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bookishmillennial's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I really appreciated 15/16-year-old Julia Reyes's messy personal development in this young adult coming-of-age story. Julia tells this story in first-person, past-tense POV, and this is a character-driven, slow-paced story that explores identity, grief, authenticity, and what it means to live. I am not Mexican, but I do share the identity of being a first-generation child of immigrants, and in that particular light, I deeply related to Julia's journey, especially the generational differences that threatened to dismantle any relationship she had with her mom or dad.
The story takes place in Chicago, IL after Julia's older sister Olga dies in a tragic car accident as she was crossing the street and distracted by her cell phone. Julia always felt she lived in Olga's shadow, as Olga was *the* "perfect Mexican daughter," and in the wake of her death, that shadow only grows. Her distinctions from Olga are under even more scrutiny, and it is a devastatingly heavy burden to bear. Julia was never the obedient daughter, she hated learning how to cook with her mom, and she constantly challenged her parents' authority. Her mom consistently calls Julia "ungrateful" and uses guilt as a way to shame Julia for not making her parents happy. It is painful to read, as it felt very familiar; the constant exhaustion of knowing that nothing you do will ever be enough to pay back your parents who overcame unimaginable trauma to come here feels insurmountable at times.
However, I admired Julia for speaking up and being so incredibly bold and glib. I recognize many people have called her "unlikeable" but I found Julia to be so authentic when I look back on my own teenage experience, pushing and pulling between being a first-generation kid who wanted to do well by their parents, but also wanted to be trusted and have a "normal" American teenage life. To talk back to my parents meant even more autonomy being taken away. That was something I rarely did as a teenager, because I was so scared of consequences. For Julia? Consequences be damned! Is she a bit flippant and ignorant sometimes? Absolutely. She made offensive comments like "hookers" and "gangbangers," but I also think that's representative of a young, angry, frustrated kid. Her phone would be taken away and she couldn't go to the library, and yes, she put up a stink, but she constantly advocated for herself, and I think she more confidently found her voice in therapy too.
There is a subplot of romance between Julia and Connor, which was illuminating for Julia, since she is mostly "inexperienced" as the story begins. I appreciated the argument that Julia got into with her friend about Julia being "uptight" and acting like she was too good for anything. We look for "yes men" and people who will become an echo chamber as friends, especially when we're young as we are rediscovering who we are. However, her friend didn't let Julia walk all over her or proclaim to walk through life as the only "right way". I don't know if that makes sense but this one interaction really spoke to me, and there are so many moments like this throughout the novel which force Julia to confront who she is, who she wants to be, and what that means regarding how she spends her free time, her relationship with her family, college, and writing as an occupation.
This was a powerful narrative about Julia discovering not only herself, but the ways in which the world around her operates, and I highly recommend it to anyone.
content warnings are listed below!
Graphic: Grief, Cursing, Death, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, Car accident, Homophobia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Self harm, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
enlamont's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Homophobia
Minor: Infidelity, Gun violence, and Eating disorder
squatruhh's review
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Abortion, Addiction, Death, Deportation, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Grief, Self harm, Cursing, Alcoholism, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Violence
rbudd24's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Grief, Deportation, Death, Body shaming, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Abortion, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Drug use, Mental illness, Infidelity, and Homophobia
annamorgan27's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Animal death, Blood, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Car accident, Death, Deportation, Abortion, Child death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Drug use, Homophobia, Alcohol, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
faythd's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Abortion, Homophobia, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
cheye13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Rape
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Child abuse, and Pedophilia
greatexpectations77's review
- 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
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Rape, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
cozylifewithabby's review against another edition
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Rape
lucinotlucy's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Car accident, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Infidelity, Self harm, and Sexual violence