Pride High : Book 6 - Purple

Pride High #6

by Jay Bell

Junior year is drawing to a close, but the carefree days of summer have never seemed so far away.

Diego grapples with difficult truths from his past while Ricky tries to keep him from going off the deep end. Mindy juggles two relationships at once as she struggles to decide which boy will win her heart. Cameron is moving to the other side of the country, putting his love for Anthony to the test. Omar feels sidelined when Silvia chooses a new direction for her future. Keisha is still dating the enemy.

Only the magic of prom can save the students of Pride High. Brace your heart and dive back into this romantic and raw series that brings teen drama to life!

Genres: Young Adult, Audiobook, School, M M Romance, Coming Of Age

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2026

About the author

Jay 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.

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m in the minority here. I loved the author’s earlier work. Though most of the characters were teenagers, they felt written for all ages and the characters do grow & age. This series, not so much. This definitely feels targeted to a younger audience which I am not. I will continue reading the books to see the story through to the end.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad we're getting 3 more books with these characters! This series really is Heartstopper with sharper teeth and a 90's soundtrack. I wish I had been in high school with these people. I definitely would have wanted to slap a few of them, but I think I would have made some forever friends too.

[Daniel Ricken · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine (and honestly more obligatory reading due to life stress than usual pleasure reading...but that's on me, not the book). It felt very high school---which to an extent was nice since Bell always captures the mood of the characters in the books, but to another extent meant character development/narrative felt a bit hormonal and constantly changing for the sake of change which made the read sometimes not the most ideal. Looking forward to get the final trilogy of the series and see how everything shakes out for these folks and hoping Bell has a few books more aimed at adults afterwards since he's always a great read.

[André Purenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again JB nails it.

Emotions, adventures, conflicts, rawness and sweetness - it’s all in the Pride High series’ armoury. Just as I thought Bell had surpassed himself in book 5, here comes book 6 with even more love, heartbreak and complications than ever. Exposure-wise the girls (Mindy, Keisha, Silvia) as well as Ricky and Cameron take a tiny step back, while Anthony, Omar and Diego all experience major upheavals in their lives. It’s all tied up in Jay Bell’s uniquely way - like an event packed TV series. Oh, and be prepared to hate Principal Preckwinkle even more than in the previous books. At the end of the book JB announces sequels (plural !!). Hurrah !

[Ben Pound · Rating 5 out of 5]

They just keep getting better

The newest book in the Pride High series will tug at your heart strings, make you smile, and keep you turning page after page until you're done. Jay Bell has crafted the characters in this series so beautifully and Purple takes each of them even further along in a well written and engaging story. I don't want to give any spoilers so I'll leave it there and let you discover your own reasons for loving this book.

Thanks for another great one, Jay. I can't wait for the next.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have truly loved being immersed in this world and cant wait for the next installment. Jay Bell has a such a talent for hitting on the small nuances of real life and the dichotomy of human emotions. This is a true coming of age storie that brings back so many memories and revelations from my teen years in the 90s. Pride High is the most underrated YA series! If you are on the fence about reading this series please take a leap and dive into book one. Proceed with patience and an open heart, you wont regret it. Talia Carver does the narration beautifully as well.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this review on Jay’s Patreon months ago but wanted to log my review. As usual, it’s an outstanding contribution to the series. What stuck with me was a very welcome tie-in to the Something Like series, and the ending, which I won’t spoil. I’m very interested to see where the final third of this series brings us!

[Steven M. Hardwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jay delivers yet again.

Yet again, another installment of my favorite reads. Characters are just as I remember with drama, wishes and dreams to find our own pathways in life. Fun and enjoyable story. What color is next?

[Shawn E Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Great Story 👍

I really enjoy the Pride High book. They bring out my emotions. I keep trying to figure out the twists before they happen and I usually get get it wrong 🤷 Can't wait for the next installment 😊

[Stasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am SO invested in this story. I can't wait to see what happens next!!!!

[FernOfAivery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liking staring into a purple mirror.