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Mighty Millie Novak
Social anxiety, her parents' divorce, and tumultuous friendships won't stop Millie's pursuit of what she wants--in roller derby and in love. But her own lies might…
Sixteen-year-old Millie Novak is stuck in an “if only” rut. If only she were stronger and faster, maybe her roller derby teammates would take her seriously. If only she had the guts to go back to in-person learning, maybe she’d have a social life. If only she wasn’t such an awkward mess, maybe she could get the attention of that cute girl on the all-star derby team. And don’t get her started on her family!
After the one-two punch of her beloved older brother’s departure for college and her parents’ overdue split, leaving her lonelier than ever, Millie decides it's time to reinvent herself. With the help of her new friend Pumpkin and a little bit of deceit, Millie crafts a plan to cement her status on the team and get her crush to fall for her.
But reinvention isn't easy. Millie's constantly shown up by show-off teammate Stork, and the only way she can get her crush’s attention is through increasingly elaborate lies. Worse, she begins to suspect Pumpkin is not the supportive friend she’d imagined. Toughest to handle? Realizing the person she’s in love with might not be her longtime crush, after all.
Sixteen-year-old Millie Novak is stuck in an “if only” rut. If only she were stronger and faster, maybe her roller derby teammates would take her seriously. If only she had the guts to go back to in-person learning, maybe she’d have a social life. If only she wasn’t such an awkward mess, maybe she could get the attention of that cute girl on the all-star derby team. And don’t get her started on her family!
After the one-two punch of her beloved older brother’s departure for college and her parents’ overdue split, leaving her lonelier than ever, Millie decides it's time to reinvent herself. With the help of her new friend Pumpkin and a little bit of deceit, Millie crafts a plan to cement her status on the team and get her crush to fall for her.
But reinvention isn't easy. Millie's constantly shown up by show-off teammate Stork, and the only way she can get her crush’s attention is through increasingly elaborate lies. Worse, she begins to suspect Pumpkin is not the supportive friend she’d imagined. Toughest to handle? Realizing the person she’s in love with might not be her longtime crush, after all.
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First published August 20, 2024
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3126 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Holden
4 books45 followersElizabeth Holden (she/her) is a writer, a physics teacher, a travel company owner, an X-Files podcast host, and an avid roller derby player. She believes the ideal conditions in which to write a novel are in the dining car of a train traveling through the Alps, with a pot of tea beside you--though she does most of her writing at her home in Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
July 25, 2024
4.5
this was everythinggg to me. i love love love derby. i've been waiting for this book for MONTHS, and it did not disappoint. millie was just as snarky and insightful as i wanted and needed her to be, and she's just FUNNY. her narrative voice is very entertaining to follow, and i'm absolutely in love with this book.
deducted half a star because i think this book sometimes assumes you go into it knowing a few things about roller derby and, while i did already know these things, other people might not have that same level of knowledge, so it would probably be better to extend a helping hand and explain the sport.
overall, this was just fantastic.
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for a honest review
this was everythinggg to me. i love love love derby. i've been waiting for this book for MONTHS, and it did not disappoint. millie was just as snarky and insightful as i wanted and needed her to be, and she's just FUNNY. her narrative voice is very entertaining to follow, and i'm absolutely in love with this book.
deducted half a star because i think this book sometimes assumes you go into it knowing a few things about roller derby and, while i did already know these things, other people might not have that same level of knowledge, so it would probably be better to extend a helping hand and explain the sport.
overall, this was just fantastic.
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for a honest review
May 29, 2024
Content warnings: alcohol consumption, references to divorced parents, references to past bullying, references to a parent who is a hoarder (not Millie).
Rep: Millie (MC) is cis, white, andpansexual (label not used on page, but the references point to this, and chubby. Until this author states otherwise, this is what I am using). bisexual. Side cis, white sapphic characters. One side Black character. Other background/side POC characters.
Edit 29/05/2024: I just received a DM from someone who shared a screenshot from the author in which the author states that Millie is bisexual.
This was such a fun, easy read.
I loved all of the Derby talk, and I am immediately going to have to put on the movie Whip It after this.
While Millie is an awesomely complex, messy main character, my heart belongs to Stork. I love that kid. I am headcanoning her as autistic because I said so.
Millie's development in this book was excellently done - she's a teenager, and acts like it. She's homeschooled, and her sadness about being so alone is really spot on.
I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of this, and can't wait for other people to read and love it, too.
Rep: Millie (MC) is cis, white, and
Edit 29/05/2024: I just received a DM from someone who shared a screenshot from the author in which the author states that Millie is bisexual.
This was such a fun, easy read.
I loved all of the Derby talk, and I am immediately going to have to put on the movie Whip It after this.
While Millie is an awesomely complex, messy main character, my heart belongs to Stork. I love that kid. I am headcanoning her as autistic because I said so.
Millie's development in this book was excellently done - she's a teenager, and acts like it. She's homeschooled, and her sadness about being so alone is really spot on.
I thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of this, and can't wait for other people to read and love it, too.
May 13, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and North Star for providing me with an ARC of this book.
What an utterly charming story! I quickly fell in love with Millie "Mighty" Novak and her quirks, and I found myself hooked from the first page. Reading about Mighty's struggles with family, friendships, schoolwork and most of all, roller derby was absolutely riveting.
It helped, largely, that the cast of characters was so fun. From the older girls on the roller derby team to Mighty's best friend, Pumpkin, each character was well-rounded and easy to like. Even when they did things that I didn't agree with, I still found myself rooting for them to find their way.
The sports sections of this story were written with enough humour and action to be incredibly gripping! With each roller derby game I was desperate for Mighty and the Prairie Skate Juniors to succeed! This story is also, I feel, a testament to how much hard work can pay off. Mighty stuck to her training and even though we see her struggle with it, in the end she does learn just how helpful it is.
The only reason this book wasn't five stars for me was that I felt a little too much time was spent on Mighty's crush on an older girl, and not enough on her relationships with Pumpkin and, in particular, Stork. When Mighty realises - very realistically, I might add! - that she has been rather selfish, her apology tour also started to grate after a chapter. However, I did appreciate her owning up to her mistakes and taking the time to apologise.
I truly loved this book and hope to add a physical copy to my collection!
What an utterly charming story! I quickly fell in love with Millie "Mighty" Novak and her quirks, and I found myself hooked from the first page. Reading about Mighty's struggles with family, friendships, schoolwork and most of all, roller derby was absolutely riveting.
It helped, largely, that the cast of characters was so fun. From the older girls on the roller derby team to Mighty's best friend, Pumpkin, each character was well-rounded and easy to like. Even when they did things that I didn't agree with, I still found myself rooting for them to find their way.
The sports sections of this story were written with enough humour and action to be incredibly gripping! With each roller derby game I was desperate for Mighty and the Prairie Skate Juniors to succeed! This story is also, I feel, a testament to how much hard work can pay off. Mighty stuck to her training and even though we see her struggle with it, in the end she does learn just how helpful it is.
The only reason this book wasn't five stars for me was that I felt a little too much time was spent on Mighty's crush on an older girl, and not enough on her relationships with Pumpkin and, in particular, Stork. When Mighty realises - very realistically, I might add! - that she has been rather selfish, her apology tour also started to grate after a chapter. However, I did appreciate her owning up to her mistakes and taking the time to apologise.
I truly loved this book and hope to add a physical copy to my collection!
August 23, 2024
Millie is struggling. Her parents argue all the time- announce their divorce. Her older brother moves to attend college. Attending virtual high school allows Millie to avoid the relentless bullying from middle school.
With her parents pushing for social interaction, Millie finds her community in roller derby. Toxic friendships. Lying about her age to a crush. Massive lack of confidence.
With the help of roller derby, Millie finds strength in her body and her self. Wonderful story of a young queer girl.
With her parents pushing for social interaction, Millie finds her community in roller derby. Toxic friendships. Lying about her age to a crush. Massive lack of confidence.
With the help of roller derby, Millie finds strength in her body and her self. Wonderful story of a young queer girl.
February 28, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up
Mighty Millie Novak is a contemporary novel that fills a gap in the YA market with its sporty, messy and very queer main character and its remarkably crafted plot. This very well-rounded book will appeal to young readers who like straight-forward (but not straight at all) and satisfying novels.
To preface this, I must admit that pure YA novels are not what I tend to read nowadays, since I prefer upper-YA or NA. That said, I really really liked how it reminded me of the books I read in middle school, where the characters don't like adults, where they're selfish and single-minded, but also willing to learn and grow.
