Book: The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School
Author: Sonora Reyes
Published: May 17, 2022
Stand Alone, Series, or Other: Stand-Alone
Type of book: Novel
Genre: Coming of age Story/Young Adult
How long did it take me to read this book: 2 Weeks
Rating: 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 or 🥤🥤🥤🥤🥤
I finished another book off my extensive list of books I have not read! I finally read “The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School” by Sonora Reyes. I LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF THIS BOOK. I got to the last ten pages and didn’t want to finish it because I would have to say Goodbye to the characters I fell deeply in love with. This book made me realize I need to draft my essay about why everyone should read YA books. This book is fantastic from start to finish. I could not put it down; I was emotionally invested in the Flores family dynamic, secrets, and how much they loved each other. We, the readers, are introduced to Yamilet Flores, who is changing schools with her brother, Cesar. When the book opens, the readers are given a snapshot of what is happening in Yami’s life. Her best friend Bianca betrays her (that Bitch). She is dealing with an overworked parent, looking after her brother, and is angry about life while stressing about life. Being the oldest child in any family is hard, especially when you expect to be a second mother to your siblings. It’s an actual syndrome that affects most older children and robs us of joy if it’s missed by our parents (I digress).
Yami is allowed a 2nd chance to finish her high school career in catholic school. I have several thoughts on this. I am catholic and know if I had to be in high school while navigating my sexual identity or just learning myself, it would not be a pretty picture. But knowing what we, the reader, see, it may be the best option for a real chance to flourish. I love how Yami creates these rules for herself to navigate through school. As the reader, we understand that none of these rules work, but Yami’s introspection and desire to fit in and be accepted drives you to see if it works or what happens from her trying to fit in with her new community. One thing I loved about this book was the secondary characters and secondary plot lines. Reyes dives into the complex yet sweet lives of teenagers. The scenes in the novel were written to illustrate the heaviness of the situation but the naivete and innocence of loss as they enter adulthood. Quick Shout-out: I loved how most of the adults in this book were still loving and open to these kids, even when annoying. I am not talking about the antagonist. Like the actual adults and parents did what parents and adults should do, it was top-tier supportive for some.
Reyes hit all the marks for a great book. Development, driven Plot, dynamic interactions, and proactive introspection. This book is my second favorite book of 2023. My top book at the moment is House of Gold! (I still must write my review for that book, but it is so GOOD!). The secondary characters could all have their novel or short stories. I love the subtle plot twist within the report. Overall, everyone should read this book! Don’t let the title fool you; it will help you to see the world through the eyes of vulnerable teenagers navigating life. In truth, it will help you be a better ally to anyone in your life who is struggling with sexual orientation or just struggling in life.
I can dissect many aspects of this book (friendships, teenage dating, family dynamics, feeling isolated, found family/found tribe…). Still, please read about Yami and keep an open mind. Don’t sit up here and say she is a stupid teenager, but open your heart and empathize with Yami as she tries to fit in and find her tribe as she navigates life. With all these banned books occurring in different states, please buy this book! Give it as a gift! Donate to programs that accept books as the world tries to erase queer coming-of-age books and diversity. Do your part to reverse the trend!
What did I munch on and sip on while reading this book? Since it’s a YA book, I stuck with Cesear’s favorite snack, which was Taki’s, and I paired it with my favorite Jarritos Grapefruit- flavor, which I spit out during one scene because it was so dynamic, and I screamed WHAT IS HAPPENING! I choked on my soda and started saying Hail Mary’s for their safety in that moment (for fictional characters). I am holding back because I would talk about every scene, chapter, and nuance if I could, but this is just a review—5 out of 5 Wine glasses or 5 out of 5 soda bottles.
Until Next Time,
Che Michelle
P.S. Should I start doing spoiled reviews for books?
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