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Have a Little Faith in Me

Sonia Hartl (Goodreads Author)

4.72 · Rating details · 46 ratings · 20 reviews

"Saved!" meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that takes a meaningful look at consent and what it means to give it.

When CeCe’s born-again ex-boyfriend dumps her after they have sex, she follows him to Jesus camp in order to win him back. Problem: She knows nothing about Jesus. But her best friend Paul does. He accompanies CeCe to c ...more

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Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: September 3rd 2019 by Page Street Kids

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Have a Little Faith in Me
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Sonia Hartl (Goodreads Author)

Release date: Sep 03, 2019

"Saved!" meets TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that takes a meaningful look at consent and what it means to g ...more

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Availability: 10 copies available, 1249 people requesting

Giveaway dates: Jul 08 - Jul 26, 2019

Countries available: U.S. and Canada

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4.72 ·

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· 46 ratings · 20 reviews

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Jul 15, 2018 Rachel Solomon rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-favorites, sex-positive-ya, all-time-favorites, blurbed

Official blurb: "This book reminded me why I fell in love with YA. HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME is both hilarious and poignant, with an unforgettable cast of characters led by fierce but vulnerable CeCe. She asks all the questions about relationships and sexuality I kept locked in my mind as a teen, and her desire for answers broke my heart and then filled it up. An immediate favorite."

One of the best books I've read all year. Sonia's voice is authentic, clever, and utterly captivating. Everything ...more

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Jul 07, 2019 Dahlia added it

Shelves: 2019-releases, religion-in-ya-na

I'm so happy I loved this as much as I'd hoped to based on the description. I love YAs that serve kind of a "sex ed" function and this one does a beautiful job with "emotional sex ed," which I think is really important and really underserved by the category. I also loved the summer camp vibes and the extremely shippable couple, and as a religious person, I just dig YA with religious themes in general, but I think this is a book that very much works whether you do too or not.

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Jul 15, 2018 Annette rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

THIS BOOK. I was able to read an early copy and it has my heart forever.

Fiercely feminist, uproariously funny, and simultaneously heart-wrenchingly tender, this book is a true gem. It explores so many important issues (sex ed, healthy vs unhealthy relationships, religion) with both care and humour.

I cannot wait to read it again.

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Jul 15, 2018 Sierra Elmore marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Hi Sonia is one of my fave people and this book sounds amazing so ADD IT TO YOUR TBRs, PEOPLE

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Jun 28, 2019 Cari rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I've been following the author since she announced her deal on Twitter, and I was so pleased to get an early copy from NetGalley. Although I'm not a YA librarian, I love the occasional YA read, and this book did not disappoint. The protagonist, CeCe, is hilarious and real. I came from a school that was heavily evangelical/Christian, so I super-identified with her. CeCe falls for Ethan, a super-Christian, formerly homeschooled boy. After they have sex, he dumps her, and she's totally blindsided. ...more

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Jul 17, 2018 Andrea Contos rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is the book you didn't know you needed and won't be able to forget.

There's so much I loved, it's difficult to know where to start. It's the perfect blend of smart and swoony, hilarious and heartwarming.

Sonia writes characters with such depth--and even side characters feel developed and real. CeCe is messy and honest, and someone you immediately love and cheer for. Her relationship with Paul--who is amazing--is filled with so many layers of feelings, each of them fleshed-out and relatable. ...more

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Jun 27, 2019 Sydney Springer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-realistic-fiction, top-favorites, arcs-galleys, cheers-me-up-and-makes-me-smile, fake-relationship, friends-to-lovers, i-cried-laughing, kick-butt-narrators, romance, we-need-diverse-books

"How do I look?"
"Like you just had your heart broken."
I rearranged my features. "How about now?"
"Like you're going to make whoever did it pay."

*4.8 stars rounded up* When I heard about this book on Twitter I think every blood cell in my body went on high alert for news of arcs. I needed this story in my hands so bad. A feminist, sex positive romantic comedy set at a conservative Christian camp? Sign. Me. Up. As someone who is also Christian (not the exact branch in the story, as I feel like I'm not that extreme about anything? But I do know some are. To each their own *shrugs*) I was prepared to find some of the humor a little offensive. Except I didn't. I might place a sensitivity warning regardless, but Hartl doesn't cross any lines while still showing the toxicity of a conservative religion in a progressive time, as well as remaining respectful and openminded to exploring how religion can both save and destroy someone, sometimes simultaneously.

