I don't think I've ever read a book set in Argentina before and I really enjoyed reading about this sporty young woman and her hopes and dreams to be a professional soccer player. A life which is not what her parents have planned for her. Camila must practise and play her sport in secret, to keep her life separate from her family so as not to get into trouble with her volatile father and she doesn't want to upset her mum. On top of this is the childhood friend Diego, whom she adores, and it turns out it is mutual, but he is in Italy, playing football for Juventus, far away and her heart pines for him.

I really enjoyed this book, read it quickly, though it has taken me a long time to write this. It has a slightly uneven pace but I think it works really well. The pace matches the fast paced games of soccer, and the angst that Camila feels is well written. I really loved the relationships she had with her family and the way that she decides to stand up to her dad. Great book for young people to read a different perspective on life, to learn about life in Argentina and for those who love a sport book which is well written, those are few on the ground. Great book for a school library.

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.

I was looking for "something different" and Furia was the perfect read to escape from my normal read. A strong female lead who is a badass futbol player in Argentina?! Count me in. This story is inspiring and the writing is impeccable. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

'“The sense of wonder and possibility - that I owed to the Argentine women who had fought for freedom before the universe conspired and the stars aligned to make me"

Name: Furia
Author: Yamile Saied Mendez
Series: Standalone
Genre: Young Adult, Sports Romance, Contemporary


This book surprised me in the best way possible, It was wonderfully built from start to finish. Furia, tells a unique and diverse story about Camila, a soccer fanatic with a deeply patriarchal family. From her father's eyes her goal is to educate herself to be able to marry herself off. However, that is not at all what Camila wants. Hence, she lies to her parents about her whereabouts and never tells them her enjoyment or skill for the sport.

Furia dealt with a lot of important topics. One of Furia's main issues is the fact that in Argentina many girls are disappearing or dying, however these girls are hated throughout the country because of being "feminists". Her own family disgraces these girls, where the main issue is that these girls are being murdered. Another big factor or theme that I enjoyed was the family relationship or bonds that developed between Camila's family. She does not trust her parents, because her mother is too naive and scared to leave her father even though he's a cheat and aggressive. Camila's brother is also a soccer star, who doesn't seem to be reaching the goals he desires. Hence there is this constant battle with him and his father about his wasted potential. Lastly, there is a very good representation and growth within Camila and her mom' s relationship as she lies and tries to understand her mother's undying love for her terrible abusive father.

Furia also deals with romance in the most delicate and wonderful way. Camila's love interest is Diego, her brother's best friend who was signed with Juventus and has become of the most popular players. Diego is visiting the town he was born in and pays Camila and her brother a visit. During this time they rekindle the love and passion they felt for each other, however Camila has a hard time separating Diego's fame with her own possibilities and future. When Diego desires her to ship herself off to live with him, she knows she needs to follow her dreams first.

The story is overall very Feminist, and it discusses women empowerment. It showcases weak and strong women, and the effect man can overall have on culture and therefore affect both male and female behaviors. I really enjoyed seeing myself (as I am Venezuelan) reflected in the main character. The descriptions and Hispanic references really made the story feel more wholesome and complete.

"I’d leave this house the first chance I got, but not by chasing after a boy, including my brother. I’d do it on my own terms, following my dreams, not someone else’s.”

-- 5 stars --

Though I'm personally not a big soccer fan, I really enjoyed the story's voice and character development. I could easily picture the action of the sports scenes. The return of an old romance was instantly appealing to me. Great writing.

This was so good! This book truly transported me to Argentina. I really felt like I was there. I craved the delicious food from street vendors. I felt the cheers of the crazed fans booming from the soccer stadium. This story explores so much more than a girl choosing her dreams over what's expected of her. It tackles feminism in an oppressive society. It highlights the struggle of a country, grappling with economic deterioration, and the impact it has on its children and adults. The romance was so sweet and well done as well and I adored the ending. This is so much more than just a story about soccer or Fútbol. I highly recommend this!

did not finish.

the writing for whatever reason didn't click with me. I decided to put the book down at about 50% because I just wasn't invested.

From the first page, you can't help but be inspired by Furia's strength and determination. She's fiercely dedicated to her dreams and won't give them up for anyone or anything, a substantial feat for a girl expected to fit into a very rigid role in society. I'll be recommending this one to the teenagers I know.

Earlier this week I received Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez, a YA novel about a young Argentine futbolera releasing next Tuesday. I don’t usually read sports stories so I went in thinking the book would be okay but not great. I was BLOWN AWAY.

Camila, like too many young women I have known, struggles to do what she wants and also satisfy people’s expectations of her. She is smart and determined, but she keeps a lot of secrets to compartmentalize her life and ty to have everything she wants. Her parents want her to study medicine and be successful, but she just wants to play soccer and hopefully get an opportunity to play in the US. Her brother is a professional player, as is her childhood friend and crush, but Camila’s parents do not approve of girls playing and she doesn’t want to upset her imposing dad or strict mom.

