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Alondra
A contemporary YA debut from award-winning playwright Gina Femia, Alondra is a coming-of-age story of friendship and romance, about a bisexual teen girl and her friends wrestling their way through the summer--sometimes on the playgrounds of Coney Island, sometimes with their feelings and at home.
Sixteen-year-old Alonda loves professional wrestling. So when she meets a group of teens with aspirations of wrestling fame in her Coney Island neighborhood, she couldn’t be happier. So as the ragtag team works to put on a show to remember, Alonda sheds her old self behind and becomes Alondra ―the Fearless One. But with her conflicting feelings for King, the handsome leader of their group, and Lexi, the girl with the beautiful smile, Alonda has to ask herself: can she be as fearless outside of the ring as she is inside it?
Sixteen-year-old Alonda loves professional wrestling. So when she meets a group of teens with aspirations of wrestling fame in her Coney Island neighborhood, she couldn’t be happier. So as the ragtag team works to put on a show to remember, Alonda sheds her old self behind and becomes Alondra ―the Fearless One. But with her conflicting feelings for King, the handsome leader of their group, and Lexi, the girl with the beautiful smile, Alonda has to ask herself: can she be as fearless outside of the ring as she is inside it?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 18, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 17, 2023
This was a fun YA summer romance featuring a bisexual teen girl who loves wrestling and finds a group of like-minded friends in her Coney Island neighborhood. Good on audio and recommended for fans of books like Tumble by Celia C. Perez.
August 25, 2024
3.75 stars! I enjoyed this a lot more than I anticipated, which is great, since this has been on my TBR for a couple years. Though, the 3.75 instead of a 4.0 comes from the side characters not being as strong(and this is a character-focused contemporary with little plot), along with some of the dialogue feeling long-winded(it’s a little too accurate to actual conversation, probably due to this story’s original play format).
(And to those noticing the character’s name is slightly different than the one on the cover, there’s a really great explanation for it! Don’t worry.)
But Alonda felt like an actual teenager, and her friend group was fun. If you’re reading this and expecting the actual sport of wrestling, you’re not getting that—the RIZE troupe focuses a lot on the theatrics part of mainstream wrestling, with their own characters and (sometimes) even gimmicks. Admittedly, that could get a little ridiculous, but considering half of the group didn’t exactly know what to do with their lives and careers and just wanted a hand in creating something fun for the Brooklyn locals, I’m partially dismissing it. (But also, I think narratives about kids/teens playing are adorable.)
I also liked how Alonda’s wrestling persona tied into both how she dealt with her grief, and her own queer self-discovery. Typically, in stories like this where you have a queer awakening and a more serious plot, it’s hard to balance them out, but I felt they were given an equal amount of attention. (And regarding the grief but not the wrestling persona part, I especially appreciated how Alonda’s subplot of finding her mom’s diary was handled unexpectedly realistic, and although one part of it was important to a bonding moment with Theresa at the end, the diary wasn’t the source of her catharsis.) I will say, though, that although parts of the romances/love triangle were cute, I didn’t feel a particular attachment to them. (And the foreshadowing for who Alonda would go with was painfully obvious.)
And also, Theresa and Alonda’s mother/aunt figure-daughter relationship was multifaceted and sweet. There were times where it shifted slightly differently than an ordinary mother-daughter bond, and I thought the realistic-sounding dialogue worked in favor of that particular element.
The ending is open-ended in a bittersweet way, but I liked how the overall story captured the spirit of summer friendship, and the kinds of bonds that, although it’s uncertain how long they’ll last(or maintain that strength), they stick with everyone involved.
I’m kind of disappointed I don’t see many people talking about this, to be honest. I liked the more visual writing style that persisted even in novel format, and this was a solid summer read. But I can understand other readers having mixed feelings on this.
*********
pre-review:
3.75! To quote one of my StoryGraph notes: “god they’re all so embarrassing but also i love their whimsy”
(And to those noticing the character’s name is slightly different than the one on the cover, there’s a really great explanation for it! Don’t worry.)
But Alonda felt like an actual teenager, and her friend group was fun. If you’re reading this and expecting the actual sport of wrestling, you’re not getting that—the RIZE troupe focuses a lot on the theatrics part of mainstream wrestling, with their own characters and (sometimes) even gimmicks. Admittedly, that could get a little ridiculous, but considering half of the group didn’t exactly know what to do with their lives and careers and just wanted a hand in creating something fun for the Brooklyn locals, I’m partially dismissing it. (But also, I think narratives about kids/teens playing are adorable.)
I also liked how Alonda’s wrestling persona tied into both how she dealt with her grief, and her own queer self-discovery. Typically, in stories like this where you have a queer awakening and a more serious plot, it’s hard to balance them out, but I felt they were given an equal amount of attention. (And regarding the grief but not the wrestling persona part, I especially appreciated how Alonda’s subplot of finding her mom’s diary was handled unexpectedly realistic, and although one part of it was important to a bonding moment with Theresa at the end, the diary wasn’t the source of her catharsis.) I will say, though, that although parts of the romances/love triangle were cute, I didn’t feel a particular attachment to them. (And the foreshadowing for who Alonda would go with was painfully obvious.)
