A review by thenextbookdilemma
The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

Y’all, I sometimes think maybe I’ve moved on from YA only to get sucked back in—because I am a sucker for coming of age stories. Something everyone can relate to is the absolute agony and euphoria of being a teenager—all your feelings are SO BIG and so many important discoveries about ourselves are made during this time. I just love being brought back into those feelings, to feel angsty and unsure and read inner (and outer) monologues of kids who haven’t fully learned to filter themselves. It’s always just so refreshing for me. And I almost always cry. 

I loved A Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School. The voice of Yamilet was so strong, her turbulent teenage feelings and identity just dripped off the page (or my headphones, as I listed to the audiobook and it was spectacular). She deals with so much in this book, from hiding her queerness from family and friends, betrayals from people she trusts most, the deportation of a parent, and finally, to having an agonizing crush. 

She grapples with not knowing how the people in her life will react to her queerness, and whether she will lose everything important to her if she…comes out. This was devastating to experience with Yamilet because unfortunately, not everyone in this book is *a good human being* and….
While Yami struggles with keeping herself closeted, she is also forced to deal with her fractured family, and the classism, homophobia, and racism that run rampant at her new private catholic school. All in all, it’s a lot. 

This book forces the reader to consider the reality of possible homelessness in the face of coming out to your parents, an ongoing fear for Yamilet throughout the book. We know this is a reality for far too many queer teens and I held so much anger and fear for Yamilet and she worked to provide herself with a plan if she were to be kicked out of her home. 

This book isn’t all turmoil and at the center is a sweet budding crush and Yamilet’s internal monologues made me laugh out loud, she is funny y’all. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I loved her relationship with her brother. 

If you like YA then I could not recommend this more. 
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