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maemcferrin's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
I listened to the audiobook on Kobo & absolutely loved that experience. I will say that my reading experience was absolutely biased because I am a survivor. I was raped when I was 16 years old, and I did everything "wrong" in society's eyes. I did everything that people assume when women are raped:
I listened to the audiobook on Kobo & absolutely loved that experience. I will say that my reading experience was absolutely biased because I am a survivor. I was raped when I was 16 years old, and I did everything "wrong" in society's eyes. I did everything that people assume when women are raped:
- I was drunk out of my mind
- I was taking my shirt off, and acting belligerent
- I was asking people to kiss me
- I was heartbroken and didn't know how to cope with rejection, so I was seeking attention/validation elsewhere
- I lied to my parents about what me and my friends were doing that night - we had a party at my friend's house, we did not have a quiet sleepover
- It was late at night
And after this, no one believed me. I lost friends. My senior year was the worst year of high school due to the isolation and way I was dismissed by everyone else. I even gaslighted myself into thinking that I did deserve it because of all of the poor decisions my 16-year-old self made that night. The first time anyone ever said they believed me was when I was well into my 20s, probably about a decade later. To see Ariana be believed by her new found family so quickly and so kindly was staggering in contrast to my experience, and it made me so relieved for Ari.
So I will say that my read and my review of this book is fully biased, because I feel seen, heard, and validated every time I read a book like this, about survivors. There is a profound power in being believed, and an incredibly healing aspect of reading about teens experiencing a similar trauma that you did. For others, maybe this book may not work or may not be their favorite. For me, this hit incredibly close to home, and I was continually nodding my head, saying "That's exactly how that felt!" Not every book is for us or about us, I know that.
However, I haven't read many books about teenage survivors of rape, and this book was what I needed at this particular point in my healing journey, so thank you to Sonora Reyes (who I now consider family because we share the surname Reyes hehehe) for writing such an authentic story about rape culture, finding the words to name what happened to you, and for the hope of moving forward and healing.
Ari's selective mutism and autistic experience is another factor of her journey, as Reyes shows how insidiously predators take advantage of those they see are already isolated, not protected, or seeking validation from others. Luis was such a familiar character, because I think we have all met toxic men like him. The way he speaks and behaves -both in front of others and 1:1 with his victims- illustrate how perfectly he has mastered this art of manipulation, guilt, and emotional abuse. Rape culture allows him to succeed in his violence, and I really appreciated how Reyes showed this is not always about the act of rape. Rape culture and toxic masculinity seep into so many parts of daily life, especially for hormone-wild teens who are navigating new feelings without a guidebook! It seeps into other areas because it is enforced by others, while others remain silent and complicit.
I loved that Ari found community in her new friends, and that they were so focused on revenge, and making Luis pay for his crimes. The power of words and sharing your story was a central theme, and Ari's fear of people thinking she was lying was so important to show, because so many victims second-guess themselves already! They are questioning if people will be mad at *them*, when they did nothing wrong. We are so deeply programmed to appease men, and to perform sexuality for men, that our minds automatically revert to, "ugh, I feel bad that I said no to him," or "I feel bad that I wanted this, and then I changed my mind". I need more stories for teens like this, to show them that you're allowed to change your mind, and that consent is REAL and is a REQUIREMENT!
Overall, I'd say that this book was so moving, healing, and a breath of fresh air. Sonora Reyes wrote Ari's voice so authentically - I do not have selective mutism but I am also autistic so I appreciated her voice, and her inner thoughts. This book also made me giggle because of the unrequited love between two side characters/best friends, and because Ari was finally finding her footing in social settings. The side plot of Ari's parents' marital woes were so realistic too! I just think that Sonora Reyes did a phenomenal job with this, and I will continue to read anything they publish!
So I will say that my read and my review of this book is fully biased, because I feel seen, heard, and validated every time I read a book like this, about survivors. There is a profound power in being believed, and an incredibly healing aspect of reading about teens experiencing a similar trauma that you did. For others, maybe this book may not work or may not be their favorite. For me, this hit incredibly close to home, and I was continually nodding my head, saying "That's exactly how that felt!" Not every book is for us or about us, I know that.
