4.75 stars

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this one. Sonora Reyes does it again!

After reading The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School 2 years ago (excellent, 5 stars, no notes), I was elated that Cesar would get his story next! I loved the sibling relationship between Yami and Cesar, and I loved continuing to know more about them + get to see Yami and Bo be together more.

The author’s note at the very beginning tugged on my heart strings immensely. As someone who has suffered from major depressive disorder my entire life, I love books where characters are trying to figure out and come to terms with their mental health and diagnoses. It feels so relatable and real, and I believe Reyes wrote this book in a very authentic and sensitive way to display Cesar and his bipolar diagnosis.

Cesar is also struggling with his sexuality against his religious beliefs. He has already come out to those closest to him, but he cannot fathom going to hell for loving his friend Jamal. His father and priest tell him that he needs to resist temptation so he won’t go to hell, and this does not help when Cesar begins to rapid cycle between mania and depressive episodes.

Cesar makes a lot of mistakes throughout the book. It’s messy and complicated and self-destructive, but those who love him stick by him to the very end. I love this representation—not only is his family there for him, but his old and new friends continue to show up for him. Sometimes external factors are needed to literally get to through the next day, especially when we are in crisis.

I love his new friends he makes in group therapy. It can make all of the difference to hear what other people are going through and what is helping them with their symptoms, such as medications, therapy, and coping skills. I love how supportive they are to each other.

Jamal and Cesar, I love that while Cesar is going through so much that Jamal stays this consistent person in his life. Mental illness can make you feel unlovable or worthless, and it truly creates a reminder that there are people in the universe who will love you and show up for you even in your darkest moments.

Cannot wait for everyone to read this. It publishes September 16th! Put it on your TBR asap.

CW: mental illness, homophobia, biphobia, suicidal thoughts, injury/injury details, violence, alcohol, religious bigotry, discussions of conversion therapy, cursing, grief, vomit

In full transparency, when I first started “The Golden Boy’s Guide to Bipolar” I didn’t expect it to be 100% as good as its predecessor. I LOVED “The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School.” How could you possibly top one of my favorite books, and one of my favorite protagonists in Yamo (the lesbiana herself)?

Well…Sonora Reyes did just that! This book was such a beautiful and heartbreaking depiction of identity and mental illness that I found myself tearing up at multiple points. I was reading out paragraphs to my girlfriend. I will be thinking about this book for SO long.

I loved Cesar’s story, even in the parts that were a bit more upsetting and difficult to read. We see him grapple with his sexuality and how it is impacted by his religious views, particularly when he starts to go off of his medication and experiences both manic and depressive symptoms. There are a few trigger warnings I would highlight for potential readers (especially for mental health and illness) though I never felt overwhelmed myself while reading. Overall, a without-a-doubt 5 star book for me!

Huge thanks to the publishers for an ARC of one of my most anticipated reads of the year (in exchange for my honest and unfiltered review). “The Golden Boy’s Guide to Bipolar” releases on September 16, and I will absolutely be buying a physical copy for my bookshelves!

as a *big* fan of the lesbiana's guide to catholic school, i was super excited for this companion novel, following cesar after the events of that book as he struggles with his mental health, catholic guilt, his sexuality & being out, family relationships, school, therapy, meds, and a bipolar diagnosis. so, a LOT, really.

this one is quite a hard read, so be sure to check the trigger & content warnings and take care. i found myself tearing up at times, and i also have to admit that it was a bit triggering for me and made me feel very existential for a few days.

i can't speak on the bipolar representation, but in my opinion, issues with mental health in general were represented SO well. it was like cesar was in my brain, because most of the thoughts™️ are so very familiar and things i think about often. even so, you as the reader can't help but get mad at cesar for all the self-sabotage and not-so-great decisions he makes, but you also completely understand where he's coming from and why he's doing all of that, and your heart is also breaking in the meantime but also you know that you would do (or maybe have done) similar things so you can't really judge him... the ending gave me so much hope. (also can we get a jamal book too please)

in short; sonora reyes has written yet another masterpiece and we love them for that. although i think i'll always prefer the lesbiana's guide to catholic school over this one, both will continue to hold a special place in my heart for a long time, i imagine. also obviously loved the little glimpses of yami and bo that we got to see :)

thank you to the author & publisher for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a difficult read. It’s important and I’m thankful for the courage it took to write it. It will absolutely save lives. But it is not at all the emotional but slightly light hearted read the first book was.

