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“This heartfelt story builds like a telenovela as Joaquin’s Mexican American family gathers to create the most beautiful queerceañera. Romance enthusiasts will enjoy the new twists to these tropes, while the flowing dialogue and poignant moments make the story hard to put down. A must for every YA collection.”

– School Library Journal, Starred Review

“A coming of age in the wake of the coming-of-age party. Impossible to put down.”

– Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

Queerceañera

Written by Alex Crespo
Published by HarperCollins

Joaquin Zoido is out and proud of it. And while he knew his dad and sister, Carmen, would be super supportive, he wasn’t quite ready for them to surprise him with a queerceañera, a coming-out party to celebrate him. Between all the talks of tastings and venues and the chirping of his family’s RSVP texts, the question of who will be his chambelán is on everyone’s minds.

What Joaquin is decidedly trying to not think about is whether his mom is going attend or if she’s finally replaced him with her favorite godson, Felix—the boy who made Joaquin realize he was gay and who was his first kiss. But when an impromptu lie snowballs into a full-fledged family-group-chat rumor, every Zoido from Texas to Mexico starts believing that Felix is not only Joaquin’s chambelán but also his brand-new boyfriend.

To avoid the pity and sympathies of an ill-timed breakup, Joaquin and Felix strike a deal—they’ll stay fake boyfriends until the party. Yet, as the day draws nearer and old feelings spark anew, Joaquin will have to decide whether a picture-perfect queerceañera with a fake boyfriend is worth giving up the chance of something real.

Primary ISBN: 9780063257405
Publication Date: May 2024
Available As: Hardcover, Audiobook, eBook
Young Adult, Age 13 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States (Texas)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey:

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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