This book is both riotous and heartwarming, blending humor with genuine emotion. Riley's fierce determination to rebel against the confines of her conservative upbringing is relatable and inspiring, making her a character you can’t help but root for. The sharp, witty banter between her and Julia kept me laughing out loud, while the exploration of Riley's identity as a bisexual girl in a space that feels unwelcoming is poignantly depicted. This book isn’t just a hilarious romp through ‘sin and rebellion’; it’s also a powerful commentary on self-acceptance and finding one’s place in the world. With its smart writing and engaging plot, this story is a vibrant celebration of love, friendship, and the unapologetic embrace of who you really are! I absolutely loved reading it.

First of all, the chapter titles are gold. Though I never went to church camp, I was forced to go to a Baptist private school in elementary (in Texas) which I could argue is probably way more intense than a week of summer camp. And I'm pretty sure this book brought up some lingering trauma, and helped in a way too. This book is light-hearted with positive message, I wish I would have read this when I was younger.

This is probably the first five-star prediction I've ever made, and boy, did it deliver.
Riley Ackerman is not welcome in her church congregation; apparently, being gay is a one way ticket to Hell. Recently, her older sister has also been shunned from her community for getting an abortion. With almost the whole town whispering about her sister's sin, Riley finally breaks, slapping a gossiper, and is sent to church camp for what she can only assume is an attempt to make her a pious and golden child. However, Riley has other plans. For each heavenly virtue she's forced to endure, she'll counter with a "deadly" sin.
This book is for anyone who has ever felt othered by organized religion, and especially the queer folk in that number. Riley is a powerful mouthpiece that I hope will endure for future teens that, unfortunately, have this experience. Even with this tough and heavy topic at it's center, this book is still about the ups and downs of being a teenager, friendships, and young love. I fell in love with all of these characters... well... most of them. The girls and Ben at least. They're all so wonderfully written through Riley's lense, and I'm very quietly holding out hope that a companion novel may exist at some point...
Please, please read this if you've ever been to a camp, if you're queer, if you know someone who's queer, or if you've ever doodled on the handout while a sermon is being given.

Review will be posted on Instagram and The Storygraph on October 13th, 2024

I really love and appreciate this book. It’s a gay camp story that’s significantly less gritty than others I read at the target demographic age and I’m so glad there’s more options for lgbt youth now. I was reading incredibly sad incredibly painful queer books when I was 12-17 and I loved them! But it would have also been nice to have something a little more lighthearted that still touches on the exvangelical rage.
The anger of reckoning with religion is very real and relatable.
I always love a gay Jesus book, this one is no exception. It is written for a younger audience which I love. I wrote in my notes if I’d read this in middle school I would have combusted. I love that this exists now.
I would have liked a little more grit but then it is a YA book. The stakes were real and tangible. There was a moment where I genuinely felt my chest tightening and felt the weight of the tension with the characters. I love that so much that’s all I’m asking for in a book. Make me CARE about them. And I did! This was very well done. I was a little disappointed when I saw it was friends to lovers just because that’s a trope that bores me a bit but it’s a well done book and I really enjoyed it. I read it in two days and I love to make quick progress on an enjoyable book.
Notably this did not make me cry which is always a possibility when we’re talking about gay kids and Christianity, but it’s definitely better for it. I appreciate this book specifically for its lighter handling of these topics. In my mind I’m comparing it to The Miseducation of Cameron Post and while that’s a great book and I’m glad I read it when I did- I didn’t have many options to read about queer kids not getting aggressively traumatized on every page.

After seeing this book pop up on my Tik Tok FYP, I was SO excited to get the opportunity to read it! And boy did it deliver!

Usually YA books aren't my thing but this was done super well to the point I even forgot it was a YA book. There were a lot of moments where I laughed out loud, but also moments I cried, while giving perspective of what it must be like to be part of the LGBTQ+ community and having such a religious background.

Lots of bonus points for having Taylor Swift references and fun chapter titles too!

This book was entertaining from start to finish. It captivates the reader in a way that makes you want to never put it down. The book had an excellent balance of comedy and love, while also diving into deep issues. Highly recommend!

Another banger for the queer, small town girlies. Riley's voice leaps off the page and I loved her relationship with Julia. It reminded me of my own church camp days--the good, the bad, and the ugly. I think teens are really going to love this one.

