This was my second Jenna Voris read and I was really excited for it to drop and even more excited to get an early peek, but unfortunately, was a bit let down. It was giving me Easy A’s Emma Stone vs. Amanda Bynes vibes but make it gay in the best of ways, but I felt like it was a bit too easy premise wise. 7 days to commit 7 sins? I like the theory that sins shouldn’t always be sinful and that what we see as a sin like gluttony or pride, can be a positive, but I feel like the idea wasn’t introduced the best way that it could be. This may be a better read for someone who wants to revisit their relationship with religion after leaving the church or along similar lines, and I do really really appreciate pointing out religious figures who would rather shame and outcast someone for false reasons than include and try to help and embrace them. All in all, I like the lessons at the heart and the ideas behind the plot, but I didn’t feel connected to the main character or invested in her story or how it shook out and was a bit disappointed with how it was painted

This one was just okay. It considered the seven deadly sins and how to use them for good while being at a church camp run by a bigot pastor. The LGBTQ themes kept the plot going, but were not heavily involved. Overall, it wasn’t my favorite thing I’ve read, but it was quick and I didn’t hate it.

I laughed so hard at a few innuendos made from the church billboard message, and chuckled over the line where Riley complains about the nothingness of Kentucky and her sister Hannah responds they shouldn’t make fun of other Midwest states considering they live in Ohio. Although the beginning of the story was a little too convenient, I liked the growth and progression and friendship developments of the main characters. This is sadly an aprópiate timely story told in a manner of stereotypical specifics that’s easy to understand, with lots of fun details and references.

Jenna Voris’ Say a Little Prayer is a heartfelt and emotionally resonant story about love, healing, and the power of second chances. The characters are deeply relatable, and Voris captures the delicate balance between faith, hope, and vulnerability. With its tender moments and rich storytelling, this novel is a touching reminder of the strength that can be found in both ourselves and others. A must-read for fans of heartfelt contemporary fiction.

This book was so relatable as a bisexual gal who was forced to attend church in my teen years long after I stopped believing. The voice was fantastic—Riley, though flawed, was immediately lovable. I also got a kick out of the premise: trying to check off all seven deadly sins while stuck at church camp. The friends-to-lovers romance was also sweet, though I found the evolution of Riley’s feelings toward Amanda and vice versa most interesting.

I was slightly disappointed that Riley’s plan got cut short since I really wanted her to see it through to the end, but I did think the show of support from her new found family was lovely. I also wanted to see the Pastor face more consequences for his cruelty, but I suppose that wouldn’t have been realistic.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

Really really loved this book! A queer reckoning and a sapphic romance and a romp through church camp!

This was a really fun read! I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately, definitely due to being a busy college student, but this was exactly the kind of book I needed to get me on my book grind again. This was such a fun rom-com! Riley is a high school student in Ohio (coincidence because one of my best friends is named Riley and my other best friend is from Ohio?) and lands herself in church camp. During the week fun Riley learns that there is more to her peers than she previously thought. Especially about her best friend, and the preacher’s daughter, Julia. If you like a queer YA rom-com, you will probably like this. It reminded me a lot of Dahlia Adler’s books in the best way. I am definitely going to read more from Voris (probably also in less than a day)

I loved the premise of this book. It was so original. The plot was well thought out and the characters were well developed. I really enjoyed reading this book. This book is cute and fun, while addressing some intense topics that teens in my area face. My heart went out to the characters in this book. It was an incredible read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read the e-arc of Say a Little Prayer. I read it the week of elections and conversations happening around booksta/gram about books being political or not and conversations with my religious family members who voted for trump. So it's safe to say that Say a Little Prayer was the perfect read and reminder that deconstructing is worth the after-glow. Though my one thing is I thought the cover said Slay instead of Say and that's just a missed opportunity. Slay a Little Prayer would have fit Riley's personality well.

Thanks for the ARC review. If you loved the cult classic saved. Read this very LGBTQ book that takes Saved, adds a dash of But, I'm a cheerleader and makes something even more magical.

Riley stopped attending church when her sister was publicly banished from the congregation, and when she realized that she would not be accepted there for being bisexual. Even though her next door neighbors are the minister and his family and the minister's twins are her best friends, Riley tries hard to avoid the church and anything associated with it. When Riley slaps her sister's former friend at school and her place in the school musical is on the line, Riley volunteers to attend the church's camp during spring break. Having to attend camp and write an essay for the principal feels like a better option than being forced to miss out on the musical completely. The theme of the week is the seven deadly sins/seven heavenly virtues and Riley decides to try to commit all of the sins to prove that sometimes things labelled as sins aren't necessarily bad. Riley starts to discover that she really missed church and some of the people there and that maybe she has judged people in the same way her sister was judged. What if she actually gained something good from the thing she's been actively avoiding for the last year? Very sweet and funny, but also a deep look into the power of faith in your fellow humans.

I really enjoyed this book! I love how unique the plot is, I don’t think I’ve read something like it before! As someone who grew up in the church, it’s crazy how accurate this book is!! It really handled themes like religious trauma very well and with care.

