Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

“Breathlessly atmospheric…A gorgeous, hopeful book.” —Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of Today Tonight Tomorrow The Hating Game meets I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter in this irresistible romance starring a Mexican American teen who discovers love and profound truths about the universe when she spends her summer on a road trip across the country. When her twin sister reaches social media stardom, Moon Fuentez accepts her fate as the ugly, unwanted sister hidden in the background, destined to be nothing more than her sister’s camerawoman. But this summer, Moon also takes a job as the “merch girl” on a tour bus full of beautiful influencers and her fate begins to shift in the best way possible. Most notable is her bunkmate and new nemesis, Santiago Phillips, who is grumpy, combative, and also the hottest guy Moon has ever seen. Moon is certain she hates Santiago and that he hates her back. But as chance and destiny (and maybe, probably, close proximity) bring the two of them in each other’s perpetual paths, Moon starts to wonder if that’s really true. She even starts to question her destiny as the unnoticed, unloved wallflower she always thought she was. Could this summer change Moon’s life as she knows it?

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe

When seventeen-year-old Star Fuentez reaches social media stardom, her polar-opposite twin, Moon, becomes "merch girl" on a tour bus full of beautiful influencers and the grumpy but attractive Santiago Philips.

Bria

I feel like there aren't enough books that let people know it's okay to move on from a toxic parent

kamille

why is this one of the best books i've ever experienced ... i loved that the author incorporates so many different themes.. also didn't expect to relate to moon as much as i did :')

Debbi

Absolute perfection. Thank you Raquel Vasquez Gilliland for this wonderful, beautiful, important book.

Cynthia 

It helped the beginning  of healing my inner teen

Zoe Smolen

Sofie

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC for review!

____


all the god-loving stars.


  We are all ancient. And it's bananas to me, how the holiness of this earth was attempted to be contained in a church, forcing people to feel bad about the sacred and ancient and wild of our bodies, our senses, our glorious impulses to make mistakes, some of which turn out to be the best things ever.


How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe made ME fall in love with the universe. Made me want to dance in poppy fields and chase dragonflies and feel the ocean's salt between my fingers.

This book is like a warm hug, in the most heartbreaking, devastating, lovely way. Moon was an incredible protagonist. I felt for her ever step of the way. Her anger, her loyalty to her family, her self-deprecation, her humour, her journey to finding herself despite all her traumas.

I wasn't expecting that, going into this. I wasn't expecting the deeper conversations about religion and purity and rape-culture. I wasn't expecting facets of mental illness and emotional and physical abuse. And not once did the story feel contrived, feel like it was trying to shove in a whole bunch of hot-button issues just to tick some boxes. Everything was so personal and nuanced and I'm not sure how we got from a story of Instagram-esque influencers on a tour bus for the summer to one of a girl living her twin's shadow, under her mother's thumb, as she overcomes deeply-rooted and toxic religious teachings, as she deals with abuse at home and from peers, as she struggles to accept love. And yet here we are.

Even the parts of the book that made me angry for Moon, I understood. Even the parts where I was angry AT Moon, I understood. I HATED (view spoiler)[the way Star treated Moon around her influencer friends. I hated her for her cruel jokes, her passive-aggressive comments, her judgement.... and yet, i felt for her. I can't pretend to know how internalized homophobia affects someone who is so deeply indoctrinated in the church, but I know that Star was troubled. Not blameless. But dealing with her own insecurities and traumas and I can almost, almost forgive her like Moon did. (hide spoiler)]

Also *chef’s kiss* to 3-Dimensional side characters! Sometimes a rarity in the NA genre, especially in a romance. Tía. Santiago. William. Even Star (and she definitely had her classic Insta-bitch moments!) 

I think I resonated so much with Moon because I too - though at a much lesser extent - know the journey of breaking free from religious and conservative values. I know how hard it is to question what you’ve been taught, to feel like you have no-one in your corner. 

This is a love story. A self-love story. A story of acceptance and beauty and finding the tiny miracles in life and the words that run over your skin like honey.

Rania Singla

Contrary to the name of the book, I don’t think this is the story of how Moon fell in love with the universe, but how she started loving herself, and I think that that is so much more beautiful.


  “It’s hard being human. It’s too easy to get pulled under by what makes us ache and bleed.”


Moon has always been the unlucky twin. Her sister is the one that got blessed with everything. The looks, the body, the personality, even their mother’s love. After her dad passed away a few years ago, with no one left to hold one to, she knew she had to get out of there. So when Moon gets into her dream college, nothing could make her happier, until she realises that she has no way to pay for the expenses. Asking her mother is simply out of the question. Then her sister is invited to tour with the biggest social media platform, Fotogram’s founder. And Moon is forced to go along. But she’s getting paid after all, so how bad could it be?

Everything about Moon’s journey was so relatable and inspiring. I was instantly able to connect with her on a level where I felt the exact same way she did. She hated someone? I hated them too. She wanted to hug someone? I wanted to too. I have never been so connected to a character before and her story was a completely new breath of fresh air.