When I was approved for an advanced copy I sat down and read the entire thing in two sittings. I didn't even notice that this was a debut novel, the character building and natural writing style were so smooth. Paul is just so *flails* and CeeCee is one of my favorite narrators I've read this year. She is so fierce and sassy, yet insecure and wide-eyed. Her impulsiveness landed her chasing after her ex-boyfriend, Ethan, and then it's what made her pretend Paul was her boyfriend. And it was made me fall in love with the whole story. You never know what she's going to do next.

I love how Hartl wrote the side characters, particularly the girls of Cabin 8. Their religion is grounded in how they were raised and how they view the world, yet it doesn't define them wholly or control their personality. I would love a spinoff or bonus epilogue or something where we meet up with them in a year and see what's going on with them. The most important part of Cabin 8 in my opinion, though, is how much CeeCee learned from the girls, and in return how much they learned from her. Religion is simply an element of a person; it doesn't need to a chalk circle drawn around them. It's just something unique about the individual. And with that, each interpretation of the religion is also different for each person, which is something that could have been explored a bit more in the story. Regardless, the way the Christian camp was approached was interesting and thoughtful and realistic, in my opinion.

Another realistic element of the story was the romance. CeeCee is chasing Ethan, who dumped her after they both lost their virginity and he didn't call her back the next day. Her best friend Paul helps her realize why that night ended so differently for the two of them, and how consent is more than just saying "yes" the one time, or even saying "yes" at all. And that it's not just the male who should be dominating the conversation between them. I have always loved books that explore the importance of consent and sexuality--especially for women--and this did not disappoint. The topic is discussed very openly and detailed, in a way that I've never seen anywhere else. And it's mentioned how many in Christian or other conservative religions/homes do not receive any kind of proper sex education other than the basic biological aspects of it. As CeeCee points out in the book, you can't exactly Google this kind of thing. You need to talk to someone about it. But who can you turn to when you abstinence is the only thing taught? Bless books like these for bringing these discussions to light. (Another great option, and one that talks more about sex that isn't just heterosexual, is The Birds, The Bees, and You and Me.)

This wasn't a full 5 star read for me because I wanted a little more from both Paul and Ethan. I wish we saw more of a redemption arc for Ethan, as I felt he was written solely to be the villain of CeeCee's story, but I feel he played more of a significant role than being the virginity stealer. Paul was such a wonderful character, but I would have loved to go a bit deeper with him., see the side of him that isn't dominated by his pastor father. I also think some of the boys from the male cabin could have more to them instead of one of them being addicted to pornography and the other being in a relationship with another character. I wanted a bit more in general with those characters, and that's really my only complaint. I think CeeCee and the girls of Cabin 8 had fabulous characters arcs, and the overall narrative voice was strong and distinct. I will definitely be rereading this when I want a fast pick-me-up to get a smile on my face and some swoony, consensual romance.

This is truly a debut to be on the lookout for when it shelves September 3rd, 2019. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an early copy in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jul 04, 2019 Zaneta Kucharczyk rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Thank you to NetGalley for providing and eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Have a Little Faith In Me is a book that talks about really important issues, like consent, sexuality, religion, to mention a few, yet is very hard to rate, as it doesn't really deliver.
I went into it expecting a funny but poignant story about a girl who goes to Jesus camp to win over her ex-boyfriend, but ends up falling for someone else, and I got the first part, but not the second. If I were to rate Thank you to NetGalley for providing and eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Have a Little Faith In Me is a book that talks about really important issues, like consent, sexuality, religion, to mention a few, yet is very hard to rate, as it doesn't really deliver.
I went into it expecting a funny but poignant story about a girl who goes to Jesus camp to win over her ex-boyfriend, but ends up falling for someone else, and I got the first part, but not the second. If I were to rate the first ¾ of the book, it would've definitely gotten 4 stars from me. But, unfortunately, the last ¼ was more worthy of 2 stars. This ending made me nearly give this whole book 2 stars, but I didn't think it was fair.

Let's start with things I enjoyed. I liked CeCe at the start of the book. She was a strong main character and fought hard to hide her insecurities. Loud and kind of impetuous, she was a great narrator. He ex-boyfriend, Ethan, dumped her 2 days after they had sex, to get closer to God and reclaim his virginity, yet she was still hell bent on winning him back. She had spirit, she was driven. A bit brash as well. Very enjoyable to read from.
The plot of the book was what I enjoyed the most. A typical romcom with an unusual setting, it was something I didn't think I wanted to read, but ended up appreciating. I do think it would work better in a movie, though. A girl making friends she'd never think she could be friends with, and falling for her best friend. Nothing new or ground breaking, but definitely enjoyable. That's where the praise ends.

