Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez is a fiercely feminist coming of age story set in Argentina. This own voices book follows Camila, or La Furia as she is known on the fútbol pitch , as she chases her dream of becoming a professional football player. Her conservative family and the patriarchal society she lives in in Rosario means that she is forced to lead a double life, and hide her skill and ambition. So far she has been successful, but when her team qualifies for an international tournament it seems like she will have to come clean and face the disapproval and anger of her father, and the disappointment of her mother who dreams of her daughter becoming a doctor and escaping from the poverty that she has grown up in. As if her life was not complicated enough, she is distracted by the return of her former crush, Diego, who is now a successful footballer in Italy. He is saying and doing all the right things, but does he really take her dreams as seriously as his own?
Camila is a wonderful character, feisty, determined and strong, but also compassionate and caring. I found myself captivated by her story as it unfolded and full of hope that she would succeed. The author has given her a wonderful voice. I also appreciated that she did not shy away from difficult topics in the book, talking about the dangers of physical and sexual violence towards girls and women, and the controversy surrounding reproductive rights. For those of you hesitant to pick up a book about football, I urge you to reconsider, yes it plays a large part in the book, but since the setting is Argentina , a country where the sport and it's masters are almost worshipped like gods, it feels very natural, and creates a real sense of what life there is like.
The romance is sweet and complicated and beautifully handled, but it was the relationships between women in the book that really stood out for me. Camila's support from her coach is beautifully reflected in her relationship with the little girl she tutors, and her friendships with the other girls on the team felt incredibly real and honest but my favourite was the changing and developing relationship Camila had with her mother over the course of the book. I love how that character was allowed to grow in a way that felt natural, and become the support that Camila deserved all along. I am sure that the ending may divide some readers, but I thought it fit the book perfectly.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

As someone who is also trying to make their way in their sport, the premise of Furia drew me in right away. Camila is such a spunky character whose voice you enjoy from the very first chapter. Her determination and drive for her dreams are inspiring. The way Camila chooses to love herself and go after everything she wants is ground-breaking. It's been a long time since I've read a book where the MC unapologetically goes after what she wants. I loved the relationship shown with her family and the people around her. Some of the relationships were complicated but she loves every one of them. This is was the first book I've read in a long time where there was such a complicated parent relationship. I highly enjoyed that. The romance!!! I am a big sap FYI. I enjoyed the romance so much. The complications of it all, from beginning to end gave me life.

I couldn't put Furia down. The writing was smooth and flowing and Camila's narration was *chef's kiss.* I enjoyed seeing Aregntinain culture from a native perspective. The undercurrent message of women's rights and the abuse some women have to endure in Argentina was heartbreaking and inspiring. I LOVED seeing that throughout the book. The friendship of the women on the team, Roxanne & Camila's, and even the other teams they competed against were touching. I loved how Mendez showed how catty women can be to each other and how Camila's view on her competitors changed throughout the book. Women carried Furia. The women in Camila's life have the most impact, and it shows throughout the book. Camila's mother's growth was everything I needed to see.

The ending of the book had me shook. I hated it and I loved it. I couldn't put Furia down. I adored everything about Camila, the world, and Furia.

This is about much more than football (aka soccer). Camila "La Furia" is talented to be sure but she's got to keep her ability shadowed from her dreadful parents. Now, though, she has a chance to showcase for scouts and the possibility to join a team so she must fess up. Luckily, she has the support of her brother and her friend Roxana. AND then, her love interest Diego comes back to town. What will she do? Well, know that this has some good lessons for the YA crowd about being your true self and following your dreams. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Camila is a strong, well written character and this is a good read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I was swept away by Camila’s journey to fully embrace her dreams, and once I started, I couldn’t put it down. While she struggles with the fact that “lies have short legs,” la Furia fights against patriarchal views on women playing fútbol, the way her father treats his family, and the love of a childhood friend. She resists the urge to give up in hopes of making the world a better place for the young children she tutors, but it feels like the odds are stacked against her at every turn.

This story is a beautiful reminder about the power of friendship and the strength of women to fight for what we love.

