The Luis Ortega Survival Club

by Sonora Reyes

Ariana Ruiz wants to be noticed. But as an autistic girl who never talks, she goes largely ignored by her peers despite her bold fashion choices. So when cute, popular Luis starts to pay attention to her, Ari finally feels seen.

Luis’s attention soon turns to something more and they have sex at a party—while Ari didn’t say no, she definitely didn’t say yes. Before she has a chance to process what happened and decide if she even has the right to be mad at Luis, the rumor mill begins churning—thanks, she’s sure, to Luis’s ex-girlfriend, Shawni. Boys at school now see Ari as an easy target, someone who won’t say no.

Then Ari finds a mysterious note in her locker which eventually leads her to an unlikely group of students determined to expose Luis for the predator he is. To her surprise, she finds genuine friendship among the group, including her growing feelings for the very last girl she expected to fall for. But in order to take Luis down, she’ll have to come to terms with the truth of what he did to her that night—and risk everything to see justice done.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Queer, LGBT, Lesbian, Romance, Fiction

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2023

About the author

Born and raised in Arizona, Sonora Reyes writes fiction full of queer and Latine characters in a variety of genres, with current projects in both kidlit and adult categories.

Outside of writing, Sonora loves breaking their body and vocal chords by playing with their baby niblings, and dancing/singing karaoke at the same time.

Reviews

[manju ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

❝it’s amazing how different wanted touches are from unwanted ones. i don’t feel like I’m sinking or being tangled up in seaweed while i’m drowning. i don’t feel any phantom hands on me burning my skin long after they’re gone. i feel light again, untainted by any complicated feelings of anger or fear. just light.❞

content warning: sexual assault/rape

the word “fiction” is defined as follows:
- literature in the form of prose that describes imaginary events and people.
- something that is invented or untrue.

i know that language is fluid and constantly evolving, and while the above definitions aren’t wrong, they don’t fully encompass what i think they should. these stories may not be “real” — a word that in and of itself cannot be clearly or accurately defined (what does it mean to be real?) — but they often represent some version of the truth; their existence is marked not by their physicalities but by their presence, their subtle manifestations, in the world around us — perhaps we see parts of them in ourselves or in the people we love, but sometimes, these stories tell the truths of those we’ve never met. they may not be “real,” but they live on in the ways that matter.

and this feels especially applicable to the luis ortega survival club, which follows our protagonist, ariana, who struggles with selective mutism. ignored by mostly everyone, she warms up quickly to the first boy who shows her attention and makes her feel special. but he takes advantage of her, knowing that she won’t say no to him because she can’t physically speak the word. and so she’s left reeling, picking up the pieces of herself in the aftermath, feeling hurt and angry while simultaneously questioning whether she has the right to feel that way at all. as she processes what happened, she finds that her experiences with this boy are far from unique.

ariana’s story tells the raw, gritty truth of the world we live in, forgiving toward and favoring men but disparaging of and often cruel to women. it reveals the injustices of the so called system — how girls are shamed for speaking up, blamed for something that wasn’t their fault, and punished for the actions of others. this book sheds light on such an important topic, one that is often glossed over because it makes people uncomfortable. but such are the realities of life. this story may be fiction, but it is the truth so many of us have to confront every. single. day.

ariana represents all the girls out there who’ve dealt with the trauma of SA/rape. she represents the girls who fought back, and the girls who couldn’t. she represents the girls who realized what was happening as it was happening, and the girls who didn’t — or couldn’t — come to terms with it until after the fact. she represents the girls who are full of anger and rage and want retribution. and she represents the girls who are simply exhausted and want to be free of this weight. my heart aches for her, and for everyone who sees themselves in her.

i love that this book explored some heavy themes while managing to highlight ariana’s healing. we see her process her feelings about that night, from accepting what happened to actually wanting to speak about it, both for herself and for everyone who’s been through the same thing. this is a book about not being okay — feeling inconsolable and indignant and like you’ll never be the person you used to be — and it’s a book about slowly working toward being okay, and maybe shedding the skin of who you were in the process.

