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Pride High #4
Pride High: Book 4 - Green
Junior year kicks off at Pride High, ushering in hotter romance and higher stakes.
Ricky returns from a summer of exile, only to realize how difficult it will be to win Diego’s heart again. Anthony discovers the joy of wearing makeup, making him an even bigger target at school as he continues to challenge gender stereotypes. Cameron, desperate to protect his boyfriend, runs for student council president to prevent a narcissistic jerk from winning. Keisha tries to unravel the mystery of a twin sister who flirts often but reveals little. Omar has a new girlfriend, Mindy has a chance to win the man of her dreams, and Silvia keeps smoking pot to forget about the one who got away.
Dangerous feuds, break-ups, and unrequited feelings… The problems are bigger than ever but so are the potential rewards as a ragtag group of LGBT teenagers pursue love and self-acceptance.
Ricky returns from a summer of exile, only to realize how difficult it will be to win Diego’s heart again. Anthony discovers the joy of wearing makeup, making him an even bigger target at school as he continues to challenge gender stereotypes. Cameron, desperate to protect his boyfriend, runs for student council president to prevent a narcissistic jerk from winning. Keisha tries to unravel the mystery of a twin sister who flirts often but reveals little. Omar has a new girlfriend, Mindy has a chance to win the man of her dreams, and Silvia keeps smoking pot to forget about the one who got away.
Dangerous feuds, break-ups, and unrequited feelings… The problems are bigger than ever but so are the potential rewards as a ragtag group of LGBT teenagers pursue love and self-acceptance.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2024
22 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Jay Bell
47 books2,217 followersJay Bell is a proud gay man and the award-winning author behind dozens of emotional and yet hopelessly optimistic stories. His best-selling book, Something Like Summer, spawned a series of heart-wrenching novels, a musically driven movie, and a lovingly drawn comic. When not crafting imaginary worlds, he occupies his free time with animals, art, action figures, and—most ardently—his husband Andreas. Jay is always dreaming up new stories about boys in love. If that sounds like your cup of tea, you can get the kettle boiling by visiting www.jaybellbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 4, 2024
❤️🧡💛💚 I adore these characters so much. RTC
January 27, 2025
Do I think this series is for everyone? No. But I am incapable of rating a Jay Bell book lower than four stars, I think (other than Something Like Hail which I really don't much care for).
The Pride High kids enter their next year of school and Anthony gets beaten up for wearing make up. And Ricky is adorable and kinda annoying and Diego is exhausting for most of the book. And Mindy is thirsty.
Looking forward to book 5.
The Pride High kids enter their next year of school and Anthony gets beaten up for wearing make up. And Ricky is adorable and kinda annoying and Diego is exhausting for most of the book. And Mindy is thirsty.
Looking forward to book 5.
November 24, 2024
After really enjoying the first two books in the series this one fell a bit flat in comparison and it definitely felt more “young adult” than a book written for everyone that happens to be about young adults. I’m hoping the next book fares better.
November 18, 2024
I love Jay Bell. His sense of character and nuance in their development has always been wonderful. His depictions of sexual orientation are brilliantly complicated and his showings of love and community have always been so uplifting. Additionally, in the weeks after the election, this was the perfect mood I needed a book to hit. With that said, this series does not resonate with me in the ways that his others have done. I love the high school part ones of the Something Like Series and some of his other books, but I also love how they leave high school and we see these characters mature into adulthood. Here, everything (as it is for a teenager) is so dramatic and life-or-death stakes that I have to keep reminding myself that these characters are still teenagers, despite their well-rounded complexities, and stopping myself from shaking the book as if to say "this is the easy part, enjoy it while you can and get over your pettiness." I'll obviously still read the rest--it's Jay Bell. I just wish we could fast forward to see what this group is like post-Pride High.
September 7, 2024
Jay Bell has the 90's high school life down. He presents a large cast of characters in a manner that they are memorable, and he reintroduces them regularly. We're given perspective from the character, and the perspective of others about the character.
