When you're a queer who studies in any religious school, either you choose to hide into oblivion or come out and take pride in sexuality despite the discrimination that might entail, and it's even worse when you're also part of the racial minority in a Caucasian-centric community. It's a situation that some queer people might have experienced once in their lifetime, including the flashbacks of trauma that follow them into adulthood. It's a situation that serves as the plot of The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, a debut novel by queer Latinx author Sonora Reyes, that aims to challenge the concern where closeted people like Reyes could own their times in a religious school.

The novel follows the story of Yami, the Mexican teenager who transfers into a white-centric Catholic school after she is publicly outed and humiliated by her ex-best friend Bianca after Yami gathers the courage to confess to her. To have a fresh new start as she hopes, Yami has to convince her new school peers that she's straight, but it might be hard for her to maintain that facade when she meets the openly queer Asian-American student Bo in that new school.

Throughout the novel, Reyes portrays Yami's journey in a bittersweet exposition. They describe Yami as quite the fearless and no-nonsense teenage girl, knowing how to show off her racial pride as a Mexican—the kind of person who has honed ways to challenge racial aggressions against her. Yet, when it comes to her sexual identity, it is evident that Yami initially has no support in guiding her to be comfortable with her sexuality; she already fears her mother's rejection, and the one person she has faith in has turned her back and chose to shame her sexuality in public instead. As a result, Reyes illustrates a sensible motive for Yami's struggle in coming out and a reasonable justification for her envy of Bo's confidence in flaunting her sexuality in a prejudiced setting like a Catholic school.

In developing the storyline, Yami's characterization helps explore her background and subsequent growth. She is born as the eldest child in a house of three—her, her mother, and her brother Cesar. Without a direct father figure, because her father is deported back to Mexico, it is up to Yami to be the perfect role model in the house, which explains her mother's hard teachings and Yami's fear of telling her family about her sexuality. And yet, despite the slight dysfunctional relationship she has with her family, Yami keeps trying to have a strong bond with them: she gains the attention and comfort from her father through their phone calls, and she gradually receives the appreciation of her efforts from her mother albeit it's passive-aggressive in nature, and most of all, the mutual trust that blooms between Yami and Cesar for their shared closeted secret.

The last one happens to be the highlight Yami's gradual ease in accepting her sexual identity; while her fear of rejection about her sexuality still manifests in the later chapters, there is a new sense of relief when Yami becomes aware that she has found someone in her family that would support her throughout the hardship. Still talking about the family representation in Yami's characterization, I like how Reyes twists her parents' reactions to Yami's eventual reveal. Readers have high hopes for her father to be the accepting one, that he might need the time to wrap his head around the news because Yami accidentally reveals her identity in a drunk text. Yet, it's her mother, who readers assume to be the prejudiced one due to her deep religious beliefs, who quickly reassess her views on queer people and fiercely defends her children. On the other hand, her father shows his bigotry severely that crushes Yami's hope, choosing to cut off his communication with them instead of talking with his children.

The characterization that plays a hand in Yami's road to self-acceptance also extends to Yami's love interest in the Catholic school. As the other lead character as well as the love interest, Bo leads a very much an opposite life from Yami: Bo is an immigrant child and an orphan, adopted by a couple of Caucasian parents who love her dearly. While her adoption could insinuate the assumption that her white parents only want to 'feel the culture' through her, her parents are proven to be genuinely caring and empathetic—Bo grows in a quite a loving household, understanding that she does have the familial support for her endeavors since childhood, which makes her capable to seamlessly assimilate her cultural origin and the more Westernized lifestyle that she's now familiar with.

Yet, even with her more privileged upbringing, Reyes doesn't illustrate Bo as an obnoxious person. Her confidence and relentless argument to demand to lessen the bigotry in the Catholic school comes from a compassionate purpose of equality. Apart from that, she is genuinely friendly to others, as seen by people who are seemingly comfortable enough to converse with her despite the possible difference in views—it's more prominent when most of the student body chooses to heed her words for attending the anti-prom instead of following the school's event. Although, I wish that Reyes would elaborate further on how Bo deals with her coming out experience before the current storyline. I am curious to see her own struggles beyond her chirpy personality, and I find that it might've added another depth to Bo's impact and character.

