I'm not a huge fan of contemporaries but This Is How We Fly blew me out of the water. It's witty and relatable and Meriano's writing is snappy and engaging. Ellen is such an accurate model of the modern socially-conscious youth that I couldn't help but feel a kindred spirit in her struggles with uneducated parents and stubborn peers. She shows excellent character growth throughout the course of the books, learning how to work as a team and express herself through Quidditch. I have no doubt that this will become a comfort read for myself and others.

I adored this book. And when I say adored, I mean ADORED. I have been severely missing the world of Harry Potter for too long, and this book put me right back in there. It also has really encouraged me to go find a quidditch team of my own. I'm not sure that part will happen, but also I'm not sure that it won't.

This book gave me all of the feelings. I felt happiness and joy and sadness and despair and loneliness, and really just every emotion that you can possibly feel, I had it at some point during this book. I feel like a lot of people from Gen Z are really going to relate to this book. This book deals with a few heavy subjects, but one of the main ones is dealing with parents that don't agree with you politically or socially. Clearly, it's an incredibly difficult thing to do. But what I really loved about this book is how it showed you can fight for what you believe in and stand up for it without ruining your relationships. Sometimes, there is a point where you can either keep going and never talk to people again, or just realize you will never change their mind and be okay with that. That's a hard thing to realize, and I'm really happy that that was shown through this book.

Not only where there tense and emotional parts, there were also a lot of happy times in this book. Honestly, it was just fun. That's all I have to describe it. It was complete and utter fun to read this novel, and I almost wish I could read it for the first time again.

If you enjoy fun and emotional books, this one is for you. If you enjoy Harry Potter in any capacity, this is for you. Really, this book is for everyone. You should read it, trust me. Thank you so much to the publisher and author for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

The time after graduating high school and before going off to college is such an odd time. This book did a great job at portraying the angst and restlessness that comes along with it. We follow our main character Ellen during the summer between high school and college. During this transitory time, she begins to feel like she’s being left behind by her friends and family, she acts out. It’s immature but understandable. Unfortunately, it doesn’t make for a great reading experience. As much as I wanted to root for her, I was annoyed by the majority of her decisions.

My annoyance did not end with her. Ellen’s family and friends are generally terrible towards her. Ellen struggles to fit in— she’s unsure about her place in her family, her racial identity, and her place in her friend group, and while all of these are interesting enough on their own, they add up to less than the sum of their parts. There was just too much trauma to cover— issues were brought up and then left unresolved, and it just felt like I was jumping from one unfortunate event to the next while Ellen’s only change was her increasing frustration.

As much as I wanted this to be a lighthearted, fun, summer read, there was too much unresolved conflict and not enough character growth for me.

First of all, I want to thank Penguin Teen for sending me this book through NetGalley for an early review! To be honest, I have never really read a lot of YA contemporary, but I for sure loved this book. Let's dive into the review!

I absolutely loved the concept of this book! It is a slight Cinderella retelling about a girl who joins a Harry Potter inspired Quidditch team. Our protagonist, Ellen, is such a strong-willed person who will stand up and fight for what she believes in. During this last summer before college starts, Ellen finds herself joining an all-gender, full-contact Quidditch team that gives her a chance to not only find herself, but find who she wants to be in life. Meriano also explores the topics of family dynamics and finding her own voice in this world. Every scene was just so full of detail that it made it hard to put the book down. The family part of this book was my favorite because it was so moving to see the development from the beginning of the book to the end. The book is definitely a book I am going to remember. I 100% recommend picking up this book when it comes out later this year, because it will definitely leave you feeling inspired.

Final Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

It’s time to fly in this fun Cinderella quidditch story! Join Ellen as she learns the game and works through her issues with family, friends, and herself. You are going to love this one!

I really enjoyed this one! I loved that they played quidditch and all of the characters and parental struggles. Great read for anyone who had a hard time with their parents as a teenager!

This is How We Fly is a modern Cinderella retelling with a coming-of-age twist. It follows 18-year-old Ellen Lopez-Rourke, who plans to spend the summer before college strategically avoiding her stepmother Connie, with whom she has to walk on eggshells. If you've ever had to walk on eggshells with anybody in your life--be it a parent, a friend, a significant other--you'll definitely relate to Ellen's plight. She has to be extra careful about what she does and says around Connie to avoid setting her off, and I felt that because I've been there. Honestly, I think that Ellen is a realistic and relatable character overall. She's a self-professed dork who has identity crises pretty much daily, and I am also a dork who has frequent identity crises. Ellen allows herself to be roped into joining a local quidditch (of Harry Potter lore) league right before her stepmom decides to ground her for " being rude", and soon qudditch becomes her refuge.