a playlist (of sorts):
✧ living for the thrill of hitting you where it hurts / give me back my girlhood it was mine first (would’ve could’ve should’ve)
✧ the men start wars yet troy hates helen / women’s hearts are lethal weapons, did you hold mine and feel threatened (history of man)
✧ rain came pouring down when i was drowning, that’s when i could finally breathe / and by morning, gone was any trace of you, i think i am finally clean (clean)
✧ if you hold me without hurting me, you’ll be the first who ever did (cinnamon girl)

—

not the best writing but such a beautiful story 🥹 rtc <3

—

latina rep, queer rep, AND autism rep?? i can already see myself loving this 🤭

[Eva B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!!
Had to put the book down at times bc it was genuinely so good I started to stim with my hands, which is a rare effect for a book to have on me lol. Ariana and her friends were all compelling and so immensely lovable and the way it dealt with trauma was amazing. I loved the autism rep as well <3

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes stories are about incredibly important topics, and The Luis Ortega Survival Club is such a story. The first page immediately pulls you in and makes breathing difficult. What does it mean when you didn’t say no, but definitely didn’t say yes either?

The Luis Ortega Survival Club is a powerful story about consent and figuring out your sexuality. The book is comparable to Tonight We Rule the World. Both stories have an autistic and bisexual main character and a similar theme.

I read the story with a constant ache in my chest, and anger bubbled up from my belly multiple times. At the same time, I rooted for Ari and her friends so much. To get back at Luis, who felt like he had a free pass to assault girls sexually.

When I finished Tonight We Rule the World, I said that book belonged in every school library in the world and needed to be discussed in every classroom, and the same applies to The Luis Ortega Survival Club. Read this book, everyone!

I received an ARC from Harper Collins Children’s Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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[⭑&#x13083; mia [semi-hiatus] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting. so far I‘ve loved all of Sonors Reyes‘s books.

this novel touched me in such a special way. we follow Ariana Ruiz, an autistic, queer teen girl struggling through high school.
one night at a party, she has sex with her boyfriend — without ever giving her consent. because she goes mostly non-verbal through life.
Luis Ortega takes advantage of her muteness.
he comes from a powerful family and gets away with harassing girls regularly.

it‘s such an important story. the way I saw myself in Ari, how she slowly healed from everything she went through, how she found friends in doing so… I teared up several times.

please read this :)

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that can be difficult to read but is also so important. I would definitely read the author’s warnings in the beginning of this book before starting this. This book is heavy and isn’t easy to read. It deals with a lot, there are some lighter moments but the majority of the time it’s difficult.

I’m not 100% sure I’m qualified to write a review for this. I’m not autistic and to my knowledge, don’t have a lot of in-person experience with anyone that is. The neurodivergent rep seemed good to me but someone who is on the spectrum might have other things to say.

Ariana (Ari) is self-diagnosed autistic (her parents don’t believe in therapy) and is also selectively mute. Because she doesn’t speak, she’s been mostly ignored by the other students at her school. She’s desperate for attention when Luis starts noticing her. Luis eventually date rapes Ari (it is not on page) and she’s later confused about how she’s supposed to feel about it and him.

She receives an anonymous letter saying there are others that want to get back at Louis for the wrong he’s done to them as well. This group and their relationships with Ari and each other was my favorite part of this book. The group is diverse and Luis doesn’t do the same thing to do all of them. It was interesting what they had in common and how he used it against them when he did do whatever it is he does to them. But each of them respected Ari and her boundaries. Some had different boundaries of their own and I thought it was cool how they learned to mesh with each other.

The romance was something else that I liked. It’s not at the forefront but it is sweet and important for Ari. This is Ari’s coming of age story and I liked how she accepted her feelings and how to deal with them given she’s not had much, if any, prior experience. I also liked how the other person found different ways to communicate with Ari since she doesn’t speak much.

My only complaint is Luis and how much time/space he took up. He’s lurking on every page it felt like and I wanted to be done with him. Whether it was the group talking about him, Ari thinking about him or him actually being present, I just felt his presence far too much. Which is silly seeing how his name is literally in the title, I know, be here we are.

