Furia is so much more than a book about a girl who plays football. Furia is about the obstacles our protagonist Camila faces while pursuing football on a professional level: she challenges society's expectations of women, deals with her home life and navigates her friendships and romance. Although some challenging topics are discussed, like domestic abuse, homophobia and the patriarchy, Furia is accessible and easy to read.
I loved Camila as the main character. Her drive is inspiring and she will stop at nothing to pursue her dreams, prioritising herself over the male figures in her life, whether that is her father, brother or love interest. Her friendships with Roxana and Karen are great, as well as her developing relationship with her mother. The romance took a good direction and it had a satisfying ending, although it could have been longer!
Her personal life is balanced by her love of football. It is easy to follow Camila's football matches, whether you are interested in the sport or not. Her passion and skill on the pitch are conveyed beautifully, and keep you invested in the successes and losses of her team. I wish there had been more interaction with the rest of her team though as captain.
I think the integration of Argentinian culture was done really well, and I enjoyed the use of Spanish too. Great read!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ALC of this book.

Camilla is not going to give up on her dreams for a boy and I LOVE that for her.

I have to admit that this book could be hard to listen to at times because of the intense subject matter. I think it's really important to read about though, and it is a great read!

Camilla works so hard and her feminist attitude and determination are admirable! I love the messages in this book and what she was able to accomplish!

CW: abuse, sexism, death

This book was so hard to review for me because I felt very connected with "Furia". She reminded me being a tiny girl and wanting to play fútbol with her cousins and my dad being very angry about it because in our Latino culture is not something girls should do. Reading or in this case listening her retelling her story was hard, heartbreaking but at the same time heartwarming.
My favorite character besides Furia was her mom... boy did that woman made me teary more than once!
I didn't expected I'd like this book as much as i did but I'm very glad an story like this one was published.
Kudos to Yamile for writing such a precious story.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I confess that I have a weak spot for any story with a Latin American setting, and any story set in Argentina will instantly have a special place in my heart. As an immigrant who has had the opportunity to live in Argentina during (most of) the last decade, I love seeing the Argentinian culture and customs portrayed in my stories. As soon as I read the blurb of Furia, I knew I was going to be in for a treat. The setting in Rosario (a city I've had the chance to visit a couple of times over the years) as well as the prejudice the main character has to face as a female soccer player had me fully intrigued... And it most definitely turned out to be a powerful listen.

I know that I'm still a newby when it comes to the whole audiobook experience, and I also confess that I still prefer reading the stories myself, but there is just something about listening to a book set in Argentina that is narrated by someone with an Argentinian accent. While I do understand that some might be put off by this as non-Spanish speakers might be having a more difficult time understanding the many Spanish phrases thrown in, I personally felt it gave the story a real sense of authenticity. Sol Madariaga's voice grew on me almost immediately and I applaude her fluidity switching between English and (Argentinian) Spanish flawlessly. The pace and flow of the audiobook were just right for me, and I had no problems at all keeping up with the story. And I think that this audiobook might just only have enhanced my experience with this story for me.

Like I mentioned before, Furia is set in Argentina and it shows. Not only do we have many thorough descriptions of Rosario and Argentinian customs in general, but this story also deals with social issues including domestic abuse and violence. The all-popular soccer is another very important element of course, and the power of this sport can be felt throughout the story. It doesn't stop there though, as Furia is made even more authentic through the use of many many (Argentinian) Spanish words and phrases that are woven expertly into the plot and dialogue. While I do understand that non-Spanish speakers might seem them as a burden, I personally loved how it gave the story that true Argentinian flavor.

I personally more of a rugby fan, but I have seen with my own eyes just how important soccer is in Argentina and I really liked how the sport was incorporated into the plot. Furia is about soccer as well as the struggles of the main character as a female soccer player, and the writing really made the sport and its players come alive for me. As for the characters... Camila was quite easy to warm up to, although I did end up having mixed thoughts about her. Why? I don't want to give away spoilers, but the constant lying and 'hot and cold' treatment of Diego did get on my nerves... And I particularly found the whole keeping her soccer playing a secret for over a year unbelievable. Again, why? Well, let's just say that people love to talk and gossip down here, and the soccer passion is in the blood of most... So I just don't believe nobody ever mentioned something to her parents before, especially with her brother being a well known player too.