In this case, he tackles some tough topics (admittedly; some a reintroduction from the previous books in this series). He does this with compassion, and brute force. This is not a Happy Ever After ending, but it is logical and we can wait for another book, or imagine the eventuality of those who are involved.
It does have several triggers, bullying, suicide, parental misconduct, race and gender bias and gay hating. However, they are not presented to torment the reader, but to give genuine context in the 1990's world setting for this series.
In this case, he tackles some tough topics (admittedly; some a reintroduction from the previous books in this series). He does this with compassion, and brute force. This is not a Happy Ever After ending, but it is logical and we can wait for another book, or imagine the eventuality of those who are involved.
It does have several triggers, bullying, suicide, parental misconduct, race and gender bias and gay hating. However, they are not presented to torment the reader, but to give genuine context in the 1990's world setting for this series.
May 9, 2025
Back to school with pride
Well it’s back to school for everyone including this avid reader who’s been waiting 12 months for this welcome return to Pride High. So it was with a genuine smile I sat down with the gang for our lunchtime reunion in the cafeteria and caught up on all the summer gossip.
Unfortunately though the summer break has not been so kind to everyone and this first day at school gets off to a bit of a rocky start for poor Ricky. Despite returning to school devilishly handsome and all grown up, thanks to a welcome growth spurt, Ricky is feeling cold shouldered by Diego and again unloved. Part of this is due to him trying to distance himself from his parents by only referring to them by their first names, whilst inwardly stewing in anger at them. But the other part is because his ex boyfriend has developed feelings for someone else. And with this, the rest of school heartbreak and angst begins to unfold as each of the gang face their own teenage drama, with the same own emotional growth spurts we’ve come to love about this series.
So it makes me wonder why more people aren’t reading this excellent series. Is it because it’s been written episodic in nature and there are to be 9 books in total? Or is it because we’re following 8 main characters and that’s too much for the average reader to process? If it is the latter, then I’d like to reassure you that Jay Bell manages those characters, and their unique voices, like the master that he is. Each character comes to life in your head as you switch between each person’s point of view. And don’t worry if you’re the type of person who prefers to read gay books over straight ones as the straight representation is as compelling as the queer one is. Somehow this incredible author makes everyone’s story so engaging and he manages to make their voices so clear that they draw you deep into the emotional soup that is the teenage mind.
Non more so than Diego, who is trying to hold together the fractured pieces of himself following his father’s suicide and the rejection by his friends and family. His is a beautifully complex story worthy of a book of his own. But he shares his time on the page with an equally interesting set of young people who bring the drama of teenage life to the page. Intermingling makeup parties with classroom antics, you feel the full force of youth hit you with a nostalgic right hook with each chapter you read. Of course there is still a thread of preachiness that weaves through the characters. Though this time I found that much more acceptable when hearing it through the adult voices rather than when spoken by the kids. But I can’t help thinking of how much of today’s events the author is showing us through 1990 eyes.
All that said, some issues are always timeless, non more so than Ricky’s broken heart at the loss if his first love. The wonderful way Jay Bell captures the heartache we all felt at that age is spot on. But in the same way he writes beautiful scenes of nostalgia which we all can relate to, he writes scenes of great pain that, hopefully, very few of us can relate to. The scene when Diego remembers his fathers death is one of the best Jay Bell has written. With enough emotion and yearning, that never once ventures towards melodrama, it will hopefully represent a turning point in Diego’s sad story. To see the joy he left behind at 12 years old return to this series will be a great gift to the readers. A character story arc worthy of a 9 book series.
With Anthony’s story taking a dramatic shift in this book, it’s hard to know where the author intends to take this character. I guess in the same way Anthony is confused as to “who he is”, we too will be left unaware as to where its final destination will take us. But in his journey, Jay Bell raises many questions about gender and the gay identify. And we get to see Cameron struggle with all this as he worries whether he can deal with sexual attraction when Anthony’s sexuality and gender identity cross paths. Questions that are rarely dealt with in gay literature.
