A review by paulieg
The Victoria in My Head by Janelle Milanes

4.0

Engaging and fun, this YA novel moves briskly through a Latina teen's sophomore year at a Manhattan prep school where she breaks out of her Harvard-track rut by auditioning for a rock band. As she tentatively explores dating and starts to question what she wants her post-high school future to look like, family conflicts arise. This story thread rang very true: in fact, I think the book should have a prominently displayed Trigger Warning for strict, overprotective parents. The main character, Victoria, is delightful overall but at times seems both too sophisticated and too immature for her age. Her angst is also frustratingly off-the-charts, even for a teen. However, I was fully behind her on this journey of self-discovery and thoroughly enjoyed this quick, absorbing read.

**As a side note, this book is beautifully edited: not a typo to be seen, with balanced pacing and a solid underlying structure. It's such a forgotten pleasure to read effortlessly, after slogging through several poorly (if at all) edited books lately.**