There are a lot of different elements incorporated in this book but most importantly I loved how fat and sex-positive it was. There are so many readers that go through low self-esteem and doubting their body image, and this book was a love letter to everyone who was in the same headspace as our main character. Moon has such an inspiring development throughout the book and I loved how she overcame her insecurities and finally started loving herself. She went through so much in her whole life and looking at her finally getting accepted by someone for who she is was a very emotional experience for me as a reader.


  “But we can’t know everything. We can’t. Some people might say only God knows, or only the universe knows it all. Either way, we humans aren’t the ones who’ve figured everything out. The more I learn, the more I realize that I know so little, it could be a fraction of a speck, and if you put the knowledge of all humans together, it might be two or three specks in the infinite and twinkling and wondrous universe."


The writing was absolutely magical. The prose just sucks you in and suddenly you can’t stop reading. The way the author describes the surroundings and Moon’s thoughts were beautiful and I loved it!

I also loved the romance, not only because it was enemies-to-lovers, but because the trope was done perfectly. The build-up and slowburn was done so well and it was really everything I could have ever asked for. Their banter was so funny and their chemistry was unparalleled. Another thing I loved is that their relationship wasn’t perfect. It was messy and complicated but the satisfaction and giddy feelings the reader gets when they finally get through it is the best feeling ever.

Overall, and I can’t say this enough, this is one of the best books I’ve read, probably in my whole life, no questions asked. I think I resonated with it a lot more because I went understand what Moon is feeling and where she’s coming from. Other than that, READ IT NOW OR FACE MY WRATH.

Qaisarah Kamal Fariz

PLS SOMETIMES MOON IS SO FUNNY HELP ??? 🤠
LIKE WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY..

Candyce Kirk

To be honest I just don't know where to start when it comes to reviewing How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe. This book was just amazing and it was everything I didn't know I needed. This author sucked me in with her vivid storytelling and I felt like I was there with Moon the whole entire time. The story is mostly character driven, but it just really works. I laughed, cried, was angry and just felt everything all at once.

Our main character Moon has a twin sister Star. She describes them as close, but it's clear as we get into the story that this relationship isn't healthy. Moon doesn't feel like the "good" sister. She's the "ugly" and "unwanted" sister. I want to start off by saying that many times this book isn't easy to read. There are darker sides with abuse and Moon is treated in ways no one should be treated. Ever since her sister became popular and a social influencer, Moon has been volunteered to be her photographer and even has to sacrifice her summer, so her sister can go on a tour. Moon isn't excited about this, but it ends up being the best thing to happen to her.

What I really loved is that Moon really starts thinking about herself more and more during this book. Even when she gets snide remarks from her sister or threatening phone calls from her mother she slowly starts seeing she deserves to be there and do what she does. Because Moon is also very talented. She has her own account with a lot of followers, working on a tarot deck and is just amazing how she is. It was so hard seeing her dismiss compliments or even not being able to believe someone could think she was "hot". I could seriously ramble on about how angry her mother and sister made me.

The book is split between the present and Moon looking back at different memories in her life and it all fits together perfectly. The story about her father is truly sad, but I loved reading the memories she had of him. How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe is about growing up, sexuality (it's very sex positive), accepting yourself, learning to love yourself, grief, love and very complicated family relationships. Also, I don't want to talk too much about the romance, because this story is so much more, but Santiago definitely made this book even better. Yeah, he started off as a grump, but I truly believe he got Moon to open up and starting seeing how much she was worth. I appreciated that the romance didn't take over the story, but really complimented it.

All in all, I won't forget How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe anytime soon. It's something that hits you in all the feels, but it does have many lighthearted moments that made me laugh. There was a really good balance. If you haven't read this one, I definitely recommend picking this one up!

Esther

beautiful story about family, loss, jealousy, love and of braking out of set expectations. .. and a curse

 I mean, everything in this whole wide, wild universe has one beginning. One place where everything, all of matter, converged into a speck one trillionth the size of a period.
Let me repeat that, because I can scarcely fathom it myself. 

also, it made me cry while driving across Europe in the snow.

“Sorry,” I say.
“What are you sorry about?” he asks, angling his head so we can look right at each other.
I shrug. “None of it, actually.”

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received an e-arc and a finished copy of the book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe

Author: Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

Book Series: Standalone

Diversity: twin, fat, Mexican American MC rep
Mexican American side characters
Latinx characters
Disabled character

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: Young adult readers, contemporary

Genre: YA Contemporary

Publication Date: August 10, 2021

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Pages: 415

Recommended Age: 15+ (Sexual content, Body shaming, Slut shaming, Abelism, Racism, Colorism, Violence, Child abuse TW, Emotional abuse, cyberbullying, homophobia, Suicide TW, Fatphobia, Romance)

Explanation of CWs: Mentions of sex and sexual activity. Fatphobia and body and slut shaming are integral to the story. There's also abelist, racist, and colorist comments made to the characters. Child abuse is mentioned as well as threats of institutionalization.

