Review by Booklist Review
Ariana's parents don't trust therapists--not for their struggling marriage and not for their selectively mute daughter, who can only speak when she feels safe. Ari, who's pretty sure she's autistic, expresses herself primarily through clothes. When popular Luis Ortega, who doesn't care that she never talks, befriends her, Ari finds herself head over heels. But when they have sex, Ari can't quite figure out what happened--she never told Luis no, but she didn't say yes. Then the rumors start, and a note from someone who says Luis hurt them, too, appears in her locker. As she starts to understand that what happened wasn't an accident, she also realizes that she's not powerless--and, more importantly, not alone. While National Book Award finalist Reyes (The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, 2022) has created something of a one-note villain in Luis, the character is far less important here than the people who have survived him, and watching them (and especially Ari) find their feet and their voices together is the true joy of the book. A valuable addition to shelves.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A teen struggles to contextualize her first sexual encounter in this searing read by Reyes (The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School), which tackles issues of assault and consent. After having sex with 18-year-old classmate Luis Ortega, Ariana Ruiz--an autistic, queer 16-year-old who experiences selective mutism--privately admits that she "hated every second of it." Worse, she feels guilty and ashamed because Luis "didn't even ask me if I wanted to have sex with him. Just kind of assumed," and he began spreading rumors that Ari is willing to sleep with anyone. Ari soon connects with classmates who have also been wronged by Luis, including his ex-girlfriend, Shawni. Together, the teens plot to bring him to justice, all while developing strong bonds and new relationships of their own. Some characterizations occasionally feel over-the-top, but it is easy to find points of connection with this empathetic cast. Via biting prose and insightful discussions of accountability, explicit consent, and what that looks like for one neurodivergent teen, Reyes crafts a thrilling tale of vengeance alongside sensitive depictions of sexual assault aftermath and recovery. Ari is Mexican; supporting characters are racially diverse. Ages 13--up. Agent: Alexandra Levick, Writers House. (May)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Sixteen-year-old Ariana, self-diagnosed as selectively mute and autistic, is thrilled when popular Luis turns his attention toward her. But when he sexually assaults her and then brags about it to his friends ("It's not like she can say no"), Ariana is plagued with shame and self-doubt: "How can I blame him when I couldn't even bring myself to tell him to stop?" Enter the Luis Ortega Survival Club (TLOSC), a group of Luis's former friends and ex-flames, some of whom he also assaulted. They welcome Ariana with talk of revenge; soon genuine friendships bloom, and eventually something more between Ariana and bi member Shawni. Ari wants to expose Luis's crimes but doesn't know if she will ever be ready to make her rape public. Reyes (The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School) empathetically explores issues of consent and rape culture through a neurodiverse lens in this story of self-empowerment. Many readers will see themselves reflected in TLOSC's diverse membership and appreciate Ari's gradual understanding and ownership of her sexuality as she grows closer to Shawni and comes to realize that what happened with Luis was not her fault. (c) Copyright 2024. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Ariana Ruiz had a terrible evening. She's not sure she actually consented to having sex with Luis Ortega, which brings on horrible feelings, including dissociating for hours. Queer Mexican American Ariana is autistic "with a heavy dose of selective mutism," and she's starting to wonder if her silence is precisely what Luis liked. Shawni, Luis' ex-girlfriend, told Ariana to stay away from him only to see them go into a room together at a party. So when Ariana texts Luis, and he agrees not to tell anyone what happened but everyone still seems to know, she assumes Shawni is to blame. Boys start harassing Ariana, and the situation spirals into hellish bullying. And then, she finds a note in her locker reading "me too." The mystery writer and Ariana connect on Tumblr, although Ariana is initially against their suggestion of getting back at Luis. But after learning that he was even more deliberate in his exploitation of her than she realized, she goes to the appointed meeting place. There, she discovers she's not the only one invited: It's a support group for people whose reputations were ruined by Luis. Readers may find that the actual revenge they take feels flat against the violent trauma Luis put each of them through, but the group of teens, who are diverse across many dimensions and were previously socially isolated by Luis' actions, forge new bonds and help each other heal. A fresh story exploring timely issues. (author's note, content warnings) (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
