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bowtiequeer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.75
babymoomoocow's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
This is definitely a book that got better as it went. It really highlights what Quidditch really feels like in real life. (quidditch is now called quadball, it’s going through a rebranding) I definitely felt like the main character was really annoying at the beginning but she got better as it went. I definitely felt for her in the last 15 chapters and I felt like this book was meant to come out in 2014 rather than 2020, but after reading what the author has written at the end of the book, it kind of hinted that it was started in 2014. So the mention of Tumblr over Twitter makes a bit more sense.
But it is about a freshly 18-year-old trying to figure out a tough, family dynamic, and if you’ve ever met a kid like that, they also can be annoying. Speaking from experience.
It also made me miss playing, Quidditch, and reminded me to get involved in the community again
But it is about a freshly 18-year-old trying to figure out a tough, family dynamic, and if you’ve ever met a kid like that, they also can be annoying. Speaking from experience.
It also made me miss playing, Quidditch, and reminded me to get involved in the community again
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, Sexism, and Transphobia
alex_obsessed_415's review against another edition
4.0
As a huge Harry Potter fan, I had to read it. I thought it was amazing, and it addressed so many things wrong with society and problems teenagers face. Beautiful read.
windprinzessin_'s review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
yusra_should_be_reading_rn's review against another edition
1.0
DNF 45% or 210 pages
This is so unbelievably boring. I don't understand why it's so long nothing has happened at all. Actually that's not true all 210 pages were used to show how woke the main character is. She's a vegan feminist and a bunch of other things. Guys she is so progressive! And no one around her is as woke as her.
Okay cool but is there anything else to her character or the book in general? Nope
This is so unbelievably boring. I don't understand why it's so long nothing has happened at all. Actually that's not true all 210 pages were used to show how woke the main character is. She's a vegan feminist and a bunch of other things. Guys she is so progressive! And no one around her is as woke as her.
Okay cool but is there anything else to her character or the book in general? Nope
juliefaye924's review against another edition
5.0
The perfect way to celebrate the beautiful Harry potter community while also, literally, saying fuck terfs.
apishcan's review against another edition
4.0
This Is How We Fly by Anna Meriano is about Ellen Lopez-Rourke, who has just graduated from high school and is looking forward to one last summer of hanging out with her best friends before they all split up to attend different colleges. A wrench is thrown in the plans when her parents ground her for the whole summer. The only time she is allowed out of the house is for Quidditch practice, a game Ellen just started playing at the beginning of the summer and instantly loved.
This book is rather deceptive. It tackles many different issues from familial communication to romantic communication to sexual orientation. So much of this book centered around mixed up messages and lack of communication.
Connie and Ellen’s dad did seem like they were being too harsh on Ellen. The glaring communication issues (especially from Connie) left me feeling slightly frustrated but I also remembered how it was when I was younger. Teenagers are frustrating beings to begin with. Connie’s lack of communication was not helpful and certainly created more problems then it solved. Meriano did an excellent job of showing how human’s are pretty terrible at communication, at every age.
Ellen was kind of annoying, as teenagers are sometimes, especially when they do not get their way. She was also passionate about her beliefs. I ended up liking her though, despite her mistakes and annoyances.
This book is for anyone who enjoyed Harry Potter and want a small dose of it in reality alongside some heartwarming coming-of-age teenage angsty lessons wrapped up in a lovely tale about one summer.
Overall 4/5
This book is rather deceptive. It tackles many different issues from familial communication to romantic communication to sexual orientation. So much of this book centered around mixed up messages and lack of communication.
Connie and Ellen’s dad did seem like they were being too harsh on Ellen. The glaring communication issues (especially from Connie) left me feeling slightly frustrated but I also remembered how it was when I was younger. Teenagers are frustrating beings to begin with. Connie’s lack of communication was not helpful and certainly created more problems then it solved. Meriano did an excellent job of showing how human’s are pretty terrible at communication, at every age.
Ellen was kind of annoying, as teenagers are sometimes, especially when they do not get their way. She was also passionate about her beliefs. I ended up liking her though, despite her mistakes and annoyances.
This book is for anyone who enjoyed Harry Potter and want a small dose of it in reality alongside some heartwarming coming-of-age teenage angsty lessons wrapped up in a lovely tale about one summer.