In This Is How We Fly, Meriano deftly tackles complicated family dynamics. We see how Ellen feels caught between her dad, who wants to support her unconditionally, and her stepmom, who has narrow ideas of who Ellen should be. Even Ellen's not-so-evil stepsister, Yasmin, is a great character. I actually felt sorry for Yasmin for most of this book because of the pressure Connie puts on her, a 10-year-old child, to achieve and present a certain way. I also love the diverse cast of characters presented in This Is How We Fly and the friendships that Ellen forms with her teammates, especially as her high school friendships begin to falter. Overall, This is How We Fly was a great coming-of-age story that I think will speak to many.

I received this book in exchange of a honest review from Netgalley and Book Sparks.

With everything going on in the Harry Potter fandom right now this books is what I needed.

Elle is a wonderful character who takes us through all the drama of coming to age and going to college.

I don’t want to spoil anything but this was a great read and muggle quidditch, is what I need in my life

So rich in characters, you are bound to remember more than one! Meet 3 teenage girls and their classmates as they spend their last summer before college together, some playing quidditch! Unique family situations and great interpersonal drama make this a strong book. Great for everyone, but especially perfect for YA fans who want to understand the experiences of others and enjoy a good story!

I have never read a book about quidditch before, but wow! I really enjoyed seeing the sport played in this book. I would consider it a driving factor in the book (though not the sole factor), and it was so much fun to follow. The games and tournaments we see throughout the book are described so well and super easy to follow. As far as the other elements in the story, I didn’t enjoy them *as* much. Our main character, Ellen, is very passionate about social and environmental issues, and these passions really drive her character; there were countless discussions about these issues and Ellen is so driven in these. I enjoyed seeing her discuss and debate these topics with friends and family, but I did think that the bits and pieces of her own sexuality and gender mentioned could have been elaborated on more. We see small mentions of these topics but I think we could have benefitted from more of it. Unfortunately, I was very frustrated with Ellen in the very beginning of the book and thought her character was stubborn, which isn’t a bad thing, but she was so determined she was right that she wouldn’t consider other people’s opinions, which is a complaint I have a lot with contemporary stories. Her character does develop over time, which made me like her much more by the end of the book. Overall, this was an entertaining contemporary story that also dealt with many progressive topics and I enjoyed my time reading it!

*Just finished the Arc of this book provided through NetGalley and Penguin Random House*

I didn’t know I needed this book, but I did. Firstly, I did know that quidditch is a real sport, and have been actively following the community for years, so it was super cool to see such an awesome sport with dedicated players represented in a novel! There is so much fandom stuff mixed in ( not just HP, so much more!) and it made my little nerd heart happy.

But let’s talk about everything apart from quidditch and it’s awesomeness. The relationship between Ellen and her family resonated so deep with me. I know that if I felt the connections, others will too, particularly those who don’t feel like they fit in with their own loved ones. Ellen is a STRONG character, but she also has very human and relatable flaws. She also isn’t afraid to stand up for her beliefs, which is something I love about her. LGBTQ+ representation is a massive part of This story as well, which is so very important. Quidditch is all about acceptance regardless of gender, and that is highlighted wonderfully in this too.

I legit never write reviews, but I feel pretty strongly about this book. I laughed, I cried actual tears (not just the ‘almost’ kind), I saw bits of myself in Ellen’s journey. I loved this one. You have to read it, because it’s definitely a ‘keeper’ (Ha, see what I did there?)

From the beginning of "This Is How We Fly," Anna Meriano captures the struggles and joys of being a young woman trying to become an adult or at least “adult” more. Ellen is only seventeen, but she has the weight of the world on her shoulders as a vegan, feminist, and trying to balance that in-between age of being a teenager and a pre-college student. Her parents want her to be "normal", but like most teenagers, Ellen doesn't know that her interests and beliefs are anything but. Who she is sets the stage of who she will become. With different parts of her life taking off in various directions, only experience and time will help her along to fit all of the pieces together. As her life at home closes in around her, and the post-high school world of possibilities might be too big to venture with, Ellen’s journey is relatable as she takes chances, makes mistakes, and remains someone to root for.

The strong centerpiece of the book that tethers Ellen with the supporting characters and their conflicts is Quidditch. Fans within the Harry Potter community strive to make the fandom as welcoming as possible, and the use of Quidditch as a network of characters who help Ellen understand her gender, sexuality, and inner strength is satisfying as a fellow Harry Potter fan. As a general reader though, you don’t need to have followed Harry Potter to understand how the game is described. This makes the book accessible to fans and non-fans alike. The game is a jumping point to Ellen’s personal growth, and also offers a deeper sense of other characters such as her best friend Melissa, stepmom, step-sister, and a few possible love interests.

