<i>"Scoring a goal is almost like kissing. The more you do it, the more you want. I wanted to keep scoring unit it hurt."</i>

<b>A soccer story that will fill your heart with joy!</b>

Camila Beatriz Hassan, or Furia as her teammates call her, is one of those rare YA protagonists who feel real. <i>Fruia</i> reads like a memoir. All the details about living in an Argentinian barrio, the current political and social debates that infiltrate the family conversations at home, the connection between a city and its football team, all were layered in a way that made this story compelling.

My only complaint is I wanted more soccer games. I wanted more action scenes with Furia dominating the field! The love story could have been smaller, but how it was resolved made me happy. Furia got her happy ever after, it's just not what you're expecting from a romance story, which is perfect.

Thank you Netgalley for my gifted ebook and audiobook copies of this book. I absolutely loved this story.

This book is about a girl named Camilla who has dreams of becoming a famous soccer player one day. The only problem is that her parents don't really agree that girls can play soccer. She ends up joining a team anyways and hiding it from her parents. Without her parents consent she can only get so far. She needs their permission to be able to travel for games etc.

This is a beautiful story about a girl who fights for her dreams despite what everyone else thinks and what life throws her way. Her long distance boyfriend also plays soccer and wants her to put her dreams on hold to be able to follow him wherever he goes. Camilla has her own dreams though and doesn't want to put hers on hold for someone else.

Things I Like About This Book:
• Camila, the protagonist. This is one of the most believable teenage girls I've ever read, and I really like her. She's fiery and passionate and never loses sight of her goals.
• The depiction of women. Throughout Furia, Yamile describes all kinds of women—young women, pregnant women, abused women, strong women, broken women, smart women, brave women. Every depiction is compassionate and loving and full of hope.
• Calling out false and dangerous ideas. No, it's never okay to claim that it's a woman's own fault that a man mistreats her. No, it's not okay for someone to give up all their own hopes and dreams for the one they love. No, a women is not a doll, nor is she an object.
• A book that takes place mostly outside of America and includes Spanish. I wish there were more of these. I loved being immersed in Rosario, Argentina.
* That ending. So good. Yes, a woman can have both her career aspirations and a partner who will support her in them.

Things I Don't Like:
* Not enough fleshing out of the side characters. I never felt like I really understood Camila's family dynamics, nor her friendship with Ro, nor her English teaching job, nor her past friendship with Diego. There was just so much going on that the only person I came away really knowing was Camila. I especially wished there were more character development for Camila's mother.
• How did Diego happen (?). Although Camila is surrounded by machismo ideas by her father, her brother, her mother, her "uncles," and her neighbors, somehow Diego (who is almost a part of the family) has escaped it. How? I'm not incredulous, but I do wish there were a backstory to explain this. Plus, I don't feel like I ever really knew Diego. Yes, he was friends with Pablo and Camila growing up, and yes, his mom abandoned him when he was young, but that's really all I know about him. Where's the baggage?

Things I Found Confusing:
• Camila's relationship with sex/pregnancy. There's compassion for pregnant women like Marisa or Camila's mother, but Camila seems determined not to end up like Pablo's girlfriend or the pregnant girl on the bus. She reveals that she's a virgin and she doesn't seem to intend to change that and risk putting her dreams at stake. That is, until she's on her last date with Diego. Then, all of that seems to be suddenly forgotten when she decides she "could've done it right there in the back seat of his car," but is conveniently prevented from doing so by a text from Pablo. I admire Camila's determination to reach her dreams throughout the book, so that section seemed untrue to Camila.

All in all though, a solid YA debut. I'm excited to read more from Yamile.

I don't think I've ever read a book set in Argentina before and I really enjoyed reading about this sporty young woman and her hopes and dreams to be a professional soccer player. A life which is not what her parents have planned for her. Camila must practise and play her sport in secret, to keep her life separate from her family so as not to get into trouble with her volatile father and she doesn't want to upset her mum. On top of this is the childhood friend Diego, whom she adores, and it turns out it is mutual, but he is in Italy, playing football for Juventus, far away and her heart pines for him.

I really enjoyed this book, read it quickly, though it has taken me a long time to write this. It has a slightly uneven pace but I think it works really well. The pace matches the fast paced games of soccer, and the angst that Camila feels is well written. I really loved the relationships she had with her family and the way that she decides to stand up to her dad. Great book for young people to read a different perspective on life, to learn about life in Argentina and for those who love a sport book which is well written, those are few on the ground. Great book for a school library.

I was really excited for this one, however it may have taught me that I don't like books that focus on sports. I couldn't get through the beginning because it was too much soccer for me.