This book reads like a movie montage of the character learning a new sport. It's insanely gratifying to read about Mighty's progress in her sport, the obstacles she encounters and how she learns to get over them. We learn more about the sport alongside her, and I never felt confused about the rules or the terms specific to roller derby. It even made me want to register for roller derby lessons!
I also really like the sense of community she finds at roller derby, that feeling where you know she found a place to belong among these girls. Queerness plays a part in this, and I was so happy to finally read a book about QUEER!! DERBY!! PLAYERS!! Please, just the sport itself is so queer-coded.
Mighty has a lot of flaws, and some of them are pretty annoying, but I liked how it was questioned at the end of the book. It's very interesting to read about relationships that are challenged and questioned when it's clear that the disagreements are too big to forget.
Finally, the romance was cute, although I won't say much about it to avoid spoilers. I don't think it's the focus of the book, it's more of a coming of age novel, but it was still very nice to read about, along with Mighty's journey and growth.
Thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions for giving me the chance to read this novel in advance in exchange for an honest review.
Mighty Millie Novak is a contemporary novel that fills a gap in the YA market with its sporty, messy and very queer main character and its remarkably crafted plot. This very well-rounded book will appeal to young readers who like straight-forward (but not straight at all) and satisfying novels.
To preface this, I must admit that pure YA novels are not what I tend to read nowadays, since I prefer upper-YA or NA. That said, I really really liked how it reminded me of the books I read in middle school, where the characters don't like adults, where they're selfish and single-minded, but also willing to learn and grow.
This book reads like a movie montage of the character learning a new sport. It's insanely gratifying to read about Mighty's progress in her sport, the obstacles she encounters and how she learns to get over them. We learn more about the sport alongside her, and I never felt confused about the rules or the terms specific to roller derby. It even made me want to register for roller derby lessons!
I also really like the sense of community she finds at roller derby, that feeling where you know she found a place to belong among these girls. Queerness plays a part in this, and I was so happy to finally read a book about QUEER!! DERBY!! PLAYERS!! Please, just the sport itself is so queer-coded.
Mighty has a lot of flaws, and some of them are pretty annoying, but I liked how it was questioned at the end of the book. It's very interesting to read about relationships that are challenged and questioned when it's clear that the disagreements are too big to forget.
Finally, the romance was cute, although I won't say much about it to avoid spoilers. I don't think it's the focus of the book, it's more of a coming of age novel, but it was still very nice to read about, along with Mighty's journey and growth.
Thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions for giving me the chance to read this novel in advance in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2024
I can’t wait to read this book! I know it’ll break my heart and put it back together!!!
March 2, 2024
- 3.75 stars -
Roller skating has always been a fantasy of mine. In my closet in a canvas tote is a pair of secondhand skates, waiting for their moment. However, my career as a musician relies on having hands that are fully operational, and I’m just too scared of getting injured to risk it right now. So, until then, I live vicariously through skate media. This book did nothing to improve my fantasies. I’m just waiting for my roller derby arc now, although I hope it goes smoother than Millie’s.
Millie Novak is definitely a mess! It was hard to read sometimes as I watched the choices she made, but the important thing was that all of those choices eventually met consequences that served them. One of the arcs was especially worrying as it progressed, especially from my perspective as a young adult, but the severity of it was duly addressed when the time came. Her insecurities and self-deprecating tendencies could also be grating at times (one insecure girl to another), but this aspect of her personality was also explained and something she took steps to combat once she was able to face where it came from. I think many of us have gotten used to perfect protagonists, so it almost feels wrong to read a character like Millie, but it shouldn’t. That’s what real people, especially real teenagers, can be like. That said, I was a Stork stan from the moment I met her in these pages. I also liked how this book addressed the difficulty that can come when a shared interest starts to fade, and the general topic of friends growing apart. We like to think friendships are forever, but sometimes we just have to take the times we had and cherish them without trying to sustain something that was meant to be temporal.
Anyway, I was super excited that I got a chance to read this and now I know way more about roller derby than the average person (you can ask my friends, who I rambled about the sport to unprompted a couple of days ago). Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for allowing me to access an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!
Roller skating has always been a fantasy of mine. In my closet in a canvas tote is a pair of secondhand skates, waiting for their moment. However, my career as a musician relies on having hands that are fully operational, and I’m just too scared of getting injured to risk it right now. So, until then, I live vicariously through skate media. This book did nothing to improve my fantasies. I’m just waiting for my roller derby arc now, although I hope it goes smoother than Millie’s.
Millie Novak is definitely a mess! It was hard to read sometimes as I watched the choices she made, but the important thing was that all of those choices eventually met consequences that served them. One of the arcs was especially worrying as it progressed, especially from my perspective as a young adult, but the severity of it was duly addressed when the time came. Her insecurities and self-deprecating tendencies could also be grating at times (one insecure girl to another), but this aspect of her personality was also explained and something she took steps to combat once she was able to face where it came from. I think many of us have gotten used to perfect protagonists, so it almost feels wrong to read a character like Millie, but it shouldn’t. That’s what real people, especially real teenagers, can be like. That said, I was a Stork stan from the moment I met her in these pages. I also liked how this book addressed the difficulty that can come when a shared interest starts to fade, and the general topic of friends growing apart. We like to think friendships are forever, but sometimes we just have to take the times we had and cherish them without trying to sustain something that was meant to be temporal.
Anyway, I was super excited that I got a chance to read this and now I know way more about roller derby than the average person (you can ask my friends, who I rambled about the sport to unprompted a couple of days ago). Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for allowing me to access an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 29, 2024
Thank you to the publishers for sending me an Arc of Mighty Millie Novak, a sapphic coming of age story that shows a character’s growth through her relationship with roller derby
27/06/2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
✨“At least if I didn’t try my absolute hardest, I wouldn’t have to learn the answer to that question, because I could always tell myself I could have worked harder”✨
To be so honest, during the beginning of the book I was convinced I’d be giving it 3 stars max. The constant self hatred Millie displayed became so repetitive and downright irritating. By chapter 3, I was rolling my eyes every time she tried to make a joke at her own expense
There were also moments where the dialogue felt like a too-hard and bad attempt at an adult trying to mimic how young people speak…
HOWEVER…
Chapter ten provided a turning point. A moment where Millie showed self awareness, and I found myself needing to take a step away from my book at the sheer call-out. Being an athlete is hard, and Millie hit the nail right on the head…Sometimes it is easier to just not give it your all.
I think it helped that the author had Millie’s teammates call her out for her constant pessimism.
From this moment in the book, I found myself rooting for Millie and wanting her to improve. I couldn’t put the book down, invested in the slow but steady story of Millie’s self discovery, and journey. I saw myself in Millie, and even needed to take a step back and reflect on my own self criticism.
As soon as I started rooting for the protagonist, the writing became wonderfully charming, and I could appreciate the story for all it has. It became painfully relatable, the second hand embarrassment was SEVERE and before I knew it, I was totally engrossed and obsessed.
Mighty Millie Novak is exactly what the YA genre needs. Contemporary, queer and full
of self discovery and joy. I am so glad to give it a very complimentary 4 stars.
27/06/2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
✨“At least if I didn’t try my absolute hardest, I wouldn’t have to learn the answer to that question, because I could always tell myself I could have worked harder”✨
To be so honest, during the beginning of the book I was convinced I’d be giving it 3 stars max. The constant self hatred Millie displayed became so repetitive and downright irritating. By chapter 3, I was rolling my eyes every time she tried to make a joke at her own expense
There were also moments where the dialogue felt like a too-hard and bad attempt at an adult trying to mimic how young people speak…
HOWEVER…
Chapter ten provided a turning point. A moment where Millie showed self awareness, and I found myself needing to take a step away from my book at the sheer call-out. Being an athlete is hard, and Millie hit the nail right on the head…Sometimes it is easier to just not give it your all.
I think it helped that the author had Millie’s teammates call her out for her constant pessimism.
From this moment in the book, I found myself rooting for Millie and wanting her to improve. I couldn’t put the book down, invested in the slow but steady story of Millie’s self discovery, and journey. I saw myself in Millie, and even needed to take a step back and reflect on my own self criticism.
As soon as I started rooting for the protagonist, the writing became wonderfully charming, and I could appreciate the story for all it has. It became painfully relatable, the second hand embarrassment was SEVERE and before I knew it, I was totally engrossed and obsessed.
Mighty Millie Novak is exactly what the YA genre needs. Contemporary, queer and full
of self discovery and joy. I am so glad to give it a very complimentary 4 stars.
