Reviews

Brace for Impact: A Memoir by Gabe Montesanti

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. 

fjette's review

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

Loved this! The writing was a bit simplistic at times but the descriptions, pacing, and integration of story and flashbacks/contxt was flawless. 

catlyn_brooke's review

5.0

I wish I could rate this book a 10/5. This book resonated with me on so many levels. As an ex-swimmer, someone recovering from an eating disorder, a queer woman, a new skater, and in recovery from surgery, it is like this book was written for me at exactly this time in my life. Even if you don’t have these parallels in your life, Gabe Montesanti’s story of finding power within themselves transcends sport, gender, and beyond. The best book I’ve read in sometime.

queenbee31's review

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

alyssakayreads's review

5.0

A wonderful memoir about roller derby, family relationships and learning to love yourself.

bookends_68's review

5.0

Very on brand that this is my last book of 2023 (and also the first physical book I've read in months!)

Started for the roller derby content, stayed for a genuinely heartbreaking and emotional memoir about childhood, sports and community.

veritas19's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this! Gabe Montesanti did a great job with writing and narrating her roller derby journey. It reminded me vividly of my early days in this amazing sport and I loved every minute of those parts. I was gutted every time she described the things her mother did and said but her bravery in putting her trauma and struggle out there for all to read and listen to was inspiring. I have already reccomended this book to my fellow roller derby players and I hope they too read this great memoir!

booklvr10's review

5.0

I loved this book! Why? It drew me in and I couldn't put the book down!

This memoir talks about the need to be something more after living a life of feeling like you are never enough. Gabe is looking for something that will empower her but at the same time, be competitive. She finds a roller derby league looking for new skaters and decides to give it a try. She doesn't skate well to begin with but pushes herself to become better, eventually making it on a team. Soon after, she injures herself and wonders if she will ever be able to go back to something she fell in love with and made her feel whole for once in her life.


Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

elle_c_writes's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

If you are a queer athlete, or an ally, or involved in any way shape or form in Roller Derby then you MUST read this book.

Gabe had me hooked from the start, especially as we share so much of the same trauma and her journey into derby is similar to mine.

She is an absolute hero, and an inspiration and despite my ten years on the track, I really want to be her when I grow up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, and Fatphobia

brookejessica's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0