And also, Theresa and Alonda’s mother/aunt figure-daughter relationship was multifaceted and sweet. There were times where it shifted slightly differently than an ordinary mother-daughter bond, and I thought the realistic-sounding dialogue worked in favor of that particular element.
The ending is open-ended in a bittersweet way, but I liked how the overall story captured the spirit of summer friendship, and the kinds of bonds that, although it’s uncertain how long they’ll last(or maintain that strength), they stick with everyone involved.
I’m kind of disappointed I don’t see many people talking about this, to be honest. I liked the more visual writing style that persisted even in novel format, and this was a solid summer read. But I can understand other readers having mixed feelings on this.
*********
pre-review:
3.75! To quote one of my StoryGraph notes: “god they’re all so embarrassing but also i love their whimsy”
February 8, 2023
I was scared that I was going to be confused because my best friend's name is Alondra, but thankfully that's not even her name so it eliminated the confusion. Other than that, I really enjoyed the book. There is a pretty large cast of characters and i really enjoyed all of them. Alonda's love for wrestling and just her character in general was something that I haven't seen in YA recently. The dialogue felt natural and Alonda's discovery about her sexuality was never the main plot, but it felt like a very strong undercurrent under the story. Overall, I really liked this book!!
May 1, 2023
Alonda--a shy, bisexual Coney Island teenager--is finishing up yet another school year, with the long, hot summer looming ahead. How she'll occupy her time she has no idea...until, that is, she looks out her window and sees a bunch of kids clumsily engaging in her one true passion: wrestling. PROFESSIONAL wrestling. And so begins a journey filled with more joy and excitement--and even romance--than she'd ever thought possible. "Alondra"--her in-ring nickname--is a coming-of-age tale featuring teens at play, at odds, and in love. The plot moves swiftly, Gina Femia's insight into how her characters talk and think is evident on every page, and if you're a young adult--and even if you're not--"Alondra" is a terrific read. You may learn something about Coney Island. You may even learn a thing or two about wrestling. Definitely worth a look.
April 13, 2023
**TW**
death of parent
Alondra follows 16-year-old Alonda as she embarks on a journey of self discovery and new friendships. Noticing a group of friends who are constantly bickering outside her window, Alonda decides to pick up the courage to talk to them.
Spider, Pretzel, King and Lexi seem to take to Alonda pretty quickly and it was lovely to read about their connections. They each had common ground, a love for wrestling, and encouraged each other greatly (while still keeping up the banter). I will admit, I loved their banter, they made fun of each other often but they always made sure they were there for one another.
It also felt great to read about Alonda discovering more about herself and opening up that 'box' she created within herself. I could see so much of myself in her and honestly, it felt comforting to read.
The pacing of this book was relatively fast and I found I had finished this book pretty swiftly. (Plus it had short chapters which I LOVE!)
Gina Femia's writing style was one I really liked: everything felt as though I, as the reader, was included in each conversation and every memory. It was beautiful and heartwarming all at the same time.
All in all, this was a lovely read. Light-hearted and inspiring.
death of parent
Alondra follows 16-year-old Alonda as she embarks on a journey of self discovery and new friendships. Noticing a group of friends who are constantly bickering outside her window, Alonda decides to pick up the courage to talk to them.
Spider, Pretzel, King and Lexi seem to take to Alonda pretty quickly and it was lovely to read about their connections. They each had common ground, a love for wrestling, and encouraged each other greatly (while still keeping up the banter). I will admit, I loved their banter, they made fun of each other often but they always made sure they were there for one another.
It also felt great to read about Alonda discovering more about herself and opening up that 'box' she created within herself. I could see so much of myself in her and honestly, it felt comforting to read.
The pacing of this book was relatively fast and I found I had finished this book pretty swiftly. (Plus it had short chapters which I LOVE!)
Gina Femia's writing style was one I really liked: everything felt as though I, as the reader, was included in each conversation and every memory. It was beautiful and heartwarming all at the same time.
All in all, this was a lovely read. Light-hearted and inspiring.
April 13, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
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Thank you Hear Our Voices Tours and Gina Femia for sending me an E-ARC for this tour! 😊
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Alondra is Gina’s debut novel and I think it was such a classic contemporary YA read! I was really able to get a good sense of the atmosphere of the book and felt very immersed at times. I think because of this I was easily able to make a mood board for the vibes of the book. This is such a fun summer read surrounding a group of kids forming an amateur wrestling company. 🤼♀️ I definitely got all the summer vibes reading and can’t wait for the warmer weather. I also really enjoyed the bisexual love triangle we got in this book and am very happy with the MC, Alonda’s choice. 💖💜💙 Also you may think I misspelled the character’s name based on the name of the book but that is her wrestling name and the name her mother originally planned to name her. I think it was such a sweet detail 🥹! I also really loved the relationship between Alonda and her guardian, Teresa who is her late mother’s best friend, while strained at times the two really love each other so much. At first when reading I thought the two were sisters and just had a big age gap, but I was mistaken. However, I do see Teresa as an older sister figure to Alonda and just overall loved how their relationship developed through the book. I also felt that Alonda had a normal life and didn’t have an exaggerated lifestyle and endless amounts of money like some YA books tend to portray. This really helped me connect with Alonda and the other characters in the book.