This book was trying to teach about what it means to give consent, about sexuality, about how religion deals with sexuality, about slut shaming and victim blaming. I think it gave a good effort, but the ending ruined any kind of message the book had going on. CeCe didn't develop at all. She was getting there, understanding what went wrong with her relationship with Ethan, how what she wanted wasn't a boyfriend, just attention. She admits to being selfish, yet doesn't change.
What made me starting to dislike the book was the incredibly graphic yet clinical sex scene, and the dialogue and build up, or rather the lack of any kind of build up, to it. I would happily glance over CeCe having no obvious reasons to be in love with Paul, other than the attention she was getting from him, but the whole - let's go and have sex because I want to teach other girls about enjoyable sex and I'm also jealous other girls that were ultra Christian had an orgasm before me – when she clearly wasn't ready, and Paul, who was supposed to be the voice of reason, going along with it and saying stuff like (actual quotes) “I'd rather spend the rest of my day and night buried inside you.” And “I don't care what you've got on; you won't be wearing it long anyway.” I mean, I'm no prude, but Jesus Christ, it's just... bad. Very bad.
I also wasn't a fan of the way religion was portrayed in this book. I consider myself an atheist, and I don't agree with a lot of the Christian church teachings, much like CeCe, yet I feel like I have enough respect for people and their beliefs to let them have their camp, teachings, etc. CeCe was an intruder in the camp. Even if she's taught some girls who were clueless about certain things involving sex, she took it too far at the end of the book. She acted like a child throughout the book, and I had hopes she'd learn and develop, but unfortunately she didn't.

The more I talk about this book, the more I realise it deserves 2, not 3 stars, at least from me. It was a good idea, and the execution wasn't half bad for some of it, but most of it was unfortunately a miss. A missed opportunity to convey an important message. ...more

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Jul 16, 2019 Novel Novice rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I LOVED THIS BOOK! It's both hilarious & heartfelt, covering some serious, significant subjects that are incredibly timely and important to teens (like sex, faith, personal responsibility, and empowering girls to feel strong and confident in their bodies & in their sexuality) -- but in a way that feels fun and lighthearted. The author never downplays the seriousness of these topics -- but she tackles them in a way that feels fun and natural to the narrative of the story.

And the story it ...more

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Jul 14, 2019 Isabel Ibañez rated it it was amazing

This is such a wonderful story, I seriously devoured it in one sitting. It’s all about sex, and healthy consent, and that beautiful, tough, and breathless first love that may or may not last forever.

Part of me felt like I was reading a Judy Blume book, in the best possible way. Highly recommend!!!

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Jul 01, 2019 Jalina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, kickass-friendships

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more! CeCe had such great sass and Paul had the perfect personality to go along with it. The girls of Cabin 8 have a special place in my heart. And some of those girl talks, boy, was I laughing. But most importantly, this book gave a really good lesson about what it means to give consent, using a perfect every day (heterosexual) example.

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Aug 27, 2018 Diana Urban rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I had the pleasure of reading an early copy of Sonia Hartl's feminist romcom Have a Little Faith in Me, and I gobbled it up in one sitting. It's SO good, with a well-paced plot that kept me hooked. The protagonist CeCe is so much fun to read; she's hilarious, relatable, and such a joy to root for. The character development and motivations are brilliantly crafted, and every character felt three-dimensional. This book tackles such important subject matter (sex, religion, and the meaning of consent ...more

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May 08, 2019 Kelli Cross rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Okay, first of all Saved is one of my favorite movies so I was definitely sold the minute I saw that blurb. And it really was a pretty accurate comparison. I loved this book - I didn’t expect to finish it in one night but I couldn’t put it down. It was absolutely hilarious. It dealt with a lot of important conversations, specifically involving sex and sex education, but it also touched on religion and acceptance within Christianity. And it gave us glimpses into diversity in a pretty undiverse se ...more

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Jun 05, 2019 Kelsey Rodkey rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I read this book months ago and I'm still having a hard time articulating how much I loved it.
HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME by Sonia Hartl is a hilarious, heartbreaking, and heartwarming (yes, both) story about faith—or lack thereof—and friendship. CeCe is reckless, but so damn relatable and real. She's funny and you root for her even when you know you should be telling her to stop what she's doing. Paul, her best friend, is so damn swoony and funny. The girls of Cabin 8 each deserve their own stori ...more

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Jun 05, 2019 Auriane rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This absolutely wonderful book is definitely one of my favorites of all time! It's fiercely feminist, funny as hell, and should be required reading for every teen. I can't wait to read it again -- and everything else Sonia Hartl ever writes!

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