i received an ARC of this book (my first ever ARC!!!) and i was SO excited because i truly loved reyes’ debut. this book truly did not disappoint! i went into it, initially getting a “john tucker must die” feel but then it took a turn in the best way imaginable and i just can’t get over how much i loved this book. ari was an amazing protagonist and i saw so much of myself in her. nothing in this book felt out of place or unnecessary, it was perfectly written and this story was told with such grace. i’m so thankful i got to read this when i did

Sonora Reyes is just an absolute gem -- I was blown away by THE LESBIANA'S GUIDE TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL, and I wasn't disappointed by THE LUIS ORTEGA SURVIVAL CLUB. Ari is a protagonist you can't help but love, with her big heart and roiling nerves. I loved watching her get more and more comfortable with her newfound friends as they enacted their mission to get revenge on Luis, a grade-A creep. Ari's relationship with Shawni is beautiful and heartfelt, but I loved seeing her friendships with the others develop as well. Reyes is so good at layering complex familial relationships on top of already emotionally complex plots, and Ari's evolving boundaries with her parents was a sight to behold. No notes, frankly! Reyes knocked it out of the park again!

Ahhh so excited to receive this novel! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author!
I just read The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School this month after wanting to read it for some time, and was very excited to see that Sonora Reyes was coming out with a new novel!

Once again, the cover is immaculate. So bright, eye-catching, powerful, and fun! I have to say this novel is one you’ll definitely want to be wary of the trigger warnings for; even though I was, it was still hard to read at times. I enjoyed this book, but for some reason. felt it was missing some of the magic of TLGTCS. Any novel after that one would have had big shoes to fill, but with this novel, I wasn’t as invested as the characters and didn’t feel like we got to know them on as personal a level as we did in TLGTCS. I also unfortunately felt like the ending felt a tiny bit rushed & that this novel wasn’t quite as complete as TLGTCS.

That being said, there were a lot of things I really loved about this one- neurodivergent rep, queer rep, exploration of complicated family issues, the underdogs coming together to triumph over evil! Books like these give me such hope for our future generations.

Thank you so much Sonora Reyes for sending me an ARC!!

Reyes knows so well how to write books where those who have never seen themselves represented, will find something that makes them feel so seen. That is how I felt with their debut and that feeling did not go away and only grew with The Luis Ortega Survival Club. The main character is queer, latine, and autistic, which all play a very important part in her life and are never pushed aside.

I always find it hard to write reviews for books that I truly and genuinely loved. My brain doesn't think of anything other than, "It was great! Please read it!", so I hope that that is enough. It was great! Please read it!

Also, Sonora Reyes please never stop publishing books because I will read every word that you write. There are very few authors that I could say the same for.

I was a huge fan of The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School and was thrilled to see that Sonora Reyes was coming out with a new book. The Luis Ortega Survival Club has a lot of elements that I loved in their previous novel: a supportive and diverse friend group, a slow burn queer romance, and a thoughtfully written main character. I loved watching Ari's growth throughout the novel and could really relate to her anger once she came to terms with what happened to her. It was also really bingeable -- I read this in one sitting!

That said, this book didn't quite have the same magic as Reyes's debut. There were some pacing issues in the beginning and subplots that didn't feel as developed (her mother's infidelity). This also felt more YA, which is obviously fine since that's the audience it's written for, but as a primarily-adult fiction reader, I noticed it more in this book. But I still really enjoyed it, especially the thoughtful autistic representation and found family, and think this would be perfect for teen readers!

5 stars

**HUGE thank you to SONORA REYES THEMSELF(!!!) for granting me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Ariana, who identifies as autistic with selective mutism, is thrilled when popular Luis pays attention to her…until he has sex with her at a party knowing she physically can’t say no. Now the boys at school see her as an object. But when an anonymous note in her locker leads her to an unlikely group of friends (including a girl she can’t help but crush on) who have also been victimized by Luis, Ariana decides it’s time to expose him.