I was looking for "something different" and Furia was the perfect read to escape from my normal read. A strong female lead who is a badass futbol player in Argentina?! Count me in. This story is inspiring and the writing is impeccable. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

'“The sense of wonder and possibility - that I owed to the Argentine women who had fought for freedom before the universe conspired and the stars aligned to make me"

Name: Furia
Author: Yamile Saied Mendez
Series: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Sports Romance, Contemporary


This book surprised me in the best way possible, It was wonderfully built from start to finish. Furia, tells a unique and diverse story about Camila, a soccer fanatic with a deeply patriarchal family. From her father's eyes her goal is to educate herself to be able to marry herself off. However, that is not at all what Camila wants. Hence, she lies to her parents about her whereabouts and never tells them her enjoyment or skill for the sport.

Furia dealt with a lot of important topics. One of Furia's main issues is the fact that in Argentina many girls are disappearing or dying, however these girls are hated throughout the country because of being "feminists". Her own family disgraces these girls, where the main issue is that these girls are being murdered. Another big factor or theme that I enjoyed was the family relationship or bonds that developed between Camila's family. She does not trust her parents, because her mother is too naive and scared to leave her father even though he's a cheat and aggressive. Camila's brother is also a soccer star, who doesn't seem to be reaching the goals he desires. Hence there is this constant battle with him and his father about his wasted potential. Lastly, there is a very good representation and growth within Camila and her mom' s relationship as she lies and tries to understand her mother's undying love for her terrible abusive father.

Furia also deals with romance in the most delicate and wonderful way. Camila's love interest is Diego, her brother's best friend who was signed with Juventus and has become of the most popular players. Diego is visiting the town he was born in and pays Camila and her brother a visit. During this time they rekindle the love and passion they felt for each other, however Camila has a hard time separating Diego's fame with her own possibilities and future. When Diego desires her to ship herself off to live with him, she knows she needs to follow her dreams first.

The story is overall very Feminist, and it discusses women empowerment. It showcases weak and strong women, and the effect man can overall have on culture and therefore affect both male and female behaviors. I really enjoyed seeing myself (as I am Venezuelan) reflected in the main character. The descriptions and Hispanic references really made the story feel more wholesome and complete.

"I’d leave this house the first chance I got, but not by chasing after a boy, including my brother. I’d do it on my own terms, following my dreams, not someone else’s.”

-- 5 stars --

I absolutely adored this book! Reading the story of Furia brought me back to my own glory days. I was rooting for her the entire way! It was easy to understand and identify with the culture and understand the difficulties of being a futbolista in a machismo culture.

Though I'm personally not a big soccer fan, I really enjoyed the story's voice and character development. I could easily picture the action of the sports scenes. The return of an old romance was instantly appealing to me. Great writing.

This was so good! This book truly transported me to Argentina. I really felt like I was there. I craved the delicious food from street vendors. I felt the cheers of the crazed fans booming from the soccer stadium. This story explores so much more than a girl choosing her dreams over what's expected of her. It tackles feminism in an oppressive society. It highlights the struggle of a country, grappling with economic deterioration, and the impact it has on its children and adults. The romance was so sweet and well done as well and I adored the ending. This is so much more than just a story about soccer or Fútbol. I highly recommend this!

did not finish.

the writing for whatever reason didn't click with me. I decided to put the book down at about 50% because I just wasn't invested.

From the first page, you can't help but be inspired by Furia's strength and determination. She's fiercely dedicated to her dreams and won't give them up for anyone or anything, a substantial feat for a girl expected to fit into a very rigid role in society. I'll be recommending this one to the teenagers I know.

Earlier this week I received Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez, a YA novel about a young Argentine futbolera releasing next Tuesday. I don’t usually read sports stories so I went in thinking the book would be okay but not great. I was BLOWN AWAY.

Camila, like too many young women I have known, struggles to do what she wants and also satisfy people’s expectations of her. She is smart and determined, but she keeps a lot of secrets to compartmentalize her life and ty to have everything she wants. Her parents want her to study medicine and be successful, but she just wants to play soccer and hopefully get an opportunity to play in the US. Her brother is a professional player, as is her childhood friend and crush, but Camila’s parents do not approve of girls playing and she doesn’t want to upset her imposing dad or strict mom.

I loved this Latinx coming of age story with a healthy dose of cute young love. It covered a lot of ground, including LGBTQ attitudes in Argentina, poverty, patriarchy, domestic violence, and more—in an incredibly written story. I hope you’ll pick the book up this Tuesday!

So good! It took me longer than I wanted to read it, but that's what happens when you have kiddos. Camila is a great character, and the struggle to be a woman in a misogynistic household and society is genuine. I love how blended all the characters are and how well I got to know them. Thanks NetGalley for the ALC

I listened to the majority of this book but ended up reading the last two chapters because I was too impatient. I suggest listening to it if you are unfamiliar with the accent and words (as I was). With the right pronunciation, the experience was much better than I expected.
This is a story with a lot (and I mean a LOT) of things written into the narrative. Our lead protagonist is a girl who has a very mixed background, lives in Argentina, has a troubled home life but lives and breathes football. She is battling insecurities, falling in love and making sure that her goals stay crystal clear. Every character introduced has multiple facets, and it was easier for Camila to forgive (some of) them than it was for me to overlook their past behaviours. The narrative begins as it ends with a football game. We get to know her friends and family quite early on, and some of them grow while others do not. Most scenes are laced with tension, and the ending came as a relief.