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I have a few critiques as I felt the story would jump around a bit at times and start in the middle of a scene at times, but this did make for a fast-paced book which I appreciated. A few times slang would be used outside of dialogue and it would take me out of the story just a bit but I really enjoyed it in the dialogue as it made it flow and seem like an actual conversation. I also think as someone who doesn't know much about wrestling I wasn't able to connect to Alonda 100% but that doesn't mean everyone won’t! Just due to these, I docked it half a star. But I know this is going to be an all-time favorite read for someone else! 😊 I still really enjoyed reading and can see myself reading another book by Gina in the future! Overall Alondra is a very solid queer, sporty, summer, YA contemporary read and if you're looking for anything of that sort, I would recommend it. 🥰
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Alondra by Gina Femia comes out on April 18th!
.
Thank you Hear Our Voices Tours and Gina Femia for sending me an E-ARC for this tour! 😊
.
Alondra is Gina’s debut novel and I think it was such a classic contemporary YA read! I was really able to get a good sense of the atmosphere of the book and felt very immersed at times. I think because of this I was easily able to make a mood board for the vibes of the book. This is such a fun summer read surrounding a group of kids forming an amateur wrestling company. 🤼♀️ I definitely got all the summer vibes reading and can’t wait for the warmer weather. I also really enjoyed the bisexual love triangle we got in this book and am very happy with the MC, Alonda’s choice. 💖💜💙 Also you may think I misspelled the character’s name based on the name of the book but that is her wrestling name and the name her mother originally planned to name her. I think it was such a sweet detail 🥹! I also really loved the relationship between Alonda and her guardian, Teresa who is her late mother’s best friend, while strained at times the two really love each other so much. At first when reading I thought the two were sisters and just had a big age gap, but I was mistaken. However, I do see Teresa as an older sister figure to Alonda and just overall loved how their relationship developed through the book. I also felt that Alonda had a normal life and didn’t have an exaggerated lifestyle and endless amounts of money like some YA books tend to portray. This really helped me connect with Alonda and the other characters in the book.
.
I have a few critiques as I felt the story would jump around a bit at times and start in the middle of a scene at times, but this did make for a fast-paced book which I appreciated. A few times slang would be used outside of dialogue and it would take me out of the story just a bit but I really enjoyed it in the dialogue as it made it flow and seem like an actual conversation. I also think as someone who doesn't know much about wrestling I wasn't able to connect to Alonda 100% but that doesn't mean everyone won’t! Just due to these, I docked it half a star. But I know this is going to be an all-time favorite read for someone else! 😊 I still really enjoyed reading and can see myself reading another book by Gina in the future! Overall Alondra is a very solid queer, sporty, summer, YA contemporary read and if you're looking for anything of that sort, I would recommend it. 🥰
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Alondra by Gina Femia comes out on April 18th!
April 15, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the eARC
I really enjoyed this book! It follows Alonda, a bisexual teenager who loves professional wrestling. So when she meets a group of teens with aspirations of wrestling fame in her Coney Island neighborhood, she couldn't be happier. This book talks about friendship, community, family, and self-discovery, and it does it in an excellent way.
I liked the simple friendships that formed between Alonda and the other member of the group. There are two in particular that she creates a stronger bond with, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the love triangle that was lowkey going on, but I'm not actually mad at all, I liked the way it was done. I also appreciated the relationship between Alonda and Teresa, who is the person who took care of her after her mother passed away years before, I liked the way she showed herself and seeing the love and affection they have for each other.
There’s also something really comforting about this book. Maybe it was the summer vibes, the people just having normal lives and doing average things, but somehow it gave me a sense of peace. I realized how refreshing it is to see teenagers having fun. Living the moment. Not everything has to turn into a big thing and that's okay, they're allowed to do things just because. The wrestling part was written in an entertaining way and I enjoyed reading about it, even if I don't fully understand the sport.
In the end, there's this kind of uncertainty about what will happen to them after the summer, whether they'll stick together or drift apart, I think this was realistic and even if it's sad to think about it, you’re left with the knowledge that it was good while it lasted.
I think one of my only complaints is that I wish we had more background on the side characters. We really only see them interacting with Alonda, but we don't know much about them otherwise.
Overall, I would describe this book as fun and heartwarming; just vibes which i really appreciate.
I really enjoyed this book! It follows Alonda, a bisexual teenager who loves professional wrestling. So when she meets a group of teens with aspirations of wrestling fame in her Coney Island neighborhood, she couldn't be happier. This book talks about friendship, community, family, and self-discovery, and it does it in an excellent way.