August 4, 2024
I struggled to connect with this one , me and the characters did not mesh but it was well written ! Mighty Millie Novak is a Sapphic YA featuring Roller Derby goodness, a homeschooled teenager trying to make friends and find herself while dealing with social anxiety and family drama.
July 30, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and North Star for teh ARC copie.
So, if you watched Whip It, and got obsessed about roller derby, like I did (even if it was for a short while), this book is for you. But if you like sports, or bad@ss girls, or found family, or growth, this book is also for you.
About the derby part. The author is a player and had the help of other players, and it shows. There are so many details about the game that even if you are not used to it (like most of us Brazilians), you can imagine it, and feel the emotion of the track.
(After the movie, roller derby kinda became a thing here in Brazil, but not a really big deal, so almost no one knows about it. I tried to make it happen in my city with the help of one other girl, and the league of a bigger city near us, but it didn't happen, so I moved on to something else. But I still find it very cool)
Let's remember that the characters are teens, só they do act like it, and being an older reader, sometimes we wanna roll our eyes to them, but there's such personal growth from Millie, that we ended up very proud of here, and it's really good to witness it.
And talking about Millie, if you were an outcast and lonely teen, at some point, there's a chance you will cry with her. I know I did.
She is the different kid, bullied, that just wanna find her place and her crew, and I can relate to that. It's beautiful to see her getting there, finding her place and getting the best found family she could ask for.
The book is well written and it shows that there was a lot of research and a lot of thought and care behind it.
The characters all have their importance and place in the story, helping Millie's development and her journey. They are humanized, showing off feelings in a natural way, Which makes us relate to a few of them.
You may think that Millie is a lot, you may read that Stork is a lot, but let me tell you that Pumpkin is a lot, and I will leave it to that. 🤬
In short, it was a blast reading it and the author delivered a great story, giving us it all.
So, if you watched Whip It, and got obsessed about roller derby, like I did (even if it was for a short while), this book is for you. But if you like sports, or bad@ss girls, or found family, or growth, this book is also for you.
About the derby part. The author is a player and had the help of other players, and it shows. There are so many details about the game that even if you are not used to it (like most of us Brazilians), you can imagine it, and feel the emotion of the track.
(After the movie, roller derby kinda became a thing here in Brazil, but not a really big deal, so almost no one knows about it. I tried to make it happen in my city with the help of one other girl, and the league of a bigger city near us, but it didn't happen, so I moved on to something else. But I still find it very cool)
Let's remember that the characters are teens, só they do act like it, and being an older reader, sometimes we wanna roll our eyes to them, but there's such personal growth from Millie, that we ended up very proud of here, and it's really good to witness it.
And talking about Millie, if you were an outcast and lonely teen, at some point, there's a chance you will cry with her. I know I did.
She is the different kid, bullied, that just wanna find her place and her crew, and I can relate to that. It's beautiful to see her getting there, finding her place and getting the best found family she could ask for.
The book is well written and it shows that there was a lot of research and a lot of thought and care behind it.
The characters all have their importance and place in the story, helping Millie's development and her journey. They are humanized, showing off feelings in a natural way, Which makes us relate to a few of them.
You may think that Millie is a lot, you may read that Stork is a lot, but let me tell you that Pumpkin is a lot, and I will leave it to that. 🤬
In short, it was a blast reading it and the author delivered a great story, giving us it all.
August 16, 2024
4,25/5⭐️
First of all, thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions for the ARC.
TW: alcohol consumption and references to past bullying
"Mighty Millie Novak" by Elizabeth Holden is a quick YA sapphic coming-of-age story.
I liked Millie and her relationships with the rest of the cast of characters, and I also absolutely loved all the roller derby scenes and games.
However, in the beginning, I was a bit confused during more than one scene, due to my lack of knowledge of the sport.
In general, I had a good time reading Elizabeth Holden's debut and I will definitely read her next books!
First of all, thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions for the ARC.
TW: alcohol consumption and references to past bullying
"Mighty Millie Novak" by Elizabeth Holden is a quick YA sapphic coming-of-age story.
I liked Millie and her relationships with the rest of the cast of characters, and I also absolutely loved all the roller derby scenes and games.
However, in the beginning, I was a bit confused during more than one scene, due to my lack of knowledge of the sport.
In general, I had a good time reading Elizabeth Holden's debut and I will definitely read her next books!
May 19, 2024
I wasn't too convinced about this at the beginning but I ended up really enjoying it by the end. Now it should be said this definitely reads as a very young YA or an upper-middle-grade so I am certainly not the intended audience. But I actually think some of the things I wouldn't usually like in a book worked super well when you consider who the intended audience is and likely served to make it more relatable to young teens.
Millie is young and her life is messy but it felt pretty realistic to how teenagers can get in their heads, be extremely insecure and self-involved, and we do see some growth in her character which was nice. We see the impact that the past bullying, her parent's divorce (and their inability to get along), Ben leaving and how these experiences shape the way she interacts with the world.
I didn't like Millie's friend Pumpkin, she was okay in the beginning but it went downhill from there. It really just felt like Pumpkin never actually considered Millie a real friend but more of a follower, meanwhile, Millie's mistakes were because she so badly wanted to stay friends but had no real experience navigating friendship.
I thought it was extremely rich that she called Millie selfish for not asking her about how she was feeling about her ex enough yet she hooks up with Millie's brother and expects her to be totally okay with it (The gushing about it was so EW). Like sorry it is absolutely best friend code you don't hook up with your friend's sibling (or if you do when drunk), you talk to your friend about it before pursuing an actual relationship with that sibling. Plus she was such a mean girl about Stork (which Millie was as well but she also realised the errors of her ways). I was SO happy when Millie said she was gonna end the friendship but remain on good terms with Pumpkin but it also kind of seemed like they ended up staying friends anyway?
The thing between Pumpkin and Ben also annoyed me because Millie loves her brother so much yet he selfishly starts to date her first and only friend and never even asks her how she feels about it? But somehow it's only Millie who apologises for being self-involved.
I really liked the way the Millie X Spiny situation was handled, it made me VERY uncomfortable but I think did a good job of illustrating to teenagers why they should NEVER lie about their age to hook up with someone older than her and how big the consequences of that could be.
The best part was Stork, I LOVED her so much and I wish we got more of her. She was such a darling, and I just would have adored more of her and Millie.
I think my only real criticism is that this book kinda assumed you have knowledge of roller derby which I did not. So during those scenes, I had zero idea what was happening and I still have no idea what a blocker, jammer or pivot is.
All in all, I enjoyed this much more than I expected and I think it would be a really great recommendation for 10-14-year-old readers.
Thank you to Netgally and North Star Editions for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
Millie is young and her life is messy but it felt pretty realistic to how teenagers can get in their heads, be extremely insecure and self-involved, and we do see some growth in her character which was nice. We see the impact that the past bullying, her parent's divorce (and their inability to get along), Ben leaving and how these experiences shape the way she interacts with the world.
I didn't like Millie's friend Pumpkin, she was okay in the beginning but it went downhill from there. It really just felt like Pumpkin never actually considered Millie a real friend but more of a follower, meanwhile, Millie's mistakes were because she so badly wanted to stay friends but had no real experience navigating friendship.
I thought it was extremely rich that she called Millie selfish for not asking her about how she was feeling about her ex enough yet she hooks up with Millie's brother and expects her to be totally okay with it (The gushing about it was so EW). Like sorry it is absolutely best friend code you don't hook up with your friend's sibling (or if you do when drunk), you talk to your friend about it before pursuing an actual relationship with that sibling. Plus she was such a mean girl about Stork (which Millie was as well but she also realised the errors of her ways). I was SO happy when Millie said she was gonna end the friendship but remain on good terms with Pumpkin but it also kind of seemed like they ended up staying friends anyway?
The thing between Pumpkin and Ben also annoyed me because Millie loves her brother so much yet he selfishly starts to date her first and only friend and never even asks her how she feels about it? But somehow it's only Millie who apologises for being self-involved.
I really liked the way the Millie X Spiny situation was handled, it made me VERY uncomfortable but I think did a good job of illustrating to teenagers why they should NEVER lie about their age to hook up with someone older than her and how big the consequences of that could be.
The best part was Stork, I LOVED her so much and I wish we got more of her. She was such a darling, and I just would have adored more of her and Millie.
I think my only real criticism is that this book kinda assumed you have knowledge of roller derby which I did not. So during those scenes, I had zero idea what was happening and I still have no idea what a blocker, jammer or pivot is.
All in all, I enjoyed this much more than I expected and I think it would be a really great recommendation for 10-14-year-old readers.
