Honestly I don’t have an interest in reading this book anymore and I want to be more selective with what I request.

Unfortunately, I won’t be reviewing this one! I don’t have access to the audiobook arc anymore but I do plan on reading this one in the future once I am able to get my hands on it. Thank you so much for granting me the opportunity regardless, I am very appreciative!

This was the first audiobook I listened to narrated by Sol Madariaga, and it will not be my last. Not only was Furia a phenomenal novel, Madariaga brought Camila to life, her desire to overcome expectations in her small Argentine town, to her struggle dealing with her abusive father and the misogyny that permeates her country. While Camila has strong feelings for Diego, who has left the town to make a name for himself with Barcelona, she does not let those feelings change her dream and goal to play for the NWSL. This novel also did a great job representing soccer, and it is obvious Mendez is a fan of the sport, which helped with the realism that Camila goes through on the field and how she must hide her talent from her family, who do not believe women should be playing sports. I look forward to reading future books by Mendez and listening to future audiobooks narrated by Madariaga.

First, I have to say that I thought the narrator did an excellent job with this book. She was very easy to understand, she did a great job with the voices of the different characters, and she let the story lead. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and I can't tell you how frustrating it is when I'm listening to a good story but the narrator's voice just doesn't flow between the character changes, and this tends to yank me out of the story.

As to the story itself, Camila is a typical teenage girl in most ways, but she is driven by her love of soccer, and through soccer, her need to succeed at winning an athletic scholarship, hopefully to a university in North America. That is her ultimate dream, but there are a few things standing in her way; specifically, the fact that her parents don't know that she is even interested in soccer, let alone playing on a team that has qualified for the South American tournament. Her brother is supposed to be the star in her family, as he is the male, and that's just how it is. And then there's Diego, her old boyfriend who is now an international soccer star himself, and who has unexpectedly come back into her life.

This isn't just a story about a girl's love of soccer, though. It's a story about domestic violence, gender inequality, racism, and the need to escape from an untenable situation, no matter the cost. Camila's father is overbearing and runs his house with an iron fist. Her mother, brother, and she herself live an existence where they are constantly walking on eggshells so as not to upset him. Having lived in a situation just like this, I can relate to her feelings of anger, shame, and determination to escape.

I thought all of the characters were well written and very well fleshed out. There was definitely character growth and development throughout, and I was pleased with the direction all of the characters took. The storyline flowed very well, also, and I was always looking forward to seeing what would happen next.

In summary, I thought this was a very well written book, and I enjoyed it very much. Kudos to the narrator, as well. I enthusiastically recommend it to lovers of YA fiction with a very moving and weighty subject matter.

I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my impartial review.

5/5 stars.

I really liked this book. The struggles the MC encountered at home and with her love life didn't affect her time on the field. I was rooting for her and longtime love to end up together, but as the book progressed I saw more that she needed to just get away from everything and live her life to the fullest potential. I also really liked the narrator of this book, she did a good job with the voices of all the different characters. I'd definitely recommend this book to those that are looking for a coming of age story, with a sports twist.

I liked the story but it did drag on for me. I liked the characters and overall it was ok
I would of liked to listen to more development of the story

Really enjoyed this book The ending seems a bit to pat (from non-league soccer in Argentina to the pros in the USA?), but I loved he fact that the protagonist didn't choose to sacrifice her dreams for true love and didn't choose to stop playing. Thoughtful, fun, and heartrending (Camilla's story made me cry).

Goallll!! (How do you even write that out?)
This look at a young woman’s life and struggle to follow her dreams in Rosario, Argentina, is wonderful. It hits all the feels: Hope, frustration, first love, disappointment and tough decisions. Camila, aka Furia, doesn’t take the easy path but fights for her dreams, no one else’s.
I was lucky to receive this audiobook from #NetGalley and am so thankful. The audio narration by Sol Madariaga is transporting.
#Furia

Camila is driven by her desire to play futbol. She is one of the best players in her area of Argentina, but the most opportune scenario would be to play in the US league, an almost impossible feat for a poor girl from her country. Her brother is a well-known Argentinian player and her childhood friend Diego has become an international star, playing soccer for Italy. Surrounded by young men who love the sport, Camila is in their shadow, despite being called La Furia (The Fury) for her intense athletic skills.