However, I haven't read many books about teenage survivors of rape, and this book was what I needed at this particular point in my healing journey, so thank you to Sonora Reyes (who I now consider family because we share the surname Reyes hehehe) for writing such an authentic story about rape culture, finding the words to name what happened to you, and for the hope of moving forward and healing.
Ari's selective mutism and autistic experience is another factor of her journey, as Reyes shows how insidiously predators take advantage of those they see are already isolated, not protected, or seeking validation from others. Luis was such a familiar character, because I think we have all met toxic men like him. The way he speaks and behaves -both in front of others and 1:1 with his victims- illustrate how perfectly he has mastered this art of manipulation, guilt, and emotional abuse. Rape culture allows him to succeed in his violence, and I really appreciated how Reyes showed this is not always about the act of rape. Rape culture and toxic masculinity seep into so many parts of daily life, especially for hormone-wild teens who are navigating new feelings without a guidebook! It seeps into other areas because it is enforced by others, while others remain silent and complicit.
I loved that Ari found community in her new friends, and that they were so focused on revenge, and making Luis pay for his crimes. The power of words and sharing your story was a central theme, and Ari's fear of people thinking she was lying was so important to show, because so many victims second-guess themselves already! They are questioning if people will be mad at *them*, when they did nothing wrong. We are so deeply programmed to appease men, and to perform sexuality for men, that our minds automatically revert to, "ugh, I feel bad that I said no to him," or "I feel bad that I wanted this, and then I changed my mind". I need more stories for teens like this, to show them that you're allowed to change your mind, and that consent is REAL and is a REQUIREMENT!
Overall, I'd say that this book was so moving, healing, and a breath of fresh air. Sonora Reyes wrote Ari's voice so authentically - I do not have selective mutism but I am also autistic so I appreciated her voice, and her inner thoughts. This book also made me giggle because of the unrequited love between two side characters/best friends, and because Ari was finally finding her footing in social settings. The side plot of Ari's parents' marital woes were so realistic too! I just think that Sonora Reyes did a phenomenal job with this, and I will continue to read anything they publish!
cw: the main character is raped, but it's not on-page. it's referred to multiple times afterwards; sexism, misogyny, ableism (the main character's selective mutism is used against them and made fun of), toxic relationships/friendships, sexual violence is discussed throughout the book, bullying, infidelity, panic attacks
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Rape
maddiemooney's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Ableism, Biphobia, Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
warlocksarecool21's review
emotional
funny
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? Yes
3.75
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I did Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, but I still think it was a solid book. The content itself was strong and important, I just didn’t always vibe with the writing style, which I was surprised about considering how much I liked their other book. I feel like I wasn’t as invested with certain things bc the writing felt so direct. I’m thinking that might be because it was told from Ari’s voice, so that would make sense, but it didn’t always grab me. I also felt like I didn’t really get to know Ari’s friends as much as I wanted to.
I did really enjoy Ari’s relationship with Shawni, and I liked how understanding she was of Ari and her needs.
I thought the core message was really impactful, that victims of assault aren’t alone and that speaking up is powerful. It made me really happy that there was positive autistic rep in this book. While I didn’t relate to every trait that Ari had, having that representation as someone who is probably undiagnosed autistic was really nice to read. I don’t think I ever put into words the issues I had about people touching me and some of the things I do to stim until I saw them in this book. Ari’s development throughout the story was really strong, and I liked how empowered she was at the end.
Even though this wasn’t a 5-star read for me, I’m glad it exists and I think for anyone who thinks their voice doesn’t matter, or won’t do anything, this will be a powerful read.
I did really enjoy Ari’s relationship with Shawni, and I liked how understanding she was of Ari and her needs.
I thought the core message was really impactful, that victims of assault aren’t alone and that speaking up is powerful. It made me really happy that there was positive autistic rep in this book. While I didn’t relate to every trait that Ari had, having that representation as someone who is probably undiagnosed autistic was really nice to read. I don’t think I ever put into words the issues I had about people touching me and some of the things I do to stim until I saw them in this book. Ari’s development throughout the story was really strong, and I liked how empowered she was at the end.
Even though this wasn’t a 5-star read for me, I’m glad it exists and I think for anyone who thinks their voice doesn’t matter, or won’t do anything, this will be a powerful read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
ienbdri's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
opalmars's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This is a very important book. Seeing Ariana slowly coming to the realization that Luis had raped her was truly heart wrenching. There was a lot of slut shaming and victim blaming in this book, and while it was sometimes too heavy-handed (I wish there’d been a bit more nuance), I honestly didn’t mind it that much. It was still a good way to portray these issues, and I do think it might help readers (especially young ones) understand rape culture a little more. Also, on a more personal note: reading a story where a bunch of victims fight back against their abuser, expose his ass and finally get some justice was VERY cathartic!!!!
I really liked Ariana as a main character! She’s so loveable and relatable, + it’s amazing reading about a character who has autism and selective mutism. The side characters were also very nice. I especially liked Angel and Jasmine! I kinda wanted to see more of their relationship haha. <3
I didn’t care much about the romance in this book. The moment Ariana realized she’d been making wrong assumptions about Shawni she immediately started crushing on her. I wish her feelings had grown more slowly. And their “I love you” at the end felt a little unearned. I still thought they were cute, it’s just that I could’ve completely done without the romance in this one.
I also don’t really know how I feel about Ariana’s parents and their divorce. I thought that plotline was interesting, but I kind of wish we’d gotten a bit more of it.
a bit more of it.
I really liked Ariana as a main character! She’s so loveable and relatable, + it’s amazing reading about a character who has autism and selective mutism. The side characters were also very nice. I especially liked Angel and Jasmine! I kinda wanted to see more of their relationship haha. <3
I didn’t care much about the romance in this book. The moment Ariana realized she’d been making wrong assumptions about Shawni she immediately started crushing on her. I wish her feelings had grown more slowly. And their “I love you” at the end felt a little unearned. I still thought they were cute, it’s just that I could’ve completely done without the romance in this one.
I also don’t really know how I feel about Ariana’s parents and their divorce. I thought that plotline was interesting, but I kind of wish we’d gotten a bit more of it.
a bit more of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gaslighting
serenityfound's review against another edition
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Biphobia, Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Off-pagetiredcath's review against another edition
dark
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? No
4.0
In the same vein, as John Tucker Must Die, The Luis Ortega Survival Club is a story of unexpected friendship and revenge.
I was pleasantly surprised with how much this tackled in such a quick read. I flew by the book quickly, falling into Sonora Reyes's natural writing style and relatable characters. There's so much I enjoyed about this, mostly, it was the core group of friends. They all felt so genuine together, I appreciated seeing how much they cared about each other, and how it was evident they all wanted a place to be themselves and to heal. Our main character Ariana is autistic with selective mutism, who's lived a pretty invisible life until recently. What I really appreciated about this novel was the handling of Ariana's autism, it's never demonized. I think a lot of people will find comfort in this friendship group, and how Reyes managed to create a found family bond out of a tragic event.
Reyes tackles issues with rape culture, consent, toxic masculinity, as well as wholesome masculinity, without making it feel like a PSA. It reminded me a lot of the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. (I recommend reading the TW but nothing in this is graphic.)
I do wish the ending was a tad longer, I wanted to spend a little more time with the characters. But in all, this is a fantastic novel. It's warm, it's sad, bittersweet, it's about healing and friendship, and togetherness. This is a really special book with wonderful representation.
I was pleasantly surprised with how much this tackled in such a quick read. I flew by the book quickly, falling into Sonora Reyes's natural writing style and relatable characters. There's so much I enjoyed about this, mostly, it was the core group of friends. They all felt so genuine together, I appreciated seeing how much they cared about each other, and how it was evident they all wanted a place to be themselves and to heal. Our main character Ariana is autistic with selective mutism, who's lived a pretty invisible life until recently. What I really appreciated about this novel was the handling of Ariana's autism, it's never demonized. I think a lot of people will find comfort in this friendship group, and how Reyes managed to create a found family bond out of a tragic event.
Reyes tackles issues with rape culture, consent, toxic masculinity, as well as wholesome masculinity, without making it feel like a PSA. It reminded me a lot of the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. (I recommend reading the TW but nothing in this is graphic.)
I do wish the ending was a tad longer, I wanted to spend a little more time with the characters. But in all, this is a fantastic novel. It's warm, it's sad, bittersweet, it's about healing and friendship, and togetherness. This is a really special book with wonderful representation.
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Toxic relationship
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