Synopsis: When her twin sister reaches social media stardom, Moon Fuentez accepts her fate as the ugly, unwanted sister hidden in the background, destined to be nothing more than her sister’s camerawoman. But this summer, Moon also takes a job as the “merch girl” on a tour bus full of beautiful influencers and her fate begins to shift in the best way possible.

Most notable is her bunkmate and new nemesis, Santiago Phillips, who is grumpy, combative, and also the hottest guy Moon has ever seen.

Moon is certain she hates Santiago and that he hates her back. But as chance and destiny (and maybe, probably, close proximity) bring the two of them in each other’s perpetual paths, Moon starts to wonder if that’s really true. She even starts to question her destiny as the unnoticed, unloved wallflower she always thought she was.

Could this summer change Moon’s life as she knows it?

Review: For the most part I enjoyed this book. The book is so sweetly wrote and I love the rep in it. I also love how well the characters are developed and the world building was wonderfully well done. I also thought that the book did well to discuss Fatphobia in today's world and how social media influences that. I also love the sex positive message in this book and it was one I definitely needed to read.

However, the book is really hard to get into. The style that it's wrote in is a little hard to get used to and the pacing is slow. The book also goes back and forth a lot in the time line so it makes it hard to keep where you are.

Verdict: It's good just took a lot for me to get into.

Leelynn Brady

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to TBR & Beyond Tours, Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, Netgalley, and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.


Gosh I am so ANGRY right now! Why? For a bunch of reasons. The main one is that it’s freaking OVER.

But honestly, this was one of the best books that I’ve read this year, and I am so freaking honored to have had the chance to read it. Also, can I just say shout out to Kyla Garcia for being the best narrator and portraying Moon Fuentez so freaking perfectly?!

Okay back to why I’m angry. And trust me, this may seem weird but this is also why I loved reading this story by the time everything was said and done. MOON’S MOTHER AND SISTER ARE SUCH JERKS TO HER! My gosh, I felt so damn terrible for Moon because of all of their abuse! Yes, there is abuse in this story, mostly in the form of emotional and verbal abuse and instance of physical abuse.

"If she really believed in that, she wouldn't treat you the way she does."
Tell her, Santiago!


Let’s listen to this: Star is Moon’s twin. Star is a “Fotogram” influencer and gets sponsorships and whatnot right? However, since they were 14 years old, Moon was volun-TOLD to be Star’s photographer, editor, etc. Everything she’s had to do was to make Star look beautiful and perfect for the ‘gram. Apparently Moon can’t be anything by herself, according to the words and actions of both her sister and their mother. You can even see what they really think about her in what they say to her. There’s an instance where Moon believes that Santiago doesn’t believe her when she says that her mom doesn’t even really love her, so she calls her. That whole conversation just blew me away because wow… yeah Mama Fuentez gives no shits about Moon whatsover. It was heartbreaking to hear it, to be quite honest.

"You might want to think about coming home, mija. My knife might slip."
But enough about Star and Mama Fuentez. I can’t stand them right now, especially after everything that happened I have no sympathy for them whatsoever.

The real STAR of this novel is Moon Fuentez, the sister that is considered “ugly” or “unimportant” or “a nobody” because my girl is a true somebody. She was just never felt to feel that way by those close to her, which is a damn shame. Not only is she an amazing photographer – a fact that I think really makes Star jealous because in reality, Moon is the reason why she’s so aesthetic… and probably what made her get all those followers to become an influencer but I’ll be quiet about that – but she’s amazing at artwork. She creates her own fonts, and she’s designed her own tarot deck. I mean, she’s hella artistic and yet she’s not allowed to pursue that on her own free time because of her mother and sister.

Listen, I understand that people have their ways of coping with grief and loss. I get that, but there are certain things that I just can’t condone. Again, that’s my opinion, and I could be biased because I don’t appreciate how they treated my precious Moon Fuentez.


Gosh everything that she has done for her family only to be treated like crap?! Ughhh okay I can’t talk about this. I’m already so angry again thinking about this crap.

Long story short: going through Moon’s journey during this summer that she didn’t even want to be a part of was an emotional ride. It was one that happens so often in real life but that a lot of people may not talk about or admit. It’s one that shows a young woman trying to be her own person in a world that doesn’t even see her, or learning that she is worth so much more than what she was meant to. I’m so glad that Moon has her Tia in her life, because that was the one person that always made Moon understand and feel that she was not everything that her mother said she was.

I’m literally crying thinking about Moon at her lowest point, and even listening to the threatening messages from Mama Fuentez. I cried when hearing Tia’s fierce protection and loyalty for Moon, knowing that she will be okay without her nuclear family. This was just such an emotional novel all around, even the happy moments that were sprinkled here and there. This happens to be my first novel from Vasquez Gilliland and wow, her writing is absolutely powerful. I really want to read the rest of her novels, even if I end up getting emotionally distraught.

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe

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