I liked the simple friendships that formed between Alonda and the other member of the group. There are two in particular that she creates a stronger bond with, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the love triangle that was lowkey going on, but I'm not actually mad at all, I liked the way it was done. I also appreciated the relationship between Alonda and Teresa, who is the person who took care of her after her mother passed away years before, I liked the way she showed herself and seeing the love and affection they have for each other.
There’s also something really comforting about this book. Maybe it was the summer vibes, the people just having normal lives and doing average things, but somehow it gave me a sense of peace. I realized how refreshing it is to see teenagers having fun. Living the moment. Not everything has to turn into a big thing and that's okay, they're allowed to do things just because. The wrestling part was written in an entertaining way and I enjoyed reading about it, even if I don't fully understand the sport.
In the end, there's this kind of uncertainty about what will happen to them after the summer, whether they'll stick together or drift apart, I think this was realistic and even if it's sad to think about it, you’re left with the knowledge that it was good while it lasted.
I think one of my only complaints is that I wish we had more background on the side characters. We really only see them interacting with Alonda, but we don't know much about them otherwise.
Overall, I would describe this book as fun and heartwarming; just vibes which i really appreciate.
April 13, 2023
Alonda Rivera loves wrestling; she lives and breathes wrestling. She can tell you all the stats about every pro wrestler, breakdown the trickiest of wrestling ring moves, and go on and on about why John Cana is amazing but not her favorite wrestler. A seventeen-year-old Coney Island native, Alonda is living with her mom’s best friend, tying to stave off the brutal Brooklyn heat, when she sees a group of teenagers—all high schoolers like her—wrestling with each other in the neighborhood playground. She gathers the courage to approach them, and soon enough, she’s joining them in orchestrating matches and practicing fights for their live show.
Alonda still feels like an outsider sometimes—King, Lexi, Spider, and Pretzel have known each other forever—but she also knows that she’s a solid part of their troupe now. Finally having a group of friends is nice, and it’s especially nice to catch the attention of the often bristly but incredibly attractive leader of their circle, King. But deep in Alonda’s heart is a box. A box she’s kept hidden and locked up for as long as she can remember. A box that’s starting to rattle whenever Lexi comes near. What secrets will she uncover about herself on her journey from Alonda to Alondra: The Fearless One?
A beautiful coming(out)-of-age novel about a bisexual teenager’s self-discovery, ALONDRA is a YA contemporary debut that discusses not just wrestling lore and sexual identity, but also gentrification, community, and the love one can get from their found families. As a bisexual woman of color, Alonda’s journey— from boxing up confusing feelings, to learning about bisexuality, to understanding and accepting it as a part of herself—deeply resonated with me.
Many thanks to Hear Our Voices Tours and Fierce Reads for my gifted copy of ALONDRA: a must-read, regardless of your interest in wrestling and bisexuality!
Alonda still feels like an outsider sometimes—King, Lexi, Spider, and Pretzel have known each other forever—but she also knows that she’s a solid part of their troupe now. Finally having a group of friends is nice, and it’s especially nice to catch the attention of the often bristly but incredibly attractive leader of their circle, King. But deep in Alonda’s heart is a box. A box she’s kept hidden and locked up for as long as she can remember. A box that’s starting to rattle whenever Lexi comes near. What secrets will she uncover about herself on her journey from Alonda to Alondra: The Fearless One?
A beautiful coming(out)-of-age novel about a bisexual teenager’s self-discovery, ALONDRA is a YA contemporary debut that discusses not just wrestling lore and sexual identity, but also gentrification, community, and the love one can get from their found families. As a bisexual woman of color, Alonda’s journey— from boxing up confusing feelings, to learning about bisexuality, to understanding and accepting it as a part of herself—deeply resonated with me.
Many thanks to Hear Our Voices Tours and Fierce Reads for my gifted copy of ALONDRA: a must-read, regardless of your interest in wrestling and bisexuality!
April 15, 2023
Thank @hearourvoicestours and @harrythehoudini for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance.
This was an enjoyable and well written story. It gave me so much more than I was expecting. This story touches on self discovery, family, friendship, wrestling and so much more. I've never been a fan of wrestling, but this story gave me an appreciation for it. I love how it went into depth with the characters feelings and emotions, because to me that's very important.
This is a book I would recommend everyone to read.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes.
💥 “What’s there to be afraid of,” “I live my life without fear.”’
💥 “Sometimes things can be funny just ’cause they’re funny.”
💥 You gotta stand out in this world.
💥 “The best characters are ones that are true to yourself. They’re taking a bit of your truth and blowing it up like a balloon. They’re not You-You, but they are a part of you.”
💥 “I don’t need luck. I got skill,”
💥 I know I’m bi because it’s me. It’s who I am, how I see the world, how I create my community , how I interact with the whole entire world. It’s inside me, it is on me, it is me. So, like, I don’t know when I knew or how I knew, I just knew. I know.”
💥 nobody should be putting hands on anybody for real
💥 Lexi was so beautiful all the time, and when she smiled, the beauty shifted into not more beauty, but different beauty.
💥 Was it possible to bottle up a moment? Bubble Wrap it in memory and place it on a shelf inside her brain so she could access it whenever she wanted?
