Natalie Naudus

Gay the Pray Away

As a librarian, I cried in some kind of joyful anguish at the end of the very first chapter. Books are important. Raw, uncensored reading is important. THIS story is important!

Having been raised within a southern Catholic church, I am not a stranger to the fear, guilt, and shame that are essential components of organized white Christianity. I was also keenly aware that the religious experience I am still untangling from myself was far from the worst. It was fascinating in a kind of painful way to read about Valerie’s journey in what was so obviously a cult but also within grasp of society. 

Oddly, what I found unrealistic about this novel was not the confines of the cult itself but how quickly and easily the main character was able to unravel it. Part of this I think can be attributed to the fact that this is a YA novel, which can only go so deep, but it still didn’t quite feel fleshed out enough. I feel like it would have been a deeper cut as a regular adult memoir…but not everyone is attempting emotional destruction with every book like me, which is ok!

Honestly, though, could we have a sequel? Because I want to see how Val’s relationships to other people in her life change, grow, fall away, etc. so badly. I have too many questions, too much yearning to know how things go for her as she navigates a completely new world.

Thank you to the author, Natalie Naudus, for an ARC of your very own debut. Your voice is love, and I hope you feel all of that love through the readers/listeners who have found home in your voice through the years.

Steph Lodico

As a librarian, I cried in some kind of joyful anguish at the end of the very first chapter. Books are important. Raw, uncensored reading is important. THIS story is important!

Having been raised within a southern Catholic church, I am not a stranger to the fear, guilt, and shame that are essential components of organized white Christianity. I was also keenly aware that the religious experience I am still untangling from myself was far from the worst. It was fascinating in a kind of painful way to read about Valerie’s journey in what was so obviously a cult but also within grasp of society. 

Oddly, what I found unrealistic about this novel was not the confines of the cult itself but how quickly and easily the main character was able to unravel it. Part of this I think can be attributed to the fact that this is a YA novel, which can only go so deep, but it still didn’t quite feel fleshed out enough. I feel like it would have been a deeper cut as a regular adult memoir…but not everyone is attempting emotional destruction with every book like me, which is ok!

Honestly, though, could we have a sequel? Because I want to see how Val’s relationships to other people in her life change, grow, fall away, etc. so badly. I have too many questions, too much yearning to know how things go for her as she navigates a completely new world.

Thank you to the author, Natalie Naudus, for an ARC of your very own debut. Your voice is love, and I hope you feel all of that love through the readers/listeners who have found home in your voice through the years.

Gay the Pray Away

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