This book was so good! I really like the plot, and think it is a unique concept that was developed nicely. I also like the main romance in the book, and think the main character and the love interest had good chemistry. Honestly, my favorite part was probably the chapter titles. I found myself laughing reading them, and they were a very enjoyable part of the book. As well as making me laugh, this book also just has something raw and real about it, it isn’t super dark and sad, but isn’t overly idealistic and unrealistic. I have never read the author’s debut novel, but definitely plan on reading it now that I’ve seen some of her work. I definitely would recommend this book, and am excited to see what this author does next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Books for Young Readers, and Penguin Young Readers Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up Say a Little Prayer on March 4, 2025.

This book was perfection. I could not put it down and was sucked in immediately by Jenna Voris's voice and tone. It was exactly what I needed at this time -- a little revenge, a little sticking it to the man, a lot of queerness, and some truly relatable religious trauma. Not only did Riley's growth throughout the course of the book tug at my heartstrings, but her newly formed friendships made me want to cry. Girlhood is just the best, y'all.

I can't believe how expertly Jenna wove in the contradictory feelings of anger and guilt and shame and righteousness and pride when dealing with leaving a church or similar community. Pastor Young is my #1 enemy, only because I can totally relate to his passive-aggressive comments about Riley's "sins," his need to punish her, and yet his ability to act like a totally normal Midwestern dad when taken out of the church context. Religion can be rough on various kinds of relationships, and I think Voris showcased that really well.

Not to say that this book is anti-religious -- in fact, I think it shows how truly multi-faceted religion can and should be, and how we should be celebrating various forms of worship. No spoilers, but by the end, I think you'll see what Riley sees in her small-town Ohio community --faithful people who seek to uplift others instead of tearing them down.

And, of course, we can't forget about the romance. The best-friends-who-secretly-pine-for-each-other-but-can't-show-it-at-church-camp-because-she's-a-pastor's-daughter-romance. Delicious tension, really emotional moments, and a lot of giggling and kicking your feet.

Plus, Voris's prose is HILARIOUS and had me laughing out loud at times. Truly, this book had it all. So you better go pick it up come March!!

Once again, Jenna Voris has absolutely stolen my heart with her latest book. She manages to balance out all of the anxiety of being queer (among other things) in a more conservative, religious environment with just the right amount of heart and humor. Riley *feels* like a teenager - sarcastic and convinced she's always right and struggling with integrating nuance into her worldview - but her reticence and flaws aren't frustrating to the point that she's unlikable. We're in her corner even when she makes mistakes. I often struggle to relate to younger protagonists as I get older; I didn't have that problem here, and that's a testament to Voris' skill.

The secondary characters felt generally flushed out enough for their presence in the story, though I could have used a *little* more development for Julia overall. There were several left turns in the last third of the book that I didn't see coming but that worked really well.

(All of the little easter eggs to "Every Time You Hear That Song" were fucking DELIGHTFUL and I love that these stories exist in the same universe. I gobble that shit up every time.)

I will absolutely be purchasing this upon release!

[NetGalley was kind enough to provide me with an ARC for this title.]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While the POV was a tad cheesy, this was a good book about religious trauma. I was almost triggered by how REALISTIC it all is. I think this is going to resonate with a lot of young people, queer or no. The concept immediately hooked me, and the chapter names are GENIUS. I wish I had seen more of the pastor an the consequences of his bigoted actions. If you don't like religious jokes or critiques, you'd probably want to avoid this one.

very sweet romance with a lot of fun romance aspects and cool characters. tysm for the arc. 4.5 stars, would recommend. rounding up.

This was a great YA book about a difficult topic. The characters were awesome and relatable! I actually felt like I was in the principal's office at the beginning of the book and the camp took me back to summer.

Holy (heh) crap, this book was SO GOOD!! I was expecting a cute lil YA romcom but it was so much more. This book took what can be really heavy, emotionally charged topics and handled them with the utmost respect while still being hilarious, sweet, and hopeful. It’s on my top 5 for this year for sure. It called out the toxicity and hypocrisy can be found in some churches and how people can spew hate and fear and pretend it’s in the name of religion, but it did not criticize religion as a whole. My favorite quote, other than the funny ones, was “I think when you get down to it, this whole…thing is just about being kind and having faith in something bigger than yourself. That’s it.” This book honestly might have helped heal some of the religious trauma in me just a bit.

This book was absolutely incredible. I loved the way the author wrote it, it´s perfect for teens to understand but can be enjoyed by all ages. The main character Riley left her church after coming out as bi and realizing its unacceptable to be gay in her church. When she gets in trouble at school for slapping a girl talking about her sister, she gets sent to church camp as punishment. Riley comes up with a plan to take down the church by committing each of the seven deadly sins. Everything seems to be perfect except she's falling for the pastor's daughter. This book takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and perfectly depicts how despite a society growing to be accepting of those in the LGBTQ+ community there´s still many struggling to come out due to the people surrounding them.