Reviews

Brace for Impact: A Memoir by Gabe Montesanti

rainbowbookworm's review

2.0

Objectively, this deserves more than two stars, but I was expecting more derby.

mans_search_for_meaning's review

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

malalaisee's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

lukewhenderson's review

emotional funny hopeful informative fast-paced

5.0

pageswithpaigeh's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

jei_alexander's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

alochjessmonster's review

4.0

It's hard to read this book and not want to immediately go buy some skates and join a roller derby team. Or is that just me? Montesanti doesn't hold back about the rough parts--from the almost inevitable injuries to the perhaps unhealthy ways she throws herself headfirst into derby life. But the community she finds there--queer, ridiculous, tough, and above all supportive--makes it all seem worth it. Interwoven with her own trauma, unhealthy mother-daughter relationships, and eating disorders, this memoir examines the baggage we bring with us to sports and how healing can happen.

If nothing else read this for all the derby names, they're truly fantastic.


Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this text.

alphaxi04's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

leighbolin's review

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

queercorn's review against another edition

4.5

So good — I expected a light read of derby community but it was so much more. Toxic mothers. Queerness. Finding your place & community.