This book blew me away and I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC from Harper Collins Children’s Books / Balzer+Bray via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[JulesGP · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m always on the search for new queer Latinx books so I was looking forward to this story. I read the author’s first book, The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, and loved it. Highly recommend that one if you have not read. Unfortunately, The Survival Club is nowhere near as good. It’s the story of a group of teenagers at a high school who plot to gain justice against a fellow student, Luis Ortega, a serial predator and rapist.

Firstly, my favorite aspect and the strongest part of the book is the portrayal of the main character, Ariana. She is neurodivergent and also has selective mutism. Her character is vibrant, her choices are real and sometimes flawed but it is a solid depiction. I kept thinking, what a really interesting character.

I think the initial idea of a story giving voice and power to the people who have suffered under Luis was a good idea, but the execution does not work. The non-stop focus on the group’s hatred of Luis prevents any other storylines and it becomes tedious. Some of the group’s actions taken against Luis also do not make sense in the context. One thing that works is a brief scene where Ariana and Shawni attend a dance battle. For a moment, they are themselves and the story pops. Less Luis and more scenes in the lives of Shawni, Angel, Jasmine, and Nina would’ve added dimension. There is also a weird subplot about Ariana’s parents’ dysfunctional marriage which seems out of place in a book focusing on young people and their struggles. Regardless, I will continue to look forward to future books by this author.

I was given an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Celine Ong · Rating 5 out of 5]

something special about being in your 20s and finding a ya novel that hits too close to home

[Claude's Bookzone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that has you baying for blood. A powerful YA book about rape culture and the ways rapists silence their victims. Another young adult novel that tackles a huge number of issues. I didn't feel overwhelmed by them as they were written in a respectful way and each had enough airtime as to justify their presence in the story. There is also a wonderfully diverse array of characters: POC, LGBTQIA, Autism, ADHD, Selectively mute MC. It is a difficult book to read as there are so many victims and, yet again, a person with status and connections is able to avoid facing consequences for their actions. I loved the friendship dynamics as the Luis Ortega Survival Club members bonded of their shared trauma and devised a plan to bring their attacker to justice. Highly recommend but read the content warnings first and check with readers about their ability to deal with these topics.


CW: rape (off-page) slut-shaming, extra-marital affair, victim blaming (internal and external), anxiety, drugging, bullying (in person and cyber)

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Both a scathing critique of rape culture and a demonstration of the power in finding community and support through found family, The Luis Ortega Survival Club is an incredible sophomore novel from Sonora Reyes and I'm excited to see what she comes out with next.

[Keya · Rating 2 out of 5]

You see that plane crashing? Yeah, it was full of my expectations.
It's been soo long since I read a genuinely good book 😭😭 i don't know what to do.

This book was average. I went into this book looking for some mastermind revenge plan and badass vibes but no. On the contrary, the 'revenge' part of the book took a setback and it seemed as if it was just a subplot.

Secondly, I liked that the author supported inclusiveness and wrote a unique main character, one who can't talk until they're comfortable and talks through typing. Who only likes to be touched if warned beforehand. It was really interesting to read about it at first but it one point it got soo unrelatable, I lost interest.

I was genuinely skimming by the end, which is never a good sign 😔😔

I guess it's time to say hello to a book slump 😭😭

***
Setting out with really high expectations because the plot sounds just *chef's kiss*

[Anniek · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Ariana gets raped at a party, she doesn't realize it was rape at first. She knows she didn't say yes, but she also didn't say no, so she felt like it was, at least in part, her own fault. Soon after though, she comes into contact with an account named TLOSC, The Luis Ortega Survival Club, who tells her she's not alone, and they might be able to figure out a way to get revenge. What follows is an incredibly powerful and empowering story of a group of survivors taking back agency and control, and forming close friendships along the way.

Ariana is a main character you will adore from the first page. She's autistic and has selective mutism, meaning she can only speak when she feels safe, which is only when she's at home. Because of this, she's always struggled to connect with her peers and form friendships, and this has left her isolated in school. A perfect target for Luis, so when he pays attention to her, she feels flattered and accepted.

It was amazing to see Ariana form genuine friendships and connections in the aftermath of this. The solidarity among this group of teens was so strong, and so great to read. Honestly they all deserve the world.

