I’d like to give a big shoutout to NetGalley for offering the Advanced Listener Copy of this #ownvoice novel. Congratulations to 𝘍𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘢 and author Yamile Saied Méndez’s for being selected as the @reesesbookclub September YA choice!⁣
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𝘍𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘢 is the story of Camila, a young girl living in Rosario, Argentina. Her dream is to play fútbol like her older brother who plays professionally, but her parents don’t believe soccer is a sport for girls. Camila, aka Furia on the field, plays in secret, and she is a star! ⁣
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A romance between Furia and Diego, a professional soccer, develops as well. In the end, Furia triumphs over all who would like to keep her from realizing her dream.⁣
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𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝙁𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙖…⁣
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⚽️ Powerful female protagonist ⁣
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⚽️ Rejects patriarchy⁣
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⚽️ Argentinian culture and food⁣
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⚽️ First person POV⁣
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⚽️ Furia’s spunky character⁣
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⚽️ Message: Girls can do anything boys can do⁣
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𝗡𝗨𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗗: Don’t let anyone hold you back from what you want to be and do!⁣

I’m so glad that this book was chosen for a Reese’s YA book club pick! I really enjoyed following Camila’s story and how it delicately balanced the risk of her playing futbol and wanting to study in the United States and her love interest with Diego. It was a lot of high stakes but absolutely enjoyable to listen to. With every mention of fire and fury and Camila’s emotions, I was right there with her. It broke my heart to see how Camila and her family were affected by domestic violence and her community by so many missing girls, but the author addressed these issues head on with the utmost respect AND with a happy ending.

I love a powerful diverse read about a woman able to rise above obstacles to plow her own path. I highly recommend this to every young girl. What I loved:

A powerful female protagonist.

The way that everything was depicted so beautifully so I felt like I was really there and could see and smell the atmosphere.

How gracefully the author navigated the tough subjects of sexism.

Overall it was just such a strong, beautifully written novel I suggest to all young girls.

I loved the narrator! She added so much to this story telling. There was a dimension not present in the e-book.

An amazing tale of perseverance and strength. I think every young woman should read this to feel the grit that Camila exudes. Argentina is not the most progressive county so seeing that as an American woman that is infinitely more free to run my life was a wonderful reminder. I can’t wait to see more from this author that portrays strong female characters so well. 4.5 stars!

Great narrator, good pacing of the story. Camila is definitely a main character the readers will root for. She has a dream of going to college and playing fútbol in the United States. Her father doesn't think her place is on the field and with a famous brother  she hides a lot.

With determination and pluck, Camila "Furia" navigates the sports world of Argentinia and her home life and she will have you cheering until the very end.

I like that Camila fights against gender norms and expectations but remains true to herself.

Although the narrator is great and it is a pleasant audiobook, this isn't a must listen too as much as this is a story you don't want to miss. Regardless of how you read it you won't be disappointed.

Furia is such a powerful read!  I love reading stories about following your dreams in the face of seemingly overwhelming obstacles.  Camila is an unforgettable character and I admired her strength, courage, and determination.  The author makes it so easy to become fully invested in Camila's journey and cheering her on every step of the way.  I'm also a huge soccer fan so I very much appreciated Camila's passion for the game and how magical she was each time she stepped foot on the field.

I received a reviewer audio review copy of Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez from the publisher from Workman Audio from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

CW:  Physical Abuse and Kidnapping (missing girls). 

What It’s About: Camila Hassan lives in a bad situation. Her father is abusive and her mother feels trapped and holds rigid expectations for Camila so that she one day can escape this situation and not end up like her mother trapped in an abusive relationship. All the excess energy the family has goes towards her brother's soccer career. But Camila has a secret on the field she is an amazing soccer star playing for an upstart woman's soccer team and to make things weirder she's in love with an international super star. 

What I Loved: Look, this book is a hard book and really does transport you to a different world. In Rosario, Argentina, soccer is a life style and plays a critical role. However, there is significant social unrest and girls are going missing. I loved the female friendships on the team as well as the description of the toxic household life.  Still, Camila is a badass. She is taking on the patriarchy, playing soccer, and just living life as a feminist in a society that doesn't see her worth as much as the men. She fights hard to follow her dream to play soccer in the USA. I also love the relationship here which is a childhood first love that goes through changes because of changes in life direction, it really was a good example. 

What I Didn't Like So Much: There's a lot of sexism here and parents not asking like parents which isn't something I love. 

Audiobook Thoughts: The narrator was awesome and it was a great listen. 

Who Should Read This: People who love books with strong women. People who love soccer. People who love stories that explore other cultures. 

Quick Summary: A girl hiding her love of soccer and dreams of her future from her family.