Which brings me back to why this series isn’t more popular than it is. As here is an author who is raising so many issues that face young people today as they did back in the 1990s. He’s set them against a backdrop that speaks as much to the older reader as it does to the younger one. With entertaining stories told by compelling characters in an emotionally intelligent way, it makes it hard to put these books down. And it makes it even harder to have to wait for the next volume to be released. Like an impatient 4 year old waiting for Christmas day to arrive, I find myself stomping my feet in frustration when a book comes to an end, and then “counting the days” until next one is released and the doors to Pride High once again swing open.
4.25 Stars
Well it’s back to school for everyone including this avid reader who’s been waiting 12 months for this welcome return to Pride High. So it was with a genuine smile I sat down with the gang for our lunchtime reunion in the cafeteria and caught up on all the summer gossip.
Unfortunately though the summer break has not been so kind to everyone and this first day at school gets off to a bit of a rocky start for poor Ricky. Despite returning to school devilishly handsome and all grown up, thanks to a welcome growth spurt, Ricky is feeling cold shouldered by Diego and again unloved. Part of this is due to him trying to distance himself from his parents by only referring to them by their first names, whilst inwardly stewing in anger at them. But the other part is because his ex boyfriend has developed feelings for someone else. And with this, the rest of school heartbreak and angst begins to unfold as each of the gang face their own teenage drama, with the same own emotional growth spurts we’ve come to love about this series.
So it makes me wonder why more people aren’t reading this excellent series. Is it because it’s been written episodic in nature and there are to be 9 books in total? Or is it because we’re following 8 main characters and that’s too much for the average reader to process? If it is the latter, then I’d like to reassure you that Jay Bell manages those characters, and their unique voices, like the master that he is. Each character comes to life in your head as you switch between each person’s point of view. And don’t worry if you’re the type of person who prefers to read gay books over straight ones as the straight representation is as compelling as the queer one is. Somehow this incredible author makes everyone’s story so engaging and he manages to make their voices so clear that they draw you deep into the emotional soup that is the teenage mind.
Non more so than Diego, who is trying to hold together the fractured pieces of himself following his father’s suicide and the rejection by his friends and family. His is a beautifully complex story worthy of a book of his own. But he shares his time on the page with an equally interesting set of young people who bring the drama of teenage life to the page. Intermingling makeup parties with classroom antics, you feel the full force of youth hit you with a nostalgic right hook with each chapter you read. Of course there is still a thread of preachiness that weaves through the characters. Though this time I found that much more acceptable when hearing it through the adult voices rather than when spoken by the kids. But I can’t help thinking of how much of today’s events the author is showing us through 1990 eyes.
All that said, some issues are always timeless, non more so than Ricky’s broken heart at the loss if his first love. The wonderful way Jay Bell captures the heartache we all felt at that age is spot on. But in the same way he writes beautiful scenes of nostalgia which we all can relate to, he writes scenes of great pain that, hopefully, very few of us can relate to. The scene when Diego remembers his fathers death is one of the best Jay Bell has written. With enough emotion and yearning, that never once ventures towards melodrama, it will hopefully represent a turning point in Diego’s sad story. To see the joy he left behind at 12 years old return to this series will be a great gift to the readers. A character story arc worthy of a 9 book series.
With Anthony’s story taking a dramatic shift in this book, it’s hard to know where the author intends to take this character. I guess in the same way Anthony is confused as to “who he is”, we too will be left unaware as to where its final destination will take us. But in his journey, Jay Bell raises many questions about gender and the gay identify. And we get to see Cameron struggle with all this as he worries whether he can deal with sexual attraction when Anthony’s sexuality and gender identity cross paths. Questions that are rarely dealt with in gay literature.
Which brings me back to why this series isn’t more popular than it is. As here is an author who is raising so many issues that face young people today as they did back in the 1990s. He’s set them against a backdrop that speaks as much to the older reader as it does to the younger one. With entertaining stories told by compelling characters in an emotionally intelligent way, it makes it hard to put these books down. And it makes it even harder to have to wait for the next volume to be released. Like an impatient 4 year old waiting for Christmas day to arrive, I find myself stomping my feet in frustration when a book comes to an end, and then “counting the days” until next one is released and the doors to Pride High once again swing open.