You might be hesitant to read this as it discusses a really heavy subject, and of course you should be careful and decide for yourself if it's safe for you to read this. But to give you an idea of what to expect, I never felt like this book was too heavy to read, because it felt really well-balanced. There's so much friendship and solidarity, and an adorable sapphic romance. There is a lot of discussion of sexual assault, but nothing is graphically discussed, and I felt like it was always handled sensitively. Obviously I'm only one person, but hopefully this proves helpful to know if you're on the fence.

[Megan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Luis Ortega Survival Club is a book that is equal parts so important and needed, while simultaneously incredibly difficult to read. To anyone who has difficulty reading about sexual assault and r*pe, I would caution you about reading this one. If it is something you can read though, I can’t recommend it enough. This book examines consent, especially when it comes to those who are non-verbal, something I feel hasn’t been discussed nearly enough. It also discusses what someone might be feeling after being assaulted by someone, and how feelings can get muddled and confused. It’s something I think all teens who are able to, need to read, and something that should be taught in school. There are so many important lessons to be learned when reading this book.

First, I want to talk about Ariana’s autism. She doesn’t have an official diagnosis because her parents won’t take her to a doctor, but after a lot of research, she decides that autism fits her and helps her understand herself better. Self-diagnosis is valid and I’m so glad this book included that! There are a lot of reasons why people can’t get a diagnosis, and if a person has done significant research and has decided that self-diagnosing themself helps, then shouldn’t we be glad about that? No one should ever be made to feel less than because they can’t access a diagnosis. There aren’t a lot of examples of self-diagnosis in media, so having this is a great next step.

Additionally, Ari is non-verbal a lot of the times. She calls it selective mutism since she can talk in places she feels comfortable and with those she trusts. A really important part of The Luis Ortega Survival Club is the fact that Ariana is r*ped because she, as her abuser puts it, “can’t say no.” A lot of disabled people are taken advantage of and abused because of this. It’s something that is so real and that happens every day. We need to be talking about it more. Autistic people especially are often taken advantage of because we have trouble reading social cues. A lot of the time, we might not even realize we’re being harassed or assaulted because we misread the situation. This is really dangerous and something abusers tend to take advantage of. Because of this, books like The Luis Ortega Survival Club are super important because they bring awareness about this and help us know what to look for.

I can’t tell you enough how important this book is. Yes, it was hard to read. Ariana goes through a lot in the story, and most of the time, people don’t believe her, even when they’ve witnessed something with their own eyes. It made me so angry, not just because it was happening to her, but because it happens all the time in real life.

That’s not to say that the Luis Ortega Survival Club was all anger and sadness, though. Ari has a group of friends that she grows with during this book that I absolutely loved. Their dynamic wasn’t what you’d expect, but it felt like a safe place in what to them was a chaotic environment. They were able to be there for each other and provide a shoulder to lean on at all times.

Ari also has a romance with one of the other characters. These two warmed my heart so much. They were perfect for reach other, and that character (I don’t want to name in case of spoilers), was so understand and accommodating of Ari’s needs without Ari ever asking her to be.

Additionally, the ending left me with satisfaction and a huge smile on my face. Maybe it’s not the most realistic outcome, but it’s the kind of outcome that I wish we could hope for more often. It’s the justice that Ari and her group of friends deserved.

Truly, I’m so glad that this book exists. If you haven’t read it yet, you absolutely need to.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book comes with trigger warnings that strangely enough, in the advance review copy I read, are at the end. Hopefully, in the final version, they’re at the beginning. The story deals with rape culture and sexual harassment, among other issues.

The Luis Ortega Survival Club opens on sixteen-year-old Ariana leaving a party where she had sex for the first time, hated it, and made an enemy of the nicest girl ever after she told her to stay away from Luis, which obviously Ariana didn’t.

This is not an easy story to read and it feels as if the author (who recently won a Lambda Literary Award for The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School) put all their focus and energy into writing about the painful topics they tackle with sensitivity. They nailed that part, which makes this book easy to recommend, even though in the process, the characters didn’t get as deep and layered as they could have been. With the exception of Ariana, who is a great character. She’s probably autistic but hasn’t been officially diagnosed because of her parents’ wariness towards big pharma and, by extension, doctors. Her selective mutism is depicted very well, as is the ambivalence of feelings that come from having someone act as if they cared and then take advantage of you.

