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howard's review against another edition
4.0
straightforward and a quick read. the writing itself was a bit emotionally disconnected but it really worked for the character. i really liked this!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Sexual assault
pr1y4's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
i really really liked the second half of this book though i have to say it gets quite heavy and i’m not sure i was in the headspace to read all of it but i did anyways
this book makes me uneasy and i don’t mean this in a bad way - a lot of the parts are quite relatable and the storyline with gabby was one i had been on the receiving end of and it was … hard to read the other side. because i know how it goes and it’s not fun and it hurts forever and it’s a different type of pain to never be able to fully blame a person for hurting you.
at the same time i wish i had someone like tommy - someone who will stick around even after i make the worst mistakes of my life you know?
but yeah
i really really liked the second half of this book though i have to say it gets quite heavy and i’m not sure i was in the headspace to read all of it but i did anyways
this book makes me uneasy and i don’t mean this in a bad way - a lot of the parts are quite relatable and the storyline with gabby was one i had been on the receiving end of and it was … hard to read the other side. because i know how it goes and it’s not fun and it hurts forever and it’s a different type of pain to never be able to fully blame a person for hurting you.
at the same time i wish i had someone like tommy - someone who will stick around even after i make the worst mistakes of my life you know?
but yeah
rustbeltjessie's review against another edition
4.0
I love this book so much. I love it so much that even though it’s not the greatest thing ever written, I gave it four stars instead of three. Why do I love it so much? Because I relate to the main character/the plot so deeply. Being a scholarship kid at a college where you feel out of place, and fucking up repeatedly? Running away to the nearby big city on the weekends? Drinking too much, having a lot of sex, being a sex worker? Fucking up with the people who truly care about you, and falling for the people who are bad for you? Check, check, check check check. Granted, there are many aspects of the main character and her life which are not part of my experience, but ultimately–she reminds me of me, she reminds me of all the girls I’ve ever loved, she reminds me of all my girl-characters: wild, queer, a fuck-up, and also passionate, creative, and smart. If you can relate to any of the things I’ve mentioned in this review, you should read this book. Hell, even if you can’t–maybe read it anyway and learn something about lives outside of your own experience. Either way, it’s worth your time.
pikasqueaks's review against another edition
5.0
I actually finished this ages ago, oops. Regardless, if you were into JULIET TAKES A BREATH, I think you'd probably like this book.
sumayyah_t's review against another edition
4.0
And now that I've finished crying, I can type.
Missy Fuego (Gonzalez) is a queer, Chicana punk from L.A. in the 1990s. She makes to a Santa Cruz college, and finds work as a stripper in San Francisco to supplement her scholarship money. A punk legend, and at one point, her only friend,JB, offers her the use of his apartment on days/night she's in the city. Over time, Missy begins heavily drinking to combat loneliness and insecurity. She meets other people in the scene, and slowly evolves, from Chicana punk to Riot Grrrl to Xicana feminist. She meets, befriends, and loses several people on her journey. At some point, she begins to learn that she needs to love and accept herself.
Meliza Banales has painted a portrait with many faces. As a college student in the 1990s, I experienced several similar situations as Missy. 'Life" will resonate with people, particularly with young, queer, women of color who came of age during the Riot Grrrl/3rd Wave Feminism of the 90s. We struggled to find places for ourselves while failing at being anything other than ourselves without knowing that that was okay. This is the kind of book I wish had been available when I was 18 and away from home for the first time.
(Trigger) Warnings: excessive profanity, particularly the "F-bomb" and it's variations; alcoholism and drug use; (attempted) sexual assault; (attempted) suicide; racial violence; somewhat graphic depictions of sex
Missy Fuego (Gonzalez) is a queer, Chicana punk from L.A. in the 1990s. She makes to a Santa Cruz college, and finds work as a stripper in San Francisco to supplement her scholarship money. A punk legend, and at one point, her only friend,JB, offers her the use of his apartment on days/night she's in the city. Over time, Missy begins heavily drinking to combat loneliness and insecurity. She meets other people in the scene, and slowly evolves, from Chicana punk to Riot Grrrl to Xicana feminist. She meets, befriends, and loses several people on her journey. At some point, she begins to learn that she needs to love and accept herself.
Meliza Banales has painted a portrait with many faces. As a college student in the 1990s, I experienced several similar situations as Missy. 'Life" will resonate with people, particularly with young, queer, women of color who came of age during the Riot Grrrl/3rd Wave Feminism of the 90s. We struggled to find places for ourselves while failing at being anything other than ourselves without knowing that that was okay. This is the kind of book I wish had been available when I was 18 and away from home for the first time.
(Trigger) Warnings: excessive profanity, particularly the "F-bomb" and it's variations; alcoholism and drug use; (attempted) sexual assault; (attempted) suicide; racial violence; somewhat graphic depictions of sex
readingoddity's review against another edition
3.0
My problem with this book (that honestly bothered me probably more than it should) is the fact that it sells itself as a book written by a “Chicana” or “Latin”, but there are a lot of mistakes in the Spanish words (quierda, llarona, equi). As a native spanish speaker, it just took me out of it and made it feel fake.
The good thing is that (for me) it was engaging, it was interesting to see Missy make mistake after mistake and how it affected her life.
The good thing is that (for me) it was engaging, it was interesting to see Missy make mistake after mistake and how it affected her life.