I was shown a window into a whole new culture and the mixed backgrounds of the people who call the land their home. It was quite fascinating, to say the least. The only reason it was not a five star read for me was that I was overwhelmed with the troubles Camila had to face. I know that is not much of a statement given that there are always non-fictional people living through such situations, but it was just hard for me to completely ‘enjoy’. Finally, I recommend this to anyone who loves a coming of age arc through adversity. Especially recommend it to late teens, since they might get the angst and cheer for Camila more than I did.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Thank you NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for an ARC of this title. Mendez wrote such a compelling story of survival, strength, priorities, perseverance among a challenging family situation, a cultural passion for soccer, and the navigation of complex relationships. The main character's strength, bravery, introspection, and self-awareness was so valuable to the story and I believe this could help other teens process their own decisions and emotions. Learning a bit about the Argentinian culture was an added bonus. Mendez's skill in touching on current issues with sensitivity was impressive. As a YA librarian, this is a book I will put in the hands of my teen readers, male or female, with confidence, knowing the story is engaging, complex yet "clean," and that readers would have some positive "take-aways" from their time spent with this book. Well done, Yamile Said Mendez!

"We'd made the space. We'd filled in the cracks of the system and made room for ourselves where there was none. No one had given us anything. We had taken it."

For the love of books that restore our faith in a whole genre after we thought it was a lost cause-- or at least I did.

For the past few months, I've had my fair share of floppy contemporary YA. I know I'm not the targeted audience in terms of age group, but I do enjoy YA fiction. Always had. And it was only until very recently that I started to DNF books that belonged to that genre. YA Fantasy and Sci-fi are still going strong, but contemporary, nothing really worked for me recently. So, I thought I just outgrew it.

Until FURIA happened to me. (Can I have this in bold?!)

Let me tell you something about me. I grew up in what is known as the Middle East. In this region, the identifiers that set apart male from female are inescapable and exigent. Growing up, I'd give an arm to become a boy and play football. The ME is craaazy about football. It's the sport of choice. But some sports are looked upon as "improper" for young ladies and I belonged to a generation of kids that was brought up shielded from that knowledge until it's a bit late to start practising a sport but never too late to challenge the patriarchy. And I LOVED football. Still do.
But why?
Because >>> "[Football] could do that--make people forget about the price of the dollar, the upcoming elections, even their love lives. For a few hours, life was beautiful."

So what is Furia about?
It's about a teenager. A normal teenager, who wanted to play football and have fun and fall in love with a boy. Simple, but not so simple. Because Camila, la Furia, has issues. She is from a small town in Argentina. She isn't supposed to play football. Her father is an archetypal patriarch. And yes, her heart makes matters worse.

I loved the authenticity of the story. I loved how the story sets itself apart from the mainstream contemporary YA. I loved the defiant characterisation of an almost all-female cast. I loved Coach Alicia so much I wanted to hug her. I loved how Camila was proud of her Russia/Arab/South American roots. I loved how the love of tradition mingled with rebelliousness when those traditions got too tight. I loved how the plot was paced: not swoony, not dry. I was both enlightened and entertained.

This is what I proudly call a feminist, own voices, diverse YA novel.

Thank you Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for this lovely book.

<<Furia>> is an absolutely engrossing, vibrant coming-of-age story of Camila following her dreams against odds and expectations. The intersectionality of racial representation and feminism is executed beautifully-- I'd recommend this to all YA readers in my life.

Yamile Saied Méndez's Furia is an empowering, feminist YA novel about an Argentinian girl who dreams of playing fútbol professionally.

Camila "La Furia" Hassan was told at a young age that girls are not allowed to play fútbol. But the game is Camila's passion so she defies her family's wishes to secretly play on a local fútbol team. When her team makes it into a South American tournament, however, Camila can no longer hid the truth because she will need their permission to compete. To complicate matters further, Camila's childhood crush - now a famous fútbol player in Italy - is back in Rosario and wants to rekindle their relationship. Soon Camila finds herself forced to choose between the boy that she loves and the game that she loves.

This book brought up a lot of issues, including the treatment of women, missing girls, and the feminist movement in Argentina. It was both eye-opening and inspiring. Highly recommend!

A great coming of age story. Camilla is hiding a big secret from her family. She is playing fútbol without their knowledge, and after they have told her not to play. Eventually, secrets come out and Camilia is faced with some challenges.