Luis is the only one who’s ever really talked to Ariana at school. He’s always been nice to her, until he assumed she wanted to have sex with him, which she kinda did, maybe. She was in sensory overload from the party so who knows. Ariana is so used to not understanding the world and why people act the way they do that it takes her a long time to realize what has happened to her that night doesn’t only feel wrong, it is (ital) wrong.

I wish the other characters involved in the revenge plot – Shawni, Jasmine, Nina, Angel – were as well-written. They each have a different voice, and they all seem interesting beyond their shared hatred of Luis, and that’s what’s missing from the book. I’d have gladly exchanged more time with them against almost everything having to do with Ariana’s parents.

Besides Ariana’s character, what I enjoyed most is the coming together of the group, the strength in numbers, and the friendship. 3.5⭐️

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars

[Alaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

standing ovation! luis ortega is lucky he’s a fictional character

[elly · Rating 2 out of 5]

hello hello my dear ellynators (copying jane and giving y'all a name).🤭I read this, not only because im a whore for new releases, but also because it is advertised to be very “John Tucker must die”-retelling/vibes (which it is) and I LOVEEEEE that movie with a burning passion❤️‍🔥idk something about girls uniting to take down disgusting men is so empowering to me!🥺

this book was... NOT bad. I truly enjoyed some things, but obviously not enough to give it more than two stars...... I wanna dig in and explain how I felt about this book and why I rated it the way I did!🤫

WRITING
MHMMMMM... idk what to say cause frankly the writing felt sort of flat to me??? I was bored in the beginning, than got hooked at about 30% in and was bored again when we reached about 60%... I felt like the conversations and action were quite repetitive and I just couldn't get that hooked to the story.🥴

what i admire about the writing (or more so message) about this book, was how Reyes showed, how important consent is when doing the nasty / when doing anything at all! the topics tackled in this are very relevant and I love how it was incorporated in this story. (if you read this please check the trigger warnings beforehand)


PLOT
this is where I struggled.😞
as I said before, "John Tucker must die" might be one of my favourite movies ever, because I loved the dynamic between the characters and the girls teaming up to take down a man.
I loved the idea of this book, especially because it isn't just a retelling of the movie, but also calls out rapists and the effect they have on people. I also "liked" how the rape was excused as "its not like she can say no", meaning the selective mutism of the mc sort of "blocked" her from talking and saying she doesn't want to sleep with him. Consent is very necessary, and just because she doesn't say the words, does not mean she wanted it! The person she slept with was aware of it, which is why he kind of bragged about her not even being able to refuse him. 🙄😞

HOWEVER, while the core idea of this plot was what rlly got me to read, I must say I was kind of dissatisfied with the development of it.... the beginning was quite slow and it took about 30% to "assemble" the group, but I didn't loose hope then yet! I got hooked right when they met and truly believed id love this book... sadly, as I said about the writing, the plot felt flat to me and the "revenge arc" didn't last as long as I excepted. Other stuff, as the dance competition, happened instead, which obviously added to the romance?😅

I also felt like the parents side plot and their struggles didn't add much to the story... like I know it was there to add to Arianas character and her problems, but I feel like the r*pe was already enough to deal with and the parents side plot was just kinda unnecessary and took away a lot of pages that could've been spent on foccussing on how Ariana felt about what happened to her and how she feels about it...🫠


CHARACTERS
okay props to the diverse friend group! not only did they have various ethnicities, but there were also characters struggling with certain disabilities. The main character, a neurodivergent (autistic) girl, that struggles with selective mutism! Ive read books with autistic mcs before, but I never read about selective mutism, and I fear I didn't even know that much about it... im glad the author incorporated this into the story, since not many books do that and it is a struggle a lot of people have to live with on the daily!

