avoiding the extremist mindsets.

When Riley gets into a fight with her sister's ex-BFF, her options are suspension or church camp. Reluctantly, she chooses the latter despite leaving the church a year prior when she came out as bisexual. The only saving grace is her best friend, and the pastor's daughter, Julia will be at camp too. But when her church camp revenge plot goes wrong and she starts falling for her best friend, all hell breaks loose.

Pros:
-relatable characters
-sapphic rep (bi and lesbian FMCs)
-found family
-character growth
-addressing religious trauma

Cons:
-FMC Riley is a bit of an idiot, something I often find in YA

I'm writing this review a few weeks after finishing the books. Having to look up the synopsis to make sure that I had actually read it does not bode well.
It is a solid teen read and seems very well-received by readers that have had issues similar to the MC and her church. You know, the holier-than-thou-uber-Christian-craziness that feels the need to judge the "sinners". So, not a happy-go-lucky story, but it still manages some humor. My biggest complaint is that I wish there had been more depth to Julia.
I think this is great for younger teens and readers looking for stories with religious trauma/reclamation.
#NetGalley

This book!! The religious trauma, the representation, the absolutely comical moments, and the friendship? This is absolutely beautiful - it's silly, it's heartfelt, and it's just oh so painfully accurate and real that it actually hurts.

Riley is a kid - let's face it and get that fact out of the way. She's 17 - her actions, her mannerisms, her language - she's 17 and no 17 is incredibly smart (sorry, but we all know it's true!). But she's awkward and REAL and an absolute joy to read about.

The fierceness in which she is confident about who she is and the love that she has for her sister is beautiful and I just absolutely ate it up! The process of committing all seven deadly sins in the seven days of camp is just epic in more ways than one.

This is beautiful - I sat in awe and had to reread the ending all over again, just because it was so good. Everyone should read this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

I freaking loved this book, It healed a small part of my inner child this I didn't even know needed healing.

As a lifelong Percy Jackson fan, one thing I LOVE is silly joke chapter titles, and by god, does this one have them! I miss chapter titles, and seeing them here brought me so much joy. It's such a little thing, but it stood out to me.

The one other thing that stuck out to me was how beautifully this book dealt with Riley and her sister Hanna's ( who got kicked out for having an abortion) religious trauma. It wasn't just Riley trashing the church; her rage was directed at the pastor and how he twisted religion to have others turn on their neighbors. Jenna does a fantastic job of showing the plethora of perspectives and how religion and sexuality interact, a queer spritul experience. I cried at one point toward the end, it was honestly just beautiful.

This book hit me hard because of how much Riley's relationship with the church mirrored mine. I fell out with my church the weekend after Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. I was at camp that week and me and the other counsolurs had a gay party to celebrate and it was the first time I had really ever seen queer joy. Then, that Sunday, we got a sermon about how that day would be importilized as one of America's greatest tragedies right after 9/11. I grew up closeted in Ohio and loved musical theater. I saw so much of my high school self in Riley it's not every funny. While Say a Little Prayer spoke to me VERY personally, this book will speak to anyone who has a sliver of this experience. If you think that's you, or you just love queer coming of age stories I HIGHLY recommend this.

Jenna Voris’s most recent novel, Say A Little Prayer (released March 4, 2025), follows stubborn, outspoken, theater kid, Riley, who has recently left her conservative small town church after coming out as bisexual. When Riley’s older sister, Hannah, is kicked out of the church for getting an abortion, Riley makes it her personal mission to take down the church. After getting into a fight with one of Hannah’s old friends, Riley is sent to church camp over spring break as punishment. Riley is initially upset, but she begins to see it as a chance to get back at the church for what they did to her family. Riley makes a plan to commit all seven of the deadly sins while she’s at church camp, thinking that nothing can go wrong, until she starts falling for her best friend, Julia, who also happens to be the daughter of the church’s pastor.

I requested an ARC of this book on NetGalley because it seemed like it would give me the same fun, sapphic vibes as But I’m a Cheerleader, and I was absolutely right! I loved Riley’s sense of humor and I thought that Jenna Voris’s writing was hilarious, especially the chapter titles (because as we know from my review of Rest in Peaches, I love a fun chapter title). Some of my favorite non-spoilery chapter titles include “Everything That Happens Next Is Because Of Shrek the Musical”, “God Gives His Toughest Battles (Surviving Church Camp) to His Gayest Soldiers (Me)”, and “Anyway, Here’s ‘Wonderwall’ (the Lord’s Version)”.

My favorite part of this book was definitely Riley’s relationship with her older sister, Hannah. As someone who is very close with my sister, I really related to Riley feeling like she would do anything and fight (sometimes literally in Riley’s case) anyone to protect her. I also loved the group of friends that Riley ended up making at church camp and seeing how much all of the girls grew throughout the course of the novel. I thought that Riley’s relationship with Julia was adorable, even if it was a bit rushed.

