Furia. Well titled book. This character was a fury. I enjoyed this novel because it puts you in Argentina. The locations, the culture, the music, the Spanish, was well developed and rich. The narrator did a great job in conveying the story of a Argentinian teen.

This book discusses issues such as domestic abuse, kidnapping and poverty in Latin America. This story while at times is very serious and intense, still has the fun lightheartedness of futbol. The family had many issues and complex relationships which made it seem more real. 

Lots of mate mentioned, a little overdone. Same with the pop culture references, "the shadow of the wind", "Maluma", " Juventus". I was not sure how I felt about this..while at time dates the story more relevant and relatable to Latinos. 

Overall I would recommend to those who would like soccer, enjoy contemporary, Argentina, family drama. 
Last, I appreciated the thoughtfulness of the Author's Note.

a feminist triumph of a young argentinian woman's story of drive, passion, and futbol.

"furia"'s main character camila contains the strongest voice for a main character i've read in a while. by the end of the book, i truly felt like i knew who camila was; she was allowed to have goals and a strong drive while also acting like a real person. what i mean is, camila is allowed to have a crush without it dominating her story, she's allowed to get her period without it being a big deal, she is able to casually mention the argentinian pro-choice movement without it becoming a major plot point, and she can deal with issues of poverty and misogyny and domestic violence without these issues dominating the book. the story is always primarily about *camila* and it is all the better for it. 

the author's note at the end also provided excellent context to some of the word choices in the book and to argentinian culture.

the audiobook narration was a joy to listen to. sol madariaga truly encapsulated camila and i would love to listen to another book narrated by her.

thank you to netgalley and workman audio for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was so astound at how much of the novel i related to. I live in Spain and, although Argentina is on the other side of the Atlantic, i could not help but notice how similar our cultures are. It helped me visualize the story from a point of view that i have never been given by another book, a point of view that actually felt like home. i, like Camila, also play fútbol and i could relate 100000% to the difficulties she faced as a woman playing the sport, the way Méndez narrates it makes me know that she, too, has gone through all of that. 
The aspect of the book that i loved the most was the feminism. I adored every scene where we can see a woman fighting for her freedom, to be who she truly wants to be, to not give in to the patriarcal society. It was really painful yet heartwarming to watch Camila be so brave against her father and be able to say no to Diego for herself and her dreams, inspiring. 

Unfortunately, i'm giving it a 3.5. Although this book did almost everything right, something did not click with me. I personally didn't really like/cared for the romance involved, though that might just be me. I really recommend this book to anyone, specially females in the sport industry who feel like they're alone.

An own voices title that was also one of Reese’s book club picks means it’s a MUST read in my book. Being able to listen to the audiobook of this incredible title, while reading an in-hand copy made this one of the best books of the year for me for sure - this YA read definitely lived up to every bit of worthy hype it received. 

This book, and especially Camila as the main character had me rooting out loud for all of her hopes, dreams, and everything she stood for. Yamile Saied Mendez made it impossible not to fall for this much needed contemporary story about a diverse young girl, the first-person narrative made it a book any teenager would have no problem relating to and giving a much-needed voice to girls like her. 

Not only does she rise above the unfairness of being a girl in a man’s sport, but faces family struggles, being from a lower-class family & the pressures of being a teen all in one well-written book I would highly recommend to anyone! 

I fight for every ball, and although I don't always win, no one can say I hold back. I leave my soul on the pitch. I relish what my body can do, appreciate its unorthodox beauty. The eyes of the crowd are on me, and I feel like a goddess.

An empowering protagonist I think ALL girls especially need to have, you won’t want to put this beautiful story down - be prepared to devour it in one sitting! YA is killing it this year, and I am HERE for it!

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.

I enjoyed this book for its diversity and its analysis on cultural norms in Argentina even today, despite the fact that football (or sports in general really) isn't of that much interest to me.

