Gay the Pray Away

By Natalie Naudus

Book Overview

"Composed with equal parts sweetness, care, and stubborn queer perseverance."--Casey McQuiston, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Red, White & Royal Blue

In this gripping queer YA romance perfect for fans of Malinda Lo and Becky Albertalli, an Asian American teen longs to break free of the conservative cult she was raised in.

Valerie Danners is in a cult. She just doesn't know it yet. But when she stumbles upon a queer romance novel at the library, everything about her life--centered around a fundamentalist Christian homeschooling group --is thrown into question.

And to make things even more complicated, there's a new girl in town. Riley is rebellious, kindhearted, and impossibly cool. As the two bond over being multiracial teens in their very white and very religious community, Valerie finds herself falling in love.

Soon Valerie and Riley are exchanging notes in secret and stealing kisses behind the church. But even as their romance blooms, Valerie knows that they're trapped. If Valerie wants a chance at writing her own story, she must choose between staying with a family she fears will never accept her and running away with the girl she loves.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1683695119
• ISBN13: 9781683695110
• Release Date: May 2025
• Publisher: Quirk Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher