Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

48 reviews

spuriousdiphthongs's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

kajoreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I didn’t really feel the romance. Their crushes on each other came across as part jealousy, part idealization. Their story had potential, but I needed more moments of them actually connecting. Yami pretending to be straight around Bo for most of the book certainly didn’t help.

I did enjoy the book though. I was wholeheartedly rooting for Yami the entire time.

There were some moments that really took me out the book though.. The fortnite dancing?? I wish the editor had put their foot down on that one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

Minor: Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Police brutality, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Classism

raindrops333's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment

Moderate: Bullying and Deportation

Minor: Racial slurs and Racism

dumplingscomet's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Abortion

miss_vonnegut's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. It does deal with topics like coming out, racism, homophobia, depression, etc, but it handles them with care and doesn't do it to an extreme extent. I feel like, while it could be triggering for some, it could also potentially be healing once someone's in a place where they're ready for that. All the characters were fantastic and I loved them all so much. I won't say much, but it does end in a good place. If you're concerned about the content warnings and want some spoilers in relation to those, here you go:

One of the main character's parents turns out to be homophobic but the other doesn't. Both siblings are doing well at the end. I found the way the non-homophobic parent reacted to the kids coming out was very lovely and heartwarming. In general, some slurs are used, there's homophobic school bullying, and internalized homophobia is discussed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Bullying, Racism, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Deportation

Minor: Racial slurs and Police brutality

ehoustonmyatt's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

unhingedbookbitch's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This audiobook just left me soooo happy. Like I loved the beginning and momentarily lost interest around 25% but then 30% it did a 180 for me and I GOT SUCKED IN. Like it took me 10 to listen to the first 25% then I finished the remaining 75% in one sitting. I got so into it that I downloaded the ebook of it from my library so I could finish the last 2 chapters while watching a movie. The writing felt so authentic and just easy to read and the characters were all likeable yet flawed (like they felt like real people) and the just seeing my Latine heritage celebrated in a book (especially involving a Catholic school which traumatized my high school years) was UGHH SOOOO DELICIOUS. 

Just like 10s across the board - good story, lovable characters, diverse representation, and all the emotions. Just call her Inside Out 3: My Gay Awakening. 

Another thing I think the author did sooo well was portray multiple life lessons and reflective situations without it being preachy or overwhelming or messy. I feel like coming of age novels try to do so much sometimes and pack a million situations that teach lessons into one book but lose the point along the way. This book was able to tackle like difficult and deep shit like religion, r@cism (especially deportation and police brutality towards POC), social classes, hømophobia, and more. It can be hard to juggle all the messages you want to send in a book without it becoming jumbled up and I just think this author did that so well with that while still making a great story. 

So I can’t speak on the lesbian representation accuracy, but I can say (as a Latina myself) that the Latine rep was so accurate. Especially as an eldest daughter in a Latine family cause like that’s a whole other level my dude. I know Reyes (the author) is latine but idk if they’re an eldest child cause so much of what was placed upon Yami from her family (and expectations and responsibilities she placed on herself) and thoughts and feels she had as an eldest Latina daughter hit the nail on the head for me. 

The romance UGHHHH I WAS TEEHEE GIGGLING!!! I WAS HOLDING MY BREATH!!! I WAS CRYING!!!! Such a sweet and genuine blossoming romance with a love that helped a little Latina girl stand up for herself GOD SO GOOD😫 

This has easily become one of my fave reads this year. So much heart and thoughtfulness throughout this story GET ME A SPECIAL EDITON HARDCOVER VERSION TO PUT ON MY SHELF NOW!!!!

Ok this last part is a bit spoilery & discusses sųicide so proceed with caution or don’t proceed at all:

So I had a feeling someone was going to be sųicidal before I read this book based on what some people told me. I always get a little hesitant to read anything relating to sųicide cause I was sųicidal not that long ago. I’m not going to get into it but just understand that I’m healing and I could feel fine one day then the next I’m very depressed so I just tend to stay away from the subject just in case. Honestly that could’ve been why I hit a momentary lull 25% in, because I could see Cesar start displaying signs. But I continued reading this anyway and I’m glad I did. The book was able to tackle this heavy subject with grace and honesty. It actually made a small portion of the book but left an impact in a positive way. I think Reyes especially handled the aftermath of hospitalization and the start of the healing journey sooo well. It’s a bit awkward but (with the right kind of support) it slowly starts. And some days are dark days even if the day started out well. I just really appreciated the honesty, rawness, and compassion toward the subject. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing, Cultural appropriation, and Deportation

lemoni's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Biphobia, Self harm, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Deportation

Minor: Biphobia, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

gracepizza40's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book is perfect. I highly recommend it. The character's voice is so likable and well-established. The only main thing that kept me from rating in 5 stars was the pacing in some parts of the second half.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Homophobia, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Deportation

Moderate: Biphobia, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Deportation

quietmarki's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Deportation