Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. I always love good latine representation and this book had it. I felt like I could really relate to the main character and her best friend and even though it was a serious read (like the title says) I felt it was an important one for teens.

It's still early in the year but, Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta is one of the best books I've read all year. The neighborhood of Fruitvale is vividly described and Belen and Leti are characters that you truly root for. I wept for the last 20% of this book, but in a good way. Highly recommended, I love this book so much I can't even properly put it into words.

When I tell you I cried for the last 30% of this book I mean I CRIED, like ugly tears, snot the whole shebang.

This was such a moving book. The main character felt like a real person, making decisions (albeit bad ones) that a teen would make. I feel like many teens will connect with her family situation as well as her best friend’s.

This is definitely a book that I would recommend to anyone who is looking to feel something.

I really don’t know what to say about this book. I loved every second of it. I will be very surprised if this isn’t up for some type of award or something at the end of the year. To be honest with you I’d like to see it on the Morris, but I’m a little worried about what they’ll say about the sexual content. If not, it better be a Pura Belpre honor or winner because this was so good!

OK so the only thing that annoyed me about this book was the way the main character was going through all of this and hoping that the things she was doing would take the weight off of her chest and how she was going to take care of her bestie’s baby when it was born, and I just got so weirded out by this. She was basically acting like this kid was hers. I get it, she needed an excuse, but the baby? That was mad weird. And I didn’t like how she kept making all these jokes about her being pregnant, but she was so desperate to do the same. But I’m glad she began therapy at the end of the story and showed that there were other, more healthy ways to deal with her feelings.

Everything else about this was so real. I can’t tell you the last book I read that felt like I was watching a movie or watching this in real time. Idk it was so weird but it showed that it was also so impressive. I can’t lie, it felt like this was a memoir and she was just writing like a recounting of it. I don’t really believe this was a debut because damn, what were her first few drafts like? It was just too good. I can’t wait to see what else she has ready to come out. She’s squaring up to be one of my faves.

As for the audio performance, I was hella impressed by the narrator. But that was a given. I’m a huge Frankie Corzo stan and I will listen to them read a grocery list, so I put reading my e-ARC on hold because I found out Corzo was narrating it and I knew I had to wait until I could get my hands on an audio copy.

This book was good enough for me to stop reading a review book to focus more on this one. And I must say I don’t regret that decision at all. I binged this book and I plan to do the same with anything else that Ixta puts out.

Wow. This voice-y, thoughtful novel doesn't shy away from any of the hard parts of being a Latina teen in Oakland, trying to figure out friendships, family, love, and the future. A gorgeous and ultimately hopeful story of learning how to be in community and be true to yourself.

WOW - I'm surprised I haven't heard any buzz for this book other than on Netgalley! Ixta does an excellent job creating a diverse culture and setting that feels authentic and educational - I walked away with a lot of things to consider that stayed with me days after finishing this book. She talks about tough topics like culture, racism, and family matters and how teens process and work through it. While I couldn't relate directly to what Belen went through, I felt her character was still very relatable, and experienced emotions and reactions similar to what I felt at her age. Thanks so much for this ARC!

Thank you Netgalley and Quill Tree Books for the ARC!

"Shut Up, This Is Serious" by Carolina Ixta is a captivating YA novel that paints a vivid picture of Oakland, exploring the complexities of girlhood, friendship, and family. The story revolves around Bélen and her best friend Leti as they navigate their senior year in high school, facing the challenges of family dynamics and the uncertainties of adulthood.

I absolutely loved the representation of diverse characters without resorting to stereotypes, offering a refreshing portrayal of a Latine family. The characters themselves felt so realistic, and the character development was well-written. The book has an engaging monologue throughout that sets the tone for the relatable storyline. Ixta's prose is beautifully crafted, and her characters, especially Bélen and Leti, are memorable. The exploration of racism and colorism adds depth and authenticity to the plot, shedding light on the challenges the characters confront. The inclusion of therapy as a means of addressing familial issues breaks down cultural stigmas, showcasing the characters' growth and resilience. The writing style itself had some repetition and ideas that were laid out a bit too obviously, I think, for older readers, though younger readers would definitely appreciate the writing style. The story itself would resonate with readers who appreciate diverse stories and complex family dynamics.

The plot also had some repetition and was a bit messy, but I also found the plot to be a strength as it showed realism in the actions/thoughts of the teenage characters. While the pacing could be improved in the 2nd half of the book, the ending was quite satisfying.

"Shut Up, This Is Serious" is a fantastic debut that tackles important themes with grace and authenticity. It successfully captures the messiness of life and the small joys amidst pain. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of coming-of-age stories or those who enjoy narratives with a cultural backdrop.

✨Book Review✨
Shut Up This is Serious by Carolina Ixta
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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I really really enjoyed this book. I read it in two days (except for the last 5 pages which I waited a week to finish for some weird reason). I LOVED the Oakland setting and how much you could feel the love for this incredible city. I loved how you got to see inside of a character who presents as so hard to the outside world. I loveeeee the bonds of friendship in this book. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves YA!

