The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar by Reyes, Sonora

2026 Schneider Family Book Awards Honor
2026 Américas Award Commended Title

"This is Sonora Reyes at their absolute best." -- Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys

From bestselling author Sonora Reyes comes a poignant and searingly honest companion novel to the multi-award-winning The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, following beloved character Cesar Flores as he comes to terms with his sexuality, his new bipolar diagnosis, and more mistakes than he can count.

Seventeen-year-old Cesar Flores is finally ready to win back his ex-boyfriend. Since breaking up with Jamal in a last-ditch effort to stay in the closet, he's come out to Mami, his sister, Yami, and their friends, taken his meds faithfully, and gotten his therapist's blessing to reunite with Jamal.

Everything would be perfect if it weren't for The Thoughts--the ones that won't let all his Catholic guilt and internalizations stay buried where he wants them. The louder they become, the more Cesar is once again convinced that he doesn't deserve someone like Jamal--or anyone really.

Cesar can hide a fair amount of shame behind jokes and his "gifted" reputation, but when a manic episode makes his inner turmoil impossible to hide, he's faced with a stark choice: burn every bridge he has left or, worse--ask for help. But is the mortifying vulnerability of being loved by the people he's hurt the most a risk he's willing to take?

Author: Sonora Reyes
Publisher: Versify
Published: 09/16/2025
Pages: 384
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 7.70h x 5.70w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9780063358409
Age Range: 13-17

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.2
Point Value: 15
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 556349 / Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2025
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2025
Booklist 09/01/2025
School Library Journal 10/01/2025 pg. 63