I loved this Latinx coming of age story with a healthy dose of cute young love. It covered a lot of ground, including LGBTQ attitudes in Argentina, poverty, patriarchy, domestic violence, and more—in an incredibly written story. I hope you’ll pick the book up this Tuesday!

So good! It took me longer than I wanted to read it, but that's what happens when you have kiddos. Camila is a great character, and the struggle to be a woman in a misogynistic household and society is genuine. I love how blended all the characters are and how well I got to know them. Thanks NetGalley for the ALC

I listened to the majority of this book but ended up reading the last two chapters because I was too impatient. I suggest listening to it if you are unfamiliar with the accent and words (as I was). With the right pronunciation, the experience was much better than I expected.
This is a story with a lot (and I mean a LOT) of things written into the narrative. Our lead protagonist is a girl who has a very mixed background, lives in Argentina, has a troubled home life but lives and breathes football. She is battling insecurities, falling in love and making sure that her goals stay crystal clear. Every character introduced has multiple facets, and it was easier for Camila to forgive (some of) them than it was for me to overlook their past behaviours. The narrative begins as it ends with a football game. We get to know her friends and family quite early on, and some of them grow while others do not. Most scenes are laced with tension, and the ending came as a relief.


I was shown a window into a whole new culture and the mixed backgrounds of the people who call the land their home. It was quite fascinating, to say the least. The only reason it was not a five star read for me was that I was overwhelmed with the troubles Camila had to face. I know that is not much of a statement given that there are always non-fictional people living through such situations, but it was just hard for me to completely ‘enjoy’. Finally, I recommend this to anyone who loves a coming of age arc through adversity. Especially recommend it to late teens, since they might get the angst and cheer for Camila more than I did.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Thank you NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for an ARC of this title. Mendez wrote such a compelling story of survival, strength, priorities, perseverance among a challenging family situation, a cultural passion for soccer, and the navigation of complex relationships. The main character's strength, bravery, introspection, and self-awareness was so valuable to the story and I believe this could help other teens process their own decisions and emotions. Learning a bit about the Argentinian culture was an added bonus. Mendez's skill in touching on current issues with sensitivity was impressive. As a YA librarian, this is a book I will put in the hands of my teen readers, male or female, with confidence, knowing the story is engaging, complex yet "clean," and that readers would have some positive "take-aways" from their time spent with this book. Well done, Yamile Said Mendez!

"We'd made the space. We'd filled in the cracks of the system and made room for ourselves where there was none. No one had given us anything. We had taken it."

For the love of books that restore our faith in a whole genre after we thought it was a lost cause-- or at least I did.

For the past few months, I've had my fair share of floppy contemporary YA. I know I'm not the targeted audience in terms of age group, but I do enjoy YA fiction. Always had. And it was only until very recently that I started to DNF books that belonged to that genre. YA Fantasy and Sci-fi are still going strong, but contemporary, nothing really worked for me recently. So, I thought I just outgrew it.

Until FURIA happened to me. (Can I have this in bold?!)

Let me tell you something about me. I grew up in what is known as the Middle East. In this region, the identifiers that set apart male from female are inescapable and exigent. Growing up, I'd give an arm to become a boy and play football. The ME is craaazy about football. It's the sport of choice. But some sports are looked upon as "improper" for young ladies and I belonged to a generation of kids that was brought up shielded from that knowledge until it's a bit late to start practising a sport but never too late to challenge the patriarchy. And I LOVED football. Still do.
But why?
Because >>> "[Football] could do that--make people forget about the price of the dollar, the upcoming elections, even their love lives. For a few hours, life was beautiful."

So what is Furia about?
It's about a teenager. A normal teenager, who wanted to play football and have fun and fall in love with a boy. Simple, but not so simple. Because Camila, la Furia, has issues. She is from a small town in Argentina. She isn't supposed to play football. Her father is an archetypal patriarch. And yes, her heart makes matters worse.

I loved the authenticity of the story. I loved how the story sets itself apart from the mainstream contemporary YA. I loved the defiant characterisation of an almost all-female cast. I loved Coach Alicia so much I wanted to hug her. I loved how Camila was proud of her Russia/Arab/South American roots. I loved how the love of tradition mingled with rebelliousness when those traditions got too tight. I loved how the plot was paced: not swoony, not dry. I was both enlightened and entertained.

This is what I proudly call a feminist, own voices, diverse YA novel.

Thank you Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for this lovely book.

<<Furia>> is an absolutely engrossing, vibrant coming-of-age story of Camila following her dreams against odds and expectations. The intersectionality of racial representation and feminism is executed beautifully-- I'd recommend this to all YA readers in my life.

