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Reviews tagging 'Racism'
How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
22 reviews
amy_lynnn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
3.75
c u t e
Okay, there was a LOT going on in this story, but overall I would describe it as a coming-of-age journey of love--both romantic love, and learning to love oneself--with a lil magical realism sprinkled in. It is cute and I enjoyed reading it--it was one of those books that I totally DEVOURED in two sittings, so, there's that.
There were some elements throughout that I thought could have been better: ie, some of the plot was a lil on the nose, some of the stuff which was meant to be a ~big reveal~ was extremely obvious to me, and I felt like the situation with Moon's mom was sort of unresolved (though I suppose that's a pretty realistic representation). I also felt like the book was a little longer than it really needed to be, in part because the author was smacking you upside the head with the point she was trying to make. To be FAIR though, I feel this way about a lot of YA (and it obviously makes sense why YA is written this way/why I feel too advanced for it lmao, I am an elderly crone after all).
STILL, I appreicated so much about this book and the end had me tearing up.
Tldr I guess I don't hate every hetero romance book all the time hahaha
Okay, there was a LOT going on in this story, but overall I would describe it as a coming-of-age journey of love--both romantic love, and learning to love oneself--with a lil magical realism sprinkled in. It is cute and I enjoyed reading it--it was one of those books that I totally DEVOURED in two sittings, so, there's that.
There were some elements throughout that I thought could have been better: ie, some of the plot was a lil on the nose, some of the stuff which was meant to be a ~big reveal~ was extremely obvious to me, and I felt like the situation with Moon's mom was sort of unresolved (though I suppose that's a pretty realistic representation). I also felt like the book was a little longer than it really needed to be, in part because the author was smacking you upside the head with the point she was trying to make. To be FAIR though, I feel this way about a lot of YA (and it obviously makes sense why YA is written this way/why I feel too advanced for it lmao, I am an elderly crone after all).
STILL, I appreicated so much about this book and the end had me tearing up.
Tldr I guess I don't hate every hetero romance book all the time hahaha
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Child abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Suicide
Minor: Racism
half_bloodreader's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I'm loved, I'm fat, I'm beautiful.
πYA Magical Realism
π Mexican-American plus-size rep
π Colombian-American amputee rep
πThemes of trauma, religion, grief, abuse, self-love & acceptance, sexuality, identity, all kinds of prejudice, fatness and the joy, connection & healing power of food/cooking
π It's also about nature & how wonderful the universe is amidst the human cruelty
π Lyrical writing
My dad didn't think Star and Moon were as pretty as Estrella & Luna, because, honestly, they're not.
As an Iberian who speaks both Portuguese & Spanish: agreed. This is a joy I get that many of you may not experience. Whenever Moon speaks, thinks or searches words in Spanish, many times so similar to my own native language, I am already hearing them & feeling them on my tongue in double. Ivy, hiedra, hera. Beautiful, breathy, magical.
This is the story of How I Fell in Love with Moon Fuentez. She is connected to her roots, trying to learn more. She's a photographer who sees the simple pleasures, the beauty in nature, my little witch, and she feels the difference between how a word feels in different languages. Like me. She is witty, funny, free spirited. And lonely, insecure, carrying a lot of childhood trauma. Despite all that, she is still unapologetic - I love her for it.
I always ask the plant before taking. And I always thank it too. Just like TΓa taught me. I don't care how that sounds. Plants have been here for 6 zillion years longer than us. That makes them sacred in my book.
Her abusive mother is the extremist religious type. Moon's relationship with her perfect twin sister is also complex. I can't honestly forgive Star for everything she's done, always diminishing her sister. I kept calling out crocodile tears.
Santiago & Moon's romance could be described as enemie-friends-lovers, but it hit different. Their dynamic is affected by the insecurities they carry due to living in their siblings shadows.
Santiago & Moon's romance could be described as enemie-friends-lovers, but it hit different. Their dynamic is affected by the insecurities they carry due to living in their siblings shadows.
This book hurts, then spreads a soothing balm on your heart.
Cw: sl*t shaming
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Racism
Minor: Suicide
imstephtacular's review
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual content, Mental illness, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Grief, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
Minor: Suicide, Cursing, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Car accident
nitya's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Read for MLIS elective
This destroyed me in the best of ways, I don't know if I can write a coherent review.
Wish a certain character hadn't been redeemed so early/easily though. I don't care that they're family, what this person did was FAR more unforgivable. (Then again I hold epic grudges.)
This destroyed me in the best of ways, I don't know if I can write a coherent review.