Content warnings: Offpage sex, sexual assault, vomiting, slut-shaming, homophobia, sexual harassment, bullying, cheating, villainizing therapy (challenged), women not being believed, emotionally immature parent

Representation: Autistic queer Latina main character, bi Afro-Latina love interest, non-binary side character, Black side character, multiple other Latinx side characters, multiple neurodivergent side characters

I didn’t think Sonora Reyes would be able to top The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, but they proved me wrong! Between the beautiful dedication (“for the neurodivergent darlings, your brain is lovely and so are you”), delightful characters, and powerful writing, The Luis Ortega Survival Club is genuinely one of my new favorite books.
God, I love the representation so much. I don’t remember the last time I read a book from an autistic person’s point of view, and it was a breath of fresh air. As an autistic person myself, I saw so much of myself in Ariana. It’s clear that Reyes writes from experience – the ways they describe stimming and going nonverbal and struggling to understand others’ emotions are incredibly true to life. I’m also a former journalist, so I love how reporting is Ariana’s passion!
The romance between Ariana and Shawni, while not the primary focus of this book, is beautiful and refreshing. She respects Ariana’s boundaries and, like the rest of their friend group, makes sure that all hangouts are accessible for Ariana. Neurodivergence isn’t something to fix or take advantage of, nor is it an inconvenience; she simply sees it as part of the girl she likes. With the prevalence of misinformation and fearmongering about autism, it’s wonderful to see it normalized.
Despite the heavy plotline and topics discussed, this book is truly a joy. I can’t wait to read whatever Reyes writes next.

First, I want to thank the author for the opportunity to read this book before it's release in exchange for an honest review.
Now onto the review... I read this book in less than 24hrs, then had to take a step back before typing this because of how hard it hit me.
This is an important book. It's a heavy, sometimes painful, often beautiful, very important book. The topics it addresses are more important than ever in our society. It's a book about community and loneliness, about suffering and healing, about revenge and love, about being different and finding your people.

As an autistic woman, I related a great deal to the main character, and the autism was beautifully written, and I'm especially grateful that it was NAMED. The character wasn't just described as "weird" or "quirky" or "being a lot" like it happens too often, but it was written and named on page, right away, that she has autism.
The themes of abuse and consent are addressed in a raw but touching way. the thinking of the main character, her journey coming to terms with what happened, felt especially realistic, and the last part of the book especially heavy.
The writing was compelling and all the secondary characters so touching and attaching. The representation was truly on point, something that I never doubted coming from Sonora Reyes.
This book secured this author as an auto-buy for my collection, and i hope it will do the same for you.

This was such an important read.

All about consent and rape culture with a queer autistic lead. It felt very heavy at times because of the issues that are discussed but was written with care and really showed a lot of different aspects of consent.

I really liked the main characters and really felt for all of them.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an eARC.

This book has firmly solidified Sonora Reyes as one of my auto-buy authors. The amount of effort they exert to make sure their books are diverse and intersectional will always raise the bar for all other books I read! The Luis Ortega Survival Club follows the story of Ariana Ruiz (Ari, for short), as she plots revenge against infamous Luis Ortega, banding together with a group of others who have also been wronged by Luis. However, this synopsis doesn't even begin to skim the surface of the depths of this book.

In a style that I have come to associate with Sonora Reyes, this book tends to jump from topic to topic, in a myriad of different ways. I can absolutely see how this can result a whirlwind of confusion, but as a neurodivergent autistic person myself, this unique writing style deeply parallels my own thought patterns, leading me to devour this book ravenously. From lighter issues (such as sapphic pining or freestyle dancing) to heavier issues (such as infidelity or biphobia), this book handles these topics with care, allowing space for discussion (or criticism) without traumatic over-saturation.

In addition to beautifully compelling writing, this book also contains strong and fierce characters that readers empathize with easily. While Ari is not without her faults, her growth throughout the story is achingly tender, showing the journey of non-verbal autistic girl as she struggles to make friends and stand up for herself. Although there are moments where readers will be frustrated with Ari for her choices or thought patterns, her characterization is handled with a grace that reassures readers that Ari is on a path towards self-betterment.

