Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Brace for Impact: A Memoir by Gabe Montesanti

4 reviews

orchidd's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Child abuse, and Body shaming

Moderate: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cursing

anielabooks's review

funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0

I am a casual reader of nonfiction, as I more often read fantasy and romance. However, I won this book in a giveaway; A memoir about a queer woman who plays roller derby was definitely something that intrigued me. From reading this book, I learned so much about the sport and it’s accompanying community. Montesanti’s writing style really helps you feel connected to her  teammates, especially her derby mom, Taryn. While I loved reading about Joan of Spark’s roller derby fun, I was most captivated by the self-discovery happening at the same time. Montesanti shares very personal experiences from her childhood, which  have shaped her to become the person she is now. It was truly inspiring to see how she learned to be more independent from her mother and was able to recognize the flaws within that relationship. I recommend this book to readers who love nonfiction and queer books with an emphasis on personal growth.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Medical content

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Drug use, Excrement, and Vomit

snowydaze's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

I received an electronic ARC of Brace for Impact by Gabe Montesanti from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. To begin, this memoir was one of my favorite books of the year! Overall, I found Gabe’s writing to consist of thoughts and experiences that I have dealt with in the past and as such, the way in which Gabe interconnects her feelings related to her family and her longing to not feel alone, hit a little too close to home. Which allowed for me to feel a very peculiar connection to her memoir. 

Although the pacing for the first few chapters seemed a little slow, it picked up shortly thereafter and maintained a steady pace for the remainder of the book. When coupled with the way she organized the memoir, this helped to keep my attention hooked for the rest of the book. Additionally, I enjoyed reading about how roller derby allowed for Gabe to have the necessary space to learn to not only be comfortable in her skin but to thrive. Her descriptions of longing to belong and the bonds of family that exceed beyond blood, were insightful and inspiring for those of us still looking for our place in the world. Overall, this memoir is an ode to roller derby, self acceptance and found families, with a queer cast of amazing individuals whose personalities shined through the pages.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Cursing, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, and Medical content

Minor: Vomit

caseythereader's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

Thanks to the Dial Press for the free advance copy of this book.

 - BRACE FOR IMPACT is a beautiful blend of queer discovery, relearning who you are away from your family, and peek into the wild and wonderful world of roller derby.
- This memoir is not for the faint of heart, given that it covers eating disorders, emotionally abusive parents, and horrific sports injuries, but following along as Montesanti grows more at home with herself is more than worth the trip. Plus, it's chock full of excellent derby player names.
- The joy of finding your queer home is so wonderful, I'm glad books like this one showcase that experience so lovingly. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Ableism, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Vomit