e-Audio, 07:12:58
Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
Release Date: June 4, 2024
Published by: Blackstone Publishing
Read from: June 15-16, 2024
Stand-alone
Source: Library’s Libby (I did receive an e-book ARC from the author via email, but then I found out she had an audio coming out the same day and since she’s one of my favorite authors I waited for the audio. I apologized to her for waiting to read it but receiving an ARC)
Content Warning: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Child abuse, Racism, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
For Readers Interested In: Romance, Cults, 2SLGBTQ+, YA, New Beginnings, Racial/Ethnic Diversity (Chinese American)Valerie Danners is in a cult. She just doesn’t know it yet. When she finds a queer book at the library and smuggles it home, her conservative Christian homeschooling world begins to crack. And when the cutest girl she’s ever met shows up to Bible class, she starts to question everything.
Riley is so confident and kind, and she and Valerie bond quickly over existing as multiracial teens in a very white Christian community. As Valerie explores her feelings for Riley, she begins to see that the world she knows is a carefully crafted narrative.
Publicly, the girls are close friends–holding hands in prayer, rooming together at a conference. Privately, they grasp at any chance to continue their forbidden romance–until they are found out. Now Valerie must choose between staying with a family she fears will never accept her, or running away with the girl she loves.
*MY THOUGHTS*
When I found out Natalie Naudus was writing a book I was over the moon! She’s been one of my favorite narrators for a long time, so I just knew her book was going to be a hit with me. And I’m so thankful to say I was right!
The literal only thing I didn’t care for was the insta-love, and I feel like that wasn’t even a “real” problem. It could have been because she was so sheltered her whole life, that she didn’t exactly know how to deal with a crush. Like she might have been overwhelmed by her. And I thought Natalie did such a great job of showing that you’re born this way. This girl was raised in a cult and was told her whole life to think one way, but she just didn’t. Not because she was like rebelling, but just because she wanted to. She wanted to think for herself and make her own decisions. And I loved her so much for that.
It was a joy to watch Valerie running around and learn new things. I was enamored with how she was finding out the things she liked and the things she didn’t, and how she was finding out to be on her own, and think for herself, and be in a relationship. I was so proud of her for standing up for herself and her relationship. I think I even silently clapped for her when I got to that part because I was reading it when my family was asleep lol Her growth and independence in this novel is unmatched!
I read this book during a time when I was reading a lot of bad parents back to back, and this one was no different. I was annoyed with her entire family. Not only were they brainwashed, but they were also racist! And I remember getting upset because I know her mom probably had reasons for doing that, but geez, the way you let it project onto your children until they decided that they didn’t like it anymore? Gross. And her brother? Lordt, her brother. DON’T LET ME CATCH YOU OUTSIDE! I was rage crying because of him. I don’t think I’ve ever been so mad at a fictional character. Ok I probably have, but this shit really made me mad lol
I did feel like the ending was a little abrupt. I wanted to know more about the visitor that stopped by and WHY the visitor came by. And WHY they acted the way they did when they came by. I wanted to know if it ever got better or how the rest of the people reacted. If they treated her life the sister of that friend. And if her friend ever admitted she was just fucking jealous that she wasn’t letting them take over her life like she had. I still had so many questions, but I do understand why they weren’t answered. I just didn’t like that they weren’t. lol If that makes any sense at all.
Since I listened to the audio and Naudus was the narrator, this didn’t seem much like a debut. It really felt like it was just another story she had narrated. And I don’t know how to accurately say that I loved that! She seemed so comfortable reading her own words and I can’t imagine the type of panicking I would have been doing lol She is definitely a strong one lol I hope y’all love it as much as I did!
Overall, I give this