Cesar’s pain and devolving are very real, and I’d caution anyone with a history of severe mental illness to be in a good headspace before reading.

That being said, it’s an absolute masterpiece of the isolation and self destruction that can follow a difficult diagnosis, and the power of family and community to help pick you back up the next time you stumble.

It doesn’t end in a ‘fix’, there is nothing to be fixed. It ends in a new normal that still struggles, but with the support to cope, and that’s the real hope.

Set after The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, this story follows Ceaser as he navigates being the "perfect" kid.
Straight A's, full ride to a private school, the societal pressures to push down his own desires... The usual for a high school student.
This book is so raw and relatable and really showcases Reyes' writing abilities once again. As someone who was not expecting to live to 21, this book hit a little close to home in the best way.
Please check your trigger warnings, but such an amazing story.

I loved The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, so I was thrilled to get the next book in the duo, The Golden Boy’s Guide to Bipolar. It did not disappoint. I felt all the emotions - all the ups and downs and everything in between. If you’re anything like me, you’ll fall in love with Cesar’s story and won’t want to put it down.

Sonora Reyes writes thoughtful characters with genuine care and love. I love how Cesar came to life on the page - he was a complex protagonist that is struggling with mental illness, religion, sexuality, and family. As I read, I found myself both frustrated by and rooting for Cesar throughout, which resonates for anyone who is or has a friend or loved one who struggles with mental illness. I definitely felt all the emotions throughout the entire book. Also, absolutely adored Jamal - how could you not after this book?! Finally, loved Abuela’s story arc so much - rooting for another book that shows her story more, because I was dying to learn more by the end. Really enjoyed this one and cannot wait to read everything Sonora Reyes writes ever!

Thanks NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

e-arc provided by Netgalley

This book is difficult to rate - a lot of this was tough to read in that its hard to see a character going though these tough situations and self sabotage, it was also tough since the main charter kept pissing me off but I know that was kind of the point. Overall I liked The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School better but this was a good companion novel.

5 stars

Few things could've made me happier than the opportunity to return to these characters. I've taught _The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School_ for a couple of years, and it is always a hit. It's also one of those books that makes me feel lucky to teach. I get to enjoy myself AND bring a bunch of important issues and identities to my students' attention. As we all know, that is more important than ever these days.

Speaking of representation, Reyes always delivers on this front, and this book is no exception. For those who are familiar with the aforementioned novel, this time, we get to focus on Yami's little brother, Cesar, and as we all learned during the last round (this title will clue you in if you're trying to one-off this, which is doable but an incredible disservice to you!), Cesar comes with some troubles.

One of many things I appreciate about Reyes is how mindful they are with content warnings. This book begins with one that highlights not only the material but also reinforces that Cesar's responses are not indicative of healthy or recommended behavior. In fact, since his struggles are designed to be realistic, he pretty much exclusively makes choices that are harmful to himself and to others. The reality is that this book is not easy to read because it is so well written and articulated. That noted, it's IMPORTANT, and despite the challenging material, it is a joy to read in another way: a hopeful entry point into resilience and a return to characters we all know and love.

Sonora Reyes is creating some of the best YA content right now, and they are in extremely good company. We are lucky to be reading at a time when these authors are doing the challenging work and allowing those of us in the classroom do the same. It is my greatest hope that we get to return to these characters again. I love them and feel so attached to them, and I want to keep watching them grow.

I will *obviously* be recommending this to my students with wild enthusiasm and careful warnings about the content. Please go enjoy this gift from Reyes to readers. It'll go straight to your heart.

4.75
thank you to netgaley and the publisher for giving me an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. i just want to start this by saying im not bipolar and i don’t know anyone super close to me who is bipolar so im not going to be commenting on the accuracy of the portrayal of a bipolar person. that being said as someone who has studied bipolar as a psych student the symptoms and portrayal of manic episodes and the depressive fallout was very realistic in my opinion. i think each chapter being labeled a different symptom throughout the novel was very interesting as shows the very wide scope of symptoms those with bipolar and other similar disorders face. seeing how it effected Caesar and those around him was heartbreaking. seeing caesar’s inner thoughts while in manic episode was really scary i kept wanting to reach thru the pages and tell him to go talk to someone. i think this book is helpful to read for anyone who knows someone with bipolar to see what they ar going thru. caesar is not a perfect character and he is never at any point portrayed as perfect. we know he’s flaws he knows he’s flawed but just like the people around him we love him anyway. this book is so so good and i highly recommend it. it also has a romance subplot but it isn’t the main focus and doesn’t portray the relationship as healing him from his illness. this review is super discombobulated and i might rewrite it but im really tired lmaooooo. all that being said please please please go pick this book up in the fall!!!

Oh, Sonora! Thank you for this masterpiece! Can you keep writing books forever, please??


I enjoyed this book through and through! I really enjoyed the character development! I could relate to this book so much. I enjoyed the family dynamics, the accountability, the forgiveness, and the love that happens in this book. There were many times I saw myself through the main character. Cesar will always hold a special place in my heart! Jamal too!

After reading The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, I was pretty excited to read The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar. I was not disappointed AT ALL. Sonora Reyes brought on a complicated story of growing up, exploring sexuality, defining faith, and bipolar disorder. Cesar drew me in as a complicated character from the beginning, but I could not help rooting for him as he moved through all the things happening in his world. Sonora Reyes developed unforgettable characters who, although flawed at times, like Cesar, always showed up when it meant the most. I loved this book as much or more than Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School and cannot wait for this to hit the world and take its place in the hearts of other readers.

Wow. I don't even know if I have words for this one, to be honest. I loved Lesbiana's Guide, so when I saw Cesar was getting his own book I was stoked. Then I saw it was about bipolar and I was even more excited. I've been searching for good queer romance bipolar rep for a long time. And let me tell you, this is wonderful representation.

The forward from Sonora already had me hooked. I love how open and honest they are and you can tell their experience shines through in the story. Cesar is a wonderful character. He's warm, friendly, and kind. He sets others at ease and makes friends easily. But he's also struggling with getting his correct diagnosis, taking his medication, and navigating his mental illness. That makes him irritable, moody, and self destructive. It's all so real and relatable.

Not only is Cesar struggling with mental illness, but his ongoing struggle with bullying continues AND his struggle with his faith and his sexuality. He's got a lot going against him and I feel for him. It hurts to see how much he hates himself because of what his priest and his religion tells him.

I absolutely adored our new characters: his abeula and Moni. They're delightful and they add some levity while also helping him when he needs it most. It's great to see Yami and his mom again, too. I love their love for Cesar, even if it's sometimes flawed in the way they show it. And finally, Jamal. He's so sweet and patient. I love how much he loves Cesar so unconditionally. He really struggles too, because of Cesar and his actions, but he can see there's something more going on there.

I thought the depiction of Cesar's Bipolar disorder was so well done. The descriptions of how he felt during mania and his dark depressive episodes were so relatable and realistic. I spent a lot of time crying over this book, whether it was from feeling so seen, Cesar's struggles, or small things like his Abuela trying to reach out in any way that would work best for him. This was an amazing, amazing story.

This was a solid book. Very emotional and thought provoking. It had a lot of drama and was very heavy and was a bit much for me sometimes but the premise was super good.

4.75 stars

I absolutely loved The Lesbiana's Guide To Catholic School and fell in love with Cesar's character. I was so happy for him to get his own book. Sonora Reyes really encapsulates the realities of mental illness and the complexities of religious guilt alongside accepting your sexuality. The reader really goes on a journey with Cesar's. We love him and hate him, but understand why he is doing what he is doing. His actions can be frustrating, but anyone who has struggled with mental illness understands that sometimes logic doesn't drive your actions. This was an emotional read, but it was also very enjoyable. My only issue is that it felt like it dragged a bit at times, like the story could have been trimmed down in places to make the pacing a little more concise. That said, it didn't detract from my love of this book. I was so looking forward to this and it did not disappoint.

This book is not just a favorite of the year but an all time favorite.
The way Sonora Reyes brought us into the mind and life of Cesar was and experience all on its own . We were in this book with Cesar rooting for him, empathizing with him, angry with him and for him.
The mental health representation way woven into every aspect and we got to see it all the good and the bad. We got see Cesar deal with his Bipolar diagnosis and everything that came along with it. I loved how raw and real this book was and in true Sonora Reyes fashion it was always down with such grace and care.
This book is so impactful and will definitely reach audiences far and wide beyond YA.
I could probably talk forever about this book , if you loved The Lesbianas Guide to Catholic School you need to come back into this world and follow Cesars story.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's for the ARC!