Besides the aggravation of girls’ sports being considered less valuable than men’s, Camila is dealing with problems on the homefront. Her father is known for throwing fits of rage if things don’t go the way he thinks they should and her playing is not something he would approve. Camila even keeps her participation on the soccer team a secret from her parents because of her fear of his reaction. She also is torn by a budding romance with the superstar Diego who is visiting his hometown and has declared his love for her. Although Camila is drawn to the thoughtful and adorable Diego, she is torn by her own athletic aspirations.

This is a story of girls and their dreams. The issue of inequality between male and female athletes is a factor but more importantly, will Camila follow her deepest desire or give up on it because of obstacles or the desires of others? What will she decide as her heart is drawn in a different direction?

These characters have great vibrancy and personality. Mendez has written a book that will speak to teens who dare to dream big. The narrator of the audiobook adds a wonderful flow to the story and is easy to listen to.

It took me a very long time but I finally finished this audiobook. Audiobooks are really not for me; I never take the time for it. However, I really enjoyed the narration. I think Sol Madriaga really did a good job. It was easy to understand and nice to my ears.
I also really enjoyed the story. I was in love with Diego for most of the book and now that I’ve finished it, I think I’ll keep him as one of my book boyfriends. Camila is a great character and I loved following her though her journey to become a professional football player. Moreover, hearing about the conditions of life in Argentina was really interesting. It broke my heart every time she talked about the disappearing girls. But there are also many characters that bring hope. Camila’s dad was certainly not one of them; I hated it every time he appears in the book. On the other hand, I loved the relationship she had with her mum.
I recommend this book to everyone who wants to read about a woman giving everything to achieve her dreams.
4/5

This one was a great YA. I would definitely recommend it for the young readers. It features a strong female lead and whenever I read this I am always excited for the kids who will read this story and be motivated to work towards their dreams.

I really enjoyed the characterization of La Furia's "voice". I could really feel her heartache and frustration. I would have liked to hear more distinction between the narrator's voice and La Furia's voice. It didn't detract from the enjoyment of the story though. I felt the tonal variations were well done, clearly showing the characters' emotions. A challenge that was well met, was in meeting the need to hear the accent of the Argentinian language while still retaining the clarity for non-Spanish speakers. It was a pleasure to listen to.

Furia tells the story of, Camila who lives in Argentina and is a soccer star. But this is a secret that she keeps from her family. They praise her brother who plays, but she is even better than he is. Will her family ever grow to accept her or will she have to keep this secret forever. I really enjoyed this book because it shows the resilience of girls and their determination to do whatever they can to succeed.

I know for a fact that the audiobook worked better for me with the story. The narrator did an amazing job with the different voices and keeping listeners invested.

This review is long overdue. I had listened to it once back in early October, and my thoughts when I finished were "Down with the patriarchy." However, I wanted to give it a second listen for a more nuanced review. My thoughts are still very much "DOWN WITH THE PATRIARCHY" and even more so the second time.

It's an eye opening book that stays with you even though you've had to stop reading (or in my case listening) for the time being. On the surface, it's about Camilla and her desire to be a futbolera. Yet, with the opening chapter, you realized it's going to be about more. Throughout the book, kept getting frustrated with all the male characters, even the ones that you might consider to be "good" due to the way that the male characters were raised.

The patriarchy dismissing girls, and women; that they wouldn't have met their fates if they hadn't fallen into the wrong crowds/hanging out with men. The abuse suffered at the hands of the patriarchy, both mental, and physical. It's not just how Camilla lives in fear of the reaction of her father, but her brother who dismisses the harassment/abuse class that his team needs to go through. Also how Pablo who is both supportive of Camilla's dreams, but expects her to abandon them when he comes to "rescue" her.

