There are few things more damaging to a young queer kid than a midewestern 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. I loved it.