This one right here had me laughing out loud. I could not have imagine that experience. 😂
💥 Alonda resented that kiss. It felt like a kiss that an uncle would give his niece, not a boyfriend to his girlfriend, ew.
This was an enjoyable and well written story. It gave me so much more than I was expecting. This story touches on self discovery, family, friendship, wrestling and so much more. I've never been a fan of wrestling, but this story gave me an appreciation for it. I love how it went into depth with the characters feelings and emotions, because to me that's very important.
This is a book I would recommend everyone to read.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes.
💥 “What’s there to be afraid of,” “I live my life without fear.”’
💥 “Sometimes things can be funny just ’cause they’re funny.”
💥 You gotta stand out in this world.
💥 “The best characters are ones that are true to yourself. They’re taking a bit of your truth and blowing it up like a balloon. They’re not You-You, but they are a part of you.”
💥 “I don’t need luck. I got skill,”
💥 I know I’m bi because it’s me. It’s who I am, how I see the world, how I create my community , how I interact with the whole entire world. It’s inside me, it is on me, it is me. So, like, I don’t know when I knew or how I knew, I just knew. I know.”
💥 nobody should be putting hands on anybody for real
💥 Lexi was so beautiful all the time, and when she smiled, the beauty shifted into not more beauty, but different beauty.
💥 Was it possible to bottle up a moment? Bubble Wrap it in memory and place it on a shelf inside her brain so she could access it whenever she wanted?
This one right here had me laughing out loud. I could not have imagine that experience. 😂
💥 Alonda resented that kiss. It felt like a kiss that an uncle would give his niece, not a boyfriend to his girlfriend, ew.
October 1, 2023
Alondra is the story of a young bisexual woman in Coney Island, and the summer that amateur wrestling changed her life. All Alonda does is go to school, hang out with her guardian Teresa, and go to sleep. It's been a decade since her mother died, but nothing has gotten easier. The summer before her senior year, however, she spots a group of kids in the park across from her house - and they are practicing WWE moves. Alonda loves WWE, but is anxious about approaching new people. When she does get up the courage, she changes her summer, and her life.
This is a charming book with well-developed characters and centered on a topic you don't see much in YA books, particularly with female protagonists. Alonda learns a lot about herself on the way, including that she has a massive crush on the only other female wrestler, the artistic Lexie - which makes things tough, considering she's currently dating King. King is passionate and loves their wrestling team, but he wants to build it up into a full time career. Lexie would rather just have fun with it. With the two other members of the group - Pretzel and Spider - also torn, Alondra is only trying to concentrate on that summer. This entire plot point brings up something else I haven't seen discussed much, if at all - in YA books: hustle culture and monetizing your hobbies. It's all handled with adult conversation but very real teen characters. Also, in one scene Alonda uses self-pleasure to soothe herself, which was another first for me. There were a couple scenes that were mentioned instead of fully written that I thought should have been there, and maybe a couple things could have been wrapped up a bit more, but overall I thought it was solid and entertaining with high teen appeal.
This is a charming book with well-developed characters and centered on a topic you don't see much in YA books, particularly with female protagonists. Alonda learns a lot about herself on the way, including that she has a massive crush on the only other female wrestler, the artistic Lexie - which makes things tough, considering she's currently dating King. King is passionate and loves their wrestling team, but he wants to build it up into a full time career. Lexie would rather just have fun with it. With the two other members of the group - Pretzel and Spider - also torn, Alondra is only trying to concentrate on that summer. This entire plot point brings up something else I haven't seen discussed much, if at all - in YA books: hustle culture and monetizing your hobbies. It's all handled with adult conversation but very real teen characters. Also, in one scene Alonda uses self-pleasure to soothe herself, which was another first for me. There were a couple scenes that were mentioned instead of fully written that I thought should have been there, and maybe a couple things could have been wrapped up a bit more, but overall I thought it was solid and entertaining with high teen appeal.
September 4, 2024
Omg!! This book definitely exceeded my expectations! I often wondered if I’d ever find anything that would capture me as a kid and some of my childhood memories and boy did this do it! I take wrestling very seriously as it is a special part of me and my childhood! The banter throughout the book between the characters was a 10/10 and I definitely giggled a lot. Yes, it is a YA but it really didn’t bother me or stand out in an annoying way like some YAs do. I could relate a lot to this book and I also respect the mention of the Puerto Rican culture. This book triggered me in a good way to reflect on my childhood and the times I used to spend watching wrestling AND being in the backyard with my neighborhood friends wrestling! So that was a 2 for 1 seal for me! The ability of the author to beautifully capture both without going overboard really locked in the 5 star rating for me. I just loved it.
This book also mirrored much of what I was like at Alonda’s age right down to the bisexuality . Although I wish I had more of Teresa’s reaction than my actual dad’s ! lol. But, the awkwardness. The ambition. I could see myself in it all! I also could relate to Lexi’s artistic abilities and ambition behind that because I loved and practiced art just as much as I did wrestling growing up. Then, at the end, when Teresa and Alonda were making sofrito it just did something to me! Like it tied my past into my present … and for it to happen all in one book… I love that for me! I’d definitely read this book again to get that warm, nostalgic feeling that it gave me for sure!