That said, I did enjoy most of this story and it felt like a true ode to Argentinian soccer and culture. Lighter moments and romance are mixed with heavier topics, and all in all Furia turned out to be a satisfying story to listen to. I can definitely recommend the audio version, but I would advice non-Spanish speakers to approach with caution as you might struggle understanding the Spanish words and phrases in the audio even though they do make the story feel more authentic.

Cliche.
I must express, the start of the story was unique, the football concept was great!
But, as the story progressed it was all a big cliche for me. I gave this 3 stars because the speaker gave life to the story. The double life of Camilla, the love story of her and Diego, all was only enjoyable only and only because of the speaker of the audiobook.

Furia is a debut YA novel by Yamile Saied Mendez. It tells the story of Camila Hassan, a seventeen year old from Argentina who wants to be a footballer. Coming from a family of an abusive father, a suppressed mother and a popular brother, Camilla turns into the fierce "la Furia" on the football ground. Her talent is doubtless; her circumstances are what she had to conquer in order to fulfill her dreams.

I had heard much about this book but after completing it, I'm left with mixed feelings. Camilla is a confusing character. I have seen reviews saying that this book is about female empowerment and that Camilla is a role model for young girls. To a certain extent, I would agree with that sentiment. She is strong, talented and determined, and has a pretty clear idea of where she wants to be. However, I didn't connect with the methods she uses to reach her goals, especially by constantly lying not just to her parents but almost every person in her life. Also, I found her relationship with Diego inconsistent. The writing constantly swings between "I love Diego" and "I can't be with Diego" and after a point, it becomes irritating. I wish the novel hadn't focused so much time on the romance; it took away from the beauty of the story.

The sports-related struggles of the characters are written beautifully. You can actually empathise with the efforts and struggles of the players. The mismatch between the opportunities available to male and female sportspersons is also wonderfully depicted. Furthermore, the day-to-day problems of people in Argentina are expressed in an authentic manner. But the familial problems are dull in comparison and very predictable. Overall, it is a decent one-time read.

I heard the audiobook as narrated by Sol Madariaga. She expresses herself pretty well. The accent is a bit strong so while that added to the authenticity, it also made it a little difficult to understand the native words. But overall, it was a nice audiobook to hear.

I received an advance review copy of the book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What a great read! I love a story about a strong woman who rises above the things holding her back and shows everyone what an amazing person she can be. This has sad moments for sure, Camila has to struggle and fight for what she wants, but it's a feel good book and the ending left me so happy and hopeful.

Camila has a lot of potential to play futbol, or soccer in America, but her family doesn't support her. They think her brother is the sports star and she should dedicate herself to studying and go into the medical field. The way Camila's father treats her mother and her is so awful that I wished I could leap into the book to punch him in the face. Seeing Camila grow confident enough to stand up to him made my day and I hope this might inspire others to change their situation.

This is so authentically told and gave me a lot of insight into life in Argentina and what it's like for someone to tell you that you can't achieve your goals and you prove them incredibly wrong. Inspiring and something I recommend for anyone!

I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

There are only two things I know about Argentina: the country is crazy about football and Messi plays for Argentina in FIFA. So reading this book was a whole new experience for me, almost like stepping into a new world! There are a lot of things I learned in this book about this South American country, but I’m not going to talk about that. I’d rather talk about the main character of this book, Camila, known better by her title ‘Furia’; an average heroine having her own character flaws but rose up to break a cycle of infidelity and injustice.