Thank you to Netgally and North Star Editions for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2024
🏳️🌈 Queer main character and romance
🛼 Sports story
🧻 Messy MC
💋 Rivals to lovers
Mighty Millie Novak is a YA contemporary that borders on middle grade focusing on a teenage roller derby player's growth coming up from a beginner. The story focuses on Millie- or 'Mighty' in the roller derby world. Her home life is shattered by a divorce and she finds herself getting lost in the world of Roller Derby. There, she experiences a desperate desire to succeed as a non athlete in an athletic sport, and falls for a local skater.
Millie is starting from the bottom, so the stakes of the sports element of the story are quite low- a small local tournament. Because of this, the reader gets to experience the struggles of a developing athlete VS a long term one. I also thought this was really realistic, and it reminded me of my time starting out in Roller Derby.
The book is written by a real roller derby skater, and the sport is depicted with picture perfect accuracy to the point where it may sometimes border on focusing to those who have never so much as googled it. Theres tons of references to derby culture and community- which very much exists as an insular counter culture universe..hell, some may call it a cult.
What I liked about Mighty Millie is its unwavering commitment to being a genuine YA experience written to grip teens. The character struggles, insecurities, and ways of navigating relationships are written with a teen perspective in mind. This is a sports coming of age story where the individual character interactions matter just as much as the sports themselves.
Millie is a well defined- though often frustrating character represented by her genuine lack of belief in herself, and her deep desire to be the best despite that. There are times when her very realistic relations to other characters can be borderline irritating, because her mental cycle is so often to be down on herself...but again, this is the story of someone coming into an established sport, and anyone whose ever experienced that will find it relatable.
The other characters are equally charming, though we don't learn much about them since the POV is soley focused on their relationship with Millie. I really enjoyed one of Millie's love interests Stork, who is introduced as an intimidating overachiever. Just like roller derby, this book features multiple queer characters and a queer romance arc.
Mighty Millie Novak would be a great book to pick up for you teen/tween along with a quick google search of your local junior league. Its a fun, fresh step into the unique worth of punk/queer athletes that is roller derby and hopefully will inspire some kids to check it out.
🛼 Sports story
🧻 Messy MC
💋 Rivals to lovers
Mighty Millie Novak is a YA contemporary that borders on middle grade focusing on a teenage roller derby player's growth coming up from a beginner. The story focuses on Millie- or 'Mighty' in the roller derby world. Her home life is shattered by a divorce and she finds herself getting lost in the world of Roller Derby. There, she experiences a desperate desire to succeed as a non athlete in an athletic sport, and falls for a local skater.
Millie is starting from the bottom, so the stakes of the sports element of the story are quite low- a small local tournament. Because of this, the reader gets to experience the struggles of a developing athlete VS a long term one. I also thought this was really realistic, and it reminded me of my time starting out in Roller Derby.
The book is written by a real roller derby skater, and the sport is depicted with picture perfect accuracy to the point where it may sometimes border on focusing to those who have never so much as googled it. Theres tons of references to derby culture and community- which very much exists as an insular counter culture universe..hell, some may call it a cult.
What I liked about Mighty Millie is its unwavering commitment to being a genuine YA experience written to grip teens. The character struggles, insecurities, and ways of navigating relationships are written with a teen perspective in mind. This is a sports coming of age story where the individual character interactions matter just as much as the sports themselves.
Millie is a well defined- though often frustrating character represented by her genuine lack of belief in herself, and her deep desire to be the best despite that. There are times when her very realistic relations to other characters can be borderline irritating, because her mental cycle is so often to be down on herself...but again, this is the story of someone coming into an established sport, and anyone whose ever experienced that will find it relatable.
The other characters are equally charming, though we don't learn much about them since the POV is soley focused on their relationship with Millie. I really enjoyed one of Millie's love interests Stork, who is introduced as an intimidating overachiever. Just like roller derby, this book features multiple queer characters and a queer romance arc.
Mighty Millie Novak would be a great book to pick up for you teen/tween along with a quick google search of your local junior league. Its a fun, fresh step into the unique worth of punk/queer athletes that is roller derby and hopefully will inspire some kids to check it out.
July 22, 2024
First I want to thank Elizabeth Holden and Northstar Editions for allowing me to read this masterpiece of a book!
“It was as if my brain was a snow globe, so often shaken and filled with chaos, but when I was with her, the glitter settled peacefully onto the ground, leaving me steady and clear, the best version of myself.”
I rated this novel 4.5 out of 5 stars.
What I liked about this book:
1. The characters
The characters were written in a great way! The author managed to give both the main characters and all the background characters a multi-layered personality. I can not think of any character that seemed flat in any way.
2. The character development
To be completely honest, Millie got on my nerves in the beginning. Like, yes, I get it! You were bullied a few years ago! But that shouldn’t be your only personality trait??? That being said, it got a lot better after about 40 pages. You could see the way she started working on her attitude towards life and her sport.
3. The sport
I had to look up a quick explanation video about 20 pages in because I had no idea what Roller Derby even was, but once I understood it the book seemed really realistic (from what I knew from the 3 minute video I watched)!
4. Mental Health
I think most people do not know how long mobbing can actually stick with you. The author did a great job portraying this.
5. The Roller Derby Names
They just deserve a shoutout. They were so creative.
6. The first love interest
*mild spoilers*
I am sooo glad that the first love interest did not turn out to be some jerk. I loved her during all of the book so I am glad she did not do anything weird or something.
What I did not like
1. the pace
I feel like this one was just soooo rushed! It could have easily been 50 to 100 pages longer. That way we would have seen more of the incredible tension the two mcs had! This way we got to spend more time seeing Mighty obsess over her crush instead of Stork.
Overall I can just say: I LOVED THIS!!! I loved this so much that I wish there was more of it!
You can find this review on StoryGraph, NetGalley and on Goodreads, where you can also find all the quotes I highlighted!
“It was as if my brain was a snow globe, so often shaken and filled with chaos, but when I was with her, the glitter settled peacefully onto the ground, leaving me steady and clear, the best version of myself.”
I rated this novel 4.5 out of 5 stars.
What I liked about this book:
1. The characters
The characters were written in a great way! The author managed to give both the main characters and all the background characters a multi-layered personality. I can not think of any character that seemed flat in any way.
2. The character development
To be completely honest, Millie got on my nerves in the beginning. Like, yes, I get it! You were bullied a few years ago! But that shouldn’t be your only personality trait??? That being said, it got a lot better after about 40 pages. You could see the way she started working on her attitude towards life and her sport.
3. The sport
I had to look up a quick explanation video about 20 pages in because I had no idea what Roller Derby even was, but once I understood it the book seemed really realistic (from what I knew from the 3 minute video I watched)!
4. Mental Health
I think most people do not know how long mobbing can actually stick with you. The author did a great job portraying this.
5. The Roller Derby Names
They just deserve a shoutout. They were so creative.
6. The first love interest
*mild spoilers*
I am sooo glad that the first love interest did not turn out to be some jerk. I loved her during all of the book so I am glad she did not do anything weird or something.
What I did not like
1. the pace
I feel like this one was just soooo rushed! It could have easily been 50 to 100 pages longer. That way we would have seen more of the incredible tension the two mcs had! This way we got to spend more time seeing Mighty obsess over her crush instead of Stork.
Overall I can just say: I LOVED THIS!!! I loved this so much that I wish there was more of it!
You can find this review on StoryGraph, NetGalley and on Goodreads, where you can also find all the quotes I highlighted!
March 1, 2024
{3,5 stars}
Mighty Millie Novak was such a comforting and sweet read. It follows Millie's passion for roller derby and her struggles with making friends due to the fact that she is homeschooled.
I found that Millie was such a good written character. Her personality was complex, and the book showcased not only her good attributes, but her flaws too, which she overcomes slowly through the whole book. Millie was not the only good character written, though. I usually find it hard to discover books that have only complex characters, because, sadly, most of them have plain personalities. I can surely assure you that every single character, even the coaches, were so well-written I was actually surprised. This made me love every single one of them, even if some had more flaws than others.
I read this book in one sitting because it was so intriguing. It had funny moments that left me smiling and laughing at how well the characters were interacting with each other, such as:
"Sounds like fun."
"He rolled his eyes. " If you're angling for an invitation, Millie, Just say so."
"I'm angling for an invitation."
"Okay, fine, you can come."
I grinned. "Yesss."
And it also had bitter and eye-opening moments, that can make readers relate to Millie even more like:
"You try to be everything to everyone, because all you want is for people to like you."