I loved how the narrator, Sol Madariaga, was both very straight forward in her reading, but provided the necessary emotions. This especially came through in all the heartbreaking moments of the story.

Thank you netgalley and workman publishing for my ALC.

This was an enjoyable audiobook. The narrator did a good job of expressing the passion and excitement of a teen soccer player with bigger dreams. I think reading the book would also be interesting to see not just hear the language. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Camila Hassan (La Furia on the field) wears secrets like shin guards. Her main goal is to leave Rosario and play futbol for a women's soccer team. But she has to hide her passion for soccer from her parents where, at home, she has to be the perfectly obedient daughter working towards medical school. Her family wears secrets, too, shielding neighbors and friends from their short-tempered father.
Yamile Saied Mendez does an excellent job mixing in Spanish and English throughout the narrative, transporting readers to Argentina with slang, social expectations, food, and location descriptions, and highlighting each futbol play through Camila's experience. Though the relationship with childhood crush, Diego, was one of the main plot-points (and major secret for Camila), I was glad that she didn't let his charm and professional futbolero status veer her from her goals. Mendez uses subtlety to build upon the family tension through until the climax with Camila's father (read: mega machista). This was an exciting read that had me on the edge of my seat (I hate secrets and I felt my heart race every time) about love, passion, inner-strength, and family. The narrator does an excellent job switching from English to Spanish!

Furia follows Camila, an Argentinian teenager whose dream is to play professional fútbol in a society that's wholly focused on men in the sport. She believes she has what it takes, but she has to play in secret because she knows that her parents would never allow their daughter to play seriously. It's her brother that's supposed to be the fútbol star, and he's the one who has her parents' attention and support. To complicate things further, she's in love with Diego, a local boy who has gone off to find his own fame on the fútbol field. She has to balance her parents' expectations, her budding relationship with a superstar player, and her own love for the game and her ambitions. These things don't always play well together, and she's often left choosing between her dreams and her relationships. The story puts a spotlight on a misogynistic society, and how women are often expected to fill very specific roles in a family and in their careers. The book put a bit more focus on the romance than I expected, but I loved the way it all worked out in the end, and I think the book gives an important perspective on what it truly means to choose yourself over what others might want for you.

NARRATION: I loved that the book was narrated authentically by Sol Madariaga, a native speaker. Her voice added depth and realism to the character.

***Disclosure: I received this audiobook from the publisher for review via NetGalley. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

This was a beautiful story about overcoming obstacles and not letting anything or anyone stand in your way. I’m here for all the feminist sports stories.

The audiobook:
Sadly I was not captivated by the narration by Sol Madariaga. I didn't think the characters were distinguishable, but I did think this particular narrator was a good fit for our main character Camila. The narration did help me complete the novel (as I was having a hard time just reading it on my own physically due to the fact that I wasn't captivated by the story in general. This audiobook is split up in a way that is easy to determine what chapter you are starting; ultimately I think that readers would enjoy this audiobook.

The novel:
I was really excited to get my hands on this one, but I'm sad to say that I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I thought I would.

I was so intrigued going into this novel because the plot sounded right up my alley but ultimately it felt all over the place: it felt like a bunch of subplots rolled together to the point where I was unsure at times what the novel was 100% about (I knew what the overall message was, but I didn't know which event was supposed to serve as the climax as multiple pivotal events took place at different points). While all the subplots discussed important "hard-hitting" topics, it became overbearing - I think that the novel would've benefitted from a more streamlined sequence of events. For lack of a better phrase: less is more!

I found it really hard to care about Camila and her story at times. I wanted to root for her, but I felt such a strong disconnect from the plot that I wasn't really intrigued by her story. It was really great seeing her come into her own and beat the odds by the end of the novel, but I didn't feel as much gratification from it as I expected. That being said, I feel the same way about all of the supporting characters - I felt "meh" about them all: even her father and Diego! I wish we got to know them all a bit more, they all felt one-dimensional to me.

I was just left wanting a lot more. :(

content warnings: domestic abuse, misogyny/sexism, adult/minor relationship, infidelity, mention of murder, allusion to rape and child death