A review by opalmars
The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes

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. 
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