The romance in this book was so pleasant, and it was so realistic I could see myself as Millie in every one of her anxiety-filled thoughts about relationships. I was glad that every aspect that might come of as uncomfortable related to some of the romance wasn't left unaddressed, and it was extremely interesting to read about relationships being challenged and questioned when it's obvious that the differences are too significant to ignore.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and also North Star Edition for giving me the opportunity to read this great book in advance!
My review is published on my Goodreads account, and I provided the link here.<3
Mighty Millie Novak was such a comforting and sweet read. It follows Millie's passion for roller derby and her struggles with making friends due to the fact that she is homeschooled.
I found that Millie was such a good written character. Her personality was complex, and the book showcased not only her good attributes, but her flaws too, which she overcomes slowly through the whole book. Millie was not the only good character written, though. I usually find it hard to discover books that have only complex characters, because, sadly, most of them have plain personalities. I can surely assure you that every single character, even the coaches, were so well-written I was actually surprised. This made me love every single one of them, even if some had more flaws than others.
I read this book in one sitting because it was so intriguing. It had funny moments that left me smiling and laughing at how well the characters were interacting with each other, such as:
"Sounds like fun."
"He rolled his eyes. " If you're angling for an invitation, Millie, Just say so."
"I'm angling for an invitation."
"Okay, fine, you can come."
I grinned. "Yesss."
And it also had bitter and eye-opening moments, that can make readers relate to Millie even more like:
"You try to be everything to everyone, because all you want is for people to like you."
The romance in this book was so pleasant, and it was so realistic I could see myself as Millie in every one of her anxiety-filled thoughts about relationships. I was glad that every aspect that might come of as uncomfortable related to some of the romance wasn't left unaddressed, and it was extremely interesting to read about relationships being challenged and questioned when it's obvious that the differences are too significant to ignore.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and also North Star Edition for giving me the opportunity to read this great book in advance!
My review is published on my Goodreads account, and I provided the link here.<3
March 1, 2024
{3,5 stars}
Mighty Millie Novak was such a comforting and sweet read. It follows Millie's passion for roller derby and her struggles with making friends due to the fact that she is homeschooled.
I found that Millie was such a good written character. Her personality was complex, and the book showcased not only her good attributes, but her flaws too, which she overcomes slowly through the whole book. Millie was not the only good character written, though. I usually find it hard to discover books that have only complex characters, because, sadly, most of them have plain personalities. I can surely assure you that every single character, even the coaches, were so well-written I was actually surprised. This made me love every single one of them, even if some had more flaws than others.
I read this book in one sitting because it was so intriguing. It had funny moments that left me smiling and laughing at how well the characters were interacting with each other, such as:
"Sounds like fun."
"He rolled his eyes. " If you're angling for an invitation, Millie, Just say so."
"I'm angling for an invitation."
"Okay, fine, you can come."
I grinned. "Yesss."
And it also had bitter and eye-opening moments, that can make readers relate to Millie even more like:
"You try to be everything to everyone, because all you want is for people to like you."
The romance in this book was so pleasant, and it was so realistic I could see myself as Millie in every one of her anxiety-filled thoughts about relationships. I was glad that every aspect that might come of as uncomfortable related to some of the romance wasn't left unaddressed, and it was extremely interesting to read about relationships being challenged and questioned when it's obvious that the differences are too significant to ignore.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and also North Star Edition for giving me the opportunity to read this great book in advance!
Mighty Millie Novak was such a comforting and sweet read. It follows Millie's passion for roller derby and her struggles with making friends due to the fact that she is homeschooled.
I found that Millie was such a good written character. Her personality was complex, and the book showcased not only her good attributes, but her flaws too, which she overcomes slowly through the whole book. Millie was not the only good character written, though. I usually find it hard to discover books that have only complex characters, because, sadly, most of them have plain personalities. I can surely assure you that every single character, even the coaches, were so well-written I was actually surprised. This made me love every single one of them, even if some had more flaws than others.
I read this book in one sitting because it was so intriguing. It had funny moments that left me smiling and laughing at how well the characters were interacting with each other, such as:
"Sounds like fun."
"He rolled his eyes. " If you're angling for an invitation, Millie, Just say so."
"I'm angling for an invitation."
"Okay, fine, you can come."
I grinned. "Yesss."
And it also had bitter and eye-opening moments, that can make readers relate to Millie even more like:
"You try to be everything to everyone, because all you want is for people to like you."
The romance in this book was so pleasant, and it was so realistic I could see myself as Millie in every one of her anxiety-filled thoughts about relationships. I was glad that every aspect that might come of as uncomfortable related to some of the romance wasn't left unaddressed, and it was extremely interesting to read about relationships being challenged and questioned when it's obvious that the differences are too significant to ignore.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and also North Star Edition for giving me the opportunity to read this great book in advance!
May 11, 2024
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First, thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions for providing an arc of the book. This book was released on 20th August 2024.
“Mighty Millie Novak” by Elizabeth Holden offers a compelling exploration of adolescence, identity, and the pursuit of dreams amidst the backdrop of roller derby and teenage romance. Through the lens of protagonist Millie Novak, readers are immersed in a world where social anxiety, parental divorce, and complex friendships shape her journey of self-discovery. As Millie navigates the challenges of reinvention and the pitfalls of deceit, Holden crafts a captivating narrative that delves into the nuances of love, loyalty, and the quest for acceptance.
This book does a fantastic job of showing Millie’s growth; she acts like a teenager. She receives home education, and her anguish at being alone herself is quite real. I enjoyed how it brought to mind the stories I read in school, where the protagonists are egocentric and narrow-minded but yet open to change and development. They also don’t like grownups. All the same, I was a huge fan of Stork as soon as I laid eyes on her on these pages. It was also in this book that I learned a lot about roller derby. I was just vaguely aware that people skated and shoved each other, but learning more about it has expanded my knowledge.
For anybody looking for a moving and thought-provoking reading experience, “Mighty Millie Novak” is a must-read because of its compelling characters and captivating writing. I believe the author does a fantastic job of giving these people a genuine sense. One of my main complaints about some of the novels I read is that. This book’s romance was so delightful and realistic that I could identify with Millie in all of her relationship-related worries.
First, thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions for providing an arc of the book. This book was released on 20th August 2024.
“Mighty Millie Novak” by Elizabeth Holden offers a compelling exploration of adolescence, identity, and the pursuit of dreams amidst the backdrop of roller derby and teenage romance. Through the lens of protagonist Millie Novak, readers are immersed in a world where social anxiety, parental divorce, and complex friendships shape her journey of self-discovery. As Millie navigates the challenges of reinvention and the pitfalls of deceit, Holden crafts a captivating narrative that delves into the nuances of love, loyalty, and the quest for acceptance.
This book does a fantastic job of showing Millie’s growth; she acts like a teenager. She receives home education, and her anguish at being alone herself is quite real. I enjoyed how it brought to mind the stories I read in school, where the protagonists are egocentric and narrow-minded but yet open to change and development. They also don’t like grownups. All the same, I was a huge fan of Stork as soon as I laid eyes on her on these pages. It was also in this book that I learned a lot about roller derby. I was just vaguely aware that people skated and shoved each other, but learning more about it has expanded my knowledge.
For anybody looking for a moving and thought-provoking reading experience, “Mighty Millie Novak” is a must-read because of its compelling characters and captivating writing. I believe the author does a fantastic job of giving these people a genuine sense. One of my main complaints about some of the novels I read is that. This book’s romance was so delightful and realistic that I could identify with Millie in all of her relationship-related worries.
March 13, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc of this!
4.5/5 Stars in total.
Millie Novak has always felt like an outsider. She doesn't go to school and when she did, she didn't have many friends. Her parents are freshly divorced and even though she's almost 16 she's never been to a party or had a relationship. Roller Derby is her one chance to connect with people and do something cool, but she still can't seem to connect and keep up with everyone.
Just as referenced in the book I also watched "Whip it" pretty young and then got into roller skating, not derby sadly, but I've tried pretty much every form of skating from quads to inliners and boards. So seeing this beautiful cover and reading the blurb about a fun, messy ya sports story about a queer Roller Derby girl, I immediately fell in love. This book feels exactly like the training montage in a lot of parts, giving you that gratifying feeling of Millie's growth. It is also painfully realistic to the existence of being a lonely teenage girl. I'm probably not the only one who will be able to heavily relate to Millie's voice because she is such a perfect representation of what it's like to be a teenager with all it's messy, sad, happy, exhausting and terrifying moments. I'm very vocal about hating few things more than a Mary Sue, and not just Millie, but pretty much every character in this book is the opposite of a Mary Sue.