As endearing as Ellen and her journey of self-discovery is, where the book could’ve improved upon more was the exploration of Ellen’s identity. It was wonderful to see the diversity of characters, especially with the book led by a vegan feminist and second-generation Mexican American. And the range of her friends offer more diversity as well, so the book highlights a group of young adults who are finding their identities. However, it felt like some of these details could've been better cultivated into the actual story instead of coming across as 'statements.' This is somewhat in contrast to how seamless and descriptive Ellen’s voice is as she paints a picture of her self-doubts, participating in Quidditch, and feeling ostracized by her parents. Otherwise, Ellen is still a refreshing central character who can easily become a fan favorite for general readers and leave a lasting impression for Harry Potter fans.

“This Is How We Fly” is a charming coming-of-age tale that explores the traditional growing pains of life after high school. As the story unfolds around Ellen, it’s easy to get wrapped up in her world and finish the book feeling victorious like you caught the Golden Snitch.

This was a book about friendship and families and finding yourself.
Ellen finds herself in a Cinderella situation when her stepmother grounds her for the summer. Playing quidditch, yes the Harry Potter game, is her only way out of the house.
Ellen navigates fights with both friends and her parents, figuring out how to be part of a team, and how to not let someone else's values affect your self worth.
This was a great YA read that was fun, but tackled a lot of hard issues. I really enjoyed the author's voice and would definitely check out more of her books.
Thanks to netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This book takes place in Texas the Summer before Ellen goes to college. Ellen comes from a blended family, she's vegan and is full of teenage angst.
Her friends are going to different colleges and she's left feeling unsure. She ends up joining a Quidditch team after watching a friends practice. Its on that team she learns to be a leader.
This was a different book for me and something I normally probably wouldn't pick up but I enjoyed it.

Thanks to BookSparks and Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.

I downloaded this book to support a member of my team in her review. I haven't had a chance to read it yet but I'm looking forward to it! https://www.mugglenet.com/2020/06/this-is-how-we-fly-coming-in-october/

Brooms up! "This is How We Fly" is a book about finding your people, finding your voice, and knowing when to trust in yourself. Ellen Lopez Rourke has a mixed heritage, a blended family, and a lot to say about veganism, the patriarchy, and gender identity. And, while a lot of the story is pedantic, Ellen's got a point about the state of affairs. But, until she starts making better decisions for herself instead of being lead by friends and family, Ellen is all talk. When she tags along with a friend and a friend's boyfriend to join a quidditch team, Ellen learns to take the lead, take a hit, and move on from life's setbacks as she prepares for her first year of college.

I couldn't put this book down, which is a feat because I gravitate more towards Fantasy and Sci-Fi than Realistic fiction. There were plenty of geeky HP references, and a lot of discussion on gender identity, sexism and sex roles, family dynamics, new relationships, and navigating changing friendships. Parts of this book made me feel as frustrated as the main character, and I rooted for Ellen the whole time!

A Great Read for High School
This Is How We Fly was a compelling read that had me looking forward to going back to it every time. The exploration of Latinx cultural diversity and being caught between both worlds, along with inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters made for a relevant and well-rounded read for teens. The main character does not drink during the novel, but there are scenes involving college parties and drinking. Realistic, but not a parent pleaser for the JHS crowd. It had a terrific ending and the mixed family being able to find a way forward was great to see. All in all, a great read.

This is a coming-of-age story about 17-year-old Ellen who is a vegan feminist and 2nd gen. Mexican-American on her mother's side. Anna Meriano takes the traditional Cinderella tale with a modern twist including an "evil" step-mother, endless chores, and the "magic" of Muggle Quidditch.
The characters in this book are super diverse (yes, representation and inclusion!!). Meriano's characters are not perfect, but are nuanced and make mistakes. I found myself frustrated with Ellen at some points but recognized some of her behavior as realistic for a teen coming into their own and grappling in the liminal space of teen independence. Meriano does an excellent job in giving Ellen a true voice throughout the narrative that is relatable (yes, even through some of her teen angst) without being patronizing to Ellen's experience. Though Ellen adheres to various equity and inclusion ideals, she lacks self-reflection on how her behavior/actions affect those around her, which, I think, is realistic of many young people.
Additionally, the Quidditch scenes were easy to follow, which is difficult for authors to convey action scenes in a clear and descriptive manner. No, you do not have to be into Harry Potter to follow the story. This was a quick and enjoyable read that I did not want to put down!

Teen angst is delineated in excruciating detail. The protagonist certainly has lots of problems--self, family, friend conflicts. Still, it's a fun read. It has up-to-the-minute commentary on JK Rowling. Basically, the players love the game but have strong issues with the creator.