I really need to stop reading contemporary YA where I just get annoyed at teenagers being fixated on teenage problems to the exclusion of all sense. Not a bad book, and it has potential, I just couldn’t get into it because of how young everyone feels.

Riley has decided that she won’t be attending church when she realized that her congregation wouldn’t have space for a bi girl. It wasn’t until the pastor shunned her older sister, Hannah, for getting an abortion that Riley’s frustration and need to eliminate that specific church began. Unfortunately for Riley, she was sent to the principal’s office after slapping a girl who was talking negatively about Hannah, and she was given the option of suspension or attending church camp during spring break. Riley can’t be suspended as she has a very important role in the upcoming school play, so she decides to go to camp, where at least she’ll be with her best friend, Julia. Julia’s dad is the pastor and in charge of camp. Riley makes it her mission to spend the week committing all seven deadly sins to show the other campers that sometimes a little bad for the greater good isn’t the end of the world. Things get a bit complicated for Riley as she begins to recognize her feelings for the pastor’s daughter, Julia, what will happen now?

What I liked: Throughout the book you get a chance to see Riley tackle various emotions that she feels towards herself, her friends, her family, and other adults in her life. Her journey is filled with moments of anger, doubt, and self reflection as she continues to question the teachings of the pastor and how she fits into Julia’s world now. There is a moment in which Riley has a conversation with the girl she slapped, Amanda, for speaking negatively about her sister, Hannah, and this conversation is healing for both of those characters. This moment shines a light on the complexity of being a teenager and also the difficulty of peer pressure. Riley’s interactions with others are powerful, showing how much influence she has in this story, even when she feels that she is fighting a losing battle.

One aspect of this story that stands out is the way the religious aspects tie together, and this book showcases the power of religion to unite and the potential to harm. It was fascinating to read about each of the seven deadly sins and then their connections with the virtues. Seeing Riley go against each of the virtues in her own manner was eye opening as it shows how some sins are in the eye of the beholder rather than a message from the religion. The pastor’s influence on the community showcases the ways in which religion can have a negative impact on people and can do more harm than good. His role in the community is striking as his influence dictates the town’s beliefs and stifles individual thought, and all of this begins when individuals are young and impressionable.

This book is ultimately about the bravery it takes to stand up for what is right, even when that might alienate you from the people you love. There are moments throughout the book in which you want to scream at the adults who are speaking to youth about the virtues and there are moments in which your heart breaks for them knowing how this is the reality within some religious institutions. This book is relatable to those who struggle with religious teachings and question what they are being taught. Riley’s journey challenges the idea that faith and critical thinking are mutually exclusive, instead showing that questioning doesn’t mean that you are abandoning belief, rather you are making it your own. This story showcases the difficulty of holding identities that seem at odds, such as being religious while supporting abortion rights or being a part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Final Verdict: Say a Little Prayer is a powerful and necessary read for young adults ages 12 and up who are struggling with topics such as religious extremism and conflicting beliefs. It highlights the struggle of reconciling faith with personal beliefs, making readers ask difficult questions about community and identity. This book reminds us that speaking up even when others are against you is an act of courage and can change lives.

SAY A LITTLE PRAYER offers a sharp take on organized religion, so don’t go into this expecting a romance. this is more of a literary/coming-of-age story, full of self-discovery with a lot of emotional depth and growth. oh, and it made me laugh out loud multiple times.

riley left her church a year ago after realizing it wasn't a safe space for a bisexual girl, but when her pastor shuns her sister for getting an abortion, she becomes determined to challenge the system. now, to avoid suspension, she's sent to the church camp run by her best friend julia's dad, the pastor of pleasant hills. instead of following the camp’s teachings, riley plans to rebel by embracing the seven deadly sins, hoping to spark a revolution, all while unexpectedly falling for her best friend.

this book stands out as an insightful commentary on organized religion, shedding light on the complexities and contradictions within its institutions. jenna voris does an outstanding job of exploring how faith plays a unique role in each person’s life, while challenging established church norms and encouraging deeper reflection on personal beliefs and societal structures. she doesn’t shy away from asking tough questions, or broaching divisive topics.