Wish a certain character hadn't been redeemed so early/easily though. I don't care that they're family, what this person did was FAR more unforgivable. (Then again I hold epic grudges.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Toxic relationship is family related, not the main romancefunkylitchick's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Child abuse, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Suicide and Misogyny
Minor: Racism
lelder301's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Rep: Columbian mc, Fat mc, disabled mc, sapphic side character
This book gets dark, but you almost don't notice it is until you're explaining it to your friend at 11 pm and stop and realize how fucked up the plot actually is
The inner monolog of Moon, the main character, is insightful at the best of times and annoying at the worst. She is highly self-critical, and goes through the same character arc multiple times. Weirdly enough, in the context of this book that's not a criticism.
While I was often annoyed by Moon and her insistent self hatred, I found it frustratingly realistic. Her body image issues and her sexuality were handled well, though did get repetitive.
This book really excelled in its discussion of the darker topics it portrayed. The abuse Moon suffered felt fleshed-out and unfortunately very real. The religious trauma was also portrayed very well. I won't spoil every topic, but for each one the author took care to be accurate.
This book gets dark, but you almost don't notice it is until you're explaining it to your friend at 11 pm and stop and realize how fucked up the plot actually is
The inner monolog of Moon, the main character, is insightful at the best of times and annoying at the worst. She is highly self-critical, and goes through the same character arc multiple times. Weirdly enough, in the context of this book that's not a criticism.
While I was often annoyed by Moon and her insistent self hatred, I found it frustratingly realistic. Her body image issues and her sexuality were handled well, though did get repetitive.
This book really excelled in its discussion of the darker topics it portrayed. The abuse Moon suffered felt fleshed-out and unfortunately very real. The religious trauma was also portrayed very well. I won't spoil every topic, but for each one the author took care to be accurate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Death of parent, and Bullying
Moderate: Ableism, Racism, Homophobia, and Sexual content
Some brief colorismk_overt's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
I think this was a beautifully written book. The author has done a great job of showing her culture. I enjoyed reading the book even though it had a lot of drama and a lot of trauma mentioned. The humor of the characters broke a lot of the tension without dismissing the pain of the characters. I think it related to me personally because I use humor as a way to deal with traumatic events. It also does a great job of showing the Narcissistic parent and how they treat the golden child as well as the scapegoat child. And how neither are really truly loved. It has a slow burn enemies to lovers. Mainly the book is about a self love journey and how to jump out of your shell even if you could lose everything.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Suicide
betweentheshelves's review
emotional
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
4.0
This book snuck up on me. In the beginning, I wasn't quite hooked into the story, but the characters are what pulled me into it. By the end, you're rooting for them to make it, for Moon and her sister Star to get out of a toxic situation. I do think the book didn't quite have to be this long, but it was still so heartbreaking. By the time I got to the second half of the story, I couldn't put this book down.
There's a lot of great diversity in this book as well. Moon and Santiago have the best chemistry, and the side characters were just as fleshed out as the main ones. Definitely worthy of all the praise it has been getting!
There's a lot of great diversity in this book as well. Moon and Santiago have the best chemistry, and the side characters were just as fleshed out as the main ones. Definitely worthy of all the praise it has been getting!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, Sexual content, and Bullying
Minor: Infidelity, Blood, and Racism
There is also quite a bit of slut shaming in this book.christinesreads's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual content and Racism
utopiastateofmind's review
4.25
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe features one of my favorite elements: complex sisters. And while this relationship, as well as toxic family members, are explored with thought and nuance, it's also a story firmly rooted in Moon and her journey. How the opinions and the things that the people we love say to us begins to change the ways we see ourselves in the mirror. All the moments she feels invisible, unwanted, and second.
Heart wrenching from start to finish, Moon feels neglected and alone. These moments had my heart breaking especially as it's contrasted with her own passion and her stifled dreams. How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe shifts from unraveling the secrets of the past, to exploring toxic relationships that whisper our worst thoughts back to us, and clashes of religion and love. While it unfolds slower than I was expecting, I never noticed it feeling slow, instead I greatly enjoyed watching the story unfurl.
How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe features one of my favorite elements: complex sisters. And while this relationship, as well as toxic family members, are explored with thought and nuance, it's also a story firmly rooted in Moon and her journey. How the opinions and the things that the people we love say to us begins to change the ways we see ourselves in the mirror. All the moments she feels invisible, unwanted, and second.
Heart wrenching from start to finish, Moon feels neglected and alone. These moments had my heart breaking especially as it's contrasted with her own passion and her stifled dreams. How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe shifts from unraveling the secrets of the past, to exploring toxic relationships that whisper our worst thoughts back to us, and clashes of religion and love. While it unfolds slower than I was expecting, I never noticed it feeling slow, instead I greatly enjoyed watching the story unfurl.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Racism and Child abuse