Sonora Reyes writes such incredible books, and I think this one is probably my favorite book of theirs after lesbiana's guide. I loved getting Caesar's story and perspective. The bipolar representation felt very authentic and I really appreciated that aspect of the story. As someone without bipolar, this book helped me to understand my loved ones a little more. Though Caesar's spiraling was difficult to read at times, but that is part of what makes this book so necessary. Very few authors are able to write books of young adults that can transcend the YA scene and bring comfort and understanding to adults as well, and Sonora Reyes is one of those authors.

Caesar and Yami's stories felt pretty wrapped up after this book, but I'm curious if we'll ever see another companion to this series; featuring Moni perhaps?

So let me start by saying I also have bipolar disorder. I am still learning how to cope ( I say like I’m not back in IOP) and my heart broke for this incredibly relatable character.

“ But like everyone other night, The Thoughts bleed through the fabric,” states Cesar. He has a lot going on at the moment- his gorgeous ex, his overbearing mother, his status as resident golden child. Oh, add his deteriorating mental health in. Cesar can only handle so much, so he chooses to ignore his mental health. “ What’s the harm in missing a dose?” he asks himself. As Cesar starts to spiral he slowly loses control all he holds dear. Will he get it back?

While I read The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, it was some time ago and I have to admit I didn't remember that Cesar Flores existed, much less that he was bisexual, waved off from his sexuality by a priest, or experienced either mental health issues or academic excellence. Given that, this was a bit of a confusing read as it clearly is a direct outgrowth of the first book. If I had had any connection with Cesar (or indeed any of the characters, I honestly only remembered there was a lesbian at a Catholic School and that's in the title!) I probably would have liked this book more. As it stands, it's a solid story that does exactly what is described on the blurb (although I'm not entirely sure the "golden boy" thing was well described, unless this is covered in the other book I didn't see anyone but Cesar using this title). I don't have BPD and I've only, so far as I know, have met one person with it, but other more informed reviewers report this was an accurate depiction. It certainly felt as confusing and illogical as interacting with a manic person can be, at least in my own experience.

It's been a few days since I've read this and I still don't have the words to explain. This absolutely exceeded all my expectations (and they were already high).

Since Yami's story in The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, I'd been interested in seeing how Cesar's story continues. I love that both books showcase their family and we still get to experience the other sibling without subtracting from the POV of each story.

Cesar goes through a lot of growth and healing in his story, but it's not all linear. It's not perfect. It's him figuring out his life as he goes, to some extent, and we get to see this real, raw experience as he's experiencing it. We get to feel his highs and his lows right alongside him and see how it's affecting himself and his loved ones.

Since this book does center on mental health, it's important to have good representation, but also understanding that there are going to be struggles. It's very clear when he's struggling and how he is struggling, and it is so raw and real, and will relate to a lot of people.

The romance was also so beautiful, but heartbreaking at times. Cesar getting his second chance with Jamal is special, but it takes some time to get there. There's so much love between them, and it's so obvious, but sometimes love needs to take a backseat to other life events, but it'll always be there.

This book also continued the theme of religion and how that affects Cesar, in all of his identities. We get a dive into his mind and how religion is a part of his life. We saw the start in Lesbiana's, but get to see it from his own thoughts and experiences.

Absolutely highly recommend this book (and the first!) and cannot wait to reread them both in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Are we surprised this is an absolute 5 star read?? Well we shouldn’t be because Sonora Reyes literally never misses!

How they are able to create/showcase YA characters while simultaneously transcending a YA story(meaning even as an adult being able to relate heavily) will always be amazing to me.

Cesar’s story is so difficult to read. He is navigating the pressure of being the smart kid who his family/friends don’t have to worry about while coming to terms with the fact that he has bipolar disorder. I felt like his mental illness was depicted so realistically. The manic episodes were especially hard to read due to how accurate they were, but I think that’s why this story was so powerful.

I could heavily relate to all of his faith/religious thoughts and feelings. It was comforting to read about someone else who also feels the way I do about so many things.

FANFUCKINGTASTIC book!

Thank you Netgalley and Harpercollins for the ARC!