4.25 Stars
September 15, 2024
I’m trying to break up my to-read pile by picking up to eight books at once and reading them all together, so as a result I’m sitting with each book longer than normal. Sometimes that impacts my impression and sometimes not. What I think I took away from Green was a sense that this was less a book and more a continuation. We began a second school year in this universe, and the ending will lead naturally into Blue.
I get this is how the series works. For whatever reason, it just jumped out at me more this time, and is certainly different from the Something Like series which told a massive journey in each book. I for one am truly enjoying the focus. Of course, we get some soap opera like plot twists and conveniences here and there, but that’s part of the fun, and we got those in the last series as well.
While the Diego/Mindy/Ricky plotline and the Silvia/Omar (spelled Sylvia a couple of times - save your editions!) storyline seems to be slowly moving in a singular direction, I felt like Anthony’s storyline really shined here. Who he is, the skin he feels comfortable in, and the limits on his expression in the 1990s was really well written, and the way the characters react has a lot of possibility for the future of the series. Cameron, who loves Anthony any goes to great lengths to protect him, is the least comfortable with Anthony’s makeup, wig and dress. What I assume will be their temporary pact on it comes almost like a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy where Anthony images he’s more comfortable in his mind and Cameron doesn’t have to see it. Omar, on the flip side, is very comfortable with Anthony.
Given the Ben/Tim presence, I wonder if that’s the direction we’re headed, although Sylvia and Omar are as strong as they’ve been. Narratively, I hope we get a bit of a twist there. Omar had a lot of growth in the past two books in regards to what he deserves and how Silvia treats him, and we have sort of a comedy of errors thing going on now, meaning they could have stayed together if not for plot devices. If they do end up back together, I hope there’s a journey for the characters. Diego and Ricky’s journey seems to ahead.
Book 5 has started being released on Patreon, and a such as I want to jump in on that, I love to try to read these in a few days and binge. Let’s see if I can hold out.
The world needs more books like these. Keep it up, Jay.
I get this is how the series works. For whatever reason, it just jumped out at me more this time, and is certainly different from the Something Like series which told a massive journey in each book. I for one am truly enjoying the focus. Of course, we get some soap opera like plot twists and conveniences here and there, but that’s part of the fun, and we got those in the last series as well.
While the Diego/Mindy/Ricky plotline and the Silvia/Omar (spelled Sylvia a couple of times - save your editions!) storyline seems to be slowly moving in a singular direction, I felt like Anthony’s storyline really shined here. Who he is, the skin he feels comfortable in, and the limits on his expression in the 1990s was really well written, and the way the characters react has a lot of possibility for the future of the series. Cameron, who loves Anthony any goes to great lengths to protect him, is the least comfortable with Anthony’s makeup, wig and dress. What I assume will be their temporary pact on it comes almost like a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy where Anthony images he’s more comfortable in his mind and Cameron doesn’t have to see it. Omar, on the flip side, is very comfortable with Anthony.
Given the Ben/Tim presence, I wonder if that’s the direction we’re headed, although Sylvia and Omar are as strong as they’ve been. Narratively, I hope we get a bit of a twist there. Omar had a lot of growth in the past two books in regards to what he deserves and how Silvia treats him, and we have sort of a comedy of errors thing going on now, meaning they could have stayed together if not for plot devices. If they do end up back together, I hope there’s a journey for the characters. Diego and Ricky’s journey seems to ahead.
Book 5 has started being released on Patreon, and a such as I want to jump in on that, I love to try to read these in a few days and binge. Let’s see if I can hold out.
The world needs more books like these. Keep it up, Jay.
May 31, 2025
This book is the "rough patch" of the series. You know that part in stories where everything is falling apart, tensions are high, and everyone is stuck in some kind of conflict? Well, this entire book is that. Constant struggle, constant drama, mostly the exhausting, negative kind.
