Juliet Takes a Breath

“Feminism. I’m new to it. The word still sounds weird and wrong. Too white, too structured, too foreign: something I can’t claim.” Juliet Takes A Breath is a must read, not just for women, but for everyone. I will admit that it might be more relatable for women, and in particular women of colour. But, I think this book and the character of Juliet is what makes the book so special. She learns so much in this book and I think that is the point. She makes the story relatable for some readers and she makes it a slap in the face for others. This story handles feminism and what it means to be a woman. Juliet goes through every feeling under the bus in this book and learns so much throughout her short journey in the novel. She learns some really helpful tips and tricks on how to make your period easier to handle, which I’ll be honest I had never heard before but, will definitely be trying out in the future. “You control the energy in your body. Never forget that, Juliet.” This book is fantastic and I think everyone should read it. Juliet is a really interesting character and I think there is definitely something to learn from her and her experiences, no matter who you are. What I loved most about this book was that it took me for a total learning curve. I have very little in common with Juliet. I am white, straight and share pretty much none of her experiences, I also don’t live in the US. “None of the clothes were made to fit me. None of the people shopping in there look like me.” On that note, what I learnt from this book was something particularly interesting about the store Banana Republic. I have never really heard of the store so learning about its history was quite interesting and very disturbing. It’s actually kind of horrible that I had never heard about their history but, I guess that is the kind of world we live in now. Juliet Takes A Breath also goes into the education system and how we are often not taught about our own histories. We are rarely ever taught about the “bad side” of the history of our own countries and that often leads to ignorance. I personally related to this because I know that Australia’s past is certainly not squeaky clean, but we really don’t learn about it at all in school. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t recommend it enough. if you’re looking for a short and bingeable modern contemporary to put on your tbr, this is perfect!

If you’re looking for an enthralling, diverse YA contemporary that deals with meeting your heroes (and finding out they’re not exactly as you thought), finding yourself, and intersectional feminism, you might want to read Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera. Goodreads synopsis: Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But Juliet has a plan, sort of, one that’s going to help her figure out this whole “Puerto Rican lesbian” thing. She’s interning with the author of her favorite book: Harlowe Brisbane, the ultimate authority on feminism, women’s bodies, and other gay-sounding stuff. Will Juliet be able to figure out her life over the course of one magical summer? Is that even possible? Or is she running away from all the problems that seem too big to handle? With more questions than answers, Juliet takes on Portland, Harlowe, and most importantly, herself. My rating: 4.5 stars. When I started Juliet Takes a Breath, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Juliet goes to Portland for a summer internship with her feminist hero, Harlowe Brisbane – who seemed to be a prime example of a white feminist. If the main character had been white, I would have stopped reading right away. But since this is an own voices book about a Puerto Rican lesbian, I hoped the flaws in Harlowe’s feminism would be challenged. Which, luckily, they were. In the best way. It made me feel bad for ever doubting where this book was going! It was wonderful to read Juliet’s journey throughout this novel. She starts out uncertain, but willing and wanting to learn. And learn she does, though not always from the people she expected. This is the perfect summer read – which is, of course, why I’m posting this in February. It’s summer in the Southern hemisphere! (But if you live in the cold North like I do and you’re longing for summer, you might also want to read this now.)

Why I recommend bumping this up on your TBR: This novel explores feminism in a very honest way, from the necessity of (intersectional) feminism to the flaws of white feminism. It explores history but also focuses strongly on current events and issues, as our protagonist explores her identity. It's enlightening and engaging, with characters that are likable and relatable. Our narrator's voice is so strong and realistic that the novel almost feels like reading a friend's emotional blog post, but with concise sentences and messages. I consider this a MUST READ.

This book hit home. I was not expecting to come away with this sense of purpose or pride.

Two-sentence summary: After a disastrous coming out experience with her family, Juliet Palante leaves for Portland with only the works of her favorite feminist author for guidance. As she works to make a place where she belongs, she grapples with her identity as a Puerto Rican lesbian. What I loved: When it comes to the balance between characters and plot in a story, I prefer books that really delve into who a character is and who they become. This book was very character-heavy and I loved it. It’s very much a coming-of-age story that captures how one queer woman of color establishes and grows confident in her identity. It’s so vulnerable and doesn’t give any easy answers to any of the questions Juliet explores herself. If anything, the more she meets others in the queer community and opens herself to the complexity of the human experience, the more messy and uncertain and beautiful her story becomes. My only complaint with this book is that it felt a little heavy with LGBTQ jargon sometimes. Which is fine if you’re pretty familiar with the community but can get repetitive, and I feel like it might be information overload for non-queer people. But all in all, solid prose, characters, and story. Quote: “My love for you is deeper than anything that happened between us. My love for you is the sun, the sky, and the moon. It’s the air I breathe. It lives in everything I do. It’s better than good. It’s everlasting.” Recommended: As a trans guy, I can’t speak for the experiences of queer women but enjoyed the how much this book grounds you in Juliet’s mind. If you’re looking for a raw, authentic coming-of-age story, you might just love this book.