voris comes in hot with the commentary, but keep in mind we're following a teenager who has been hurt. i feel like a lot of people could get scared away from the beginning, and feel like they're being attacked (i mean, if the shoe fits....). however, the story evolves and becomes so much more. that said: pastor young can eat dirt!!!! he's definitely a character you won’t forget, and his audacity literally left me speechless and furious at times.

i really loved all of the characters. the side characters were developed enough for me to be rooting for them (or disappointed in them), but not so much that it felt overwhelming. riley's anger was palpable. she cares so deeply for those around her, and she's just trying to work through how to show that and get her true feelings across. i want to give julia a big ol hug. i just know she would have "good luck, babe!" on repeat in her earbuds if camp allowed phones.

their time at camp felt so real. if you've ever been to church camp, this story is for you. period. you will feel seen, and maybe (strangely????) reminiscent. while we're at camp, a few chapters seemed to follow a repetitive structure, jumping between present-day events and random flashbacks that serve as metaphors. i can see what voris was going for, but sometimes it felt a bit choppy.

that ending, though? perfect. no notes. i really wasn't sure how things would go, and it ended up being powerful. it wrapped everything up in such a satisfying way, and put me back together after feeling broken for a little bit.

i absolutely loved the clever chapter titles. here are a few of my favs: it's not gossip if it's in a prayer request, god gives his toughest battles (surviving church camp) to his gayest soldiers (me), jesus might have been a carpenter, but i most certainly am not, and pov: you're watching me have a proper, full on gay crisis

overall, this is a compelling read that digs deep into religion and personal growth, with an ending that really hits the mark. definitely worth picking up!!

4.5 rounded up to 5 stars

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP, Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

Say a Little Prayer follows Riley, a girl disillusioned with the church who is sent to church camp after slapping a classmate for saying bad things about her sister.

I loved this book! It was such a fun ride and I enjoyed watching Riley and Julia fully realize their feelings for each other. That slow burn was really beautiful, especially since we were only seeing it from Riley’s side. I really enjoyed the other characters (especially Ben, Hannah, and Amanda) and the last few chapters were some of my favorites because of the surprising emotional intensity to them.

My only complaint was that there was less about Riley committing the seven deadly sins than the description promised. But that was easily over looked when the book was so enjoyable.

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP, Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley again for the chance to read this early.

To start, there are a few triggers that may be important to some readers. This book covered a lot of topics that could be concerning for people in sensitive situations. However, I personally felt the parts that I could relate to/experienced personally were done well and with care.

I really felt for the characters and the situations they were in. I understood Riley's motivation to get even, and I hope I would have had her courage had I been in her situation. I think it is important that book ends on a pretty good note, all things considered, and I hope it can spark some conversations and/or help people see some of the harm that can affect others, especially indirectly (and directly too, let's be real).

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great YA coming-of-age novel about our main character and her tumultuous week at church camp. I am grateful to say I have never been to church camp nor do I have religious trauma. However, this book made me nostalgic for that familiar time in your life where you bonded with your fellow peers and classmates through the worst of times, and came out stronger. It also made me angry for what is portrayed as a realistic experience for many teens in our country and around the world who feel betrayed by a religion who claims to love them. I loved how the ending felt realistic to the events of the story and definitely made me curious to see a continuation of Riley's story at some point. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to LGBTQ+ YA readers (and also those who are young at heart).

