The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School

National Book Award Finalist * William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist * Goodreads Finalist for Best Teen Book of the Year * Walter Honor Award Winner * Pura Belpré Honor Book * Lambda Literary Award Winner for LGBTQ+ Young Adult

A sharply funny and moving debut novel about a queer Mexican American girl navigating Catholic school, while falling in love and learning to celebrate her true self. Perfect for fans of Erika L. Sánchez, Leah Johnson, and Gabby Rivera.

Sixteen-year-old Yamilet Flores prefers to be known for her killer eyeliner, not for being one of the only Mexican kids at her new, mostly white, very rich Catholic school. But at least here no one knows she’s gay, and Yami intends to keep it that way.

After being outed by her crush and ex-best friend before transferring to Slayton Catholic, Yami has new priorities: keep her brother out of trouble, make her mom proud, and, most importantly, don’t fall in love. Granted, she’s never been great at any of those things, but that’s a problem for Future Yami.

The thing is, it’s hard to fake being straight when Bo, the only openly queer girl at school, is so annoyingly perfect. And smart. And talented. And cute. So cute. Either way, Yami isn’t going to make the same mistake again. If word got back to her mom, she could face a lot worse than rejection. So she’ll have to start asking, WWSGD: What would a straight girl do?

Told in a captivating voice that is by turns hilarious, vulnerable, and searingly honest, The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School explores the joys and heartaches of living your full truth out loud.

She has a foolproof plan to stay invisible. But what happens when the only openly queer girl at school is impossible to ignore?

• A Coming Out Story (in Reverse): After being outed at her old school, Yami is determined to shove herself back in the closet. But faking being straight is harder than it looks.
• An Unforgettable Lesbian Romance: She plans to keep her head down and her heart locked up. Then she meets Bo: the impossibly perfect, openly gay girl who might just be Yami’s undoing.
• Authentic Sibling Relationship: Yami’s number one priority is protecting her brother, Cesar. But at a new school with new problems, keeping him out of trouble is a full-time job.
• Funny and Heartfelt YA: Told with a searingly honest and hilarious voice, this novel tackles family, faith, and first love in a story you won’t forget.