Wow, this was such a great read! I lOVED the female protagonist, Camilla Hassan, who wants to become a professional football player and tries her hardest to be able to follow her dream. Camilla is such a strong and empowering character who doesn't want anyone to save her but herself. She struggles with emotional and physical abuse, domestic violence and the hardships of being a woman. The novel discusses these hardships and even though it made me emotional, I think it's so so so important to read about. I feel like this book will be such a great influence on young girls everywhere and I love the novel for it. I can't recommend this book enough. Please pre-order it! It's worth it!

Trigger warnings: emotional and physical abuse, death, domestic violence.

Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Lasting Impressions

Every aspect of this fierce, full-of-heart, feminist coming-of-age story is incredible. I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished it. From the characters, the tension and stakes, the themes... I was sucked in from page one.

First off, please go read some own voices book reviews for this book! Furia is about an Argentine young woman written by an own voices author, so I can't give any insight into the representation like I know other reviewers can.

I've never read a book set in Argentina, and I loved learning more about this country and the city of Rosario. Camila has lived in Rosario her whole life, so she has a deep understanding of the joys and sorrows and dangers in the place she lives in. I loved how the story never stopped to explain certain pieces of history or nuances or politics here and there, instead letting the reader do their own research into these things if desired.

Camila is such a strong and nuanced character. She wants to play futbol, and she's so good at—she knows that if nothing stood in her way, she could be amazing. And yet, there are so many things in her way. She struggles to balance practice, school, and work. She struggles against her parents expectations, and the lies she's told them so she could play. She struggles to shine on her own beneath her futbol-star brother's shadow. Camila deals with a lot of sexism from the men and women in her life, including from people who claim they know what's best for her. It's heartbreaking to watch her have to go through these things, but it's also so empowering when she does break through the things holding her back. I was absolutely cheering for her the whole way, and when I got to the end, I was so thrilled and happy with the conclusion.

Quick Thoughts
-I never knew what would come next in this book. It's quick-paced with high personal stakes that kept me flipping quickly through the book.
-I loved the female friendships portrayed through the book—so beautiful and heartwarming.

Overall Feelings

I have so many feelings about this book. It's so incredible, and I know that my review doesn't do it justice. I loved every second.

Title: Furia
Author: Yamile Saied Méndez
Genre: YA
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Camila Hassan lives a double life. At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her rising-soccer-star brother’s shadow, and under the abusive rule of her short-tempered father. On the field, she is La Furia, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see just how far her talents can take her. In her wildest dreams, she’d get an athletic scholarship to a North American university, but the path ahead won’t be easy. Her parents, who don’t know about her passion, wouldn’t allow a girl to play fútbol—and she needs their permission to go any farther. Meanwhile, the boy she once loved, Diego, is not only back in town, but has also become an international star, playing in Italy for the renowned team Juventus. Things aren’t the same as when he left: Camila has her own fútbol ambitions now, and La Furia cannot be denied. As her life becomes more complicated, she is forced to face her secrets and make her way in a world with no place for the dreams and passion of a girl like her.

This is an excellent read! The setting comes to life on the page—even for someone who’s never seen an Argentina barrio—and the picture of life there is hard and dark, but with glimmers of light in unexpected places.

Camila is tough as nails, and she keeps her soft spots hidden from everyone: her parents, her friends, even Diego. I loved reading about her determination to succeed, no matter what obstacles stand in her way.

Yamile Saied Méndez is from Argentina but now lives in Utah. Furia is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.)

Synopsis:

A powerful, #ownvoices contemporary YA for fans of The Poet X and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter set in Argentina, about a rising soccer star who must put everything on the line—even her blooming love story—to follow her dreams.

In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life.

At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her rising-soccer-star brother’s shadow, and under the abusive rule of her short-tempered father.

On the field, she is La Furia, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see just how far those talents can take her. In her wildest dreams, she’d get an athletic scholarship to a North American university.

But the path ahead isn’t easy. Her parents don’t know about her passion. They wouldn’t allow a girl to play fútbol—and she needs their permission to go any farther. And the boy she once loved is back in town. Since he left, Diego has become an international star, playing in Italy for the renowned team Juventus. Camila doesn’t have time to be distracted by her feelings for him. Things aren’t the same as when he left: she has her own passions and ambitions now, and La Furia cannot be denied. As her life becomes more complicated, Camila is forced to face her secrets and make her way in a world with no place for the dreams and ambition of a girl like her.

Filled with authentic details and the textures of day-to-day life in Argentina, heart-soaring romance, and breathless action on the pitch, Furia is the story of a girl’s journey to make her life her own.

Review: I get goosebumps just thinking about this book now that I have read it. All the advance praise is completely on point. Honestly I’m a little worried my review won’t do the book justice. I was completely hooked from beginning to end, and when I wasn’t reading I genuinely missed Camila. Yamile has written a book that makes you fall in love with the story and completely empathise with the characters. This was an emotional book for me, everything is so descriptive and detailed I always felt like I was with Camila wherever she went.

This is the coming of age story that the Latinx community has been waiting for. An own voices book that everybody will fall in love with. I have absolutely no background knowledge of soccer or football but I was able to picture the scenes accurately despite my lack of background knowledge. What brilliant writing!

Trigger warning: This book discusses, sometimes in graphic detail, domestic violence. If anybody would like to read this book but is sensitive to violent scenes I’d be more than happy to provide more detail and which characters are involved and when it occurs in the book. It’s not often, but it is a constant theme that is discussed. Additionally, the word rape is mention by the main characters father.

It has been an absolute pleasure to be part of the blog tour for Fura, and thank you to Algonquin publicity for hosting and organising the tour. Also, many thanks to Algonquin for including me, and providing me with an advanced copy of the book as part of my involvement in the blog tour.

5/5 Stars

A massive and grateful thank you to Algonquin & Algonquin Young Readers for this advance copy of this beautiful book. Oh, Furia. What a female, what an athlete, what a force - and what a story. I loved watching Camila find her way - learning how to use her voice in her own challenging home life and how to shine as Furia on the futbol field. She wanted HER dreams and didn't accept the easy way out of anything less, and I think YA and adult readers alike can learn so much from her fearless spirit and grace and the commitment to being her true self. I loved this book!

This was so good! Such a beautiful and heartwarming story, and the whole journey made me root for Camila and her dreams. We see the MC try to balance career, love, and family, and we see how unfair it can be for women whether it be in sports or on life. The writing was good, but I feel like it lacked something. I feel like I also wanted more action-packed sports scenes. Still, this was a great read! Full review soon!

Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for sending the e-arc my way!

Furia is an amped up coming-of-age novel following Camila, an Argentinian living a double life. Balancing her family’s expectations with her passion for fútbol and dreams of being an international star, Camila also has to tackle her feelings for Diego, the boy she once loved who is already a celebrated rising star athlete.

The overall message of Furia is one of empowerment and recognizing the power that one holds within themself, however throughout there is heavy content presented that is not always easy to read. Camila, her family, and the community face harsh realities and some content warnings to be aware of include domestic violence, physical/emotional abuse, misogyny, and abduction/murder.

My only complaint about the novel is that a few of the side stories came off as rushed or lacked clarity and/or resolution, but overall I was impressed by the depth of the story. I would love to revisit these characters if there is ever a sequel or spinoff created.

Furia is a must read for YA fans of all ages and those looking for a compelling story that provides authentic cultural contex. Furia would be an especially valuable addition to school and public libraries due to the #ownvoices representation it provides Latinx readers. Also, just to note that while there are plenty of sports references throughout (it is about a fútbol player after all), this story is so compelling that even those who aren’t sports fans will surely enjoy.

Thank you Algonquin Young Readers and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book.

"Furia" by Yamile Saied Méndez is a young adult novel about Camila Hasan, a teenager whose life is centered around navigating her life for soccer and her relationships with friends and a love interest with her controlling family. I really loved the uniqueness of this story. It intertwines Argentina's history and culture with soccer fanaticism, women's rights, and social justice. Mendez leaves the reader in suspense as to whether Camila will successfully navigate her desires for a future of her choosing with the demands place upon her by her parents, being overshadowed by her brother's fame, and a somewhat tumultuous and public relationship with Diego. "Furia" is a great book for young people while still being a fun read for those well past their teenage years. I definitely recommend checking out this book.

