annaavian's review against another edition
2.0
The vast amount of this book felt like a Queer 101 textbook. Maybe if I've read this years ago I might have enjoyed it more, but today I just felt bored. Juliet's character felt so naive and clueless about everything outside her own family and social environment. From the way she acted and spoke she seemed like someone much younger than 19.
I wouldn't recommend this book to people who are new to feminism or LGBTQ+ books because, in my opinion, there's a whole lot that this book failed to portray the right way.
I wouldn't recommend this book to people who are new to feminism or LGBTQ+ books because, in my opinion, there's a whole lot that this book failed to portray the right way.
upsidedown10's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This was like an introduction to a very good book. This was an intro to queer studies of a book. I wanted a little bit more from these characters. I think that a young person grappling with these questions could take a lot from this book, but I am not the target audience, so I didn't get much out of it. Overall, pretty okay, but very not for me.
ekimball's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
silodear's review against another edition
3.0
I’m glad this book exists and my 19 year old self would have loved it. A good gender/sexuality/antiracism 101 sorta novel.
jbojkov's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. Juliet is a sympathetic narrator- I wanted everything to work out for her. The book also gave me a glimpse into the life of someone very different from myself and I think that’s always a good thing. For myself: MC is between freshman and sophomore years of college, positive lesbian sex scenes,some alcohol and marijuana use, frank discussions about sexuality, gender identity, and feminism.
hannicogood's review against another edition
3.0
A really cute book that sometimes felt a little bit like feminism 101, but overall a nice coming of age and coming out story.
lireavecbeck's review against another edition
5.0
I wholeheartedly recommend reading this. Juliet is progress, she is learning, reevaluating, understanding. Juliet is gorgeous. I wouldn't expect anything less than wonderful from an Autostraddle writer. Juliet lives her truth and I am learning to live mine.
Admittedly, there were times I felt frustrated with Juliet. But I realised I did the same things and thought the same way, and that I am still learning too.
Gorgeous, witty, great pacing, I'm gonna go cry now.
Admittedly, there were times I felt frustrated with Juliet. But I realised I did the same things and thought the same way, and that I am still learning too.
Gorgeous, witty, great pacing, I'm gonna go cry now.
melodierhae's review against another edition
5.0
Can you rate a book 10 starts? 10 stars for this gorgeous book that fills my soul
claryperezv's review against another edition
3.0
I'm always happy to read books about queer latinas. I loved being part of Juliet's self discovery journey although I was a bit dissapointed at Harlow's ending but I guess that's why the phrase "never meet your idols" exists. One character that stood out to me a lot was her cousin Ava and I almost wish the story was centered around her teaching Juliet how to live as a queer latina like Ava and her mom do, this would also help tie the storyline to Juliet's parents, specially her mom, we see her trying to understand queerness in the end but we don't get the see the progress she does just like Juliet who doesn't get to live that until her aunt tells her to ask.
"Your one job is to accept what a person feels comfortable sharing about themselves. No one owes you info on their gender, body parts or sexuality" "Womanhood is radical enough for anyone who dares to claim it" (forever using that against transphobes)
"How am I supposed to come out and deal with everyone's sadness" "What kind of prayer made parents the ppl you need them to be" "I know you better than you think I do"
I don't know how to feel about the mom's part in this story, I guess I don't understand her and after being homophobic to both her daughter and sister and immediately be forgiven in the end I don't understand how we got there?
the way the mom just "apologized" without apologizing looked a little too similar too the way harlow did it, and she was not fully forgiven for it while the mom was?
Something that bothered me from the book, and I guess from life in general is how judgemental even the more open minded people are, we see it with Harlow's racism but we also see it with Juliet when she firsts arrives to Portland. She doesn't understand people that are different than her, BUT I do appreciate that she keeps the judgement to herself instead of acting on it. Still, I think life would be so much easier if we all accepted the fact that we are all humans here living in a floating rock and life shouldn't be this complicated.
The part where she says "Maybe America just swallowed sll of us including our stories and spat out whatever it wanted us to remember", is so real and it resonates a lot with this book to me because as latina as Juliet is, her story doesn't really feel the same as it would feel if it was about someone LIVING and growing up queer in latam.
"Your one job is to accept what a person feels comfortable sharing about themselves. No one owes you info on their gender, body parts or sexuality" "Womanhood is radical enough for anyone who dares to claim it" (forever using that against transphobes)
"How am I supposed to come out and deal with everyone's sadness" "What kind of prayer made parents the ppl you need them to be" "I know you better than you think I do"
I don't know how to feel about the mom's part in this story, I guess I don't understand her and after being homophobic to both her daughter and sister and immediately be forgiven in the end I don't understand how we got there?
the way the mom just "apologized" without apologizing looked a little too similar too the way harlow did it, and she was not fully forgiven for it while the mom was?
Something that bothered me from the book, and I guess from life in general is how judgemental even the more open minded people are, we see it with Harlow's racism but we also see it with Juliet when she firsts arrives to Portland. She doesn't understand people that are different than her, BUT I do appreciate that she keeps the judgement to herself instead of acting on it. Still, I think life would be so much easier if we all accepted the fact that we are all humans here living in a floating rock and life shouldn't be this complicated.
The part where she says "Maybe America just swallowed sll of us including our stories and spat out whatever it wanted us to remember", is so real and it resonates a lot with this book to me because as latina as Juliet is, her story doesn't really feel the same as it would feel if it was about someone LIVING and growing up queer in latam.