Furia is a footballer, sister, daughter, girlfriend, teacher, student, and most importantly, an idol. Her character arc in this story goes from an ignorant and dependent damsel to a knowledgeable and iconic woman. Standing up against an abusive father is one thing, but breaking society’s standards by playing a game considered a man’s privilege in a country where female abuse is commonplace, is another. Throughout the story, we can see how she worked hard to hold on to what she loves, which is very rare. She showed resilience.

Listening to this book has been a privilege for me, because more than representing feminism, it represented woman empowerment (yes, they’re two different concepts, but similar in some aspects). Another reason why I loved this book is that I was a sportsperson myself, and I understood her struggles on a different level, more relatable. It was very well written, and it’s also a Reese’s Book Club YA pick, and it deserves to be!

Highly recommended!

I'm actually crying because this book is finished. Something I rarely do and save for books that touch a piece of my heart.
The story of Camila Hassan is extremely touching and beautiful. Juggling school work with dreams of attending an American university and hiding her love and passion of "the beautiful game" from her family takes a strong woman. Camila is called La Furia by her teammates and when La Furia personality comes out she is unstoppable.
Living in the barrios of Rosario Argentina she has always been told women cannot play professional soccer. This is her dream and she will fight for it. The story was beautiful in how it stitched together so many themes; including a strong protagonist woman, a love story, a family dealing with an abusive father.
I urge everyone to read or listen to this book it is beautifully written and told.


Review for the Audiobook version of the book
Thank you Net Galley for offering this for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Workman Audio, and OwnVoices | Teens & YA for the Audio ARC

I enjoyed the setting and characters and learning about another culture. I enjoyed the plot points and how the story progressed and how everything was resolved. I did not enjoy the narrator at first. I felt the narration wasn't done smoothly. I turned the speed up to 2X and then it felt smoother. Parts of the writing also took me out of the story particularly long similes in the first half of the book. I couldn't tell if they went away or if I didn't notice them as much when I turned the speed up but, either way, I enjoyed the second half more than the first half.

Don’t get in the way of a girl and her goal ⚽️💥

This book was a powerful force right from the start. I don’t play soccer, but this book sucked me into the beauty, strength, and drama of the game.

In Rosario, Camila Hassan lives a double life in the shadows of powerful fútbol players, Her brother is a hometown hero playing professional fútbol for their city, her lover is an international sensation, and her father is retired and abusive. She is a force on the field in her own right, but her successes are attributed to her family line, and not her own hard work, dedication and success.

As Camila fights for her team on the field, she also is fighting expectations from her family and society. She is earning attention from international scouts, but has to keep her sport a secret from her father who forbids her from playing out of fear it will turn her into a lesbian. This book also speaks to the greater societal issues at play in Argentina, where domestic violence is seen as a ‘crime of passion’, and young girls are showing up murdered. When young female bodies are found, the investigations are focused on blaming the victim instead of finding the perpetrator.

Throughout the story, Camila struggles to find success on her own terms and break the cycle. While this story takes place in another hemisphere, all women can relate to having society dictate what they ‘should’ and ‘shouldn’t’ do. Sometimes these messages are overt, and sometimes they are so embedded in our culture that we consume them unconsciously like the air we breathe.

Everyone has something to gain from feminism. The men in this story were not able to express their emotions, so they used their fists. They also were expected to be sole breadwinner for their household, which built resentment towards their dependents. Gender roles are limiting and harmful for everyone involved. It’s not just a woman’s issue.

Adding on, I loved the audiobook version. My in laws are from Argentina, and hearing the book read in that accent brought it to life.

So glad I finally read this book! I got the audiobook and at first was worried because some of the writing was kind of juvenile (it is YA after all), but then it really picked up and I loved it. The older teen love story elements reminded me of the good parts of Twilight (minus the vampires). This is the story of a young female futbol player in Argentina, fighting for her place in a society still dominated by men, living in a bario, making her way thru very traditional gender roles and it was just a breath of fresh air. I already have two people I have to give copies of this book to!

I started it on audiobook but got the e-book from the library in order to read it faster. I enjoyed the narrator's correct pronunciation and her voice stayed with me throughout the book. If you're looking for a book set in another country or culture with an interesting and original story but still like a little romance and female empowerment, than this book might be for you.