While there was so much about Ariana and her struggles, I just couldn't get connected to the other characters, since it felt like I barely got to know them (not even the love interest). I feel like I learned more about Arianas parents and their feelings, than about the friends... While I did like how occasionally we got to see a bit about them, like Angel being neurodivergent aswell, and Jasmine being worried about how others would feel about her and Luis, I just felt like I didn't learn enough about them to form any opinion on them, if that makes sense... like they were sort of... just there?☹️

RELATIONSHIPS
okay first of, the people that know me also know found family is my all time favourite trope. I started this expecting that, and it DID give me that. A friend group, so different from each other, sharing one "common enemy" and bonding through their individual experiences with him! I wished we could've seen more of the individual relationships in the group and their development...
I loved Ariana and Angel bonding over how they're both neurodivergent, but I just wished I saw this kind of bonding between the other relationships too..😞
I did really like how supportive and understanding everyone was about Arianas disorder! for example, Angel giving her a fidget spinner and making sure she knows its okay to be stimulating, or Shawni always having paper and pen ready, so Ariana can participate in conversations and feels included!😭

I just wish the individual relationships were explored more idk...

I also didn't feel much attachment about the main ship, Shawni and Ariana. I can't really tell what the reason behind this is, but maybe I just didn't like the romance subplot kind of taking over the main "revenge" plot and therefore didn't even give Ariana the break to figure out who she is for herself, before jumping right back into the next romance (don't get me wrong, I believe Shawni is right for her, but maybe not at this time, as Ariana is still "healing/processing" what happened with Luis and her).🤫


FINAL WORDS
I don't really know what to say... like I LOVE the idea of this book, but I just couldn't get attached and everything felt flat to me... I feel like I won't even remember the names of the characters in this book by the end of the year, which shows my attachment to them...😭😭
Its not a bad book overall, like I don't hate it, I was just very bored reading this, but I do think others might enjoy this a lot more than I did!😙🫶🏽

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Libby app,still prefer Overdrive *
----

Narration: Very good 👍🏼!

Loved that there was an autistic main character :)

Loved all the characters (with one exception) , wanted to hop in there and hangout with them, help them.

Tough to read at times but very important. Would suggest reading the author's warnings ⚠️ in front to decide if this is right for you.

There was a variety of topics in here but they are handled well, and are balanced story-wise (not sure how else to say it)

I love how everyone bonded over what happened to them because of Luis and were there for each other.

The ending had me silently cheering and dancing internally (was driving 🚗 for work).

I love how different types were represented here:). (That phrasing came out better in my head)

The scene with Manny's mom spanking him and making him apologize to Ari.. that cracked me up so much! 🤣


Only thing I will say is I would have loved to see more of each person's private lives. Not a complaint:)

[rachelle (m00dreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Sonora Reyes has done it again. After The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School I knew they were gonna be someone to watch out for but TLOSC cemented them as one of my auto-read authors for contemporary YA fiction.

They tell difficult stories without glossing over what makes them so, but also without the angst porn.

TLOSC is powerful and punchy precisely because at its core is an unwavering hope. They delve into neurodivergence, sexuality, abuse, complicated family dynamics, all with a rock-solid understanding of what these issues and themes entail when interwoven. But through it all they don’t lose sight of their audience and the story they’re intent on telling.

Also it’s so refreshing when teenagers in books meant for teenagers actually ACT like teenagers. Another kudos for that.

~

I'm 3/4 through the author's debut The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School and after just now reading the blurb to this incoming release, I'm already absolutely sold.

[Joiya Morrison-Efemini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an important read for teens of all genders. They are figuring sexulality out and they are all confused about consent. Consent can be complicated becasue some people have a hard time understanding that yes to some sex acts is not yes to others. And when a partner is hesitant to say, "No," things can go awry. This books shows the importance of asking even before doing something as "innocent" or "simple" as hugging or holding hands. It lets readers know that our bodies are ours - to give or hold back as we see fit. And, when someone takes without our consent, it's wrong. There should be no shame for the victim. And repeate perpetrators should be punished. Rapre culture is real and it is dangerous. I think Reyes did exactly what she intended - to address these issues with sensitivity and care.

[jagodasbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️⭐, she just gets me, yknow?🥹🫶

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving and empathetic YA #ownvoices story about a neurodivergent, selectively mute teen girl who is raped at a party and bands together with fellow victims to get revenge on the boy who took advantage of them!