The romance was also very sweet and even if I would've loved a little more of it, I did love the pieces we got and thought it was a cute, realistic development. All together, the only reason I'm not giving a full 5 stars is because there was just something missing in making the book more than a fun quick read. Though, it is something I see myself revisiting for a pick me up, and I will definitely be buying a physical version once the book is finally out!
4.5/5 Stars in total.
Millie Novak has always felt like an outsider. She doesn't go to school and when she did, she didn't have many friends. Her parents are freshly divorced and even though she's almost 16 she's never been to a party or had a relationship. Roller Derby is her one chance to connect with people and do something cool, but she still can't seem to connect and keep up with everyone.
Just as referenced in the book I also watched "Whip it" pretty young and then got into roller skating, not derby sadly, but I've tried pretty much every form of skating from quads to inliners and boards. So seeing this beautiful cover and reading the blurb about a fun, messy ya sports story about a queer Roller Derby girl, I immediately fell in love. This book feels exactly like the training montage in a lot of parts, giving you that gratifying feeling of Millie's growth. It is also painfully realistic to the existence of being a lonely teenage girl. I'm probably not the only one who will be able to heavily relate to Millie's voice because she is such a perfect representation of what it's like to be a teenager with all it's messy, sad, happy, exhausting and terrifying moments. I'm very vocal about hating few things more than a Mary Sue, and not just Millie, but pretty much every character in this book is the opposite of a Mary Sue.
The romance was also very sweet and even if I would've loved a little more of it, I did love the pieces we got and thought it was a cute, realistic development. All together, the only reason I'm not giving a full 5 stars is because there was just something missing in making the book more than a fun quick read. Though, it is something I see myself revisiting for a pick me up, and I will definitely be buying a physical version once the book is finally out!
December 28, 2024
This is a very charming and funny book, and I'm glad Millie's unhinged lying behavior caught up with her in a real way eventually and someone gave her an appropriate talking to for pretending to be older than her actual age, because I've read other books where similar things happened and there was no reckoning with what that could do to the other person involved. I also liked the complicated relationship between her and Pumpkin, and her recognition of the way she had unfairly sidelined the rest of her derby team by assuming they thought they were too good for her when they had never indicated anything of the sort. It's nice to read something like this with such a flawed protagonist who gets called out for her behavior and is held accountable.
but I didn't love the romance, either for Millie or for her brother. It all felt kind of shoehorned in and not earned. Stork deserved better tbh. This is my issue with most rom coms, in book and movie form. I rarely believe the chemistry between the central couple and their love seems to come out of nowhere, so I don't care. I think I would have preferred it if this were just a book about an anxiety-ridden mess of a teenager who compulsively lies to cope with her low self-esteem and slowly but surely learns to value herself and the people around her, minus the romance, with more focus on friendships and familial relationships. I understand that that's not what the book is trying to be, but it would have worked better for me.
That said, I am still giving it 4 stars because it was a fun read and I finished it in one afternoon/evening, and I did enjoy it. It's a feat to make a character like Millie genuinely likable and to make the reader root for her despite all the weird and terrible things she does.
but I didn't love the romance, either for Millie or for her brother. It all felt kind of shoehorned in and not earned. Stork deserved better tbh. This is my issue with most rom coms, in book and movie form. I rarely believe the chemistry between the central couple and their love seems to come out of nowhere, so I don't care. I think I would have preferred it if this were just a book about an anxiety-ridden mess of a teenager who compulsively lies to cope with her low self-esteem and slowly but surely learns to value herself and the people around her, minus the romance, with more focus on friendships and familial relationships. I understand that that's not what the book is trying to be, but it would have worked better for me.
That said, I am still giving it 4 stars because it was a fun read and I finished it in one afternoon/evening, and I did enjoy it. It's a feat to make a character like Millie genuinely likable and to make the reader root for her despite all the weird and terrible things she does.
August 20, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a free review.
This was such a nice and refreshing book!
Mighty was definitely a tiny bit annyoying at first, with her self-hatred and comments she made about herself. But the way she grew from it and started to realize that she can be good at things...
What definitely set this book apart from others where the main character gets tangled into their own lies, is the character growth and Mighty's self-awareness. She knows that her lies, ones that she previously said without thinking about the consequences, are bad and she also knows that the longer she keeps it up, it's going to be just worse as time passes by. Mighty's aware as she overcomes her insecurities, that she needs to do something to make things right - and she does! I loved the fact that she decided to just communicate her worries about various things that were on her mind, from the try-out laps to the lie she told Spiny. She was also not afraid to apologize for her mistakes and that was honestly so nice to see (especially in a book targeted to teens).
Another thing I liked was the sense of community and friendship around the team, especially the characters closest to Mighty. I loved how her relationship with Stork progressed from the kind of annoyance and jealousy to a wonderful bond. Mighty's relationships with Pumpkin, Stork, her other teammates and her family were all nicely complex and felt so natural, while not taking away from the plot too much.
The pacing was fine too, only sometimes it felt a bit slow, but I don't think it took too much away from my reading.
This was such a nice and refreshing book!
Mighty was definitely a tiny bit annyoying at first, with her self-hatred and comments she made about herself. But the way she grew from it and started to realize that she can be good at things...
What definitely set this book apart from others where the main character gets tangled into their own lies, is the character growth and Mighty's self-awareness. She knows that her lies, ones that she previously said without thinking about the consequences, are bad and she also knows that the longer she keeps it up, it's going to be just worse as time passes by. Mighty's aware as she overcomes her insecurities, that she needs to do something to make things right - and she does! I loved the fact that she decided to just communicate her worries about various things that were on her mind, from the try-out laps to the lie she told Spiny. She was also not afraid to apologize for her mistakes and that was honestly so nice to see (especially in a book targeted to teens).
Another thing I liked was the sense of community and friendship around the team, especially the characters closest to Mighty. I loved how her relationship with Stork progressed from the kind of annoyance and jealousy to a wonderful bond. Mighty's relationships with Pumpkin, Stork, her other teammates and her family were all nicely complex and felt so natural, while not taking away from the plot too much.
The pacing was fine too, only sometimes it felt a bit slow, but I don't think it took too much away from my reading.
September 3, 2024
4/5
Millie (Mighty) is struggling. Social anxiety is something very hard in itself, wihout adding her parents arguments and finally divorce to the mix. Moreover, her brother -someone she is very close to- moves to college. It is mentioned that she attends virtual high school in order to avoid bullying at middle school. All this results in a comprehensible state of deep loneliness. Her parents insist that she joins some kind of activity to socialize and she joins roller derby, where Millie happens to find her community. She doesn't value the real worth of it at first (of course, she is a self-centered/selfish teenage with a lot on her plate), and that's what the novel explores: Millie's evolution, her finding friends, purpose, confidence and eventually love, but mainly a world of her own. This doesn't happen overnight, of course, but Holden takes us along a nice path keeping Millie company.
I loved the book. A snarky main character who resorts to self-deprecatory comments to protect herself, secondary characters that help frame a story one can relate to, one can believe, and a solid plot. Narrated in first person with inner thoughts that complete the narration, easy to follow. A captivating read, which is very nice, and it leaves a good taste. Last but not least, it is interesting as well to get to see the inside of roller derby. I recommend it 100%.
"It was only as I walked away that I realized Stork had called me her friend. I had felt a camaraderie with her as a teammate, but I had never considered whether she was a friend. A small, warm glow rose in my chest as I walked through the parking lot."
Happy reading!
Millie (Mighty) is struggling. Social anxiety is something very hard in itself, wihout adding her parents arguments and finally divorce to the mix. Moreover, her brother -someone she is very close to- moves to college. It is mentioned that she attends virtual high school in order to avoid bullying at middle school. All this results in a comprehensible state of deep loneliness. Her parents insist that she joins some kind of activity to socialize and she joins roller derby, where Millie happens to find her community. She doesn't value the real worth of it at first (of course, she is a self-centered/selfish teenage with a lot on her plate), and that's what the novel explores: Millie's evolution, her finding friends, purpose, confidence and eventually love, but mainly a world of her own. This doesn't happen overnight, of course, but Holden takes us along a nice path keeping Millie company.
I loved the book. A snarky main character who resorts to self-deprecatory comments to protect herself, secondary characters that help frame a story one can relate to, one can believe, and a solid plot. Narrated in first person with inner thoughts that complete the narration, easy to follow. A captivating read, which is very nice, and it leaves a good taste. Last but not least, it is interesting as well to get to see the inside of roller derby. I recommend it 100%.
