This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our list for order this year and will recommend it to students.

II will not be posting my review until the HCP Union is heard by HCP and they are no longer on strike.

That said, please heed the author’s note: Please note that this book deals with issues of bullying, slut shaming, rape culture, sexual harassment, and the aftermath of an off-page rape. I have done my best to depict these topics with care and sensitivity. If these are difficult subjects for you, please take care of yourself and know that your mental and emotional well-being come first.

Ariana Ruiz is an autistic girl who struggles with selective mutism. She’s ignored by others for the most part because of how quiet she is. Until Luis starts to give her attention. Luis is a popular guy. He doesn’t care that Ariana doesn’t talk. He likes it, actually. He makes Ari feel seen, like he cares about her. They’re at a party one night where they end up having sex. She didn’t consent, exactly. She didn’t say yes, but she didn’t say no, either. And suddenly, everyone at school knows. Can she finally find her voice and speak out that yes, she was sexually assaulted by Luis? Or will she give in to his charm and let it go?

This book deals with sexual assault, nudes being leaked, people being slut-shamed, etc. If you’ve struggled with things like that in the past, it can be hard to read at times, but the author definitely handled the story with care. Real things happened in it the way they happen in real life.

I also related a lot to the main character, Ariana. I too, struggled with selective mutism when at school and was bullied a lot. It was nice to read a story that I could relate to very well. It’s a very important story to tell, as well. The main character doesn’t say no, and a lot of people seem to think that means they consented, even though they actually didn’t.

I’ve read another book by this author in the past and loved it, and this one definitely did not disappoint. I struggled in a similar situation when I was in school, and I think the author did a great job at making it feel real. I related to Ari so much while reading it. I think this is one of my favorite books I’ve read in a long time.

Thank you so much to Net Galley for sending me a free early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I will be withholding my full review in support of the HarperCollins Union strike, and will share once the Union has been offered a fair contract.

This book was a really fun read. However the cheating plot line with the MC parents felt weird and out of place. Other than that I enjoyed the book.

Sonora Reyes creates another phenomenal protagonist with THE LOUIS ORTEGA SURVIVAL CLUB. I absolutely loved Reyes' first YA novel and this new book is a very strong follow-up. Ariana, the main character, is autistic with selective mutism; she's very aware of what she needs even though she can't always articulate it verbally. It's this reason that Louis Ortega seeks her out. This kicks off the story that then leads Ariana to meet and develop friendships with Shawni and several other people, all of whom has "survived" Louis. Reyes has such a talent in developing complex families and setting protagonists on a journey to building LGBTQIAP+ communities. I didn't want this book to end and would gladly follow Ari and her friends again.

Reyes has done it again. Another beautiful story. This book had such great representation and I believe many can find themselves in someway in this book. I loved seeing a group of such different people coming together. I enjoyed Ariana’s character and was intrigued with every page. I highly recommend.

This book is about an autistic teen who suffers a sexual assault, and the creation of a type of "me too" movement about the boy who raped her. I especially enjoyed this reading because of the autistic representation. As an autistic person afab, I don't see a lot of good representation of autistic women, but this book narrated the autistic, queer, latine experience really well. I could really relate to the main character.

5/5 stars! This book made the broken girl in me ugly cry. The representation in this story was incredibly moving and having an Autistic MC is so important. Reading Ari's experience and watching her build a support system and work through her trauma was EVERYTHING.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

THE LUIS ORTEGA SURVIVAL CLUB is intersectional, autistic & queer John Tucker Must Die meets Laurie Anderson's SPEAK. It's a must read that will immediately draw in readers of realistic or social justice fiction. Includes an unlikely group of friends supporting each other through hardships and successes.

When the whole school thinks they know what happened between Ariana Ruiz and Luis Ortega at that party, Ari starts receiving unwanted attention and rude comments. As an autistic girl with selective mutism, she struggles to speak her truth and struggles even more to understand what happened and who's behind it. As Ari investigates the rumors, she connects with a group of students who have their own reasons to be against Luis Ortega. As they plot their revenge, their lives will be changed forever.

This book is incredibly important to me and will be to many others who had similar abuses that are often ignored. The representation felt real and dynamic, and not merely there for the sake of diversity.

I have written a full review and cannot wait to share it with you all. However, I stand with the HCP union and will not be posting it until they receive a fair contract-- which I am thrilled to see Sonora Reyes support.

I liked this a lot! I particularly thought it was wonderful to have an autistic narrator that wasn't othered or infantilized and whose family and friends met her where she was and made accommodations for her. The ending was a bit abrupt, but the characters really made the story.

i did not realise that this book was published through harpercollins before requesting it. i will not be reviewing the arc i received in order to support the ongoing strike.

I went into this book with the highest expectations after reading The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, and this book still managed to exceed my expectations. I absolutely loved it. The content was really intense, but there were these beautiful moments of connection as the main characters start to build their found family. I really appreciated how all of the challenging issues were handled because it felt so direct even while acknowledging the complexity of each situation. I think this book is amazing and so needed. I liked the world building. I felt like we had a good background of the area and the school without spending too much time getting too detailed. It really helped the plot move forward even when we spend chunks of time experiencing depression with the main character. I also loved the conversations. I felt very immersed in the story and in the world. I read this book really fast because I just couldn't put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen, but I also really wanted to be with Ari while she processed things. It was just so good.

Thank you, Harper Collins Children's Books, for allowing me to read The Luis Ortega Survival Club early.

This reviewer supports the HarperCollins Union. I've read and written a review, but won't be uploading it here or on any other platforms until the HarperCollins Union has a fair contract.

This book is so damn good. Well written, subject matter, handle well, and just absolutely loved everything about it. This book is so so good, and one that I think everyone should read.

Reyes once again succeeds in creating a diverse group of friends who speak to the experiences of many teens who might have been considered outcasts or felt like their stories would never be told. The group forms based on a common goal of taking down a person who hurt them, but actively chooses to become real friends and share more about themselves and grow their connection, eventually expanding beyond the bounds of their mission.

Ariana is great autistic representation, someone who needs alternate communication methods and is supported by those who care about her without question, even when they have other problems. Many autistic teens and even adults are self diagnosed, and the validation in that representation was incredibly affirming. The sub plot of her parents’ relationship was well done as well, and its resolution was satisfying.

This book deals with hard subjects in a thoughtful and careful way. I appreciate that the author does not shy away from depicting teens going through difficult experiences, and allows them to fail in the pursuit of justice before they succeed, as it makes that justice all the more sweet. In the end, Reyes crafted a unique story to their first novel while still maintaining the queer representation that makes their stories important to many.

Anyone interested in reading this book should review the trigger warnings beforehand.

I loved this story and the neurodiverse main character, Ariana, and the insight into her struggles to interact with the world as a whole and develop friendships. She manages to find a group of fellow high schoolers who have also been victimized by a particularly toxic student and they form a support/revenge group of sorts. With their help, Ari is able to confront the reality of what happened to her as well as become a mouthpiece for other victims of Luis.

This was a tough read, but the friendships are so sweetly done and I liked the way Ari's selective mutism was presented and the acceptance of her need for accommodations.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought that the author did a great job portraying neurodiversity, and that the subject of consent was handled well.

What a gorgeous novel full of loveable characters and a storyline that I couldn't put down. This one is a must read!