Perfect for fans of books like Margot Mertz takes it down or One, two, three by Laurie Frankel and good on audio narrated by Elisa Meléndez. I really loved the autism and neurodiversity rep - the FMC is so relatable and authentic!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuuuuck this book is so good.

Sonora Reyes does it AGAIN!

This book has trigger warnings a mile long, but fuck this book is so good.

I liked that in addition to how Reyes handled the really, really sensitive topics of sexual assault, rape, emotional abuse/manipulation and slut shaming, they also feature tough relationships with parents, especially codependent mother-daughter relationships.

Found friends/family, revenge, and coming of sexuality.

A must read, but enter with caution and good head space.

[adey౨ৎ {not too active} · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I personally found this book a bit of a slog, I can see how its story and characters could deeply connect with others, especially those who have experienced similar situations. Despite my own experience, I don't want to discourage others from reading it, as it could be a meaningful read for many.

So what is the book about?
We journey with Ariana, a girl who grapples with the harsh reality of being raped by someone she trusted. She bravely joins a group of other victims to expose the perpetrator for the scoundrel he is.


Why didn't this work for me?
NGL, I don't know. This story is so important, and it could help sa survivors feel more seen (I do not have any experiences remotely close to the ones in the book, so idk if it's accurate at all). Still, I feel like the story was just very, very tedious, and we didn't really do that much throughout. I'm not one to say that we have to have a really captivating plot in a book, but this story really lacked one, in my opinion, especially since I couldn't connect to the characters.

Also, we introduced so many weird plotlines, and none of them were really portrayed well enough and just felt flat to me. For example, the romance between Shawna and Ariana was mid-af. I never once felt like I could see why they were falling for each other; this book felt somewhat cold and cut off.

Anyways I'm diasappointed with this one, I felt like it could have been a really meaningful story.

[Louis Muñoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Difficult one to rate/review. Ultimately going for 4 stars, even though it's closer to 3 stars, "I liked it," for me.

Some of what I really liked: LOTS of representation: Neurodivergence, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ characters, and more. A main character, Ariana, a/k/a "Ari," that I really liked and rooted for, as well as the crew that emerged to support her. A lot more to like, but to me, the biggest plus was the brave tackling, by the author and by the characters, of rape, particularly date rape, slut-shaming, bullying, and other important and too common issues.

Unfortunately, the way that the myriad maze of legal issues involved above is handled just didn't ring quite right, or true. To say more would be to give out spoilers, but let's just say that I found the denouement and the epilogue to not quite work, both as a piece of fiction and as a reflection of real life. And certain subplots, like the one involving Ari's parents, left certain revelations hanging in the air, and thus ended up feeling, I'm not sure, superfluous, at best, or not particularly revealing or needed? Lastly, Ari is autistic and in many other ways, isolated, and not for nothing, a teenager, so it could make sense that she is not always able to read signals and cues like most of us could, at least hopefully. However, some of her assumptions and misunderstandings along the way just didn't always work for me, the reader.

So, lots of mixed, not always positive feelings, but because the book tackled such insidious topics as rape culture, and because this is in many ways an empowering book, not just for victims but also those around them, I'm going with that higher rating and also recommending the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

P.S. I decided to try the Book Riot “Read Harder” Challenge for the first time, and this is my first completed task for 2024. Ironically, it's the last one, number 24, which is choosing a task from a previous year. (Technically, it's a task you're supposed to repeat from a previous year.) The task I chose was #13 from 2019, read "a book by or about someone that identifies as neurodiverse."

On a side note, I've decided to take on this year's bonus challenge, to complete all the tasks with LGBTQ+ authors!

[acorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important, powerful, uplifting

Ariana looses all hope and connection after she is sexually abused by Luis Ortega. Suddenly, she is introduced to The Luis Ortega Survival Club; a group of students who have all been hurt by Luis. The group forms a plan to ruin Luis's reputation while dealing with their own complicated emotions and relationships.

Reyes creates such genuine characters, I loved everyone in this book!! All the themes in the story were discussed in a vulnerable and real way. I was immersed in the plot and Ariana's life the whole time. I'm so glad I read this!! The topic is definitely intense, so please read with caution if it seems triggering.