If I compared it to Bend it Like Beckham, which was pretty much the only similar story I had been exposed to before this, it definitely shows a great deal of difference between England, say, and Argentinian cultures.

Perhaps the family members in both places are not particularly big fans of their daughters playing sports. However, I don't particular recall from the movie the casual racism, sexism and general danger of being a young woman that we saw in this book.

In those ways, this was much more like The Hate U Give. Camila is just a young woman who is wanting to live her life and do something she love. Something, actually, that her brother and best friend Diego are lauded for doing professionally already. We find out very early on that she is playing football. However, this is a secret to everyone in her family and honestly every one in her life outside of the team because of the danger it puts her in.

When Diego starts showing romantic interest in her, her family give her a hard time because she's not showing the amount of interest in him that could get their family out of any hint of financial trouble because of his career as a famous football player. This pressure comes particularly from her father, who we soon find is abusive to her mother and basically the whole neighbourhood knows it.

Although there are some intense scenes that made me stop reading for longer or shorter periods of time, the resolution of all of these moments was satisfactory.

And the happily ever after that Camilla gets in the end feels very well deserved after the rough time she has of it during the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Workman audio for an audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This audio started out a bit slow for me, not really being a fan of soccer I didn't care about the storyline.  But I soon found the story evolving into something more than just a soccer story.  It is a story about a girl trying to succeed at what she does best, against all odds.  It's a story of a young woman falling in love, but knowing she needs to find herself first.  This was a realistic and well written story and I found myself even enjoying the soccer parts of the book. 
Recommended to fans of YA, Soccer, Female heros.

I am SO GLAD I was able to read this book! I've read many books about teen girls, but this perspective was entirely fresh and new to me. You also don't get to read that many books about female athletes in general, so the fact that Camila (Furia) was both a phenomenal athlete who was a realistic and believable young woman really astounded and impressed me! Throw in the fact that it is a cultural experience in and of itself, and I think this is a book that could inspire many, young adults and adults alike. 
At first, I was hesitant because of the love story element, but it actually added to the overall impact of the novel. It's true that many people don't just have one major side to their lives, so the fact that this main character was dealing with gender equality, a rocky family environment, athletic dreams, AND a first love just made this all the more effective.
I would recommend this to anyone!

“You can’t have it all. You’ll see.” 
“Although I wanted to yell that this was the greatest lie told to girls like us for centuries, seeing the defeat in her eyes, I couldn’t find my voice.” 

Furia is the story of fútbol player Camila Hassan. Nicknamed La Furia for her talent, Camila has a number of secrets off the field. Her family doesn’t know that she plays fútbol, focusing only on her brother’s talent. When her childhood friend/ex Diego returns, now a well-known fútbol player, she struggles with keeping their friendship a secret. Camila faces pressure from her family to use her English skills and study medicine, her coach wants her to pursue fútbol, and Diego wants to reconnect. La Furia must decide what she wants for her future and which dream to pursue. 

I absolutely loved Furia. The beautiful descriptions, inclusion of Spanish, and excellent pacing made me wish this book were longer. I loved how Camila never gave up on her dreams, even when the world was telling her that she could never succeed or could only choose one option. This book showed many of the issues that women in Argentina and around the world face when it comes to domestic abuse and violence. The relationship between Camila and her mom was my favorite, with the emotional exploration of deeply-held beliefs and fears.  I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was excellent. Her voice was very pleasant to listen to and expressive.  I would recommend this for anyone looking to read a story about hope and fighting for your dreams when the world tells you not to. Furia is available now! Thank you to Yamile Saied Méndez, Workman Audio, and Netgalley for a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I have really enjoyed the increase of books showing non-American cultures being in mainstream publishing recently. I’ve always loved learning and hearing about other cultures and countries, and what better way to learn those things than through beautifully told stories?

I’m not a soccer fan, so I didn’t love the details of soccer itself, but it did remind me how much I have missed watching sports in general during this pandemic. That was really the only part that didn’t connect with me, but even that wasn’t bad.

