Reviews

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

nanduh's review

Go to review page

funny lighthearted reflective sad 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

4.5

apierlessbridge's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging 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? Yes

4.5

This book was so hard to get through but ultimately so powerful and beautiful and healing. the catharsis at the end is so perfect. I absolutely adored moon and santiago and the journey they both went on.
star and everyone else (except Tía not so much)
 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

allyalagar's review

Go to review page

emotional funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

3.75

jwinchell's review

Go to review page

5.0

This is an absolutely beautiful YA novel about loving yourself so that you can be in honest relationship with others. Moon is the photographer for her sister Star’s social media page, where she has oodles of followers for her brand of beautiful chastity. They go on an influencer tour, Moon as the “merch girl” and she meets grumpy Santiago, the “merch boy” who is the brother of the social media platform’s founder. Ensue food, arguments, flirting, and an authentically romantic story. It’s sex positive and I would put this at 10th grade and up. I know this just won an award, which is why I put it on hold. The characterization is everything. So good. So so good.

pantsreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

One of the first books I've read in a long time that was able to keep my attention—and keep me up past my bedtime! Adorable, empowering, and magical.

You can find my full review at the Forever Young Adult Instagram.

bookishly_laura9813's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark 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
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bess_jasmine's review

Go to review page

4.0

*4.5

haylee_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.0

I really enjoyed How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe. I thought it was a beautiful coming of age story about learning to love yourself and self-acceptance. I loved Moon’s narrative voice and thought she was so funny. I really loved watching her learn to accept herself and figure out that she is worth so much more than the boxes her family, and strangers on the internet, put her in. The magical realism that was included was unexpected and I thought it was really interesting to learn about. While I loved the story and message, I thought it was really long for a contemporary YA romance novel and found that it dragged at times. I definitely think it could have been a bit shorter, but I am not complaining too much. I am glad I finally read this one!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

smalltownbookmom's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This book is absolutely INCREDIBLE! I LOVE Moon and Santiago SO SO SO MUCH!! I've only seen rave reviews for this wonderfully moving and heartbreaking book about Moon Fuentez, a fat Mexican American teenage girl spending a summer on tour with her gorgeous social media influencer twin sister.

The range of emotions this book will bring out in you is vast, from toxic, abusive family relationships to the most swoon-worthy romance I've read in a while. Much more than a YA book this covers some heavy topics including grief, slut-shaming, body-shaming, the death of loved ones, homophobia, suicide, depression, mental illness, racism, ableism and homelessness.

Moon is such a strong character with a spunky vibe all her own she is able to be true to herself despite the hate she experiences from her mother and even her sister at times. I also loved that she owns her sexuality and does not apologize for being a sexual person and I really enjoyed seeing Moon get appreciated for her artistic talents as the summer progresses and her tarot card designs blow up.

And then there's Santiago, oh am I a sucker for a good Grumpy + Sunshine, enemies to lovers romance! Santiago is on tour because of his brother, much like Moon, and the two get forced together selling merch and being bunkmates. I am a little sad we didn't get any of the story from Santiago's perspective because he's such a quiet, brooding, FULL-hearted guy who only has eyes for Moon, even though it takes her a while to realize it. Santiago has his own challenges too, he lost a hand in a car accident but that doesn't stop him from pursuing his passion for cooking - and boy can he COOK!! The food descriptions in this book were one of my very favorite parts.

Long story short, do yourself a favor and get to know Moon and Santiago. You will not be sorry! This was also excellent on audio and highly recommended for fans of Starfish or I am not your perfect Mexican daughter.

CW: some explicit sexual scenes that may be more age appropriate for older teens

snailservice's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.25

i really enjoyed this book and found myself often relating to Moon! she was written beautifully and the way the author showed and described thoughts, emotions, and actions was so beautiful. i really had fun with it! 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings