Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

70 reviews

jessicacl's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

Still sobbing. What an incredible book. Wow. Wow. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Homophobia, Racism, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness

Minor: Deportation, Hate crime, and Self harm

booksdogsandcoffee's review

emotional hopeful informative 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? Yes

5.0

WHY AREN’T MORE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK!??

Yamilet is forced to a new school to help her younger brother who is always getting in trouble, and also after being outted by her best friend. Being Mexican at an all catholic school isn’t easy, but being Mexican and queer is even harder. 

At her new school Yami is determined to stay in the closet at this school, but one of her new friends Bo is making it extremely hard for her to stay there. 

This book is so profound and talks about so many topics in a beautiful way. It dissects the inter workings of homophobia in the Mexican community and families. Breaks down and discusses hard topics like immigration, abortions, gay marriage, suicide, family pressure(felt very Louisa from encanto at times and it was amazing) in a way that it isn’t the main topics of the books. But is handled so well. 

Lesbinana’s Guide to Catholic School is an absolute must read. I loved every thing about this book and the audiobook was phenomenal. 

Cw
Racism
Suicidal attempt
Homophobia 
Biphobia
Lesbiphobia
Religious bigotry
Outing
Bullying 
Mental illness
Classism
Deportation
Toxic friendship

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Biphobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Deportation

lettuce_read's review

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicide attempt, Racism, Religious bigotry, Deportation, and Homophobia

Minor: Outing

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

My most recent read is a new favourite. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It's funny and hopeful despite dealing with really difficult subject matter. Yamilet, Cesar, Bo, and Jamal are the heart and soul of this story. Yami will make so many lesbians feel seen, especially those experiencing religious shame and bigotry. 

There's gay, bi, and lesbian rep and discussions around coming out forced outings, homophobia. There's Mexican, Black, and Chinese transracial adoptee rep but also scenes with racism, slurs, and ignorance. Characters struggle with mental illness, self-harm, and suicidal ideation and institutionalization is also discussed. But I found myself laughing and smiling through the tears and the tension. The joy peeks through the troubles. 

I love the portions on beading and how it connects Yami to her Indigenous roots. She has a complicated relationship with her father and beading keeps her grounded, pays the bills, and allows her to bond with her brother and mom during their make sessions. 

Bo also has a well-rounded character arc and is complex in her understanding of herself, her queerness, her culture, her family. I love how Bo and Yami learn together and don't assume things about one another's upbringing and experiences. 

This was just a giant hug of queer coming-of-age, sibling supportiveness, and standing up for each other and yourself. And I shared it with friends. 
@janeanthereadingqueen (on IG) and I read it pretty much back to back and she loved it just like I did. So glad we share so many good reads together, my friend. 
I know @nativeladybookwarrior also loved this book, so go check out her review of it on IG and Booktube.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Racism, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Outing

Moderate: Deportation, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, and Mental illness

jo_lzr's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Blood, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Police brutality, Racism, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Biphobia, Blood, Bullying, Violence, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, Outing, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, and Deportation

Minor: Abortion

bookcrushin's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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: Bullying, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Self harm, Blood, Xenophobia, and Alcohol

Minor: Cultural appropriation, Suicidal thoughts, Biphobia, and Suicide

chave_cempasuchil's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

eslsilver's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Homophobia

Moderate: Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Racism, Xenophobia, and Lesbophobia

ocean's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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

5.0

I loved so many things about this book its hard to know where to start! Firstly, it was such a fun read. Once I got going I absolutely devoured it. What really took this book to another level for me was the exploration of family, sibling relationships, and familial support. The relationship between the main character and her brother was such a strong cornerstone of this story and their dynamic brought so much to this story. Another thing I love about this book is how much joy there is. No gays to be buried here! Its such a celebration of queer joy and cultural joy as well as queer love and familial love. The way this book talked about complex issues like outing, coming out, staying in the closet, and dealing with interpersonal homophobia was so clear and honest and well done. This book is so important for queer readers to have access to. I also just loved the main character Yamilet. She’s so caring and bursting at the seams with love, but sometimes there’s a disconnect in how she shows that love and the kind of support others need. Communication is explored and so is opening up to those who will support your and truly be there for you. I smiled and laughed so much while reading this book and I actually teared up because it was so heartwarming at times. There is also a discussion of mental health (see content warnings), which I found to be really authentic and accurate. It meant a lot to me to see the representation of mental health in the context of family and community, rather than just some isolated thing.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Bullying, Racism, Suicide attempt, Outing, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Transphobia, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood

tay_af's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

If the title alone doesn’t make you want to read this book, I cannot relate. It was very good, thoughtful, loving, empathetic, and (sometimes sadly) realistic. I would caution everyone to be really aware of trigger warnings, though, as it did get at times very emotionally difficult to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Outing, Racism, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Bullying, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Forced institutionalization

Content warning for eldest sibling trauma, parentification, and disownment