I enjoy YA books, often just as much as women’s fiction. In fact, it annoys me greatly when some readers act like YA is a lesser genre.  I like that the author didn’t shy away from serious and heavy topics right alongside the romance and dream-chasing of La Furia. All around a good read.

“Furia”, by Yamile Saied Méndez, is a YA novel centered around Camila Hassan, a 17 year old girl living in Rosario, Argentina. Camila is a very talented football player (soccer if you are from US), who plays in an all girls team and hopes get a sports scholarship and attend college in North America. She hides all this from her family, who never approved of her playing sports because she is a girl. When the boy she loves, also a talented football player that now plays for an Italian team, comes back for a short visit in Rosario, Camila finds herself in a tough situation , as her love makes her grip on her dreams of success and independence start loosening.
. 
I am not the typical target audience for this book, as I don’t read many YA novels and I am not into sports at all, I did, however, enjoy it a lot. Part of it is because of Sol Madariaga’s wonderful narration. She brings Camila to life with a lot of passion, and I loved her accurate pronunciation of all Spanish words & phrases (which I speak and could tell it was correct). I also liked the descriptions of the city, and of the life of its inhabitants. The novel also touches upon important topics, like domestic violence and the femicide in Argentina, the feminist movement there (#NiUnaMenos) and the way some in society see it. While I thought that the book was a bit too heavy on the romance for my taste in the first half, it served the purpose of building Camila’s character and make her struggle and dilemma more well rounded. I also loved that there was a good amount of focus on the relationship Camila has with other characters apart from her love interest, like her mom, her brother, and her best friend on the football team. 

If you are a reader who enjoys the YA genre and/or  enjoys sports, this book is definitely for you. But even if you do not fall into either of those categories, like myself, do not dismiss this book. There is more to Camila’s story than romance and football, and it’s that extra that makes this story stand out.

I LOVED the narrator here, but the only thing  I didn't like was every time she says something in Spanish I got all confused the rest of the sentence, even though I am latino and I speak spanish, but this story was perfect

Great, powerful read for teenage girls - the messages of toxic masculinity and female strength are excellent. I loved reading a book set in this part of the world, Highly recommend.

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.

Yamile Saied Mendez, with her incredible writing plus the beautiful narration of a fellow Argentinian, help bring this amazing tale of female empowerment to life, and make it a worthy experience for both Argentinians and Non-Argentinians alike.
I hope that everyone enjoys this beautiful story as much as I did!

This is a wonderful story with excellent narration.  The last time I read a YA novel it was Hunger Games, but while Furia may have some similar themes of young love and overcoming challenges, this is not a dystopian novel but rather a plausible story of a young woman, Camila, who has a dream and musters all her resources to stay focused on the prize.  

Camila Hassan is a young woman, who, we find out, keeps a secret from her family.  While they think she is studying to become a doctor, she dreams of playing futbol (soccer) on the national and international stage.  Her team gives her the name “Furia” for she is a true powerhouse and talent of her team.   They qualify for the South American tournament and are in a precarious situation of needing to raise money for travel expenses to the tournament.  But remember, “La Furia” has been playing without the knowledge of her family; there are others that enter the picture to help the team move forward. 

There is a love interest, Diego, who is a superstar futbol playing for Juventus in Italy and a rather heavy-handed father that controls the dynamic of homelife.  All the while, “La Furia” has not lost sight of her goal of getting a scholarship to a North American University to play soccer.

We watch “La Furia” navigate all of these challenges - her difficult home life, her relationship with Diego, her job teaching English, and above all her life goals.   The author manages these expertly, presenting Camila as a young woman who deftly manages all her trials and tribulations.  

Whether you read the book or listen to the excellent audiobook version, ‘Furia’ is the perfect YA book for showing us a teenage woman who succeeds despite many odds.   I am sure Camila (’Furia’) is an identifiable character and her story is a valuable lesson for many young women.  