"It was only as I walked away that I realized Stork had called me her friend. I had felt a camaraderie with her as a teammate, but I had never considered whether she was a friend. A small, warm glow rose in my chest as I walked through the parking lot."
Happy reading!
July 2, 2024
A messy queer girl digs deep into roller derby in this lighthearted novel that hits on some serious core beliefs.
Millie "Dino Might" Novak has leveled up her roller derby skills enough to join the Juniors team right as her parents are going through a divorce. Mighty has a history of being bullied so she does online school and finds herself forging a friendship with teammate Pumpkin. Mighty also develops a crush on a charter league player while slowly becoming friends with an intensely focused teammate named Stork.
Mighty is super flawed and very obviously 15-16. She's kind of self-centered, lies about her age to her crush, and self-deprecating with humor but takes it too far. That said, she gets called out on all of it and *slowly* makes changes to be a better person. There are some hard-hitting observations Mighty makes that really resonated with me throughout that made Mighty pretty likeable overall (unlike Pumpkin, who was annoying throughout and doesn't have the excuse of being as young).
The roller derby aspects were absolutely fantastic! The story is built around the sport and explains it in a way that isn't info dumping while also not assuming the reader is clueless. I loved all the derby names.
If you're generally familiar with YA books, this queer joy novel is a wonderful addition to the shelves.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
Millie "Dino Might" Novak has leveled up her roller derby skills enough to join the Juniors team right as her parents are going through a divorce. Mighty has a history of being bullied so she does online school and finds herself forging a friendship with teammate Pumpkin. Mighty also develops a crush on a charter league player while slowly becoming friends with an intensely focused teammate named Stork.
Mighty is super flawed and very obviously 15-16. She's kind of self-centered, lies about her age to her crush, and self-deprecating with humor but takes it too far. That said, she gets called out on all of it and *slowly* makes changes to be a better person. There are some hard-hitting observations Mighty makes that really resonated with me throughout that made Mighty pretty likeable overall (unlike Pumpkin, who was annoying throughout and doesn't have the excuse of being as young).
The roller derby aspects were absolutely fantastic! The story is built around the sport and explains it in a way that isn't info dumping while also not assuming the reader is clueless. I loved all the derby names.
If you're generally familiar with YA books, this queer joy novel is a wonderful addition to the shelves.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
June 25, 2024
~~Thank you to Edelweiss and North Star Editions for the ARC!~~
This book was cute for some parts, but it had had me cringing, as well.
Not in the "Ugh, teenagers are so cringe" sort of way (Most of what I read is YA; of course, there are gonna be cringy teens in the things I read), but because Millie painfully reminded me of myself when I was her age. Reading of Millie's self-deprecation and her desperation of social approval just made me want to just curl into myself so badly. I have no doubt the teens this book is aimed at would love/appreciate this realistic rep of themselves, but the way this hit for me was too close to home.
Other than that, I'd say this is a good book. I never was a derby fan, but I liked learning about it through this book. I can't attest to the accuracy, but I can say its depiction here was entertaining and written very well. The side characters also had strong personalities and presence. I wish less time was spent on the crush and more on bonding the team members, especially Stork, because it only really came at the end once Millie overcame some insecurities. I also really liked how queerness was at the center of the story. There are passing mentions of homophobia, but it's never the main conflict in the story, which I really liked.
Overall, this was a good read. I wish I liked it more, but I can still appreciate what's given here.
This book was cute for some parts, but it had had me cringing, as well.
Not in the "Ugh, teenagers are so cringe" sort of way (Most of what I read is YA; of course, there are gonna be cringy teens in the things I read), but because Millie painfully reminded me of myself when I was her age. Reading of Millie's self-deprecation and her desperation of social approval just made me want to just curl into myself so badly. I have no doubt the teens this book is aimed at would love/appreciate this realistic rep of themselves, but the way this hit for me was too close to home.
Other than that, I'd say this is a good book. I never was a derby fan, but I liked learning about it through this book. I can't attest to the accuracy, but I can say its depiction here was entertaining and written very well. The side characters also had strong personalities and presence. I wish less time was spent on the crush and more on bonding the team members, especially Stork, because it only really came at the end once Millie overcame some insecurities. I also really liked how queerness was at the center of the story. There are passing mentions of homophobia, but it's never the main conflict in the story, which I really liked.
Overall, this was a good read. I wish I liked it more, but I can still appreciate what's given here.
February 26, 2024
The Mighty Millie Novak excellently fills a derby-skate shaped hole in the YA genre! Author Elizabeth Holden is dually talented in both writing and roller derby—and both are made crystal clear in this book.
Millie, our anxiety-filled protagonist, explores her growing love for roller derby as she tries to get out of her shell, develops crushes and schemes for love, all while dealing with her parents’ divorce. In the process, she grows as both a person and a skater.
As a derby fiancé, I am familiar with roller derby and its rules, but I don’t skate myself. I loved how easy the book was to follow, and the clear depictions of how roller derby is played made this book a great read for anyone who isn’t familiar with roller derby.
For those who are familiar with roller derby, have friends who play, or anyone who skates themselves will be able to see and relate to the characters in this book. I saw the way my Derby fiancé (J. Jonah Jammerson of Demolition City) has talked about derby and being on a team reflected in Millie and her teammates throughout the book.
I’m so happy I had to opportunity to read this book, and I cannot wait to recommend it to skaters and non-skaters alike!
Millie, our anxiety-filled protagonist, explores her growing love for roller derby as she tries to get out of her shell, develops crushes and schemes for love, all while dealing with her parents’ divorce. In the process, she grows as both a person and a skater.
As a derby fiancé, I am familiar with roller derby and its rules, but I don’t skate myself. I loved how easy the book was to follow, and the clear depictions of how roller derby is played made this book a great read for anyone who isn’t familiar with roller derby.
For those who are familiar with roller derby, have friends who play, or anyone who skates themselves will be able to see and relate to the characters in this book. I saw the way my Derby fiancé (J. Jonah Jammerson of Demolition City) has talked about derby and being on a team reflected in Millie and her teammates throughout the book.
I’m so happy I had to opportunity to read this book, and I cannot wait to recommend it to skaters and non-skaters alike!
March 6, 2024
Thank you to Flux and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book.
I don't know where to begin other than, I loved this!
Mighty Millie Novak is a contemporary YA fiction book with a little something for everyone. Athletics, friendship, queerness, family dynamics - the list goes on.
Elizabeth Holden gives readers a front row seat to the world of roller derby. I don't have a lot of knowledge of roller derby, other than Whip It, but I found myself cheering for these fictional characters and their accomplishments, getting excited when the team scored. I can only imagine how exciting this sport must be in real life!
Mighty is a flawed protagonist, but at her core, still likeable and I couldn't help rooting for her. She isn't perfect and that's part of what allows her to "grow" on the reader as the story progresses.
At the end of the book, I found myself thinking about things I was afraid of. Like Mighty, I like staying where I feel comfortable - not branching out too far into the unknown. Now, I'm actually thinking about starting inline skating again. It's something I've been terrified of because it's been over a decade since I've been in skates, but I'm feeling inspired.
I don't know where to begin other than, I loved this!
Mighty Millie Novak is a contemporary YA fiction book with a little something for everyone. Athletics, friendship, queerness, family dynamics - the list goes on.
Elizabeth Holden gives readers a front row seat to the world of roller derby. I don't have a lot of knowledge of roller derby, other than Whip It, but I found myself cheering for these fictional characters and their accomplishments, getting excited when the team scored. I can only imagine how exciting this sport must be in real life!
Mighty is a flawed protagonist, but at her core, still likeable and I couldn't help rooting for her. She isn't perfect and that's part of what allows her to "grow" on the reader as the story progresses.
At the end of the book, I found myself thinking about things I was afraid of. Like Mighty, I like staying where I feel comfortable - not branching out too far into the unknown. Now, I'm actually thinking about starting inline skating again. It's something I've been terrified of because it's been over a decade since I've been in skates, but I'm feeling inspired.
March 24, 2024
Mighty Millie Novak is a YA Contemporary novel that has me wanting to buy some skates and join a roller derby league. The sport feels so badass, and even though I know nothing about it, I was able to follow the sport scenes easily.
Millie is a well written character. She has many strengths and flaws. I found myself annoyed by her self deprecation and sarcasm at times, but I loved the way other characters called her on it. There is a great reason/backstory behind it and I loved the way she slowly and realistically worked to combat her instinct to crap all over herself.
Along this line, I loved the way all the characters were written. They felt fleshed out and real with their own struggles and desires. I loved the love interest from the very beginning and the way their friendship developed.