Thank you to Net Galley, Penguin Group and Jenna Voris for the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

There is a lot to unpack in Say a Prayer by Jenna Voris. This young adult novel is still sadly relevant in our world today. I did not grow up in the Baptist church, but as a teenager/young adult, I was immersed enough in it to understand the trauma perpetuated through the cult-like enforced dogma. Loved and accepted only with conditions, controlled by fear, calculated oppression and suffocation during pivotal times when young people should be expanding their understanding of themselves and the world around them, they are all par for the course.
Our main characters are 17-year-old girls, so with age, experience, and limited control over their own lives, they do their best to combat the powers that be as they grow into their own.
This book is a well-written, very accurate account of what young people experience within some churches and church camps, even if to some it appears to be a parody. I assure you; it is not. Voris delves deeply while balancing a light-hearted feel and a sweet coming-of-age/coming-out story. 
I love all the characters and their growth. There were times I chuckled, times I felt sad for them, there was anger, and times when I cheered for their bravery. This is a hopeful story of resilience, and it would have been great for my younger self to have had it as a resource. 
I highly recommend this book.
#religioustrauma #churchcamp #baptist #birep #bestfriends #comingout #comingofage #youngadult #teenagers #theaterkid #pastorsdaughter

After assaulting a fellow student, Riley's punishment is to go to church camp over spring break and write an essay.

Say a Little Prayer had a great premise and Riley is a great character, but it's almost as though it's made up of parts from three separate stories. It's a fun read, but doesn't feel very cohesive.

Say a Little Prayer is a charming YA novel that hits on some tougher topics. In my teen years one of the highlights of my summer was attending church summer camp. This book puts the spotlight on that in its conservative worst. Riley left her small town baptist church when she realized there was no place for her being bisexual. Luckily, her family supported her. Her best friend Julia is the pastor's daughter and while they’re still friends they can’t talk about the topic. As a punishment for a school infraction Riley has to attend the church camp for a week and write a paper on it. The camp focuses on seven heavenly virtues and Riley in her rebellious mind decides to break all of them.

I started this in the evening and couldn’t go to bed till I finished. Riley isn’t perfect. As a junior in high school she is impulsive and a little immature. I love her rebellion at camp and also how she slowly works through some things while making friends with people she thought were her enemies. Camp isn’t miserable. She enjoys the quiet moments and even a rousing game of capture the flag. I appreciate she still misses her church and the community there even after it turned on her. And even though I could see the ending coming I enjoyed every moment of the storyline. Julia is heartbreaking as the person who knows her parent's love is conditional and yet has her love and friendship for Riley. And I loved Riley’s sister and how they support each other. The story doesn’t go beyond kissing and can easily be for middle schoolers and up. Very enjoyable.

Say a Little Prayer follows high school junior, Riley, an outspoken, bisexual, theater kid, who has been forced to attend her town's conservative church camp over spring break. To get revenge on the church kicking her sister out for getting an abortion, Riley decides to try to commit all of the seven deadly sins during her time at church camp. However, Riley might also be falling in love with her best friend/the pastor's daughter, Julia.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I loved Riley's sense of humor and I thought Jenna Voris' writing was hilarious, especially the chapter titles. It also had a very strong message that I feel like a lot of queer people will be able to relate to. My only issue would be that I thought the relationship between Riley and Julia, as well as the ending of the book were a bit rushed. I would have loved to see more of the aftermath of what went down at the church and the girls relationship developing. That being said, I definitely want to check out Jenna Voris' other books because this one was so fun!

This YA romance is hitting all the big queer points. Bisexual, theatre kid, religious trauma, church camp & a big gay crush on your straight best friend. This book was VERY YA. Riley is young, emotional and consistently making dumb choices but it was so enjoyable to read. The way the story explores different sides of pressure religion puts on teens, especially in relation to queerness & abortion, is done really well. I found myself laughing at the absurdity of the Pastor's religious teachings, but also the realism of it. (I know SO many of us will relate painfully to the sex-ed chapter).

What I really loved is how realistic the ending was. We definitely got a happy ending but not in a way where all the bigots magically changed their minds. This story had a lot of religious talk, but i loved that it wasn't preachy or even anti-preachy. I loved the mentioning of other more accepting churches & accepting people of faith. This book could be triggering for some, but overall I feel like it healed just a little bit of what 15 year old in the closet bisexual me may have needed.

this story is the queer, coming of age story that every religiously traumatized queer person needs. this book in high school me hands? unstoppable.

this book is perfect for people with a little religious trauma to go along with their queerness. a friends to lovers trope? immaculate.

let’s get fired up! 🔥

as a former catholic school girlie i was ready for this one. i knew i was going to be angry reading this. i was emotional. in a good way lol.