The audiobook version was well done with excellent narration by Sol Madariaga.  Whichever version you decide to read - or to recommend - ‘Furia’  has to be one of the best YA books to appear.  Relatable characters, relatable circumstances, and an important message to never lose sight of your goals.

Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷 
Book: Furia 
AVAILABLE NOW- Released September 15, 2020
Author: Yamile Saied Mendez
Genre: Own Voices/Teen & YA

I enjoyed this book for what it was, a YA book. I loved how strong the female protagonist was. Camila Hassan is a young Argentinian girl who comes from a home where love isn’t given freely. She is a great soccer player but has to keep it hidden. The story follows Camila, aka La Furia on the field, as she tries to make her way into a soccer career, manage puppy love, and live in a home that is unstable. I didn’t love or hate this book. I thought it was interesting and would suggest it to someone who wanted a quick read possibly set in a different culture than their own.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @WorkmanAudio for an advanced copy of @Furia. 

#Furia #WorkmanAudio #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #AmazonReads #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #fiction #YoungAdult

If you had asked at the beginning of 2020 if I liked YA books, I would have given you a very convincing “absolutely not”. Well apparently I was wrong ... and I don’t mind admitting my mistake. 

Much like Elizabeth Acevedo’s books, Furia was a strong, independent female lead and I think that’s the key to enjoying YA for me. I absolutely loved her. There is a sweet romance aspect, but it plays a backseat to the characters goals and growth. I loved the soccer theme, appreciated the cultural education, family drama - and couldn’t stop listening to this one!! The narration was excellent and really added to the story for me! This would make such an amazing movie. 🧡

Camila is a 17-year-old Argentinian girl with her eyes set on achieving the practically impossible: going to North America for university on an athletic scholarship.

Surrounded by men and a society that doesn’t believe a woman can succeed as an athlete, Camila lives a secret life: that of La Furia, a promising fútbol player who may just have enough talent and perseverance to make it. But to get any further, she’ll need the support of her parents, both of whom no nothing of her playing.

To make matters more complicated, her ex-flame is back in town after moving to Italy to play fútbol professionally. And he has his eyes set on rekindling their relationship… but Camila is more hesitant. She has ambitions of her own… ones that don’t account for her having a boyfriend who lives in Italy.

What a powerful read!

Furia is first and foremost a tale of female empowerment; and a story steeped in rich cultural relevance. I can’t recommend this novel highly enough!

Told from the perspective of a fiery, hardworking and highly motivated 17-year-old girl, the daily life of a young woman living in Argentina is explored; with important discussions of domestic abuse, violence against women, and the pañuelazo movement thoughtfully depicted throughout. And despite the inclusion of such heavy topics – or likely in fact because of them – Saied Méndez manages to craft a heartfelt, emotionally-driven and, above all else, inspirational story for young women everywhere.

Camila was the perfect protagonist for a story like this! Both deeply caring and strongly fierce, Camila is the heart and soul of this novel, and her struggle is told in a way that despite who you are or where you come from you can immediately relate to and empathize with her struggles.

It is impossible not to root for her as she pushes for her goals. I felt terrified, devastated and overjoyed in turn along with her as she worked hard and, despite all the odds, managed to achieve all that she had set out to do.

Camila, and in turn Saied Méndez – the woman who brought this incredible character to life – is an inspiration! One I believe all girls could benefit from hearing the story of.

Thank you to the publisher, Workman Audio, and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of this audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

I have missed the world of sports!!! By far, my favorite part of this book was the return to sports, something I have missed for a while since going on to college. I loved getting to see the games in the way that we did. This was especially great in the audiobook. The narrator was fantastic at reading these scenes. It felt as if you were really there and truly experiencing the wins and losses with the characters.

I think what I enjoyed the most, however, was Camila's character. She was the type of girl that I want to be. Determined to do what she loves and do it well. I loved reading her determination and strong will and getting to see how far it took her in this story. 

I do wish that the book was longer to give us more resolution, but overall, I loved this book.