This book also mirrored much of what I was like at Alonda’s age right down to the bisexuality . Although I wish I had more of Teresa’s reaction than my actual dad’s ! lol. But, the awkwardness. The ambition. I could see myself in it all! I also could relate to Lexi’s artistic abilities and ambition behind that because I loved and practiced art just as much as I did wrestling growing up. Then, at the end, when Teresa and Alonda were making sofrito it just did something to me! Like it tied my past into my present … and for it to happen all in one book… I love that for me! I’d definitely read this book again to get that warm, nostalgic feeling that it gave me for sure!
April 19, 2023
Thank you to HearOurVoices Tours, NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the advance copy of this book. Award winning playwright Gina Femia brings us a debut YA contemporary novel about a bisexual teen grappling with her mother’s passing, a new living situation, new friendships, love, and coming to terms with her sexual identity. This was such a good read and the author’s writing was so poetic.
Alondra gave me so many nostalgic vibes as I used to love watching wrestling when I grew up. The love of the sport allowed Alonda to find a group of friends who accepted her for just who she is. When feelings arise for 2 of her new friends, will Alonda allow the box in her heart that she’s kept locked to explore if there could be more and if so with whom?
I am so happy that the youth of today have so much diversity and representation in literature that I did not have in the late 90s & early 2000s. There was such a diverse friendship group and the banter between them was so much fun to read. I liked that even though Alonda’s mother passed away a decade ago that the author showed that grief is not linear. It showed that it natural to deal with grief no matter how much time has passed. I wholeheartedly appreciate that the bisexual representation as it was displayed. It wasn’t shown as someone being confused as it in shown some times. The author did an excellent job showcasing it for exactly what it is. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Alondra gave me so many nostalgic vibes as I used to love watching wrestling when I grew up. The love of the sport allowed Alonda to find a group of friends who accepted her for just who she is. When feelings arise for 2 of her new friends, will Alonda allow the box in her heart that she’s kept locked to explore if there could be more and if so with whom?
I am so happy that the youth of today have so much diversity and representation in literature that I did not have in the late 90s & early 2000s. There was such a diverse friendship group and the banter between them was so much fun to read. I liked that even though Alonda’s mother passed away a decade ago that the author showed that grief is not linear. It showed that it natural to deal with grief no matter how much time has passed. I wholeheartedly appreciate that the bisexual representation as it was displayed. It wasn’t shown as someone being confused as it in shown some times. The author did an excellent job showcasing it for exactly what it is. I look forward to reading more from this author.
April 12, 2023
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a really cute coming of age story about 16 year old Alonda. Alonda absolutely loves wrestling. While trying to keep cool her attention is caught by a group of friend practicing wrestling moves at the nearby playground. Only they never really get anything accomplished due to them not having enough people. The group consists of King ( The leader), Lexi ( The artist), and Spider (the pretty boy). After getting into the crew Alonda soon deals with having feelings for both King and Lexi.
I surprisingly enjoyed this book. At first I was lost by the title and the characters name but it is explained in the story. It was different to see the grieving process through the eyes of a teenager which I appreciated. I was unsure about Jim but he turned out to be an ally to Alonda. I did appreciate the relationship between Alonda and Teresa. She cared for her and you could tell that she really loved Alonda and accepted the responsibility of being her care giver. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really cute coming of age story about 16 year old Alonda. Alonda absolutely loves wrestling. While trying to keep cool her attention is caught by a group of friend practicing wrestling moves at the nearby playground. Only they never really get anything accomplished due to them not having enough people. The group consists of King ( The leader), Lexi ( The artist), and Spider (the pretty boy). After getting into the crew Alonda soon deals with having feelings for both King and Lexi.
I surprisingly enjoyed this book. At first I was lost by the title and the characters name but it is explained in the story. It was different to see the grieving process through the eyes of a teenager which I appreciated. I was unsure about Jim but he turned out to be an ally to Alonda. I did appreciate the relationship between Alonda and Teresa. She cared for her and you could tell that she really loved Alonda and accepted the responsibility of being her care giver. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2023
This debut YA novel by Gina Femia was such a treat to read!
Alonda and her friends are so into wrestling that they’re spending their summer in Coney Island starting an amateur wrestling troupe!
Now, I don’t know much about wrestling, but the author did an excellent job describing it so I could picture everything clearly while I was reading.
This book has beautiful bisexual representation…the reader goes on the journey with Alonda as she figures out her sexuality. I have to think that so many young queer readers will see themselves in the pages of this book.
Lastly, this book really redefines family. We learn early on that Alonda lost her mother when she was seven and has been raised by her mom’s best friend, Teresa. The relationship between Alonda and Teresa is challenging at times but so beautiful.
The quote I took away from the book is this one: “Sometimes you just gotta look long enough to see something more clearly.”
A beautiful message from a stunning book. I highly recommend checking it out!
Alonda and her friends are so into wrestling that they’re spending their summer in Coney Island starting an amateur wrestling troupe!