Overall 4/5
cheezh8er's review against another edition
3.0
This book made me miss playing quidditch so much (Go Iowa Quidditch Club)!! Ellen's quidditch community was full of lovable characters that reminded me a lot of some of my old team and the tournament atmosphere was perfect. Since I played beater, I 200% believe that's the most important position and I was super glad to see that we got some short angry beater girl action (because getting back bludgers control by wrestling someone to the ground is the BEST). That being said, I had trouble liking Ellen. Maybe it was the heavy dose of teen angst and 2016 style Tumblr rage, but she came off as (I cringe saying this) an SJW. While I'm all for the causes she stands for, the social justice asides really took me out of the real emotions of fear, loneliness, and guilt. The author touches on Ellen questioning her gender as well as sexuality but it's never fleshed out and feels forced alongside other characters, specifically Melissa. While she got into arguments with her parents about internalized homophobia, all of her love interests were men?? I wanted those hints that she may transition to a non-binary gender identity explored instead of getting more grumpy interior monologue about chores. I guess the emphasis on chores and grounding justified marketing the story as a Cinderella retelling? If a fairy tale aspect is why you're picking up this book, you're going to be disappointed. But if you're reading it for those major quidditch feels (and a reminder about how scary real life quidditch teams in Texas are on the field) than it's definitely worth the read!
*Full disclosure I got my copy from USQ giveaway, but all opinions are completely my own
*Full disclosure I got my copy from USQ giveaway, but all opinions are completely my own
maddness22's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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
I didn't mean to read this in essentially one sitting, but gosh darn it the story was so cute and the characters were so loveable that I didn't want to leave this world. Also damn. YA hits different now that I'm an adult. I was bawling like a baby by the end.
Legitimately one of the best sport books I've read! There's a great respect for the sport of Quidditch in this novel. Ellen is, honestly, annoying AF at the beginning but damn she truly grows and matures and it's a delight to witness her development. As an added bonus, despite the obvious nerdy influence, there is absolutely no trash talking of jocks! There's some light hearted jabs, but damn it's so refreshing to read a nerdy novel that doesn't paint jocks in a negative light. Love that positive energy for this book!
Legitimately one of the best sport books I've read! There's a great respect for the sport of Quidditch in this novel. Ellen is, honestly, annoying AF at the beginning but damn she truly grows and matures and it's a delight to witness her development. As an added bonus, despite the obvious nerdy influence, there is absolutely no trash talking of jocks! There's some light hearted jabs, but damn it's so refreshing to read a nerdy novel that doesn't paint jocks in a negative light. Love that positive energy for this book!
theawkwardbookw's review against another edition
3.0
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCferU-BCL2dlFjWdD0rS75Q
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
It's the summer before Ellen is going off to college, and she wants nothing more than to hang out with her two bestfriends. But then, Ellen is grounded by her step-mom. With the help of her friend Melissa, Ellen convinces her father to allow her to join a muggle Quidditch team. As the summer goes on, Melissa starts to pull away from her, causing her to form connections with new people on the team.
This was a pretty average book, not much really happened in the long run. It just felt a bit lengthy and repetitive after awhile, it definitely could have been cut down and still gotten the same points across. I think that it had some great discussions surrounding homophobia, feminism, sexuality and gender. There is a lot of representation in this book, which I loved reading about. I also enjoyed how multiple characters were questioning their identities (sexual, gender and racial) and how much support they had from other people in the book. I also liked how the relationship between Connie, Ellen's step-mom, and her was resolved. I think the whole book wrapped up very nicely, but like I said, it just took so long to get to that point.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
It's the summer before Ellen is going off to college, and she wants nothing more than to hang out with her two bestfriends. But then, Ellen is grounded by her step-mom. With the help of her friend Melissa, Ellen convinces her father to allow her to join a muggle Quidditch team. As the summer goes on, Melissa starts to pull away from her, causing her to form connections with new people on the team.
This was a pretty average book, not much really happened in the long run. It just felt a bit lengthy and repetitive after awhile, it definitely could have been cut down and still gotten the same points across. I think that it had some great discussions surrounding homophobia, feminism, sexuality and gender. There is a lot of representation in this book, which I loved reading about. I also enjoyed how multiple characters were questioning their identities (sexual, gender and racial) and how much support they had from other people in the book. I also liked how the relationship between Connie, Ellen's step-mom, and her was resolved. I think the whole book wrapped up very nicely, but like I said, it just took so long to get to that point.