Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School

I had high hopes for this book, but it disappointed me. Don't take me the wrong way: this is a very important book about a very important topic. How many teenagers (and adults) suffer in silence, trying to hyde who they are? When the rejection comes from your own house, what can you expect form everyone else?

I felt sorry for Yammi many times throughout this book: trying to be straight, feeling the catholic guilt... The part where she starts saving money waiting to be kicked out of her house broke my heart.

Now let's get to the negative points: this is the slowest of slow paced if I've ever read - we spend half the book just getting to know Yammi and then everything is rushed towards the end; the lack of communications between that family just was a deal breaker for me; her mother constantly showing love and affection towards Cesar and never Yammi; the mother being a complete homophobic and then, by the end, everything is reversed; the father (I don't need to say more); the way things turn out to be at the end... was just 'meh'...

Anyway, maybe this book was written for a different target audience, maybe I'm just not the right age. Despite all this, I think this book can help someone.

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elliereadsthings's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

"Mijo, if the Bible tells me I shouldn't love my kids, then the Bible is wrong."

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mari1532's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

5.0

I checked this audiobook out of my library because I had heard great things about it on Instagram.

Brief Summary: After being outed by her ex-best friend, Yamilet follows her little brother to the local Catholic school. As Yamilet attempts to make sure her brother stays out of trouble and that she meets her mother's expectations for her, Yamilet is also trying to present as straight. However, pretending becomes difficult when she meets and develops feelings for her openly queer classmate Bo.

Thoughts: I loved this book. Writing a book that deals with so many distinct emotions, while making them feel real about how emotions are experienced must be incredibly difficult as a writer because I have not seen many do as exceptionally well as Reyes. The author's ability to convey the complicated emotions of both loving and hating someone at the same time, the confusion of falling in love, and the conflict of cultural/religious views with feelings of familial loyalty made every single person in this book feel like a real person. As the book progressed it was clear the growth that everyone went through from their experiences. Yamilet in particular was such a dynamic and lovable character. If you read this book prepare to laugh and cry right along with her.

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tmchopra's review

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emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

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fareehareads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

Wowowow I loved this book so much. Yamilet & Ceasar have my whole heart !! This book gets so vulnerable and so real at times that i had to put it down (take off my headphones) and walk away several times. But I always got right back into it. The few things I can note here:
I felt all of the feelings as we learned about Yamilet's struggles, her determination to be self sufficient, her fears as she tries to hide her identitiy, her worries over her parents and her slowly opening up to new possibilities where she's not just surviving but actually living her life authentically. I loved all of the side characters soo much. The sibling dynamic was adorable & I was rooting for both of them all throughout

when Yami found out her brother was gay I quite literally gasped aloud. Gay siblings are always so fun

I just love this book so so much. While there is a sweet story & an even sweeter ending, its all based in their reality & struggles which just made the whole experience so special. This books touches on religious guilt, internalized homophobia, fears of not being accepted by parents, constant internal doubt & even thoughts of suicide. I dont know how a younger me would have felt reading this book, but I'd like to think it would have given her some more permission to at least explore & not feel so guilty all the time.

Agh it was just so good I cant form full complete thoughts about it just PLEASE PICK IT UP NOW.

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