In case it hasn't been obvious quite yet, I loved this story with all of my heart; everything contained within this book spoke so very very deeply to my soul, and I cannot wait for others to get their hands on The Luis Ortega Survival Club. I would highly, highly recommend this book for all readers, but especially those who are autistic and/or BIPOC!

Sonora Reyes has done it again! This book was raw and important in so many ways. It was difficult to read and difficult to put down. I highly recommend this book!

Sonora Reyes' debut, The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, kicked me in the chest when I read it last year. It's a phenomenal queer YA debut and I highly recommend a read if you've yet to read it.

Reyes' second novel, The Luis Ortega Survival Club, also hit me in the chest, but differently. Although we follow another queer adolescent who is coming to terms with her sexuality, the plot is heavy. Seriously heavy. This book deals with the aftermath of rape and although it's dealt with sensitivity and the event is off-the-page, this left me feeling worn out and sad while reading. This does not take away from the power of this novel though and it's an important read that is executed brilliantly.

A big part of this book is about Ariana's friendships with other victims of Luis Ortega. I loved their group's dynamics and it was heartwarming to follow - particularly in the way they interact with Ariana, who is neurodivergent. If this is the stuff that young adults of today get to read, then I can only imagine how aware and compassionate this future generation will be. A fantastic novel by Reyes which I highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins/Balzer + Bray for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

When we first meet 16 year-old Ariana "Ari" Ruiz, she is leaving Emmanuel "Manny" Roberts' party after just being raped by Luis Ortega, a boy she actually really liked up until then. She got home and tried as hard as she could to scrub away what happened to her, but to no avail; she still felt dirty.

Ari is neurodivergent, although she has never gotten an official diagnosis because her parents don't believe in going to psychiatrists, therapists, or doctors for certain things. She describes herself as "autistic with a heavy dose of selective mutism." She has to be very comfortable around someone in order to talk, often referring to a sea witch that holds her voice captive. Along with this, she also doesn't like to be touched without permission.

Ari gets a note one day in her locker that has "Me too" and the Tumblr handle "TLOSC" (The Luis Ortega Survival Club) written on it. She finds out that she isn't the only one Luis has hurt. Eventually, she decides to take them up on the offer to meet in room 205, discovering who else is part of the support group: Angel (an ex-friend of Luis' that is only there to support Jasmine), Jasmine Mendez, Nina De La Cruz, and Shanaya "Shawni" Rodriguez. At first, Ari has mixed feelings about the revenge the club wants to plan, but that all disappears when she overhears Luis talking to his friends about her, proud of his actions. It was then she knew she was all in on taking him down.

Despite all of this trauma, there is some romance in the air as well ;)

There is a whole side story about Ari's parents. Her mom keeps cheating on her dad with the people she works with. She uses Ari as the very therapist she doesn't believe in seeing, always wanting to hang out with her, and tells her that she is her best friend. Her father is almost never home, working late to avoid the situation at home, but in doing so also keeping himself from Ari in the process.

I really loved this one. The characters were endearing and kept me wanting to come back and read more. I will definitely be recommending my library purchase this once it comes out.

Sonora Reyes has done it again! Her sophomore novel, The Luis Ortega Support Club, is just as phenomenal as her first- perhaps even more so. I was so delighted to get an ARC copy of this from Harper Collins and NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

Ariana is a neuro diverse teenager that wants desperately to be noticed and loved, even if she is often too nervous to speak. When she gets attention from Luis, Ariana feels so happy until he uses her shy personality against her to be intimate. When the rumors start flying all over school, Ariana is devastated. But then she receives an anonymous message from someone who wants to get revenge on Luis. What should Ariana do?

As Ariana tries to learn more about the mysterious message sender, what blossoms is a beautiful and deep group friendship where everyone can be themselves. The found family in this book is one of my favorites I've ever read. I love how Reyes writes believable, loveable, flawed outcasts and brings them together to support each and themselves. I really can't put into words how beautiful Ariana's transformation through trauma is in this book.

And it's not just the sexual assault storyline, there is so much richness and so many layers to this story. Ari struggles to communicate with her mom and dad who are at a rocky point in their marriage. The other friends in the novel have their own very well developed stories and problems as well, and they receive adequate and well written attention too.

