A review by futurememory
Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero
3.0
Probably 3.5 stars! I really liked a lot of thins about this novel, but I had a few quibble as well.
First off, let's talk about Gabi, because her voice was pretty damned great. She's hilarious; I got Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging vibes off of some parts of this book, especially the particularly teenage way you worry about kissing, sex, your bodily functions, etc. The journal form of this book really helped Gabi come alive - I could actually HEAR her in my head.
There're a lot of really interesting and important points here about feminism, identity, culture clash, etc. It's just that boy, sometimes, can this book lay it on thick. It teeters on melodrama, on a bit of excess of issues.
And honestly, Gabi's a bit TOO clueless for an 18-yo. Her reaction, especially to various sexual acts, read like someone much younger than 18, especially someone that's consistently confronted at all turns by all forms of sex, beautiful and ugly.
A lot of the book definitely rang sincere, though, and the voice was pretty perfect. It was the plotting that left me a little cold.
First off, let's talk about Gabi, because her voice was pretty damned great. She's hilarious; I got Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging vibes off of some parts of this book, especially the particularly teenage way you worry about kissing, sex, your bodily functions, etc. The journal form of this book really helped Gabi come alive - I could actually HEAR her in my head.
There're a lot of really interesting and important points here about feminism, identity, culture clash, etc. It's just that boy, sometimes, can this book lay it on thick. It teeters on melodrama, on a bit of excess of issues.
And honestly, Gabi's a bit TOO clueless for an 18-yo. Her reaction, especially to various sexual acts, read like someone much younger than 18, especially someone that's consistently confronted at all turns by all forms of sex, beautiful and ugly.
A lot of the book definitely rang sincere, though, and the voice was pretty perfect. It was the plotting that left me a little cold.