Yamile Saied Méndez's Furia is an empowering, feminist YA novel about an Argentinian girl who dreams of playing fútbol professionally.

Camila "La Furia" Hassan was told at a young age that girls are not allowed to play fútbol. But the game is Camila's passion so she defies her family's wishes to secretly play on a local fútbol team. When her team makes it into a South American tournament, however, Camila can no longer hid the truth because she will need their permission to compete. To complicate matters further, Camila's childhood crush - now a famous fútbol player in Italy - is back in Rosario and wants to rekindle their relationship. Soon Camila finds herself forced to choose between the boy that she loves and the game that she loves.

This book brought up a lot of issues, including the treatment of women, missing girls, and the feminist movement in Argentina. It was both eye-opening and inspiring. Highly recommend!

A great coming of age story. Camilla is hiding a big secret from her family. She is playing fútbol without their knowledge, and after they have told her not to play. Eventually, secrets come out and Camilia is faced with some challenges.

What a fabulous story about a young lady with serious goals! The main character, Camila, struggled against the prescribed roles for women in Argentina in her quest to be a successful soccer player and I was rooting for her every step of the way. Despite all of the challenges from her family and society, she maintained a steady focus on what she wanted for herself. Yamile Saied Mendez did an excellent job of transporting us to Rosario, Argentina and giving us a glimpse at daily life there. The resolution of the conflict between Camila's parents seemed a bit rushed at the end, but their relationship was an important part of the story. The romance between Camila and Diego was well-developed and the ending was perfect. This book reminded me of a favorite movie - "Bend it Like Beckham." Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

Rep: Latinx, Asian rep, LGBTQIA+, feminist

TW: domestic abuse, kidnapping and murder

I have literally nothing negative to say about this book. At all. It worked for me on every level and I’m still in shock by how good of a read this was! I’m not a fan of any sports but this story won my heart and I’m now a lifelong fan of La Furia!

Camila’s character was perfection. Her passion and dedication were commendable, and it was impossible not to root for her. She was so complex and I could easily connect with her, as she struggled to balance the different versions of herself.

The story has such a fast pace and yet, it did not diminish the important themes that lay at the heart of this story. I could not stop reading this book because there was always something happening!

There are such strong feminist themes in this novel and it worked so well. We see women struggle in domestic situations, we see them struggle for equality and recognition in sports, we see them demand justice for the heinous crimes committed against them. The author touches on every subject but gives each one the gravitas it deserves. And the various women in this novel are all flawed! I loved that they were unique and nuanced; the author had taken the time to develop them properly.

The romance in this novel was done well, too. It was believable and depicted that struggle of maintaining one’s own identity within the context of a relationship. I loved Camila and Diego together and I think the author handled their issues very well.

All in all, this was just a fantastic read. It was engaging, powerful, and won my heart over. I’m so glad Reese Witherspoon has noticed this book and I cannot endorse this more! IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT, GO AND READ IT! I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A distinctly feminist novel that entertains, enlightens, and makes you want to be in the stands as the character pursues her dreams.

From the very first chapter, I knew I would love FURIA. The unique voice of Camila, the culture of Argentina infused into the narrative, and the young romance developing all made this a must-read for me. Yamile Saied Méndez exemplifies what an #ownvoices book should be.

I will let you all in on a secret. I read just about anything. I have been reading diverse voices for decades. It doesn’t matter who writes the book or what the author’s background is. I only want it to engage me and keep me interested. I have to connect with the characters or the story being told on some level. This book did just that.

In my humble opinion, Méndez delivered an A+ novel. She managed to have the perfect balance of social issues, cultural references, and enjoyment. I absolutely loved how women’s rights and a distinctly feminist lead character carried this story. Camila is a powerhouse, even if she is just figuring it out as she makes her way throughout these pages. In addition, I have to mention how beautifully the abductions of young girls within this area of Argentina is highlighted. The author shed a light on something many may not know much about and did so in a way to make the reader feel deeply for all those involved.

All in all, this is a great book. It has love, loss, and self-discovery. FURIA is a perfect read for young girls and adults alike. You will not want to miss this one.

Things I am: a librarian who works with a predominantly Latin@ community, who has an ok knowledge of the politics and current events of Latin America.
Things I'm not: particularly good at Spanish (which meant I sat Googling words and phrases at various intervals); futbol mad (I do like it though).

Furia was a fantastic novel of women's independence, familial struggles, and doing what you love. I've seen some criticism of it because Camilia and some of her friends are pro-choice and missing and murdered women and girls come up, but this isn't really explored. They don't need to be, this book isn't about that, but they are important for setting the scene in Argentina (these are both real, major issues that divide people and families) and inform Camila's character.
I love That in Furia Camila gets to live her dream, mentors another girl with a different kind of promise, and learns that indeed you can't always have it all (as her mother told her, but in a different context).