I loved the themes in Furia but was not excited enough by the story or characters to continually want to "pick it up" and listen to the audio book. The message is empowering: finding your path and fighting for your dreams. Camila is a bold teenager with the confidence and sense of purpose to always put herself first. I love her passion and fire and how she tackles challenges. Her romantic choices are refreshing, particularly for a YA book, and made me wish I had found a protagonist like Camila when I was younger. The Argentinian setting and culture really make the story come alive and help highlight the themes of feminism and justice as we're shown how dangerous it can be to be a girl, nevermind a girl with a dream. I appreciated reading this #ownvoices story and enjoyed the narration of the audio book. I think fans of soccer and dreamers at heart will especially love it. While it was a worthwhile read, there wasn't enough plot to make me eager to know what would happen next.

I loved this book!  It was so refreshing to see some girl power with a young teenage girl!  It also gave a good picture of what life in other countries is like and how they value coming to America as having "made it".  It make me proud to live in this country and want to make it even better!

Thank you to NetGalley, Algonquin Young Readers, and Workman Publishing for the gifted audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Rating: 4 Stars 

Plot: Camila is seventeen and is coming of age in Argentina. She also leads two very different lives. In one life she is Camila, who fears her abusive father, lives in the shadow of her brother (a soccer star), and does her best to help her mother. In her other life she is La Furia, a star soccer player who is fighting for the chance for a scholarship at a US university. The catch? Her parents don’t know she plays. Will she reveal her secrets to be able to live the life she has dreamed of? 

My Thoughts: This book is beautifully written and powerful. It is a coming of age, character driven, feminist story that follows main character Camila. Readers will delight in watching Camila’s voice and strength shine through as she finds the courage to play soccer openly in pursuit of her dreams. I appreciated the way the author illustrated the sexist and patriarchal influences of Camila’s life in Argentina. I also loved how the author beautifully combined sports, a deep sense of place with the setting of Argentina, and a stirring coming of age story. 

For Fans Of: Bend it Like Beckham, Beartown, coming of age stories, and feminist first person narratives.

It took me a while to pick up Furia, but I'm glad I did! This YA book, following a rising soccer star in Argentina, who is trying to navigate expectations of women in her country with her love for her sport and a fellow soccer star, was engaging, beautiful, and unexpected. I listened to it on audiobook, which I would highly recommend, because the voice is so strong in this story and the narrator Sol Maradiaga really makes it shine. What I love about Furia is that the protagonist, Camila Hassan, is undoubtedly a strong woman but since it's told from her perspective, you get the full range of emotions that she is experiencing. 

The central love story between Camila and her childhood friend (and now soccer star) Diego is really lovely, but also just one component of this book that has so much more to offer (lots of epic soccer games, female friendships, excellent examples of mentoring others, and an unparalleled dedication to chasing passion despite barriers). 

This is the first book that I've read in a while where it felt like the Spanish was naturally incorporated into the story -- it's not translated in every situation, and you're introduced to words and terms that are culturally relevant to the setting. I love that the book isn't explicit about topics, but finds ways to talk about them through situations -- whether it's the issue of missing women, domestic violence, machismo -- the pervasive sexism of the culture that Camila lives in. It feels like a story that transcends its setting and could happen anywhere. 

I know that several people would have liked it to be longer, but I feel like this was the perfect length, with lots of intentional narrative choices and the right amount of conflict throughout the book that made me want to keep listening straight through. If you're looking for a coming of age story that is low on angst and high in soccer dreams, pick this up! Thanks to NetGalley for the audio review copy, all opinions are my own.

This audiobook totally caught me by surprise! There was so much depth to this story – much more than the quick synopsis lets on – about a young Argentinian girl who is a secret soccer star following her dreams (and her heart). Camila was an easily likable character and one you want to root for throughout the whole book. Through her story, I learned about family dynamics, school systems, and the culture of growing up in Argentina. 
I know as a younger me, I would have LOVED Camila’s story – and 30 year old me still does. My only slight issue was reading it as a mom. I cringed listening to Camila sneak around her parents and lie to her friends about her boyfriend or her whereabouts. I’m not naïve enough to think my own kids won’t do this one day – but I don’t want to think about it either LOL. I know, I’m pretty ridiculous. However, Camila has high standards and morals, so also as a mom, I would be proud to have raised such a strong and brave woman! 
Probably NOT Mendez’s target audience, BUT I did really enjoy this audiobook. The narration was fabulous. When I was listening to the soccer games, it was like being in the stadium. And I loved listening to the correct pronunciation of the Spanish words. The author’s note at the end was really interesting about the cultural sensitivities of slang words – I don’t often think about racism in other countries, so I’m really glad it was included in the story.

What a great book to inspire young women to shoot for their dreams! Camila is a role model for all young women to not only stand up for themselves but to show you don't have to be tied down to a male to achieve your dreams.

This was so good! I didn’t really have any idea what this book was before diving in but it was such a great take on feminism, gender roles, and familial relationships among many things. The setting of this book was so atmospheric and really made you feel emerged in the culture. Seeing Camila go after what she truly wanted even if it wasn’t something “good” girls did was so inspiring. I enjoyed the narrator that was chosen because she added to the atmosphere of the culture. Her accent made it easier to see our main character in Argentina, where the book takes place.

Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez was an incredible story about a young girl named Camila who earns "Furia" as a nickname during her soccer matches. This book is all about self-empowering and self-discovery while pursuing your dreams.  Furia faces many obstacles as she fights for her dream of being a professional female soccer player. I listened to the audiobook and loved the narration. I was hooked immediately and became invested in Camila's story. This YA novel has the right mix of adventure, romance, and family. It should have some trigger warnings for physical violence and emotional abuse. 

Thank you to #Netgalley and #workmanaudio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

So this is going to sound bad, but I really felt like this was a better version of Bend it like Beckem. Hear me out, a young girl want play soccer despite her parents wanting her to focus on her studies. A cute boy also plays soccer and she catches his eye. She plays soccer her family except it in the end after seeing how important it is to her and that she actually good at it.

I know this is an own voice novel and I appreciate that, I’m not sure if the book is based on really events. (Maybe I should have read the author notes/acknowledgment. 

The difference in from what I mentioned earlier is this one has a darker society that shown in the book. Girls are going missing, women’s rights Are being caught for and domestic violence is triggered.  With all those mixed in it showed how much sports can stabilize a teenager in today’s world. How it can become a safe haven and away out. 

I enjoyed the book. I felt the book still could have held its own without the romance slid into there. I would have loved to of had it focused on the journey of become herself in her world. I do believe that the romance hindered it.

After reading the ebook, I loved the audio of Furia as much as the previous format. The narration brought the characters to life exceptionally well.

This was a fantastic feminist YA, with coming of age themes all set in the context of futbol in Argentina. I love a sporting context book, especially those empowering women and if you want a YA that strongly empowers young women, then look no further. There is a romance in this story but it is pitched well and doesn’t overpower the story or the amazing heroine Camila ‘Furia’ Hassan.

Set in the barrios of a city in Argentina, the background for FURIA was rich, vibrant, dangerous and varied. The environment was one where women were oppressed but fighting for equality, rights, a life and dreams. There were background story lines that painted a picture of life for all females especially children and young women, that were chilling.

Camilla ignited my interest like a flame with her hopes of becoming a professional futbol player and going to the USA where there were more possibilites. In fact, Camilla had familial credentials in professional football but no-one was championing a young women like Camilla, no matter how talented she was.

Camila however, had drive for her dreams and played secretly in a team. I loved the scrimmage and match play narratives, the description was excellent and I truly felt like a spectator watching ‘Furia’ come alive. Camila’s dream and life was complicated by Diego, her childhood friend returning for a visit from Juventus. Sparks ignited between these two and it was something real and beautiful.

This story took a direction that made my feminist heart sing for Camila. The decisions and sacrifices she made; the fights physical, verbal and emotional were all worth it to have hope. This was a read of excitement, with beauty in the barrios and characters to feel truly wrapped up in, but most of all it conveyed an empowering message for young women.

I highly rec this book, it’s going to be a favourite of the year. FURIA, FURIA, FURIA…(in football chanting song).

Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for the early review copy.

I loved this book so much! Camila is such a strong, badass character, you can’t help but love her. Her love story was beautiful and real. Her family life was complex and important. The author did not pull any punches. Nothing in Camila’s life is easy, but she is still blessed in many ways. The author addresses so many big real-world problems in a powerful way while still keeping the book fun and not too heavy. The audio narration was beautiful. I would not change a thing. 5 enthusiastic stars. Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I could not have loved this more. I loved the way Yamile created Camila's world. I felt like I was right there with her. I love that Camila is so incredibly strong, but, also, she's still a young girl in a man's world. She has so many hopes and dreams and she works hard towards her goals. She's not looking for an easy out, she's not looking to stay stagnant. She's so incredibly hard working and I loved her so much.

I loved how the romance was weaved into the story. The romance is definitely second in Camila's story, her love of futbol and her desire to make a better life for herself are always first. Camila is not looking for a savior, she's her own savior. But, I still loved Diego of course. I mean, he's definitely an adorable sweetie.

Her family story was heartbreaking and really hit me hard. I was a sobbing wreck towards the end there. But, overall, I was so happy with how the story ended. Also, the very end definitely left me happy and turning the page and hoping for more.

I really enjoyed this book, and the audio really enhanced my experience. I loved the narrator!!!

I really enjoyed this own voices novel. Camila has dreams of playing futbol professionally, but because she is a woman that is unheard of and best left to the men. This book dealt with a lot of issues such as misogyny, missing and exploited girls/ women and domestic violence. Camila’s father was a complete jerk and they way he treated his wife and kids were terrible. There is a romantic element in this book and I liked how Camila didn’t let a guy determine her fate which I know wasn’t an easy choice. The audiobook narrator did a great job throughout the whole story. I was able to finish in one day. I also appreciate the authors note at the very end.