Well this was a powerful story about a badass lady. Pretty mind-opening reading about the abuse, murder and sexism against women in Argentina, so it was even more meaningful to see Furia and her family triumph. The football was described in a way that I didn't get lost, despite having zero knowledge about the sport, and the author did awesome at illustrating how powerful these female athletes are. Furia was believable as a strong and brave woman and I hope lots of young girls will look up to this character.

First of all thanks to Algonquin and Yamile for giving me the opportunity to read this beauty.

Furia tells the story about Camila, or Furia, as she is known in the field. She is a 17 year old girl who lives a double life. She goes to school, pretends she studies to go to med school, and plays football in Eva Maria, her team, but this, she does it secretly, only her best friend, her brother and her teammates knows what she does in the field.
On top of all that, she is having a hard time in her love life, when Diego, her first love, her brother’s best friend and the new golden boy of the Juventus comes back to her life.

This book moved so many things in me, that it’s hard to find words. It talks about so many important things; the importance of believing in yourself, of staying truthful to your dreams, to fight for them, the importance of having people who believes in you, in whom you can trust, and who trust in you back.
I loved that it is set in Argentina, my home and pictures our habits, our fears, and our prides. We are a football-addict country, and this book reflects it in the best and worst ways possible.
Facturas and mates, milanesas and fugazza, the river, the fields full of mud, the worries every girl has, violence and endless football fights between some rivals, those are daily things in Argentina, and are perfectly pictured here.
And the main topic, it talks about how difficult is for girls to play football here in Argentina, so I’m grateful Yamile wrote about it.

Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez is a stunning novel, full of heart and power. The main character, Camila Hassan (known as Furia on the field), was an incredible character to follow, and she felt deeply human through the entire book. Her determination, her heartbreak, and her love, both of fútbol but also of other people in her life, shone through the entire novel. I was rooting for her the entire time. And Diego! What a great character. His connection with Camila was its own wonderful story to follow that was full of romance and heartache. The novel also did a great job of following Camila's own personal journey and character arc while also dealing with heavier topics like gender based violence in a way that felt incredibly relevant, important and powerful. This book is the portrait of a young woman learning her worth and growing into her power and potential and the result is something brilliant. It is a testament to the strength of young women and how necessary it is to give girls the chance to succeed and shine.
I loved every bit of this book and couldn't put it down. It's definitely one of my favorites of 2020 and the YA genre is so lucky to have a book like this join its ranks and have a character like Camila Hassan.
I'm so excited for people to find this book and be inspired by Furia. I certainly was.

CW: emotional and physical abuse, domestic violence, sexism, death (I might have missed some, so if you're worried check out some other reviews!)

This is an empowering, feminist story about a young girl pursuing her dream in a world that constantly works against her. I really liked this book and think its message was very strong. It's also own voices!

Our main character is Camilla, an amazing soccer player who dreams of going pro, but at home, she keeps her passion a secret. I loved reading about Camilla and rooted for her at every step of the way. Her voice was great; both fun and emotional and so damned strong. Throughout the books, she faces many tough choices, and I enjoyed seeing her figure out what she wanted for her own future. I don't personally care much for soccer, but I was invested in Camilla's team's successes and losses. Though the story is a lot about soccer, it's also about so much more.

All the characters felt fleshed out and there were some great female friendships going on. Camilla's family is going through a lot of tough things, and I felt they were all handled with care and consideration. The writing flowed, and the voice felt distinct. The descriptions and just the entire atmosphere carried me all the way to South America.

Also, no spoilers, but I really loved the ending. I was suspicious of where it was going for some time, but it ended perfectly!

Review will be available on The Reading Fairy on September 12th, 2020

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

TW: Blood, Misogyny, Sexism, fatphobia, discussions about weight, abortion (mentioned), mention of violence, mention of smoking, ableism and ableist language, malnutrition (mentioned), physical abuse, discussion of racism, animal death (on-page), child abandonment (mentioned), teenage pregnancy, bullying, homophobia, cheating, missing sibling, death of a sibling, mention of rape
Rep: Mixed Race (Latinx, Black, white) MC, Latinx cast, Indian side character, disabled side characters, sapphic romance

Disclaimer: I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

Diego blinked and stared into the darkness of the kitchen. “That sometimes we’re cursed, and we can’t break free without the help of these who love us.”

