2026 Schneider Family Book Awards Honor "This is Sonora Reyes at their absolute best." — Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys From bestselling author Sonora Reyes comes a poignant and searingly honest companion novel to the multi-award-winning The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, following beloved character Cesar Flores as he comes to terms with his sexuality, his new bipolar diagnosis, and more mistakes than he can count. Seventeen-year-old Cesar Flores is finally ready to win back his ex-boyfriend. Since breaking up with Jamal in a last-ditch effort to stay in the closet, he’s come out to Mami, his sister, Yami, and their friends, taken his meds faithfully, and gotten his therapist’s blessing to reunite with Jamal. Everything would be perfect if it weren’t for The Thoughts—the ones that won’t let all his Catholic guilt and internalizations stay buried where he wants them. The louder they become, the more Cesar is once again convinced that he doesn't deserve someone like Jamal—or anyone really. Cesar can hide a fair amount of shame behind jokes and his “gifted” reputation, but when a manic episode makes his inner turmoil impossible to hide, he’s faced with a stark choice: burn every bridge he has left or, worse—ask for help. But is the mortifying vulnerability of being loved by the people he’s hurt the most a risk he’s willing to take? Bipolar Representation: Follows Cesar’s raw and powerful journey through a new diagnosis, from manic episodes and spiraling thoughts to the difficult choice of asking for help. Bisexual Representation: Cesar comes to terms with his sexuality while navigating Catholic guilt and the lingering hope of reuniting with his ex-boyfriend, Jamal. Emotional Honesty: Told with searing honesty, this companion to The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School dives deep into the internal world of a teen boy convinced he doesn’t deserve love.