[Grapie Deltaco · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly emotional and deeply important novel for teens that explores the various ways that the trauma from sexual assault manifests, how abusers stay in power, and how vital community is in taking that power back.

I think things start to feel a bit distracted and overwhelming when we have the conflict surrounding Ariana’s parents on top of the friendship of this main group being built, a sapphic love story being developed, and the build up to justice but, overall, it remains as a novel I wish I had when I was in high school.

Sonora Reyes is an expert in making me boohoo over fictional characters.

CW: recurring mentions of off-page rape, exploration of trauma related to sexual assault/rape/emotional abusive partnership, bullying, brief moments of sexual harassment, infidelity

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading books about neurodivergent characters so clearly written by neurodivergent authors feels like such a comfort. Sonora Reyes's writing feels like a hug.

Poignant and incredibly authentic, it’s one that had me sobbing both happy and devastated tears. It touches a nerve. I desperately need people to read this book, cause it is that GOOD.

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming, devastating and empowering story of friendship, neurodiversity, rape culture and the power of raising your voice and sharing your story.

Sonora’s writing, despite exploring painful topics, is so incredibly enjoyable and readable. This has the power to be an incredible important books for teens.

[akacya ❦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 reads: 157/350

disclaimer: i received an arc from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.

content warnings (provided by author): bullying, slut shaming, rape culture, sexual harassment, rape (off-page)

we start this book with ariana, our mc, driving home from a party, where she just had sex with the guy she’s liked for a long time, luis. but she’s very confused with the whole situation, because while she didn’t say no, she also didn’t say yes. but before she can even process what happened, she starts getting slut shamed and sexually harassed online and at school. she then finds a group of other people luis has wronged in various ways and together, they decide to enact revenge.

first i just wanna say it’s sooo cool that ari is autistic + has selective mutism since that’s what i did my capstone project on (the intersection of autism and selective mutism)! while i’m not all-knowing about these conditions, i thought that they were represented so well in ariana. and i loved how ariana wasn’t magically cured of her selective mutism by the end of the book, though it was very nice to see her feel more comfortable with her group and begin talking in front of them.

i also think this book explored the topics at hand so well. ariana has trouble coming to terms with what happened to her and has this internal battle between what luis did to her and the attraction she still felt toward him. also, she has a complicated relationship with her mom, which really made me emotional with how it played out.

overall, this was an amazing book that i will not soon forget. i recommend to anyone comfortable with the content.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will always been drawn to books that have neurodivergent representation.

Ariana is mostly non-verbal and is taken advantage of by someone she had a crush on. she didn’t technically say no, but she was also never asked.
She feels alone and isolated and uncomfortable until she is invited to join a group of people who have also been wronged by Luis Ortega. Together, they will take revenge.

Consent is such a difficult topic, especially to cover in a YA book, especially with someone who has selective mutism and has different experiences of the world.

I wish the book was longer because nothing felt fully fleshed out and some of the revenge plots felt too easily played out.

I wanted more development of the friend group. If I am told there is found family, I need to feel attached to the characters.

I also felt like Aria’s parent’s side plot didn't add much to the story and either needed to be expanded on or scrapped in favour of developing other aspects.

I think I went into this with too high expectations and it turned out to be kinda disappointing outside the representation.

The sexual assault is not graphically described.

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[Quill&Queer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the tougher subject matter, this story was like a warm hug, not going into graphic detail about what happened to Ari and surrounding her with fierce, loving, wonderful friends who all supported each other and uplifted each other all through the story.

Ari is autistic, and she's one of the first autistic characters I've read where I could really see the similarities to myself. I loved Ari and Shawni's friendship that slowly turned into a romance, and that Luis was part of the story, but the story did not center on him, instead showing Ari and her friend's struggles with their home lives and their hobbies.

Although the ending and the friendship might not have been a realistic portrayal, I didn't care. This story felt so safe, I never once felt like I was going to turn a page and find my favourite characters in a situation they couldn't handle, and I knew they were going to be okay after I turned the final pages.