Review: Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Juliet Takes a Breath is a novel about a young college student from a loving but slightly crazy Puerto Rican family who comes out shortly before flying away to start a summer internship with her favourite feminist writer. Once she gets there she wonders if things will ever be the same between her and her mother again. And why won't her girlfriend answer her calls? Add to the mix that Harlowe Brisbane's motives may not be as pure as they seemed in offering Juliet the internship, and readers are left with an entertaining story of identity, feminism, what it truly means to come out and, ultimately, the importance of having--and using--your own voice.

Juliet was a joy to read about as she grew emotionally and spiritually over the course of the novel. Harlowe is portrayed quite realistically as a white saviour who nearly always misses the point and whose motives more often than not are quite self-indulgent. 

Ultimately this is a well written, novel of self discovery.



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