Review: Wild Beauty

Rating: ★★★★½

I received this book for free through BookLikes’ Giveaways.

This was such a unique read. I have never read anything quite like this before. It’s really hard to explain what this book is about, because you kind of have to read it for yourself to find out.

I loved a lot about this book. First there was all the diversity! All the main characters are Latinx. In addition there was also great LGBT rep. All 5 of the girls were bisexual and had a crush on the same girl, and the girl they had a crush on ended up being genderqueer.

I loved the writing style of the book as well. The author writes so beautifully. The atmosphere the author creates is magical. In general, I loved the Latino folktale vibe of the entire book. It was so refreshing to read a book from that perspective. I also really liked all the witch allusions. The women were often referred to as witches and that word just holds so many connotations. It really showed how feared these women were but also their strength.

This is random, but I liked how the book talked about periods. Periods are mentioned a few times and I’m glad the author mentioned them because it is a part of life and being a woman.

There was one passage that I really loved and want to share:

“As though their daughters loving men and women meant they wanted all of them in the world. There was no way to tell their mothers the truth and make them believe it, that hearts that loved boys and girls were no more reckless or easily won than any other heart. They loved who they loved. They broke how they broke. And the way it happened depended less on what was under their lovers’ clothes and more on what was wrapped inside their spirits” (242).

I thought this was so powerful and showed that love is love while also dispelling the common belief that bisexuals are promiscuous.

The only thing I didn’t like about the book was that it still felt like things were unresolved at the end. I had wanted a bit more than what I got.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and if you are looking for a different kind of read, then consider picking this book up.