Albeit small in comparison, other supporting characters also have their charming moments. Amber and David are a funny pair combined with Bo—such a lively bunch, and I like how Emily has her moments of kindness and empathy before truly breaking out from her toxic friendship with Jenna and Karen. However, Jamal is the shining side character in this case, where his interaction with Yami and Cesar shows that he has been familiar with them for a long time. He is quick to feel at ease when he pretends to date Yami despite the awkwardness and stays by Cesar's side when he falls deep into his depression despite that Cesar is determined to push him away and has to be housed in a rehabilitation clinic.

A minor criticism aside, The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School is overall a light-hearted and fresh take on owning your identity and being fearless to take on the world despite that it might go against you. It's one of the queer books that feel so close to the heart since Reyes is also a former Catholic school student, and of the best young adult contemporary debuts to read this year. Give this book a chance and celebrate your uniqueness with it.

I forgot to leave a review for this when I first read it. A truly heart-touching book that seriously deserves all of the accolades it has received.

Thoughtfully written LGBTQIA representation. As someone who grew up in a religious and conservative community, I think this would be helpful for readers from similar backgrounds.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

I enjoyed this book much more than I originally thought! I LOVE Yami and her dedication to her family is admirable. Watching her grow throughout the book was so special, with a flavor and style all her own. I wish things could have been resolved with her dad, but hopefully in Yami’s world, they got to that point. Thanks for the opportunity to read this one!

After Yami is outed as a lesbian by her former best friend and secret crush, she transfers to a Catholic school where a set of new problems await. Yami just wants to live her life, but now she is navigating being gay while at a conservative religious school, and she feels like she is constantly watching her brother to keep him out of trouble as well.

As a catholic lesbian, this was the novel I needed in high school! First of all, this was adorable. I loved how this book managed to hit all my wants for a cute YA but also touched on important topics of religion and sexuality. I appreciated the varied focus of the book - that there were more plot points than just Yami's sexuality and how her exploration/romance enhanced the novel but wasn't the sole focus. This book was also just fun! It was one of those books you walk away from feeling genuinely warm - such a comfort read for me.

"The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School" by Sonora Reyes is a hilarious and candid young adult novel that navigates the complexities of identity, friendship, and the challenges of being true to oneself in a unique setting. Reyes' storytelling wit shines as she crafts a tale of humor, self-discovery, and the clash between tradition and personal authenticity. The book's relatable characters and humorous plot create an engaging reading experience that resonates with LGBTQIAP+ and teen readers. Reyes skillfully explores themes of self-acceptance, friendship, and the power of standing up against societal norms, adding depth to the narrative. "The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School" is a refreshing reminder that laughter and resilience can be powerful tools for navigating life's ups and downs, leaving readers with a sense of empowerment and a renewed appreciation for stories that celebrate diverse identities and perspectives.

This book was he story I wish I had as an LGBTQ+ teenager who didn't understand herself or how her faith and sexuality could fit together. It was heartbreaking, tender, and wonderfully warm.

An absolutely stellar pick for anyone who loved Casey McQuiston's "I Kissed Shara Wheeler".

The pacing was kind of off, which I think really negatively impacted the story. Yamilet was very much in her own head throughout, which also really kept us from getting the whole picture - and while I support her setting boundaries, we didn’t get much closure on some of the things that she didn’t want to or couldn’t deal with (like the ex best friend).

I really liked Bo and the complex feelings that came with being adopted “out” of her culture and how she talks about it. But also with Bo being the outspoken activist getting herself in trouble - while also being soft and squishy and scared of being hurt.

The biggest missed opportunity here was in the sibling relationship. Yamilet consistently claims how close they are, but it also feels like they don’t have real conversations with each other until the last 1/4 of the book.

<I>"Mom has made us go twice a year ever since we were seven, but it's not like I can stop being gay after confession. I wonder how the rules work when your 'sin' is a constant thing. If confession is supposed to absolve me, it's not working. The day after every confession, I'm always gay all over again."</I>

TL;DR: A super important book re: representation -- queer lesbian Latina MC + her queer Asian-American girlfriend and gay brother -- but which ultimately lags in terms of pacing. Much of the action occurs in the last 20% of the book, leaving the first 80% a bit flat.
<b><I>I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.</b></I>

Vibes: Saved (that 2004 movie starring Jena Malone + Mandy Moore), but make it queer and Latinx

Genre: Queer True-YA Rom-Com

Romance Meter: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 ♡
Lots of angsty teen romance (0/5 for spiciness tho)

Character MVP: Umm. Bo, I suppose. Despite being a secondary character for most of the book, I felt like I knew the most about her.

Verdict: 3 stars, and I recognize I'm in the minority here.
Look, this is a book that will mean the world to some readers -- and I understand that. Some readers will need to read this story, and the impact of seeing themselves represented on the pages of a book is something I don't under-estimate.

But I am not one of those readers...and that's okay!

There are lots of important topics that Reyes covers here, and I appreciate that. But there was way too much telling-not-showing for me that just kept the characters at a distance for me. I don't feel like I really knew any of them all that well, besides one defining characteristic of their character.
For example: Bianca = Mean Girl; Karen = Mean Girl; Emily = Former Mean Girl; Amber = supportive best friend; David = Native American; Hunter = Virgin Football Player.

I was, unfortunately, bored during a good portion of the plot, mainly because I didn't feel connected to the characters or invested in their plots. It was a really easy book to put down for me, and I didn't really look forward to picking it back up.
The most intriguing parts, I thought, were where Reyes really got into the Catholic Guilt aspect, and started to explore how it impacted the characters, and given that it drives a pretty important plot point in the last 25% of the story, I thought that should have been the focus. There was too much extra "stuff" -- too many extra plot points -- going on that lessened the impact this thread had, as well as the narrative time Reyes spent with. All the Mean Girl drama, aside from being a Teen Media Trope, didn't really further the plot, except to create an antagonist for the MCs to...not even fight with. Keep the principal the antagonist, and you have a more streamlined story, IMO.

I do look forward to reading Reyes' future work though!

Nearly a year late on this one that has won many awards and been praised by so many folks I know. Yamilet's courage in simply trying to exist as a closeted queer teen in a Catholic school was so well drawn and beautifully evolved. Her relationship with her brother is relatable as she feels both responsible for him and a little bit resentful. Witnessing their comic out stories and the trauma that comes from feeling the weight of hiding oneself makes this an essential read.

I really liked the way this book didn't focus on just Yumi's sexuality like a lot of LGBT focused teen books do. This book was funny, tender and sweet. I’m so glad this books exist and can’t wit to get a physical copy

This was so cute and I really liked the way it didn't focus on just Yumi's sexuality like a lot of LGBT focused teen books do. Don't get me wrong, that's an important issue, but in books like that it makes it seem like teens are walking around with lives that would be perfect if not for the whole being gay thing. This wasn't like that. It was, in fact, what I would really consider intersectional and I will definitely be adding it to my personal school library and making it available to my kids.

This was so tender, silly, sweet, and I loved it. It’s definitely not a 5 star read but it was really good and sweet and complicated. The cover SOLD ME immediately and the title is fantastic. I loved the family dynamics. It was really good I love lesbians

Absolute essential reading, full stop. Funny, voicey, wise, tender, and unapologetic, this book is an experience in and of itself.

This was a really really great read on so many fronts. As someone who was identifying (at the time) a lesbian in Catholic high school, it definitely rang true. All of the characters felt like fully fleshed humans and not flat. Yami's relationships with her brother, her mother, her father, were all so well done and realistically complex. I saw the suicide attempt by her brother coming and appreciated the ways his mental health was subtly woven into the story throughout so it did not feel like a plot twist for shock and awe reasons, but rather a realistic depiction of how difficult it can be to see depression in young people; especially as a young person who is caught up in your own struggles. Everything felt so well-rounded and real; this is really a mastery of realistic teen fiction.

4.5 stars! I thought this book was very well-written and sweet while dealing with some important issues.

I loved this book. The characters were interesting and the story was gripping enough to keep me reading. I read a LOT of YA and this is a standout.

This is definitely one I will keep on my shelf for my students. This is a good book for young queer kids to read, especially those struggling with their identity. The character development is something I look for in YA books because it's important for teens to see that they can contain multitudes, that one element of themselves is not ALL of them. This story and main character, Yamilet, delivered. A solid story and I will definitely go back for more from this author.