The way this novel resolves is absolutely something you have to read to experience yourself. Do they get revenge? Will Luis' pattern of sexual assault be revealed? Will Ari and her friends be silenced by people with more power and influence? What does the future look like regardless of the outcome?

Read this book and soak up Ari's story, don't miss this one friends.

Ariana Ruiz doesn't have many friends and most people pretty much ignore her. Until Luis Ortega. Luis is the most popular guy at school, so Ariana can't believe her luck. She doesn't talk but Luis doesn't mind. After a party were they have sex, Ariana feels pretty confused, she's not mad at him per se but she feels really weird about it and doesn't think she actually wanted it but it's not like he asked... Then, a rumor about it starts in the school and Ariana receives a message about getting revenge on Luis... But is it really what she wants?

I liked this book, it talked about hard subjects that are not easy for me to read about but it was done in a great way. I definitely related to Ariana in a lot of ways and I loved seeing her through her journey. The side characters were great, I loved the whole group though it took me some time to fully distinguish who was whom. I was really into the romance part and I really liked seeing this relationship evolve and grow.
I did feel like the characters read a bit young for their age but I didn't mind. I was not a fan of the parents though, especially the mother and while it did raise some interesting points, the resolution of this situation rubbed me the wrong way. That was the thing that put me off the most in this book, what kept me from giving it more stars.
Overall though, this was really good, I would definitely recommend it and I cannot wait to read more books or stories by Sonora Reyes.

3.5 stars

After loving Reyes's last YA novel, I couldn't wait to crack this one. For me, this one isn't as compelling as its predecessor, but there are still a lot of strong points.

Ari, the m.c., is a neurodivergent teen who does not speak (usually), who finds herself fairly disconnected from others, and who experiences a horrible trauma at the start of the novel. After she is raped by a classmate, Ari struggles to understand what she perceives as her role in the outcomes and how she might proceed in the aftermath. On top of this terrible assault, Ari's also facing challenges at home and at school. Ultimately, it's the thought partnering of several survivors of Luis Ortega that allows them to come together, establish unity and trust, and better understand what has happened to them.

Prospective readers need to be mindful of the various warnings Reyes outlines in the author's note, which include "bullying, slut shaming, rape culture, sexual harassment, and off-page rape." Folks who are sensitive to these topics need to know that the entire novel centers on this content. Reyes clearly brings in many important issues here, and so many readers will find the processing and discussion of these topics applicable and useful.

I did struggle with the pacing a bit for about the first third of the novel, and having not had that experience with Reyes's previous work, this surprised me to some degree. That noted, the characters and situations are compelling, and I'll be recommending this to students with all of the TWs included.

I will be withholding my review until the HarperCollins Union receives a fair contract. That being said please do however check trigger warnings for this as it includes very sensitive topics, don't go in blind like I did.

4.25/5 ⭐️

Sonora Reyes has officially become an auto-buy author for me. They did a magnificent job balancing the hard subjects of rape and SA while also having fun, uplifting moments.

I loved the friendship Ari and the others had created. They all supported each other so much and it was so sweet.

I also adored the way autism was portrayed here. It was so well done and thought out.

Ari and Shawni were so freakin adorable. I loved the way they slowly came to trust each other.

Overall, a fantastic sophomore novel and I’m so excited for it to come out.

TW: ableism, rape (off-page, past), SA (off-page, past)

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 be sobbing both happy and devastated tears. It touches a nerve. I desperately need people to read this book, cause it is that GOOD.

This book immediately caught my attention based on the title, and the premise intrigued me. I love friendship stories and taking down the people who cause harm. I wonder, though, if this is an instance where I’m too old to enjoy this as much because while I see why certain actions were taken and choices made by the characters, it’s hard to condone them. A scene that especially stands out is after Ariana is sexually harassed, the boy’s mother finds out and publicly spanks him and forces him to apologize to Ariana for what he did; I can see how that feels like justice, especially the embarrassment he’s made to feel, but all I could do was cringe. I do think this is an important story and I hope folks who need it find it and are empowered by it, but in the end this was more okay than life altering for me.