This felt like a very quick read! I found it pretty hard-hitting while being humorous in all the right places. Riley's character was very compelling and the whole camp setting made for a very intriguing dynamic. Overall, a great read and takes on important topics when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the digital advanced copy!

OHHHHHHHH MY GOD
OMG OMG OMG
this is on the level of my one day-obsession-read of imogen obviously
HOLY SHIT THIS WAS SO GOOD
please please please read this, i have never related to a book more in my life
thank you jenna, thank you for giving me julia and letting me feel seen, thank you for giving me riley and showing me there is hope.
i am so forever grateful that there are people out here dismantling hurtful systems and doing it in the most incredibly written and inspiring ways. i want to get to the point of making this type of change. but until then, i just appreciate having the space to giggle today and remember what it feels like to crush on a girl <33 OHHHHHHHH MY GOD
OMG OMG OMG
this is on the level of my one day-obsession-read of imogen obviously
HOLY SHIT THIS WAS SO GOOD
please please please read this, i have never related to a book more in my life
thank you jenna, thank you for giving me julia and letting me feel seen, thank you for giving me riley and showing me there is hope.
i am so forever grateful that there are people out here dismantling hurtful systems and doing it in the most incredibly written and inspiring ways. i want to get to the point of making this type of change. but until then, i just appreciate having the space to giggle today and remember what it feels like to crush on a girl <33

I absolutely love reading Jenna Voris' work, something about it really captures the feeling of being a queer girl in a space that's never been for you. I've been to church camp, worse even, Mormon church camp. This brought back all those feelings of "Does anyone else think this is wrong?" and feeling othered simply for existing. The rage that comes with being personally hurt by the church or people in the community and not giving forgiveness.
Voris' main characters in both books I've read of hers are deeply flawed bisexual girls that just don't belong where the universe has put them and they're angry about that. The characters feel so personal and her writing is so easy to visualize, and to feel the desperation of each character. There's more to life than being in a congregation or a small town and her work would have done wonders for me as a teen. Truly, she deserves more recognition. Another thing I deeply appreciate about this novel is the references to Every Time You Hear That Song. Those references had me jumping for joy, just little inside jokes for the people who get it.
I may be a 21 year old trans man now but this book placed me right back to being a queer girl in a small town with religion driving everything in the community.

Funny and sweet! A great and easy read. While lighthearted, it explored so much of the guilt and pressures that come with religion. I would love to see this plot expanded as an adult fiction. Likable characters but I didn't seem to connect with them. I do love the openness of Delaney and Torres. Great to see a good bit of character development by the end. I would def check out more of Jenna Voris' works! As always, thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! 3.5/5 stars!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

Welcome to Madison High School in Ohio, where everyone judges and gossips about you if you're not a perfect little Christian.

Riley is a great student: intelligent, drama club vice president, and FINALLY got a lead role as Donkey in Shrek The Musical. But, there's one thing worth breaking the rules for - defending her sister's honor. Unsurprisingly, this lands her straight into the principal's office.

Riley agrees to do a volunteer program at a spring youth camp and write an essay about the experience as punishment. However, doing so means facing her past, and the one man she hates most of all: Pastor Young from Pleasant Hills Baptist Church. Riley and her family used to be a part of the congregation, until she came out as bisexual and her sister, Hannah, had an abortion over Christmas break. Riley stopped going to church but didn't tell anyone why, whereas Hannah was banished for her very personal decision. Pastor Young ensured the whole church knew about her "sins" and continued to harass her by leaving pro-life propaganda outside on the family's porch. She was not only disowned by the church, but also her best friends, Amanda Clarke and Greer Wilson, who stopped talking TO her, and started talking ABOUT her.

Adding complication to the whole situation is the fact that Pastor Young is the father of Riley's two best friends, Julia and Ben. Riley and Julia's relationship has changed a lot since she stopped coming to church because they haven't been seeing each other multiple times a week for activities anymore. This causes emotions to surface about what their friendship even was, and what the future holds.