Highly recommend, 4.5 stars (just remember the writing is YA). Thank you to Netgalley for the audio version.

If there was one book I could buy for my teenage niece, this is it.,

I screamed when I found out I was getting a reviewer's copy of this audiobook! I couldn't believe my luck, and for a good reason - Furia is an absolutely wonderful and unforgettable YA novel I'll absolutely be coming back to in the future.

The plot follows a young Argentinian girl, Camila Hassan, who is a soccer player. She kicks a** on the field, but at home it's an entirely different story. Like countelss other women around the world, she has to obide by traditional, restrictive parental and societal expectations, none of which foresee much of a future for her in the world of sports. Especially not soccer, which is an unsuitable and masculine sport.

But Camilly is strong and resilient, and what she wants to achieve is a university scholarship for her sports talent.

Furia is a beautiful and motivating story for boys and girls alike. We get to know Camila, and we get to know a lot of the Argentinian culture, which I adored - especially during the current restrictions.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this audiobook in exhcnage for an honest review.

I am so excited to review this book! This is my first #netgalley book! Thank you @algonquinyr for the audiobook!

This book was such a special read for me because my husband served a two year mission in Argentina. I loved hearing his stories come to life in this book through Camila! It even mentions missionaries twice, and talks about the Utah Royals!

I loved how strong and independent Camila was. This is a female empowering book that shows you can do what you want if you work hard for it.

5/5 stars from me! Because of this book we have gnocchi, milanesa with fried eggs and mate on the menu!

The book had great flow and the story was never confusing. You felt like you were there in Argentina playing Futbol! I will definitely follow for more books by this author.

I'm so glad NetGalley started offering audiobooks so I can read audiobooks like this one!

This book especially worked well as an audiobook - the narrator was excellent, and did a very good job with this title.

This book covered a lot of difficult topics respectfully, and I liked how they were dealt with and the balance the book struck with these topics and positive moments. I adored the main character, and thought her voice was especially strong; this was likely partially due to the audiobook and audiobook narrator, but I think her voice also would have come through in the physical book format. All of the characters were well fleshed out and nuanced, especially the main character and the main character's mother.

The conflicts in this book were all very realistic - a problem I typically have in YA is when conflict happens for conflict's sake but I never had that problem in this book.

I can't wait to read more from this author!

I am so pleased I had the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. Furia is a YA novel that tells the story of Camila, a futbol player approaching her 18th birthday. As her coach tells her, in the previous generation, a girl in Argentina would not have been allowed to play. Camila and the others on her team face many barriers to competing. The story is rich, and the whole surrounding world and supporting characters are beautifully described. But the backdrop also details threats of violence against girls and women. Against this, Camila's story is one of hope, belief, and the pursuit of an impossible dream. After the story concluded, the Author's Note by Yamile Saied Méndez provided further context.

This story was so good as an Audiobook. The audio version added to my experience with singing of the chants and songs, whispering,  and different voices easily distinguishable. The tone and feeling of the scenes were carried well through the narration by Sol Madariaga. I felt more truly immersed in the story.  I highly recommend the audio version of this great book!

This is a powerful story about female empowerment set in Argentina. The female protagonist Camila is a force to be reckoned with. She refuses to give up her dreams of becoming a soccer star in exchange for the plans her family has for her to become a doctor. This book tackles many difficult issues such as a woman's role in the family and the inclusion that sports can bring to women. You will root for Camila from start to finish as she challenges the men in her life and teaches them to respect her right to chase her dream. The South American cultural aspects definitely enhance the reading experience. I highly recommend this book as it is very inspiring in the same realm as Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X and The Fire on High.

Furia is about Camila Hassan, an girl from Argentina who dreams of a career as a soccer player. She has so many rocks on her path, such as troubled family relationships, the lack of female professional teams on her country and poverty.

