Juliet Takes a Breath

by Gabby Rivera
Juliet Takes a Breath cover
Good Books rating 3.83
Young Adult (YA)
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £7.99
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 9997
  • Added: 2026-01-05
  • Updated: 2026-01-06
  • ISBN: 9780593108185
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • Published: 2019-09-17
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Juliet Milagros Palante, a young Puerto Rican lesbian from the Bronx, flies to Portland, Oregon, for a life-changing internship with her favorite feminist writer, Harlowe Brisbane. After a rocky coming out to her family, Juliet hopes this experience will help her understand her identity. However, Harlowe's different background and lack of all the answers force Juliet to explore her own path. /n/n Amidst queer brown dance parties, a passionate fling with a motorcycling librarian, and deep discussions on race and identity, Juliet learns the complexities of coming out to the world, her family, and herself. This novel captures the essence of self-discovery and the challenges of navigating one's identity in a world that often expects simple answers.

Reviews
The Lesbian Review · 2026-01-05
heartfelt 4.00

The novel explores complex themes of family, feminism, and identity with a powerful and relatable protagonist. It's a heartfelt journey that resonates deeply with readers.

This review highlights the novel's ability to tackle heavy themes like family expectations, feminism, and racism with a light touch. The protagonist, Juliet, is praised for her authenticity and humor, making her emotional journey both engaging and relatable. The reviewer appreciates the book's exploration of love in all its forms, finding it both profound and uplifting. They also note the spiritual elements, which add depth to the narrative. Overall, the review is a testament to the book's emotional impact and its ability to make readers feel seen and understood.

Quick quotes

    This beautiful story deals with family relationships and expectations, feminism, racism, spirituality and love in all of its glorious forms.

    Juliet is a funny and believable protagonist.

    Her emotional journey was easy to connect with

Fun Fandom Blog · 2021-06-13
underwhelmed 3.00

While the ideas behind the book are commendable, the execution falls short, leaving the reviewer feeling underwhelmed.

This reviewer found Juliet Takes a Breath to be a bit disappointing despite its promising themes. They acknowledge the good intentions behind the story but feel that the execution could have been stronger. The reviewer mentions that the book has potential and that the ideas it explores are important, but the overall experience was not as impactful as they had hoped. They give it a rating of 3 out of 5, indicating a mixed but somewhat positive reception.

Quick quotes

    Overall, I'm underwhelmed by Juliet Takes a Breath.

    The ideas behind it are good, but the execution is a bit...lacking.

    A lot of the themes and ideas are important and worth exploring.

Mel to the Any · 2020-12-04
loved 4.50

The graphic novel adaptation is loved for its authenticity and emotional depth, making it a must-read for those who appreciate diverse and impactful stories.

This reviewer absolutely loved the graphic novel adaptation of Juliet Takes a Breath. They found the story to be authentic and emotionally resonant, praising its ability to highlight important issues such as white feminism and the need for more diverse narratives. The reviewer also appreciated the character development and the way the story explores Juliet's journey of self-discovery. They are eager to read the original novel and highly recommend the graphic novel to anyone looking for a powerful and engaging read.

Quick quotes

    Overall, as you might be able to tell from this review, I truly loved this graphic novel

    There is so much to love in this graphic novel (and its book)

    and so much that highlighted the problems with white feminism and the real need

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