Riverdale logo
  • About
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shopping Cart
  • 0 items
  • Login
  • Home
  • Books
  • My Account
  • Submissions
  • Blog
Books

Juliet Takes a Breath

by Gabby Rivera
Login to write a review
unavailable for purchase

"Even if Holden Caulfield was born in the Bronx in the 1980s, he could never be this awesome.”
~ Inga Muscio, author of Cunt


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.

Available in:

eBook

  • About the Author
  • Excerpt
  • Reviews
  • Formats
  • Books by Gabby Rivera
Login to write a review
Cassi Rogers
9/5/2018

I have no idea where to begin talking about this book. I just have so much love for it right now I wish I could walk up to Gabby Rivera and give her a damn tight hug as a thank you. If I'd gotten my hands on this book a few years ago, when I was lost like Juliet about feminism and lgbt+ related subjects, it would've been for me what Raging Flower was to her, but so much better.


Lucy Lopez
9/5/2018

This is one of my favourite queer books. It gives some awesome representation and addresses a lot of difficult and controversial topics within the LGTBQIA and feminist community (racism, transphobia, etc.)


Heather Hite
7/12/2018

I loved this book SO MUCH. It’s a coming out story, but so much more. This is visibility and queer representation for Puerto Rican women. She’s a feminist, she’s queer, she’s learning to love herself and falls for someone else during the process. There is so much I want to say, but the story itself is so beautiful I feel as though I’ll taint it by not being as poetic as Gabby was. Read this, you will not be disappointed.


Ellyn McCann
5/30/2018

“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!


Isa Boog
5/2/2018

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.)

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • ...
  • 8
Displaying 1-5 of 36 items
I’ve got a secret. I think it’s going to kill me. Sometimes I hope it does. How do I tell my parents that I’m gay? Gay sounds just as weird as feminist. How do you tell the people that breathed you into existence that you’re the opposite of what they want you to be? And I’m supposed to be ashamed of being gay, but now that I’ve had sex with other girls, I don’t feel any shame at all. In fact, it’s pretty fucking amazing. So how am I supposed to come out and deal with everyone else’s sadness? "Sin Vergüenza Comes Out, Is Banished From Family.” That’s the headline. You did this to me. I wasn’t gonna come out. I was just gonna be that family member who’s gay and no one ever talks about it even though EVERYONE knows they share a bed with their "roommate.” Now everything is different.  

How am I supposed to be this honest? I know you’re not a Magic 8 Ball. You’re just some lady that wrote a book. I fall asleep with that book in my arms because words protect hearts and I’ve got this ache in my chest that won’t go away. I read Raging Flower and now I dream of raised fists and solidarity marches led by matriarchs fueled by café con leche where I can march alongside cigar-smoking doñas and Black Power dykes and all the world’s weirdos and no one is left out. And no one is living a lie.

Copyright © 2016 Gabby Rivera

Available in the Following Formats

Gabby Rivera

Gabby Rivera is so damn thankful she was able to finish this book. She wants queer brown girls to see themselves everywhere and to be proud of who they are. Gabby was a nerdburger who always wrote in journals, on stray napkins, and even on her sneakers when it was cool to do that. She’s been published in anthologies and journals put together by other radical, creative folks who also see a world that strays far from the mythic norm.

Gabby has worked with Autostraddle for almost five years. In that time, she’s written about feminism, kissing girls, Nicki Minaj, radical politics and falling in love with queer brown communities.

She is currently the Youth Programs Manager at GLSEN and is developing their National Student Council and curriculums for GSAs across the country. She’s fostered other LGBTQ youth groups and taught as a multi-media artist for organizations such as the DreamYard Project.

She’s gonna write more books, y’all. Please read them. It’s very important. Be on the lookout for her latina punk band sci-fi epic, Supermoon. Coming some time in the distant but gorgeous future.

Review this Book

  • Books
  • Press Room
  • Bookstores
  • Submissions
  • About
  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
© 2023 Riverdale Ave Books. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Notice