breanneporter's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

Absolutely incredible novel. Cantoras follows 5 sapphic Uruguayan women from 1973 to 2013, who come together, become family to each other, and build a refuge for themselves in a beach town called Cabo Pollonia, down the coast from their home in Montevideo, which was under a military dictatorship from 1973 to 1985. I knew next to nothing about Uruguayan political history before reading this novel, and following these fierce, lovable, brave Uruguayan gay women as they fell in and out of love and friendship was such a beautiful way to learn about this piece of history. I love that the novel covers decades in these women’s lives, but never felt rushed, and the characters all felt so supremely real. I cried often, from horror and sadness and also happiness and relief. I desperately want to see the mini series version of this novel; for now I’ll settle for rereading it again soon. Brb, recommending it to everyone I know (though please check content warnings, as this is not a lighthearted journey). 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kelsiepixler's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The story was slow at points, and I had to set page goals to keep myself from putting it down in the beginning. That being said, the last 1/3 of the book made it a worthy read. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jordanrisa's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful sad 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

A really beautiful novel. One with so much important history and a celebration of female friendship, queer love and chosen family. I loved getting to know each character and shed tears of both sadness and joy while reading this book. I think it would make such a good movie or tv show adaptation — we need more stories like this to be read and watched. Highly recommend. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bkern4's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kshertz's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

What a fantastic story of women loving women in Uruguay. I learned a lot of history. I felt seen. I really love that this story exists in the world. I had a hard time following so many characters but I still definitely loved it. I think anyone who’s ever loved a woman needs to read this book!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

millbot's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

An incredible, fascinating, deeply human story of friendship and chosen family in the face of extraordinarily difficult circumstances. It may be fiction but it's clear how deeply based this is on real stories of queer resilience and creativity.  

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sophiafarias's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Beautiful, intriguing, breathtaking! I loved every moment I got to spend with these women. I loved getting absorbed in their lives and experiences with one another, through love unto freedom! 
This book gave me a sense of hope and relief that something so beautiful has been written and made available by my local librarv. I have always been an activist at heart and in reading this book, I felt like a lifetime could come with greater reward than I had imagined. 
This is a tale of triumph over tribulations and bravery. This is a book that needs to be on my bookshelf!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

horizonous's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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

5.0

I would love to write an eloquent review for this book but I can't even find a beginning.

It's heartbreaking, hopeful and beautiful with characters and found family dynamics that will stay with me for a while. The writing, especially the descriptions of the ocean, are also very impactful. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

khakipantsofsex's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

daisiesbyheart's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective slow-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


Expand filter menu Content Warnings