Juliet Takes a Breath is one of the most striking examples of a clear voice coming out in the writing that I have read recently. You are immediately drawn into the story of Juliet, a "Puerto Rican lesbian" that lands in Portland, Oregon to find her voice and her community after coming out to her family in New York through her letters and first person narrative.
This #ownvoices novel really demonstrates a strong sense of place for my hometown of Portland, in all of it's white, wacky glory (vegans abound, readings are held at Powell's, and neighbors are written in vivid detail). Author Harlowe Brisbane, who offers an internship to Juliet, is a character that embodies the Portland Polite form of racism that slowly reveals itself in microagressions and a focus on her fragility.
During the novel, Juliet is learning more about the different intersecting identities that she holds, and at times, the long descriptions of different terms took me out of the story. I think it could be a helpful guide in some ways but was unnecessary in others. Some of the side characters don't feel fully realized to me as much as they exist to teach Juliet a lesson, although I will say... this book features one of the coolest librarians of all time.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great coming of age story with queer characters of color rep and inclusive feminism.
This #ownvoices novel really demonstrates a strong sense of place for my hometown of Portland, in all of it's white, wacky glory (vegans abound, readings are held at Powell's, and neighbors are written in vivid detail). Author Harlowe Brisbane, who offers an internship to Juliet, is a character that embodies the Portland Polite form of racism that slowly reveals itself in microagressions and a focus on her fragility.
During the novel, Juliet is learning more about the different intersecting identities that she holds, and at times, the long descriptions of different terms took me out of the story. I think it could be a helpful guide in some ways but was unnecessary in others. Some of the side characters don't feel fully realized to me as much as they exist to teach Juliet a lesson, although I will say... this book features one of the coolest librarians of all time.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great coming of age story with queer characters of color rep and inclusive feminism.