Riley is bi and stopped going to church when she felt like she wasn’t welcome thanks to her best friend’s dad the pastor. but when her sister gets an abortion and she’s also shamed from the church—Riley decides to get even.

i related to Riley’s anger. i feel like her anger is its own character. having to deal with such hard things with big emotions makes you wanna scream. especially when it’s the adults being idiots.

i loved seeing her relationships. with her sister and Ben and especially Julia. 🤭

i will say i think her sister should not have forgiven her dumb friends so easily. i understand they were manipulated but they didn’t have to be so viscous. idk.

this book is out March 4!!! if you love queer YA, definitely check it out. 🙌🏻

4.5⭐️

Say A Little Prayer is a charming, cute and heartfelt YA queer romance. I was really invested in the story and the plot. I am in no way a religious person and found myself truly enjoying the dynamics of this book. It is a story with a lot of religious talk, but it was not preachy in any way. Don't let that scare you off! The book felt real, reflecting the reality of the hardships of being queer, young and part of the church.

Riley is definitely a frustrating character at times but she is still young, discovering and being a “kid”. She makes some questionable decisions which are in true fashion for the audience the book is directed for. I liked how she stood up for herself and the pastor by writing her essay on the seven deadly sins and how hypocritical he is. I liked the message the whole story brought, how it progressed and how addictive it was.

Overall, this was a great fun and emotional YA romance that I couldn't put down. I truly enjoyed Voris’s writing style and how she told this story of religion without it being preachy. Will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.

✨ Thank you to @netgalley, @penguinyoungreaders & @jennavoris for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If Jenna Voris’s books have no stans, I’m dead.

In all seriousness, I loved this book. I knew I was going to love it but the process of falling in love with it was wondrous all the same! I grew up going to both Christian and church camp (there’s a difference), and Jenna really manages to capture the highlights and lowlights of both. There is also something deeply refreshing about the main character going in and saying it’s all bullshit, and her getting to learn and grow and perhaps accept some gay feelings, while also not having to back down from calling out the completely harmful shit that is happening in suburban churches all across the country.

The book itself is witty and funny, and the characters that we learn to love throughout get to be multifaceted teenage girls with feelings and hopes and dreams, and that doesn’t automatically make them perfect but it makes them human beings we can forgive. There is wit and snark but there is also genuine feeling, and this wholehearted exploration of sin and virtue and why they’re even being seen as the way they are. I think that this book would have completely changed my life as a teenager curled up in a bunk reading gay books by flashlight, and it still managed to change my life a little bit because of how much I loved reading it.

The kind of book that reminds me why I love reading so much. Go read it now!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this much anticipated ARC!!
Are you a bi girly with religious trauma who’s possibly in love with her bestie? If so, look no further and get those tissues ready!! Say A Little Prayer follows Riley and friends at church camp, where Riley is determined to make a difference, in an unexpected way. I sobbed at the relatability of queer struggles that are given to us unnecessarily by hateful religious men. I sobbed at the beauty of girlhood and queerness displayed in this book 😭😭😭 I hope Ms Jenna is writing a sequel bc that bittersweet ending needs a continuation!! I need to know what happens to adult Julia 😭😭😭

If I could go back and give my teenage self anything, this book would be at the top of my list.

Riley, a bi theater kid who stopped going to church after they shun her sister for having an abortion, is forced to go to church camp over spring break. The only positive thing is she's going with her best friend Julia, who also happens to be the pastor's daughter. When she finds out the theme of the week is the seven deadly sins, she decides her best course of action is to commit each of the sins to prove they aren't as bad as they are made out to be.

I cannot express how much I loved this book. I adored most of the characters (with an obvious exception). It was so relatable to me in so many ways. It handled a lot of heavy topics but with humor and compassion through out. It captured a lot of complex emotions, from coming out to a conservative community, to the anger of seeing someone you love being shunned, to the grief of losing a community and missing the small things like the powdered donuts before Sunday school, to the confusion of how people you love can just go along with the hate, to defiance that wrecks through your whole body, to the fear that it could be you next who is targeted, to the joy of finding your real community.