I really enjoyed this, especially being from South America myself. A lot of what Camila went through was very relatable to me as a Brazilian, and you can tell that the author wrote this book straight from her heart. I adored the romance and all the soccer references, and I loved how the protagonist was strong but was constantly trying to overcome her flaws.

Now, let's talk about the audiobook: I didn't like the narrator at first, but I grew used to her and it was an enjoyable way to experience this story. However, if you don't speak Spanish, I'd recommend having the actual book to follow along, because there are quite a few terms in Camila's original language and it can be confusing.

I recommend this one, especially those who want a well-written multicultural Young Adult!

I loved this #OwnVoices contemporary YA set in Argentina!

An anthem to following your dream, despite your family’s and community’s rules and expectations. This story touches on the dangers many women face to just live their daily lives, and how they are portrayed as deserving of the violence against them. It addresses the struggle it takes to rise above those chains and cling to a dream. To refuse to let someone else save you, and instead to save yourself by sticking to your goals and your heart.

I do love fútbol (soccer), so the parts about the passion and the pain and sweat and disappointments resonate with me. Even if you aren’t a sports lover, you won’t be lost by the passages about it. I think, though the lens of their passion for the sport, it will expand your compassion for the characters’ love and struggle, and the family they build together.

*A note on the audio version: I really enjoyed the narrator, Sol Madariaga, and hearing the correct accents of the Spanish words. I still think there are quirks to be worked out with the app, as the sound was a little tinny. But I'm not counting that against this amazing book and a wonderful narrator.

Thanks to Workman Audio and Algonquin for the free audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Furia is a contemporary, young adult (YA) novel about a 17-year-old Argentine girl, Camila Hassan, who dreams of a bigger life.

As readers, we witness Camila’s magical first love with an older professional fútbol star. We follow her rise as a powerhouse fútbol athlete. We see her try to break out of the cycle of living within the confines of a patriarchal society. And we watch her, with her sense of wonder and possibility, as she tries to do impossible things.

For the first half of the book, Camila lives a double life. At home, she tries to meet demanding expectations of her parents. She gets excellent grades and is a successful bilingual student. But on the fútbol field, she becomes “La Furia” who longs to play for a university in the United States.

And all the while, her she keeps her athletic passion—and her superstar boyfriend—a secret.

Then, when her team suddenly qualifies for a big tournament, Camila, the team captain, gets the chance to see just how far her passion will take her. She then comes clean about her secret. But her mom tells her she can’t have it all. Camila cannot play fútbol AND become a doctor. She cannot be a successful athlete AND a wife.

It’s a story young women have been told for ages. But La Furia is a feminist. And she persists, against all odds.

When reflecting on her female ancestors, and the issues they faced, Camila says: “I have their warrior fire inside of me. I summon their speed, their resourcefulness, their hunger for life. No one can stop me but myself, and I’m never going to stop. I fight for every ball, and although I don’t always win, no one can say I hold back. I leave my soul on the pitch.”

In the author's note, Yamile Saied Méndez says that, like Camila, she comes from a multicultural family who’s obsessed with fútbol. Readers will get a sense for Yamile’s love the for game. After all, Furia is written in an exciting first-person narrative that makes you feel like you’re on the sidelines of an international championship game.

Equally impressive is the narration of the audiobook by Sol Madariaga who does a beautiful job bringing the character (Camila/La Furia) to life. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sol’s Spanish pronunciations are exquisite. She narrates the mix of English and Spanish throughout, so I felt like I was in a master’s level Spanish class!


Overall, I very much enjoyed Furia. It’s a captivating lesson in how to break cultural norms while making difficult choices in order to pursue seemingly impossible dreams.

In the end, Camila shows us that empowered females have every right to dream, and that we CAN have it all.


An #Ownvoices #YA novel
One of BuzzFeed's Must-Read YA Books of 2020
A Reese’s Book Club YA Pick, October 2020


Special thanks to Workman Audio, via NetGalley, who gifted me a copy of audiobook in exchange for my honest review.