Now, I don't mind a heavy, conflict-driven story, but this was a big shift from the rest of the series. It's just lows on lows. That doesn't necessarily make it bad, but it does make it weird.
But the plots are finally picking up, and I get why the earlier books were so light-hearted. The author was clearly setting things up, letting characters simmer. And in this one, some of them delivered. Ricky and Diego were okay, but Cameron and Anthony's POVs were way more engaging. They actually leaned into the seriousness of the story instead of that soap-opera vibe from the past books.
The rest of the cast is still lagging a bit, honestly. But after seeing what Cameron and Anthony brought, I'm more optimistic. If the others get that same level of development - something that actually hooks the reader, then maybe this darker tone will pay off.
For now, it's heavy, it's relentless, and it's a gamble. But there's just enough glimmer of okay, this could go somewhere better to keep me curious.
Now, I don't mind a heavy, conflict-driven story, but this was a big shift from the rest of the series. It's just lows on lows. That doesn't necessarily make it bad, but it does make it weird.
But the plots are finally picking up, and I get why the earlier books were so light-hearted. The author was clearly setting things up, letting characters simmer. And in this one, some of them delivered. Ricky and Diego were okay, but Cameron and Anthony's POVs were way more engaging. They actually leaned into the seriousness of the story instead of that soap-opera vibe from the past books.
The rest of the cast is still lagging a bit, honestly. But after seeing what Cameron and Anthony brought, I'm more optimistic. If the others get that same level of development - something that actually hooks the reader, then maybe this darker tone will pay off.
For now, it's heavy, it's relentless, and it's a gamble. But there's just enough glimmer of okay, this could go somewhere better to keep me curious.
August 25, 2025
Once again, I gobbled this book up within two days. Love this series so much.
My one complaint with this book is Anthony and Cameron. I love that Jay Bell is highlighting the conformity we are forced into as society as it pertains to gender and what the world tells us is feminine or masculine.
However, I feel that it is a little unrealistic to expect Cameron to continue to be attracted to Anthony in a sexual way. And I feel like that should be accepted. Attraction isn’t something you can control and there’s nothing wrong with that. I just think it would be a little too “neat” if Cameron was still magically attracted to Anthony the more he leaned into his desires for womanhood. I love them together, but personally I would like to see this dealt with. Maybe they have to move on? I think that would be a realistic scenario.
My one complaint with this book is Anthony and Cameron. I love that Jay Bell is highlighting the conformity we are forced into as society as it pertains to gender and what the world tells us is feminine or masculine.
However, I feel that it is a little unrealistic to expect Cameron to continue to be attracted to Anthony in a sexual way. And I feel like that should be accepted. Attraction isn’t something you can control and there’s nothing wrong with that. I just think it would be a little too “neat” if Cameron was still magically attracted to Anthony the more he leaned into his desires for womanhood. I love them together, but personally I would like to see this dealt with. Maybe they have to move on? I think that would be a realistic scenario.
October 8, 2024
Can a series get any more like a or teen drama soap opera? With at least 3 books to go to finish the rainbow, this book did contribute significantly to the backstories of the ensemble of main characters; something that will obviously drive the overall series plot(s) but it was so mixed with social correctness messaging that at times it was difficult to see whether this was a novel for enjoyment or a treatise on societal politics. Fans of Jay Bell's writing, or the queer youth genre may be encouraged to delve into this book and the series more, but in a time when there is so much to read, and such limited time to ready digest pleasurable reading it is hard to recommend this as the quintessential example of its type to commit to.
September 21, 2024
number 4 along the way
Book 4 continues the story of high school students in Pride. There is a constant interaction of students. At end of book three there was a major split between Diego and Ricky, and in this book attempts are made for the two of them to get back together. Relationships are realigned and new relationships are started. Very much like life in a real high school. The end of this book creates an intriguing quest about what Anthony is going to do. I am sure we will learn in book 5, now we wait.
