I had high hopes and this book deliveried. It’s a focus on Cesar and discovering his own manic bipolar disorder as well as his relationship with religion and his sexuality. I love the characters, they all felt so alive-even the side characters felt fully fleshed out. This is the first book I’ve read focusing on manic bipolar disorder and I believe it was very well done especially because we get the story from Cesar and we see what his going through his mind with these choices.

Loved the short chapters. Great writing from Reyes as always.

I feel kind of silly for not having read Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School yet. But after loving The Luis Ortega Survival Club and now completely falling for The Golden Boy’s Guide to Bipolar, it’s definitely shooting to the top of my TBR.

I started my last review with “oh Sam,” and I could honestly start this one with “oh Cesar.” Sometimes I read a book that makes me hold my breath the entire time, wanting to scream “NO, NO, NO,” while a stone lodges itself behind my ribs. This was one of those books. It felt so personal and real—and all those chapter names with their subtitles gave me even more chills.

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and the deeper I got, the more the tears started to gather behind my eyes. But the book is also hopeful, and I think it’s so important to end a story about mental illness on a hopeful note.

Cesar’s story is raw and messy and beautiful, and my heart ached so much for him. But also for Jamal—that boy! I love him so, so much. All the side characters felt incredibly real too, and I really hope Sonora Reyes writes a third book in this universe. I’m already rooting for a new couple, with a complicated, messy story of their own.

Wow this was an interesting read. I wouldn't say it was always enjoyable but I think that was the point. It was a super accurate portrayal of mental illness and how frustrating it could be in Cesar's head when you just wanted him to make a better choice. I loved the chapter titles and how they gave insight in to what Cesar thought about himself. I loved all the side characters as well and cried multiple times.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was somehow my first Sonora Reyes book but it definitely won’t be my last! As a bisexual bipolar person I was so excited for this book — and it fully delivered. Watching Cesar explore his sexuality, his mental health, and his religious beliefs was so emotional and gratifying. The book was a beautifully vulnerable coming of age story with writing that made it a quick read and easy to really sink into the main character’s head and emotions. I’m so glad that a book like this is there for teens to read.

I think this will be an important book to some people, but it was not an enjoyable read for me. Cesar spends almost all of the book spiraling, off his meds, and pushing everyone away. While that’s certainly a realistic mental health experience for a lot of people, it makes for a really tense and upsetting read.

I love Sonora Reyes’ books and especially The Lesbiana’s Guide, so of course I HAVE to read it. And I love this too. I wanted to read this story so much when I was resting The Lesbiana’s Guide and I was not disappointed at all.
It’s a cute story with heavy themes. Stay safe.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I absolutely adored this book. It was so relatable, and the characters warmed my heart. I really enjoyed Reyes' last novel so was really excited for this one. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a first look. I can't wait until this comes out. I gave this book 4.75/5 stars

this book felt like stepping back into a room full of old friends. complicated, messy, deeply human friends, but friends nonetheless. i was so happy to be back with yami, cesar and so many other familiar characters. this picks right up after LESBIANA, slipping us back into their world like no time had passed. but let’s be clear: while the book ends on a happy note, this is not a fun and easy read. it drags you through some heavy emotional terrain, and there were moments where i had to pause just to sit with everything it was unpacking.

the representation? raw, unflinching, and honest. this story doesn’t sugarcoat the complexities of identity, mental health, or relationships. it doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable, the messy, or the moments where cesar isn't at his best. honestly, that made it all the more powerful. the emotions here aren’t neatly packaged. they sprawl, they contradict, they sting. but that’s what makes it real.

that said, the pacing did feel a little off in the middle. there was a lull where things slowed down more than they needed to, and i found myself waiting for the momentum to pick back up. it wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it did make the middle stretch drag just a bit before the story found its rhythm again.

so, if you’re looking for a light, breezy escape, this isn’t it. but if you want a story that makes you *feel*, that sits with you long after you turn the last page, this one delivers. i love that soni's books always make me feel this way.

i plan to reread lesbiana and golden boy before sharing my official thoughts publicly/with my audience. this was a HIGHLY anticipated read for me and i want to make sure i rate it fairly for them!

updated review to come, but likely with the same rating: 4.5 stars from me!!!!

This did some major emotional damage.

Where Lesbiana's Guide focuses on Yami's struggle with how her sexuality would impact her external relationships, Golden Boy's Guide focuses much more on Cesar's relationship with himself, and how his bisexuality, bipolar disorder, and faith interact.

This reads like a very natural extension of Lesbiana's Guide, both in voice and content, but it was a much harder read for me. I didn't want to put down Lesbiana's Guide because I was giggling, kicking my feet, etc. This book felt harder to put down because I didn't want to leave myself in the middle of Cesar's spiral. While Yami's story still navigated some really intense stuff, Cesar is lonelier and this book reflects that.

This story felt incredibly intimate, both with Cesar and with everyone we see in his life. I'm not sure I've ever read a book whose side characters manage to not just feel tangible and human, but so vulnerable. It's hard to read Cesar's spiral and all the ways he lashes out in the process, but Sonora Reyes is so successful at letting the reader understand him, and it's deeply satisfying to see him make it through that spiral and take some steps forward.

I'm still processing everything this made me feel and I feel mildly hungover from the emotional rollercoaster. But I loved this is a lot, and I loved getting to spend more time with these characters.

Follow Cesar Flores as he comes to terms with his sexuality, his new bipolar diagnosis, and more mistakes than he can count.

^from the publisher!

I will read anything that @sonora.reyes writes. After completely falling in love with Lesbiana’s Guide, I was STOKED to know that Cesar was getting his own story. What I did not know was how much his thoughts echoed many of my own.

Cedar had a lot of pressure on his shoulders and as you see him break down in this novel, you understand why. His heart is so big, and he really does believe others would be better off without him. I can so relate to this. Feeling like a burden, like you don’t deserve love, like you have to punish yourself. My heart was aching for him as he self destructed.

As someone who has a very complicated relationship with religion, I get where Cesar was coming from and I loved how Jamal and Abuela explained things.

The chapter titles and headings are incredible, by the way.

I loved getting to see so many characters from the first book and getting to know them even better. This book is a true gem and I cannot wait for everyone to experience the brilliance of it.