I’ve been eyeing this book this book ever since I got an email from Algonquin Young Readers for a blog tour for this, and I knew I had to read it. An #Ownvoices YA Contemporary romance set in Argentina which made me really excited! And the fact that it’s a sport centered makes me even more happy!

This is my first book I read about and set in Argentina. I don’t know anything about Argentina really at all, and I love how the book is explored. I am not Latinx nor am I Argentinian so I can not comment about the rep at all, but I encourage to seek out ownvoices reviewers for this book.

The one thing that kinda threw me off a little bit, was the quite a bit of trigger warnings I found and I was not prepared for it at all. It wasn’t anything graphic at all, but some issues I really am sensitive about was talked about, and it jerked me out of the story a few times. This is why trigger warnings/content warnings are important.

Can we talk about the Spanish in this book? It wasn’t only a few words here and there. There were full blown sentences in it and I was amazed. I didn’t look what they were saying at all even though I needed too, because my Spanish sucks. I think it was kind of cool, and I hope more authors do it.

I loved Camila. Not because is is an awesome protagonist, nor that she is a fútbol player-but simply she is herself. She doesn’t change herself for a boy, nor did she chooses them-only choosing herself. It’s such a refresher because most YA protagonists always choose the Love interest, but seeing someone choose herself is excellent! We need more books in where the MC doesn’t choose the romance and doesn’t give up anything that she loves!

I love Camila’s passion for fútbol! It was shown really well on the fact she was a huge passion for it, that she is really good at it. She is known as “La Furia” on the field. I also love how her dreams co-aligned with it, and it was so cool!

Camila Hassan has a dream nobody knows about: she wants to become a football (soccer) player. But such things are unheard of in Argentina, especially in her family, where she is expected to study hard, get into university and become a doctor. So yes, her parents sort of got her life sorted.

Her father - who's an abuser, by the way and I hated him - would have become a football player himself, had he not left Camila's mother pregnant with her older brother. But he's living vicariously through Pablo, who's also a football player, just not as good as their father would want him to be.

It hurt to read about Camila's struggles; about the abuse they had to take from the person who was supposed to protect them, not harm them. Sleeping with your door locked, constantly looking over your shoulder IN YOUR OWN HOME is messed up.

But Camila leads her double life, until her past comes crashing back in the form of her brother's best friend, who happens to be a football star.

This story is so complex and heartbreaking, and I love the message it conveys and it also has the best ending. It's a book that needs to be read by teens and not only. The first because they need to know they have possibilities and hard work pays off, and the latter because, well, sometimes adults need to be reminded of that, as well. Dreams don't have an expiration date, they can come true any time.

I voluntarily agreed to read an early copy via Netgally. Many thanks to the publisher. 4 - 4.5 stars.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this wonderful book! Furia is an extremely powerful feminist story about a girl finding herself and her place in the society around her. The main character, Camila, has a strong personality and a strong sense of what she wants, but struggles to find a way to achieve her dreams. She grapples with balancing her love of futbol and her love for a boy, and I especially love that the story doesn't take the usual path that this kind of story takes. I also love how well developed the setting for the story is, and while reading it, I was able to fully picture Camila's neighborhood in Argentina, though I have never been there myself. The supporting characters are also well developed and interesting, and I especially loved following Camila's relationships with her family members. This is an extremely beautiful and powerful story, and I highly recommend it!

Camila is a soccer goddess, she plays with passion, heart and amazing talent, but she has to keep that All a secret in a world and a family who thinks only men can make their way in the world through futbol. As Camila fights to take a stand at home and on the field she feels her passion and confidence wavering. Will her dream slip out of her hands? Will she risk it all and not reach her dream? This book was a beautiful ode to soccer and the athletes, especially the women, who play the game. This book was especially powerful because of the choices Camila, la Furia, made and how they were not strep typical of so many other YA books in this genre. Camila is a heroine for today’s young woman.