Pastor Young explains the week will be dedicated to teaching the seven heavenly virtues and how to live them out. Riley decides to rebel and commit the corresponding deadly sins instead, to show everyone how wrong he is. She writes notes in her prayer book to keep track of everything. However, she isn't the only one not using it as intended. When a prayer book is found left at the campsite, Pastor Young publicly shames its writer and condemns its contents. Little does he know this time temptation is closer to home.

This is a great book for teens. I enjoyed the characters but felt like Delaney and Torres could have been a bit more developed or cut out. I liked the tension in the plot between family, religion, friendship and romance.

“Say a Little Prayer” is a book specifically written for the gay girls who grew up in the church and are subsequently struggling to it’s their faith and relationship with the church/God. It’s funny and romantic and oh-so-true. For any girl who has felt like it’s a sin to just be, this book is for you.

I absolutely loved this one! Light-hearted and funny but also some very real points about how values like acceptance and kindness towards everyone can get lost in organized religion. Bonus points for numerous Taylor Swift references and genius chapter titles!! 10/10

I am brand new to this author, and after reading this book, I cannot wait to dive into their backlog. I devoured this in a day, completely enjoying this hilarious, sweet, and heartwarming YA novel!



Riley left the church for not feeling like she could be her full queer self there and then watched them cast out her sister not too long after. So the last thing she wanted was to be forced to go to church camp over spring break. But that’s what ends up happening in order to get out of a suspension that would have ruined her chances at being a lead in the spring musical. The only positive thing about this week is that her close friend - and pastor’s daughter - Julia will also be there. Riley decides that instead of repenting, she was going to commit each of the deadly sins and take a few of her fellow campers along with her. Though, Riley doesn’t expect that she may also fall for Julia in the process.



I’m a huge fan of Saved! and Casey McQuiston, so I couldn’t wait to dig into this book. It really lived up to the high bar of these! I loved, loved, loved Riley - she was so authentically funny and had so much growth throughout the book. She felt relatable and her personality clearly shone through in the dialogue and inner thoughts. I also appreciated the description of the church, especially with knowing one’s place in it when it doesn’t feel like you can be yourself in it. It was very realistic and resonates with many people’s complex experiences growing up with religion. Overall, such a lovely and sweet story that I highly recommend!



Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group - Viking Books for Young Readers for the ARC!

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley.

This one I will be buying. I have religious trauma from a cult and books like this help me work through it. Thank you

Absolutely amazing!! It was funny and sweet, with very great characters. I felt so deeply for Riley. It's like I could feel her struggle in my bones. This novel was so sweet, but was still able to deal with deeper issues as well.

Thank you NetGalley, Jenna Voris, and Viking Books for Young Readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I really enjoyed this book and found it very relatable as someone who grew up in a Christian church and attended different church camps and events. It follows Riley, who gets sent to a church camp following a fight she got in at school. She recently stopped going to church due to her sister getting kicked out and shamed for having an abortion. While she’s at camp, she learns more about those around her and realizes that she’s not the only one unhappy with how things are. She also starts to develop feelings for her friend, Julia, and their relationship turns into something really sweet. Overall, I really recommend this, especially if you went through a similar experience because this book is really empowering.

There are few things more damaging to a young queer kid than a midwestern pastor, and sweet Biblical Tom Hanks, did this book nail that to a T.

Riley and her righteous anger and determination to ruin the people that hurt her sister leapt off the page, and you couldn't help but root for her to put all those people in their places. Without oversharing in a book review, boy was that relatable!! Her personality shown through literally every page and I laughed out loud so many times because she had the perfect quip and anecdote for every situation.

The descriptions of the church and the people in it were so vivid I felt like I was 15 again and back in the church in Indiana wishing to be literally anywhere else.

I never went to any kind of camp, but I sure was there in that cabin with those girls bonding over the trauma the "lessons" put them through and trying to just figure out who the hell I was and why this person who is supposed to preach and teach me love and acceptance above all us wanted me to hide everything about myself to "get" that.

Say a Little Prayer perfectly captures so many aspects of growing up in a small religious community that you used to love that turns it's back on you for being who you are authentically. It shows how much pretending and gossiping really happens in a church and how the people there can be too scared to stand up against it. It unlocked so many memories from my (very brief) stint in churches as a kid, but it did it in such an empowering and lovely way.

This book is funny, eye-opening, and so damn full of heart.