Now, I don’t know much about wrestling, but the author did an excellent job describing it so I could picture everything clearly while I was reading.
This book has beautiful bisexual representation…the reader goes on the journey with Alonda as she figures out her sexuality. I have to think that so many young queer readers will see themselves in the pages of this book.
Lastly, this book really redefines family. We learn early on that Alonda lost her mother when she was seven and has been raised by her mom’s best friend, Teresa. The relationship between Alonda and Teresa is challenging at times but so beautiful.
The quote I took away from the book is this one: “Sometimes you just gotta look long enough to see something more clearly.”
A beautiful message from a stunning book. I highly recommend checking it out!
July 24, 2023
Thanks to Macmillan's Children's Publishing for providing a review copy via Netgalley!
Alondra is such a fun and unique coming-of-age story. It follows Alonda (wrestling persona: Alondra), who joins a group of teens who are working to create a memorable wrestling show on Coney Island. I've never cared much about professional wrestling, but this really drew me in. Alonda's journey of self-discovery paralleled with figuring out her stage persona is really well written. It was super interesting to read about the fight choreography and the plot lines everyone was creating for their characters. There's so much physicality and creativity that goes into professional wrestling and I loved reading about it. There's also a great sapphic romance, which felt sweet and natural.
I also want to mention that this was first a stage play and I can so see that. It's such a fun setup for that, and I'd love to see it sometime. I love theatre the voices teenage girls with honesty and depth, and Alondra definitely does that.
Alondra is such a fun and unique coming-of-age story. It follows Alonda (wrestling persona: Alondra), who joins a group of teens who are working to create a memorable wrestling show on Coney Island. I've never cared much about professional wrestling, but this really drew me in. Alonda's journey of self-discovery paralleled with figuring out her stage persona is really well written. It was super interesting to read about the fight choreography and the plot lines everyone was creating for their characters. There's so much physicality and creativity that goes into professional wrestling and I loved reading about it. There's also a great sapphic romance, which felt sweet and natural.
I also want to mention that this was first a stage play and I can so see that. It's such a fun setup for that, and I'd love to see it sometime. I love theatre the voices teenage girls with honesty and depth, and Alondra definitely does that.
April 18, 2023
Alonda Rivera is a Nuyorican Coney Island native who lives with her deceased mother’s best friend, Teresa. On the precipice of the summer before her senior year of high school, she finds herself longing for both friendship and a physical outlet for all of the frustrations that naturally come along with puberty, first love(s), self-identity, and the loss of a parent. It’s just her luck that she notices the ragtag team of teens around her age practicing wrestling on the playground near her apartment building. As she starts regularly hanging out with King, Lexi, Spider, and Pretzel, Alonda gets to tap into her favorite hobby, challenge herself both mentally and physically, and discovers truths about herself that she’d grown comfortable with ignoring.
Although Alonda’s story isn’t solely focused on her coming out as bisexual, her self-exploration and identity are at play at all times throughout the novel. She acknowledges that her feelings have always been a part of her, something she’d relegated to a box in her chest that she locked away, but she never fully understood them. This novel does a great job of pacing this part of Alonda’s journey while running it parallel with her growing confidence and courage in her everyday life.
I personally connected with this story in ways I didn’t expect given that I’m not into wrestling the way my girl Alonda is, but Gina crafted a very true-to-life character along with a beautifully diverse cast of found family and community. Although I’ve never been to Coney Island, it felt alive to me, like it was a character in and of itself. This is a great book to share with any teens in your life who may be comforted by the story a young girl who learns new ways to be strong and authentic to herself. This is definitely a book I needed to read when I was younger.
(Actual rating 4.5)
Although Alonda’s story isn’t solely focused on her coming out as bisexual, her self-exploration and identity are at play at all times throughout the novel. She acknowledges that her feelings have always been a part of her, something she’d relegated to a box in her chest that she locked away, but she never fully understood them. This novel does a great job of pacing this part of Alonda’s journey while running it parallel with her growing confidence and courage in her everyday life.
I personally connected with this story in ways I didn’t expect given that I’m not into wrestling the way my girl Alonda is, but Gina crafted a very true-to-life character along with a beautifully diverse cast of found family and community. Although I’ve never been to Coney Island, it felt alive to me, like it was a character in and of itself. This is a great book to share with any teens in your life who may be comforted by the story a young girl who learns new ways to be strong and authentic to herself. This is definitely a book I needed to read when I was younger.
(Actual rating 4.5)
April 4, 2023
There's something so familiar about summertime, coming of age stories, and despite knowing little about wrestling and never visiting New York, I felt at home in this story. Alonda is someone you love and root for, as she grows from shy and quiet to big and bold and brave. All the relationships and conversations between the characters felt so real - whether it was the awkward sex talk from her surrogate mother or a male friend wondering if birds can talk - that it really pulls you into the world of the book. While not the main focus of the story, I also loved her journey of coming out as bisexual. Seeing her gather courage from others online as well as being surrounded by LGBTQ friends felt so real and wonderful.
