Book Review: “Rainbow Boys” by Alex Sanchez

“Rainbow Boys” by Alex Sanchez (2026)

Genre: YA, Fiction, LGBTQ

Page Length: 233 pages (paperback edition)

Synopsis:

Three teenage boys, coming of age and out of the closet. Jason Carrillo is a jock with a steady girlfriend, but he can’t stop dreaming about sex…with other guys. Kyle Meeks doesn’t look gay, but he is. And he hopes he never has to tell anyone—especially his parents. Nelson Glassman is “out” to the entire world, but he can’t tell the boy he loves that he wants to be more than just friends…

In a revealing debut novel that percolates with passion and wit, Alex Sanchez follows these very different high-school seniors as their struggles with sexuality and intolerance draw them into a triangle of love, betrayal, and ultimately, friendship.

Review:

As of 2026, Rainbow Boys is celebrating its 25th anniversary and was a groundbreaking YA novel when it was published in 2001. Even to this day this book continues to be banned/challenged which only highlights the never-ending fight for the freedom to read. Sanchez himself stated when writing this novel:

“Prior to Rainbow Boys, hardly any young adult novels featured LGBTQ characters, and if they did, they were often “lonely and isolated”. For many LGBTQ adolescents still trying to find their voice and identity, a book that focuses on LGBTQ friendship and love was well needed.”

I do remember seeing this book when I was younger (at my library) and this was my first time reading Sanchez’s work. Because it was published over a couple of decades ago, some of the material in the feels a bit dated, but the message of equality and having representation for queer youth still rings true today. The novel feels like a mixture of a story that feels realistic along with being an educational guide to support groups/ LGBTQ organizations.

The characters themselves feel well developed and having the shift of multiple persespctives of their inner thoughts makes their stories feel real. Each boy is at a different stage of coming-of-age in their sexuality along with their personal circumstances. Sanchez does a great job illustrating a variety of characters and just how messy high school can be on top trying to be authentic to yourself. I think the novel is a strong start to the Rainbow Boys series.

*Trigger warnings: Homophobia, Slurs, Bullying, Some Violence

Final Verdict:

*3.5 stars*

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.