To say I liked this book is an understatement. To say this book had the biggest emotional impact on me as I saw myself in Yamilet and her struggles, and that I loved every minute of it, is as close as it gets to capturing how this book made me feel.
Yami is attending Catholic school for the first time, and struggles with hiding her gayness, and being one of the few POC in all her classes. There is one cute girl, Bo, at the school who is unabashedly herself, standing up to protest against the horrible rhetoric the teachers preach every day. She wears a pride pin and rainbow vans and is everything Yami wishes she could be. It's too bad Yami could never come out like that, but being friends with Bo should be enough, right? Yami's Mother is more focused on her brother, and the only one who gets her is her Father who was deported back to Mexico years ago.
This book is at its heart a story about learning to accept yourself, falling in love, and the difficulties of being around Religious guilt 24/7. There are also threads of racism, homophobia, and suicidal ideation.   (I didn't find any of these situation too graphic, most of the depression related aspects

pertain to her brother) 

  Not to say this is a sad book, while it does have its moments, it is also really funny. Yami's inner monologue had me laughing to myself, (When she said she could sell sunscreen in-between classes with how many white people there were I died!) and I loved her relationship with her brother, and even her Mother. This is the best depiction I've read of a Mexican family and their experiences. 
This was Sonora Reyes's debut novel, and I can't believe how absolutely incredible this book is. I now have a new favorite book y'all!

The Cover
I first noticed this cover and fell in love. It is bold bright, and the motif on the front is reminiscent of religious iconography, specifically a prayer candle. Everything about the design and art just has such tones and colors of Mexican culture. I am so glad the cover artist captured Yami's signature winged eyeliner, and elegant gold hoops. This is also one of those perfect covers where the design and the art go so well together and enhances the other. It wouldn't be often that I would say a hot pink font works, but in this case it is *chefs kiss*. 

Cover art: Be Fernandez 
Cover design: Jessie Gang