April 22, 2023
Full disclosure I know the author and have a deep love for them.
Now that that's out of the way, I really enjoyed this book. I tend to have a hard time with anything that isn't romance or written by Akwaeke Emezi, but this was smooth and reminded me of how I devoured the books of my youth. The specificity of place is one of my favorite things about the book. At its heart, there is a profound love of Brooklyn and wrestling. It's such a sweet coming-of-age story, and the fact that Alonda is also working to uncover her feelings for both King and Lexi makes this something I wish my Queer teenage self had.
A beautiful debut. I hope lots of folks get to read it :)
Now that that's out of the way, I really enjoyed this book. I tend to have a hard time with anything that isn't romance or written by Akwaeke Emezi, but this was smooth and reminded me of how I devoured the books of my youth. The specificity of place is one of my favorite things about the book. At its heart, there is a profound love of Brooklyn and wrestling. It's such a sweet coming-of-age story, and the fact that Alonda is also working to uncover her feelings for both King and Lexi makes this something I wish my Queer teenage self had.
A beautiful debut. I hope lots of folks get to read it :)
June 4, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! Alondra was a fun, summery, fast-paced YA novel that I picked up off the shelf for fun. I haven't read a lot of books that center on a bisexual lead, let alone trying to figure out that label as a teenager. I couldn't really relate to the wrestling content that was in the book, but it was so clear to see how passionate the characters were about their sport, which I really admired. Also, found family is gonna do it for me every single time. I would recommend this book for sure! I would give it a solid 4/5 stars only because there were some moments that felt awkwardly placed, but it was an entertaining debut novel that'll put you right in the (wrestling) ring :)
April 16, 2023
3.75 round up
I used to be a fan of WWE Wrestling when I was younger but lost interest as I got older. This book brought back those memories just hanging with my siblings and watching Monday Night Wrestling.
Alondra is a cute summer read and I really enjoyed it. Alondra’s crew is hilarious and Gina’s ability to immerse the reader into the story was top tier.
One thing that stuck out to me is the discussions around bisexuality. I felt it was important to explore within the story. Looking forward to more from Gina in the future!
I used to be a fan of WWE Wrestling when I was younger but lost interest as I got older. This book brought back those memories just hanging with my siblings and watching Monday Night Wrestling.
Alondra is a cute summer read and I really enjoyed it. Alondra’s crew is hilarious and Gina’s ability to immerse the reader into the story was top tier.
One thing that stuck out to me is the discussions around bisexuality. I felt it was important to explore within the story. Looking forward to more from Gina in the future!
October 15, 2023
I really love books that end up teaching me about the characters' (ie often the authors') interests. This book is no exception and makes me look at WWE in a whole new light! Seriously so cool.
Plus, the bi rep through the MC and some of the side folks is fantastic. For a fairly light read, this was honestly really fantastic and I definitely recommend it! Gah how I love queer coming of age ❤️❤️❤️
Plus, the bi rep through the MC and some of the side folks is fantastic. For a fairly light read, this was honestly really fantastic and I definitely recommend it! Gah how I love queer coming of age ❤️❤️❤️
May 28, 2024
I had so much fun reading Alondra. It was a great summer read and I felt like I was in Coney Island Brooklyn with Alondra and her friends. Gina Femia does a great job sharing the internal experiences of the characters, and I found myself connecting to their questions of identity and exploration of their dreams. The emotional connection makes this book a great read for YA or adult audiences. The story has stuck with me even though I read the book a year ago. Highly recommend this book!
November 21, 2023
Alonda has always watched the other teens wrestling in the park out her window, not feeling brave enough to join them. However, this will be the summer she tries to find the courage to join them and actually start a real wrestling show. There will be other challenges that come up in her life, as well as those that come up with pretending to be thrown across the ring.
May 28, 2024
A really fun bisexual coming of age story, even if it's been many years since you've been a bisexual coming of age. Alondra is such a relatable protagonist, and it is a joy to watch her find herself and step into her power. I read it in the winter where the descriptions of the Coney Island heat kept me warm, but I imagine it's also a perfect beach book too.
May 29, 2024
This is a sweet and emotional story about all the possibilities summer can hold when you’re young. Exciting new friends, passionate hobbies, romance, self discovery, grief, joy, and family, and positive LGBTQ representation. These characters are wonderful and I was genuinely rooting for them. Gina Femia has painted a vibrant slice of life in Brooklyn.
May 12, 2023
What a gift this story is! I couldn’t be happier that this exists. The beauty of Brooklyn, the excitement of wrestling and the joy and confusion of discovering your queerness. Thank you Gina for this super special world.
December 21, 2023
I mean, the amount i considered actually going to a wrestling match while reading this book really speaks to how immersive it is because that is NOT normal for me. Queer coming of age drama, thoughtfully and carefully rendered, while being really fun at points too!
May 11, 2023
Wow this is such a fun YA novel!!!! I truly enjoyed every single page!!
May 31, 2023
Kind of cute, especially for fans of wrestling.
July 12, 2023
Really enjoyed this. Such a strong voice.
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