Without getting into spoilers, Millie had a great arc and I loved the way the novel ended. I was so happy seeing how far she came and how much she grew.
This is definitely a great read that I recommend for anyone who loves a great sapphic sports romance.
Publication date: August 20th 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Millie is a well written character. She has many strengths and flaws. I found myself annoyed by her self deprecation and sarcasm at times, but I loved the way other characters called her on it. There is a great reason/backstory behind it and I loved the way she slowly and realistically worked to combat her instinct to crap all over herself.
Along this line, I loved the way all the characters were written. They felt fleshed out and real with their own struggles and desires. I loved the love interest from the very beginning and the way their friendship developed.
Without getting into spoilers, Millie had a great arc and I loved the way the novel ended. I was so happy seeing how far she came and how much she grew.
This is definitely a great read that I recommend for anyone who loves a great sapphic sports romance.
Publication date: August 20th 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2024
Mighty Millie Novak by Elizabeth Holden is a sweet YA novel following a queer teen girl trying to find her place both in the world at large and on her roller derby team, and maybe finding some love along the way.
Millie has been home schooled since middle school, her parents are going through an overdue split, and her beloved older brother *just* went off to college so it's totally understandable that she feels a bit adrift at the start of this book.
I saw myself in her a lot; we're both solidly built, we both have anxiety, and we're both queer. And gosh, I feel like everyone feels out of place when they're an adolescent. She's totally relatable.
Mille's roller derby teammates are great! There's a lot of diversity on the squad, which is always great to see. Derby names are some of the best parts of the sport, in my opinion, and we have gems here such as Ann Archy and Impaylor Swift.
I was rooting for Millie the whole way through this book. It's hard growing up and figuring out self-confidence! Especially if you weren't really socialized due to being homeschooled. This is a wonderful coming-of-age story with a diverse cast of quirky characters and a steady plot.
I received a copy of this book to review. Thank you to North Star Editions and Pride Book Tours for the complimentary eARC. All opinions contained herein are my own. Mighty Millie Novak releases on August 20th.
Millie has been home schooled since middle school, her parents are going through an overdue split, and her beloved older brother *just* went off to college so it's totally understandable that she feels a bit adrift at the start of this book.
I saw myself in her a lot; we're both solidly built, we both have anxiety, and we're both queer. And gosh, I feel like everyone feels out of place when they're an adolescent. She's totally relatable.
Mille's roller derby teammates are great! There's a lot of diversity on the squad, which is always great to see. Derby names are some of the best parts of the sport, in my opinion, and we have gems here such as Ann Archy and Impaylor Swift.
I was rooting for Millie the whole way through this book. It's hard growing up and figuring out self-confidence! Especially if you weren't really socialized due to being homeschooled. This is a wonderful coming-of-age story with a diverse cast of quirky characters and a steady plot.
I received a copy of this book to review. Thank you to North Star Editions and Pride Book Tours for the complimentary eARC. All opinions contained herein are my own. Mighty Millie Novak releases on August 20th.
March 20, 2024
Mighty Millie Novak- 3.5 Stars.
I received this book as an ARC via Netgalley. This reveiw is being published on 03/20/204; however, the final copy of the book will not be published until later this year. Mighty Millie Novak is a good coming of age novel that depicts Millie's adventures in Roller Derby, Girl Crushes, and being a child of divorce. I really loved the accurate roller deby depictions and will definitely reccomend this novel to my friends interested in the sport. I feel like the author does a great job introducing and explaining roller derby without making the reader feel like the information is being shoved in their faces. Alternatively, I feel like the storyline moved very slowly. For the first 10 or so chapters, not much happens and I feel like there could have been more there. Overall, I do think it's a good book and will reccomend it, but patience is needed in the exposition. Again, the derby depictions are spot on as well as the depicitions of a girl figuring out her girl crushes and how to navigate her parent's divorce. Interested to see what Elizabeth Holden writes in the future and hope for more sapphic derby content.
I received this book as an ARC via Netgalley. This reveiw is being published on 03/20/204; however, the final copy of the book will not be published until later this year. Mighty Millie Novak is a good coming of age novel that depicts Millie's adventures in Roller Derby, Girl Crushes, and being a child of divorce. I really loved the accurate roller deby depictions and will definitely reccomend this novel to my friends interested in the sport. I feel like the author does a great job introducing and explaining roller derby without making the reader feel like the information is being shoved in their faces. Alternatively, I feel like the storyline moved very slowly. For the first 10 or so chapters, not much happens and I feel like there could have been more there. Overall, I do think it's a good book and will reccomend it, but patience is needed in the exposition. Again, the derby depictions are spot on as well as the depicitions of a girl figuring out her girl crushes and how to navigate her parent's divorce. Interested to see what Elizabeth Holden writes in the future and hope for more sapphic derby content.
April 10, 2024
This book was sent to me by Net Galley for an honest review.
To start off, I know absolutely nothing about roller derby. It was really fun to learn about a different sport and there wasn't one moment where I was confused about what was happening. I also feel like the premise of roller derby isn't used very often in any books I have read, so it was refreshing to read something new in that respect.
I'm not going to spoil anything, but the plot is predictable, but not in a bad way. Although you can pretty much guess what happens, the author really pulls you into the story. I found myself genuinely loving (and getting very mad at) the characters.
Millie frustrated me at times, but I think it's because I saw so much of myself in her. We all try to fit in, and the ways that we try don't always work or aren't healthy for us. I relate to Millie's lies because I used to do that (and sometimes still do) when I was her age. But it was really nice to see her growth as a character, and by the end, I was team Millie all the way!
I think the author does a really good job of making these characters feel real. That's one of the biggest gripes I have with some of the books I read---if the characters don't feel real to me then I can't be as invested in the story. I was absolutely invested I this one.
This book is just downright enjoyable. It held my interest the entire time I was reading it. I think it's the perfect book to take to the beach as a vacation read. It's simple, real, and full of heart!
To start off, I know absolutely nothing about roller derby. It was really fun to learn about a different sport and there wasn't one moment where I was confused about what was happening. I also feel like the premise of roller derby isn't used very often in any books I have read, so it was refreshing to read something new in that respect.
I'm not going to spoil anything, but the plot is predictable, but not in a bad way. Although you can pretty much guess what happens, the author really pulls you into the story. I found myself genuinely loving (and getting very mad at) the characters.
Millie frustrated me at times, but I think it's because I saw so much of myself in her. We all try to fit in, and the ways that we try don't always work or aren't healthy for us. I relate to Millie's lies because I used to do that (and sometimes still do) when I was her age. But it was really nice to see her growth as a character, and by the end, I was team Millie all the way!
I think the author does a really good job of making these characters feel real. That's one of the biggest gripes I have with some of the books I read---if the characters don't feel real to me then I can't be as invested in the story. I was absolutely invested I this one.
This book is just downright enjoyable. It held my interest the entire time I was reading it. I think it's the perfect book to take to the beach as a vacation read. It's simple, real, and full of heart!
February 1, 2025
Remember in high school when you were sooooo self-centered that everything felt, like, ridiculously important? Then you will DEFINITELY have empathy for the heartbreakingly awkward Millie Novak. This YA book is so messy and a little angsty, and I couldn't put it down.
Millie is homeschooled, friendless, and largely left to her own devices by her family when she tries out for her local roller derby team. She is so anxious her first few months that it's hard for her to take a compliment, let alone hold a conversation or make a friend. And everything feels so CRUCIAL to Millie. If she makes a comment, she worries it was the wrong one. She badly wants to cling to her only friend, who seems at times only mildly interested in her.
But it also seems like, as the book goes on, Millie is not the most reliable narrator. Her perception of her place on the team, her teammates interests, her family dynamic, and even her own love life are not accurate. She is lucky to make a true friend (and then some) in the equally awkward Stork, who is also using roller derby as an escape.
Heartbreakingly cringe at times (in a super relatable way), I read this in one day.
Millie is homeschooled, friendless, and largely left to her own devices by her family when she tries out for her local roller derby team. She is so anxious her first few months that it's hard for her to take a compliment, let alone hold a conversation or make a friend. And everything feels so CRUCIAL to Millie. If she makes a comment, she worries it was the wrong one. She badly wants to cling to her only friend, who seems at times only mildly interested in her.
But it also seems like, as the book goes on, Millie is not the most reliable narrator. Her perception of her place on the team, her teammates interests, her family dynamic, and even her own love life are not accurate. She is lucky to make a true friend (and then some) in the equally awkward Stork, who is also using roller derby as an escape.
Heartbreakingly cringe at times (in a super relatable way), I read this in one day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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