This book has a strong message about being yourself when everyone around you is telling you it’s wrong that I think a lot of queer people will be able to relate to, whether or not they have personally struggled with leaving the church. I would definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun, sweet, sapphic read that you can happily fly through!

Thank you to Simon Teen and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I loved, loved, loved this! There is something so special to read a book that delves into the queer persecution of the church. I experienced it and definitely have religious trauma and this book made me feel so seen. I loved Julia and Riley! Riley reminded me of me. I’m just not that bold.

I loved the development and the relationship and I couldn’t get enough. This was so darn good! I think everyone should read it.

I absolutely adored this book! The writing as really good and hilarious at times, had a good laugh.
I really appreciated the message this book was relaying and would definitely recommend to anyone.

I think this book was written with me in mind. The struggles and intimate vulnerabilities of being queer in the church space, especially has a young woman, were handled with so much love and care. I don't know how to express my gratitude for this book other than saying I wish I had a book like this at age 15.

Say A Little Prayer is truly a book for anyone who grew up in the midwestern area (Central Kentucky here) and has had exposure to religious camps and/or toxic churches at any point in life. Thankfully I wasn't sent to camp, but my church was horrible and at 43, I still have PTSD. This book wraps up so many pieces of the puzzle so perfectly.

I love that we get to follow along through church camp and see the lives unfold and feelings grow and expand over time. Voris gives us so much to look at and consider, and the feelings are real and overpowering. I'm happy to have received a copy of Say a Little Prayer to read in return for an honest review. My honest review is to highly recommend this book. It is a fantastic read, and if you've ever had any experiences similar, it brings it home quite well.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book!

Jenna was kind enough to provide me with an e-ARC of her newest book on Netgalley, so thank you to Netgalley as well as Jenna for an ARC of this girlie!

this book was MAGICAL. i’m a huge YA girlie, and every so often i read a book that reminds me why i love YA and is everything i love about the YA genre. this is that book. i’m so beyond in love with Riley and her journey throughout this story. she’s so headstrong and lovable and loyal and sure of who she is and so fiercely protective of her loved ones. she’s my hero, tbh!!! i laughed so hard at all of her snark and my heart ached along with hers in all of her soft, vulnerable moments. i was so proud of the progress she made in being comfortable with herself and with leaving her church.

i’m also so obsessed with their cabin group?? Riley, Julia, Delaney, Torres, Greer and Amanda all form such a tight-knit bond, even with most of them having known each other for longer than Riley has been in the group with them. i loved all of their little moments of connection and community and i loved watching them all fight for each other.

there’s a healthy dose of what i would consider religious trauma in this book, but it’s handled so gracefully. and Jenna does a great job not to make it about whether or not someone should have faith. there’s nothing wrong with having faith or believing in a higher power, but there is something wrong with forcing that faith on someone. Jenna does a beautiful job incorporating all sides of how one could feel about faith in this book and balances it beautifully with how faith and sexuality intersect.

good lord, i loved this book so fucking much. Riley Ackerman, once again, is my hero. this book is everything i wanted and more.

big thanks again Jenna for the ARC! i can’t wait to see what you do next. 💕
i wholeheartedly recommend this book. 🤍🤍🤍

This was an entertaining, (sadly) timely/realistic YA novel. It took me back to my years at a conservative Christian high school. Riley was a fun heroine that was worth rooting for and I liked seeing her friendships develop. The romance was the weakest part of the story for me. I actually thought Riley and Julia worked better as friends than girlfriends. They were still cute together though. The ending felt a bit abrupt to me, but I liked the overall journey and wouldn't mind reading more about the characters if a sequel ever appears.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

This book was messy, queer, chaotic church camp catharsis—and while it wasn’t entirely my vibe, I totally get why it’s hitting for people. Say a Little Prayer is sharp and funny with that perfect balance of teen angst and righteous rebellion, and Riley is the kind of bi disaster you can’t help but root for (even when she’s self-sabotaging left and right). I loved the sapphic tension and the “burn it down” energy, but some of the emotional beats didn’t land as hard for me as I hoped. Still, if you love books that challenge purity culture with humor, heart, and a dash of holy chaos, this one's for you.

Finished this one while on my roadtrip to Califorina and wow it was such a fun and easy listen to get lost in. I would've brought my physical arc with me but I didn't want to overwhelm my parents with too many books.
Anyways, I had this e-arc & physical arc sent to me from Penguin teen, and I want to say thank you so much to them to allow me to read and review for them again!! This book was already on my radar but I didn't know what it was about until I got my physical arc, I try to go into my books blindly as I can.
Say a little prayer is by Jenna Voris, a queer Ya contemporary standalone novel. It takes place at a church camp and finding yourself of who u are and who you want to be! I found the narrator of the audiobook to be a little slower than normal but otherwise I enjoyed the book myself!
Overall rating 3.5/5 stars but four stars for goodreads