As an adult who is still coping with my religious trauma, I wish I was the Riley when I was in high school. The one who saw the flaws in the system and called out the hypocrisy. But I was more of the Julia or the Greer. I was sitting in the shame forced on me for the secret "sins" I was committing. I was the one terrified of taking a stance worried I'd be the next one called out and shamed and exiled. I had my doubts for sure, like when we separated into girls and boys in youth group (where we all knew what was coming) and had similar purity talks to this book. Or when I saw people shame the girl I knew in high school who got pregnant. And I did stand up sometimes, but looking back I wish I had done that more. But ultimately it took me going to college and meeting so many people unlike those I grew up with to figure out what I truly believe vs what I'd always been taught in church.

On a lighter note, the chapter titles are perfection and had me absolutely giggling maniacally.

Tropes
* Camp Setting
* Friends to lovers
* Neighbors to lovers
* Found family
* Journaling
* Religious Deconstruction
* Queer love

5 stars

You could not pay me all the money in all the world to go back in time and live my 17-year-old life over again — but if some wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey vortex forced me into that situation, this is the book I would be taking back in time with me. It is everything I ever needed to read when I was a teenager growing up in a conservative religious community just like the one Jenna Voris writes about so gloriously in Say a Little Prayer. I'm also a camp kid, and am happy to report that Voris also absolutely nails camp culture!

Say a Little Prayer is aggressively sacrilegious (complimentary), while holding space and "punkhope" for people who are still on faith journeys. It's unapologetic in pushing against backwards ideas that things like abortion and queerness are sin. (No "love the sinner, hate the sin" here! It's straight up "Not sin, actually!") It's sweet and cringey in exactly the way it feels to be 17 and falling in love with your best friend. And it's completely unimpressed with the power structures that keep people like Pastor Young in their positions. Nearly all the chapter titles had me giggling. I especially loved ""What If We Kissed in the Church Camp Chapel? Haha, Just Kidding. Unless...?" and "Anyway, Here's Wonderwall (The Lord's Version)" and "God Gives His Toughest Battles (Surviving Church Camp) to His Gayest Soldiers (Me)."

I can't wait to hand this book out to all my Exvangelical friends like the You're Going to Hell pamphlets we were forced to hand out at the mall all those years ago.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group / Viking Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

This book made me feel so seen. Religious trauma? Never heard of her.

Riley left the church after coming to terms with being bisexual. Six months later, her sister was kicked out in front of the entire congregation for getting an abortion. Her family never looked back. The only problem is that Riley's best friend is the pastor's daughter. And they are next door neighbors. Riley's sister has been bullied by her former friends for months, leading Riley to get into a physical altercation. In exchange for keeping her role in the school musical, her punishment is to spend spring break at church camp. When she gets there, she learns that the theme is the 7 deadly sins. So she decides to spend the week committing those sins in an effort to prove that things aren't as black and white as they seem - and maybe take down a corrupt pastor in the process.

The first thing that I have to say is that the chapter titles in this book are perfection. Immaculate vibes. No notes. This book was shockingly hilarious at times, despite the circumstances. Riley was essentially blackmailed by a public school administrator into attending church camp, and then further blackmailed by the pastor into complying with what he wanted to make sure he didn't give a bad report to the school.

So much of my own experience with religion was similar - everything was black and white, and no one was allowed to question authority. I absolutely loved the way Riley was turning everything around to show them that these "deadly sins" weren't always a bad thing.

And of course, we can't forget about the absolutely adorable friends to lovers plot. Queer friends to lovers just hits different, especially when you throw in queer awakenings. Their friendship was adorable, and their romance was even sweeter.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

As a queer ex theater kid, who grew up in a baptist church, I ate this up way to quick.
I cannot explain how reading ya that is also queer heals my inner child and on top of it the main character riley. reminds me of a little version of me -i cannot stress the importance of representation for children. This is my first book by Voris but it will NOT be the last.