This was a companion novel/sequel to the Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, and I think I liked this one slightly better.

The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar was a YA, but if felt less like a YA to me, especially compared to the companion novel. As this one was definetly more heavy as it explores religious based guilt and internalized homophobia, mental illness, suicidal thoughts, and the story really put you in the head of someone having manic episodes with delusions. The themes were all handled well, but I do think the book could be very triggering to certain people. So I would recommend paying attention to content warnings.

As a lesbian who went to catholic school and struggled with religious based internalized homophobia and mental health issues because of it, Cesar's story was surprisingly a bit more relatable to my middle and early high school aged self than Yami's story ended up being. While Cesar was a bit worse off than me and I don't have bipolar disorder specifically, I sadly saw some of my own past struggles in him at times. This was a bit of a hard read but one that I am glad that I did read.

Anyways Cesar pissed me off but I also understood him and I care him ❤️ Also Jamal was a delight and I loved his character so much.

This was a very emotional story of coming out and self acceptance. As a lesbian forced to go to catholic school for the majority of my schooling, this book was for me.

It was definitely written as a YA, but I think it handled the serious topics (such as homophobia, racism, immigration, mental illness/suicidal thoughts, and religious based discrimination) very well. Plus while it did explore trauma, it also did have some satisfying queer joy in it.

I really loved Yami and her relationships, especially with her brother Cesar. He was a very interesting character to me, so I honestly am excited to start his book.

Bo I really loved as well. She was the character I wish I could have been as a young teen full of rage towards religion and school. So it was satisfying to me everytime she went off at a teacher/priest/principal.

The romance was also really sweet and something I was rooting for the whole book.

This was a book that feels like it was written for my younger self, but did feel healing and satisfying reading as an adult.

(4.25 on Storygraph)

The Fall of Gondolin is another book that is less so a novelization of one of the great tales of the first age, and more of a compilation of the different drafts the story took along with commentary from Christopher Tolkien and letters from J.R.R. Tolkien.

While the Fall of Gondolin is told both in the Silmarillion and the Unfinished Tales, this book did offer a few fascinating looks. It was a great collection and really leaves me to wonder what these stories would have been like if Tolkien had been able to finish them.

Again, I think these books are definitely not for the casual fan and more for those who are more deep into Tolkien lore already. But I really enjoyed it!