Gloria Buenrostro Is Not My Girlfriend
About
A contemporary YA debut about a Vietnamese-American boy who tries to attain popularity by befriending the most beautiful girl in school, inspired by the Vietnamese-American author’s teen experience.
Gary Võ is one of the few Vietnamese kids in his school and has been shy for as long as he can remember--being ignored and excluded by his classmates comes with the territory. So when the most popular guy in his grade offers Gary the opportunity to break into his inner circle, Gary jumps at the chance. All he needs to do is steal the prized possession of the most beautiful and untouchable girl they know--Gloria Buenrostro.
But as Gary gets to know Gloria, he’s taken in by her authenticity and genuine interest in who he really is. Soon, they’re best friends. Being part of the “in crowd” has always been Gary’s dream, but as he comes closer to achieving infamy, he risks losing the first person who recognizes his true self. Gary must consider if any amount of popularity is worth losing a true friend.
Praise for this book
Their easygoing relationship adds levity to thought-provoking themes of wealth privilege, stereotyping, and insecurity. In this sweetly rendered debut, Hoàng employs well-paced plot points and dynamic character development that coalesce into an amicable tale.
This is a sincere story of unexpected bonds and self-discovery. The lightness of the summer adventures is balanced by raw, honest conversations and depictions of Gary’s poverty and Gloria’s parents’ conflicts. Mental health and toxic masculinity are also explored throughout the novel. A moving story of true friendship.
Gloria Buenrostro Is Not My Girlfriend is a richly layered, relatable teen novel about what it means to be a man and how to be a good friend. With a cinematic summer setting and well-drawn characters to root for, this young adult novel explores important topics in today’s teen landscape, from toxic masculinity to classism and mental health, while remaining appropriate for the youngest in its audience.
An uplifting debut about true friendship and being comfortable with who you are instead of chasing who you want to be.
The friendship between Gary and Gloria is one for the ages. I'll be holding these two characters in my heart forever.
Sweet, funny, and bighearted, GLORIA BUENROSTRO IS NOT MY GIRLFRIEND is a treat.