Book 4 continues the story of high school students in Pride. There is a constant interaction of students. At end of book three there was a major split between Diego and Ricky, and in this book attempts are made for the two of them to get back together. Relationships are realigned and new relationships are started. Very much like life in a real high school. The end of this book creates an intriguing quest about what Anthony is going to do. I am sure we will learn in book 5, now we wait.
November 26, 2024
3½/5
Follow-up to Pride High: Book 3 - Yellow (#78, 3½/5). Time continues to pass in the town of Pride, Kansas, in 1993. The students learn more about themselves and each other.
Another decent instalment, and I'll keep reading - assuming the author will complete the rainbow. This time there's a sprinkling of new side characters, with some gender-questioning in the mix too. The real 1993 was never as queer as this in Kansas.
Follow-up to Pride High: Book 3 - Yellow (#78, 3½/5). Time continues to pass in the town of Pride, Kansas, in 1993. The students learn more about themselves and each other.
Another decent instalment, and I'll keep reading - assuming the author will complete the rainbow. This time there's a sprinkling of new side characters, with some gender-questioning in the mix too. The real 1993 was never as queer as this in Kansas.
December 27, 2024
Let there be no doubt in your mind how Jay Bell worked out his feelings about the 2024 election 😂 Troy is Trump and his playbook through and through. Cathartic, if disturbing in how close this plot line is to life.
Otherwise a lovely next chapter catching up with a bunch of characters I love more with each entry.
Otherwise a lovely next chapter catching up with a bunch of characters I love more with each entry.
December 9, 2024
Another great story from the Pride High universe! Bell always does a fantastic job world building and creating relatable characters. Those familiar with Bell's other series (Something Like) already know how great his writing is. Also Talia Carver is a great narrator!
December 16, 2024
A great continuation of this epic story. My guess is that Book 5 will be called Blue. This book ended half way through the school year, so I am confident there will be a Book 5. Very much looking forward to the next chapters in the lives of my favorite HS students.
February 1, 2025
Amazing Book
I waited for this volume for a long time, and it didn't disappoint. It's a great story that brought out a lot of emotions and laughter. I really enjoyed reading this book 😊
I waited for this volume for a long time, and it didn't disappoint. It's a great story that brought out a lot of emotions and laughter. I really enjoyed reading this book 😊
June 30, 2025
courage and anxiety
Yet again such mixed emotions, Ricky and Diego, Anthony and Cameron. Troy’s hatred
Mindy looking for love and all the other characters who bring alive this well crafted tale. What an Author, I applaud your brilliant storytelling.
Yet again such mixed emotions, Ricky and Diego, Anthony and Cameron. Troy’s hatred
Mindy looking for love and all the other characters who bring alive this well crafted tale. What an Author, I applaud your brilliant storytelling.
September 13, 2024
Much better than book #3. Diego Gomez resumes to be the only interesting character with potential for depth and exploration, all his friends blurring to the background
September 28, 2024
love this series
It took me a while to find these books, I have read all four now. Love the characters. I can’t for the next book!
It took me a while to find these books, I have read all four now. Love the characters. I can’t for the next book!
January 13, 2025
he's done it again
March 11, 2025
I am enjoying this series and this book did not disappoint. I wish he focused more the characters I like and want to know more about but I get that we need the whole picture of the band of misfits.
May 16, 2025
It appears this review also didn't go through. Maybe I forgot to click something?
Anyways, this book continues and man has it been a wild year. Hardly anyone has been the same and that's a good thing. I don't know how Jay Bell does it, but he always finds a way to help these characters evolve. It comes so naturally.
I may have even shed some Happy tears at the ending.
Anyways, this book continues and man has it been a wild year. Hardly anyone has been the same and that's a good thing. I don't know how Jay Bell does it, but he always finds a way to help these characters evolve. It comes so naturally.
I may have even shed some Happy tears at the ending.
May 22, 2025
Easily the best one in the series so far. All the characters have grown into themselves and, for a book with eight POVs, all of them are equally fun to follow. :)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews