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A review by aromanticreadsromance
Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
This might be my favorite Jonny Garza Villa novel to date (and I've read all of their books!). It follows Gabriel "Gabi" through his first semester of college. He starts out thinking he has no room left for growth and he already knows everything there is to know about himself (said with all the overconfidence only an eighteen-year-old could have, LOL). We then watch Gabi eat his words and change A LOT.
This is JGV's first New Adult book, but it's a good mix of his YA (the biggest difference is the open door sex scenes). Gabi is a great MC; he knows he's good at football (soccer), but he's not obnoxious about it in the same way that Rafie is about mariachi in Canto Contigo. I'd say it's most similar to Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun, not only because of the football/soccer focus, but also because Gabi goes through a queer awakening/coming out journey. There's a ton of homophobia (coming from one person in particular who wields a lot of power over him), so be prepared for that.
I liked that this didn't feel like insta-love. Def insta-connection, but Gabi had a lot of self-discovery to do before he could fall in love with Vale. It was slow burn, friends to lovers yumminess. I loved them together! Gabi's friend group was also incredible.
Just FYI, Gabi is hooking up with Vale's best friend, Leana, in the beginning. Nothing graphic, all closed door, and they're never in a relationship (though Gabi had planned to ask her to be his girlfriend the same night she broke things off).
I'm so glad JGV is with Levine Querido after basically getting screwed over by Saint Martins Press. Thank you to Levine Querido for the advanced copy!
PS Jonny if you're reading this please write a book for Pérez!!!
This is JGV's first New Adult book, but it's a good mix of his YA (the biggest difference is the open door sex scenes). Gabi is a great MC; he knows he's good at football (soccer), but he's not obnoxious about it in the same way that Rafie is about mariachi in Canto Contigo. I'd say it's most similar to Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun, not only because of the football/soccer focus, but also because Gabi goes through a queer awakening/coming out journey. There's a ton of homophobia (coming from one person in particular who wields a lot of power over him), so be prepared for that.
I liked that this didn't feel like insta-love. Def insta-connection, but Gabi had a lot of self-discovery to do before he could fall in love with Vale. It was slow burn, friends to lovers yumminess. I loved them together! Gabi's friend group was also incredible.
Just FYI, Gabi is hooking up with Vale's best friend, Leana, in the beginning. Nothing graphic, all closed door, and they're never in a relationship (though Gabi had planned to ask her to be his girlfriend the same night she broke things off).
I'm so glad JGV is with Levine Querido after basically getting screwed over by Saint Martins Press. Thank you to Levine Querido for the advanced copy!
PS Jonny if you're reading this please write a book for Pérez!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Biphobia