A moving coming of age #ownvoices debut YA story featuring a Latina teen in California who is struggling with depression after her father abandoned the family while also trying to be supportive for her best friend who is pregnant and experiencing sex for the first time. Full of relatable growing pain moments, excellent mental health rep and a protagonist you can't help wanting to hug. This was also great on audio narrated by one of my favs, Frankie Corzo. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

absolutely fantastic, even though at points i find it to drag. i really appreciate receiving this ARC. thank you so much netgalley. 4.5

*Title: Shut Up, This Is Serious- a standalone

*Release date:1-9-24 , read: 1-7-24

*Author: Carolina Ixta-debut author

*Format: e-book

*Page Count: 368

*POV: 1st person Belén

*Setting: Oakland, CA

*Genre: YA, Multicultural Interests, Contemporary Fiction

*Tropes:

✅ troubled teens/coming of age
✅ secret pregnancy
✅ family drama
✅ found family
✅ virgin h

Look out for:
⚠️ h has MH issues, racism, sexism, colorism

*Synopsis: Belén is an uninterested high school senior on the verge of failing to graduate. She fills her days hanging up w/ BFF Leti who is pregnant. Leti's parents are Catholic, they care about keeping up appearances, and will not accept Leti's AA boyfriend Quentin. Belén's father has left the family without much explanation and she is struggling to deal with it. Can both girls get their lives together before graduation or will they spiral?

Characters:

Belén Dolores Itzel del Toro- A senior in high school. Using distractions so she doesn't have to deal w/ school or her family. Her mom takes over the household's financial responsibilities working 2 jobs and never has time for Belén. Her sister Ava is on her back about cutting class. She warns her she will end up like their father who didn't finish school and ended up in construction.

Leticia "Leti" Barragon-From a strict Catholic Latina family. Her parents are abusive physically and emotionally. She has to find the courage to tell them she's pregnant by a black guy. She is an excellent student, wants to go to Berkeley, so she takes AP classes and studies a lot.

Quentin Anderson-Leti's bf, AA . His parents aren't happy about becoming grandparents but is willing to accept it.
Ali- Belén's classmate, AA wants to attend HBCU Howard. Makes Belén do a partnered school assignment

Ms. Barrerra-teacher who takes an interest in Belén to help her.


*Review: An emotional ride very realistic. I saw myself in Belén but I didn't have a Leti to talk to. Books became my escape everyday in the library during my lunch. I also had an absent father who just up and left to enjoy his own life.

*Rating: 4/5

*Spice level- 2/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC 💙! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

Overall, this novel was outstanding. It's an intimate look at how Belen, the main character, deals with her father abandoning her family; however, she does not deal with it well, and she chooses many, many distractions to avoid it. She also continues to get angrier and more depressed throughout the novel, but I almost appreciated how it became more difficult to read Belen's thoughts and actions and the narration as her depression and heaviness grew. The subplot with her BFF Leti's pregnancy and the conflicts it gives Belen also added to the story, along with the underlying growing up, applying to colleges, etc.

In terms of content, Belen does engage in sex with a 20-something year old as a strictly hookup situation which was kind of ick, but also there is mentioning of many sexual acts as well. While it was viewed as sex positive, it felt somewhat out of place in the narration.

This book, though, did make me cry at the end and I'm glad it ends with Belen getting help.

Carolina Ixta shares stories of generational and religious trauma in Mexican immigrant families that are beautifully intertwined and realistic in Shut Up, This Is Serious. While Leti and Quentin deal with revealing their teenage pregnancy to Leti's extremely Catholic (and racist) parents, Belén spirals into a depression from not being able to separate her identity with that of her father, who abandoned her family. Each character feels so real, with complex identities and shortfalls that impact their relationships with each other and their families. Ixta pours Mexican immigrant culture into every aspect of this story, including blending language, migration trauma affecting parenting skills, and microaggressions in school to name a few examples. Teens from all walks of life will be able to relate to the pressures of having sex, apply to college, skipping classes, and debilitating depression/anxiety. Ixta guides readers into seeking professional help in such a gentle way, it is clear that she cares for her readers and encourages them to seek out safe adults to ask for guidance.

This is one of my top coming-of-age teen fictional stories of the year. I absolutely loved the representation of Latina teens from East Oakland in California. Ixta wrote Belen and Leti's journeys so beautifully and with such great care. Their friendship was so authentically portrayed! It really took me back to my own teenage years of longing, curiosity, dreaming, and seeking out answers. I loved Belen's voice especially - she was blunt but stayed open and curious; she was full of angst and at the same time, inquisitive and hopeful. I highly recommend this to everyone!

I will read anything by Carolina Ixta in the future!

If you enjoyed "Juliet Takes a Breath" by Gabby Rivera, this is a must read!

cw: racism, sexism, panic attacks, teen pregnancy, tame sexual content discussed

I think this book will be important and impactful for teenagers. The writing is strong, and the main character is relatable with a solid POV. I can tell this book is not for me, though. I have DNF'd this book, but I am still giving it four stars based on what I have read so far.

3.8 Can I say that? It’s got a lot going on. So much-teen pregnancy, racism, mental health…and there’s so many tropes-the hero writing teacher, the hard-working Latina mothers, the plucky young women surviving everything that’s thrown at them, the happy ending, I wanted to like this, I did, but it was safe. Everything resolved, every obstacle conquered. Some YA ladies will love this one, there’s some great lessons here, but they do feel like lessons. Expected. I’m not sure how I’d feel giving it to my Title 1 students. Is it obviously an adult writing about teens? Maybe. It’ll be interesting to see.

This book was beautiful. It's almost like Never Have I Ever and On My Block had a baby. I could see my Latina students enjoying this book and figuring out where they fit in this world outside of this city.

This book took me a minute to get into, but I loved it. It's a very messy book with very messy characters and a very messy plot and I loved it. Ixta did a fantastic job in showing how painful life can be but also showing how you can find the small joys through that pain.

Loved loved loved. Such a good book.

Shut Up, This Is Serious is a book I'll never forget. Debut author Carolina Ixta weaved together an incredible story of friendship, family, and community. Set in East Oakland, the story follows main character Belén in her senior year of high school after 2 life shifting events: her father abruptly leaving her family and her best friend Leti becoming pregnant (and keeping it a secret from her parents). Belén has to juggle responsibilities of friendship and family as she navigates the year and keeps herself afloat.