Reviews with content warning for Transphobia - Juliet Takes a Breath

This was such a great book and would work really well for a teenager or young adult who’s looking to learn more about feminism, intersectionality, racism and gender identity. There are some great discussions about intersectionality in particular, and I loved that it’s written from the perspective of a character who is learning about these things as the book progresses.

There were a few instances where perhaps some more editing might’ve helped (e.g., I’m not sure the timeline always worked out) but it didn’t get in the way of enjoying the book.

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cheesepuppy's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I feel like I say this often, but this may legit be one of my new favorite books. It’s a book I wish existed when I was a teen. I’m still processing all the things but the most important takeaway would be “accomplices not allies” and to never stop checking your privilege

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sabrinaleaf's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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lauravreads's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a coming-of-age novel, our main character, Juliet, Leaves the Bronx to Internship with her feminist idol Harlow Brisbane in Portland. Prior to leaving New York she comes out to her family and was faced with coldness. She anticipates this next chapter in her life to be a time when she feels surrounded by a community where she belongs.

I read this book via Audiobook. I loved the narrator and there were so many moments where I found myself laughing with Juliet and her line of thought. I feel that Juliet is an incredibly relatable character, especially if you Immigrated to the states at a super young age or are a first generation in the states from Central and South America.

Juliet represents so many Latnie youths who struggle with their identity and a sense of belonging. Not only does she struggle with her accepting her sexuality, coming from a religious and traditional Puerto Rican home, but she struggles with her identity of being fully Hispanic and not fully American. Her family dynamics were hilarious and realistic.

I loved how honest Rivera is in this book. Juliet is from a family with a different culture, religious beliefs, and values compared to those in portland. She felt overwhelmed by the difference in culture. While she felt out of place in New York, Portland is no different.

She finds that she does not fit in the overwhelmingly white community that preaches veganism but overlooks cultures that have always had a plant-based diet. She also discovers how white feminism perpetuates white supremacy by dismissing many of the issues affecting women of color as well as trans women.

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writingcaia's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

An awesome punk ass coming of age of a gay Latina on a road to finding feminism.
Like all roads in life it’s not at all as she expected, her devotions, her heart and her life will shift and break.
A book that points out so much of what’s wrong in society, in the patriarchy, in white feminism and privilege.
A book about all female bodies, female worship, and all the female power.
A great tale of discovery and curiosity, and that imparts so much knowledge for those less knowledgeable on feminism, racism, diversity of relationships and queerness.

Are you a feminist?
- yeah, don’t answer if it’s no, and go educate yourself. This is a book for all feminists but definitely if you’re white like me this is absolutely necessary. I am sure there’re non-fiction books out there better to impart this knowledge but if you’re lazy like me this is it, plus it is very biographic (according to the author), so.

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tlaynejones's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Whew, I almost gave up on this one. It seemed to go on and on about such an exclusionary and specific type of ‘feminism’ and queerness. However, at about the half way point, it finally changed tack and began to engage in a less performative exploration of what feminism and queerness mean to different people. By the end of the book I was filled with warm feelings for Juliet’s journey. Recommended!

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kayle39's review

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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akthackray's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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