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The Victoria in My Head Janelle Milanes Books

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The Victoria in My Head Janelle Milanes Books

Okay, here's the thing....I wasn't sure The Victoria in My Head by Janelle Milanes was going to be a book for me. I typically don't read books where the main character is 15 or younger, but at a certain point, I was hooked. Despite Victoria making some bad calls and despite the love interest appearing to be a typical "bad boy" who hooks up with girls and can't remember their names, I fell for this book. HARD.

Victoria is an overworked fifteen-year-old with a golden voice and strict parents. They want her to go to Harvard (it's not mentioned, or I missed it, what she's going to Harvard for) and being in a rock band is not on their agenda for her. Throughout this fun story, we witness Victoria's ups and downs and live vicariously through her. She's surrounded by lovable, complex, real characters in her family and friend group, and I wanted to be part of them by the end of the book. There were total swoon moments and moments where I was like, "Oh no, Victoria, what are you doing?"

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's a fun, wild ride filled with music and friends and drama and mixed feelings and aaaah. Just do yourself a favor and buy it.


Tags : Amazon.com: The Victoria in My Head (9781481480895): Janelle Milanes: Books,Janelle Milanes,The Victoria in My Head,Simon Pulse,1481480898,Family - General,Romance - Contemporary,Social Themes - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance,Bands (Music),Bands (Music);Fiction.,Cuban Americans,Dating (Social customs),Musicians,Musicians;Fiction.,New York (N.Y.),Preparatory schools,Rock groups,Rock groups;Fiction.,Schools,Young adult fiction,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Fiction-Romance,JUVENILE,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Grades 7-9 Ages 12-14,Romance; coming-of-age; lead singer; band; New York City; Cuban-American; funny; friendship; love triangle; Kasie West; Morgan Matson; music; playlists; debut,TEEN'S FICTION - COMING OF AGE,TEEN'S FICTION ROMANCE,United States,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Family General (see also headings under Social Themes),YOUNG ADULT FICTION Romance Contemporary,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance,Young Adult FictionFamily - General (see also headings under Social Themes),Young Adult FictionRomance - Contemporary

The Victoria in My Head Janelle Milanes Books Reviews

The Author's explicit details of every Character was genius! The book reflects the daily life and struggles High School Students face, Real Sign of the Times! Victoria is a first generation American girl who finds humor in practically everything, even when facing obstacles as she tries to fulfill her family's dreams and expectations. She does a great job integrating her culture into this wonderful read!
I've never related to a book more in my life. What a beautiful portrayal of overcoming fears, straddling two cultures, and facing love head on. This book was like listening to a favorite song over and over again while getting it stuck in your head. In two days, I devoured it and I'm going to miss these characters so much. Especially, Cutlet. ;)
Cubanitas for the win!
I LOVED this book!!! It’s a funny, fast-paced read that features a diverse cast of characters. Victoria and her Cuban-American family are SO relatable and lovable. I also loved Victoria’s friends! Annie and the bandmates are amazing. I wish I could be friends with them! Oh, and the hate-to-love sexual tension between Victoria and Strand is absolutely perfect.

The Latinx representation was definitely there, expertly weaved throughout the book without using stereotypes. I particularly loved the quince rehearsals and actual quince towards the end— we’ve all danced in a prima’s quince at some point in our lives! Victoria’s parents were very involved in her life, which is great to see. They obviously cared deeply for Victoria, but they also inadvertently put a lot of pressure on her to achieve The American Dream and attend an Ivy League college. I thought this aspect was handled really well— as the daughter of immigrant parents, I related to this SO. HARD. The pressure of making your parents’ sacrifice worth it can be overwhelming at times, and Janelle portrayed this PERFECTLY.

Even though the Latinx elements were definitely there, I also just really liked that this book featured a Latina main character without being a book “about the issues.” It was kind of like Jane the Virgin in that way. Yes, Victoria is Latina, but that’s not the main topic of the book. She is a normal high school student, going through normal high school things. Watching Victoria grow throughout the book as she experience so many “firsts” is really important for young readers to see. This is the book I needed in high school! As a teen, I never found any books that featured someone like me— I’m so happy that this book is in the world! I can’t wait to read other books by Janelle Milanes.
I’m not a voracious reader of romance novels for any age group. This book, however, completely caught me off guard. I won’t say that the book wasn’t predictable. It was, but it would have been disappointing if it had not been predictable.

Without giving too many details away, Victoria Cruz is growing up in a world where all outcomes are designed to please what she thinks others are expecting of her. The Victoria in her head wants so much to be her own person, but she has a hard time dealing with what she thinks her parents reactions will be. Her Cuban parents gave up everything in Cuba and have worked so hard in the United States to give Victoria and her brother the life that is often unavailable in countries like Cuba. Victoria, like so many children of immigrant parents, feels like telling them that she doesn’t want to become a doctor and graduate from Harvard will disappoint them in a way she’s not ready to accept. When she finally takes the plunge and starts rebelling in small ways (which she does with help from her best friend, Annie), Victoria finally starts feeling like herself. In doing this, of course, she lies to her parents, hiding her real self once she begins acting more like the “Victoria in her head.”

Here’s where the predictability sets in. Does Victoria get in over her head with the lies she’s telling to others? Yes. Does she inevitably have to face some truths that she’s been trying to hide from herself? Maybe. Does everything turn out well in the end? Quite possibly, but I don’t want to give any spoilers!

But as I mentioned, that’s not a disadvantage in this case! The version of herself that she tries to hide is a person who is passionate, easy-going, and even incredibly funny. In one passage, Victoria complains about a part of her female anatomy in a way that is “lmao” funny, but in a way that most anyone, regardless of gender, can empathize with. Herein lies Victoria’s real value. She’s a very likable character who makes questionable decisions (just like any of us), is afraid of disappointing her parents, sometimes is a little self-centered, but not maliciously. Readers will want her to succeed, to make the person she is in her head a reality.

Because of her Cuban background, the reader gets a taste of the Latinidad that she identifies with (large family gatherings, celebrating Noche Buena with her abuelita who never lets an opportunity to comment on Victoria’s vegetarianism pass, learning choreographed salsa dances because you’re in your cousin’s quince court). The thing that Milanes does particularly well is she makes Victoria more than just a Cuban-American. While her parents are a little obsessed with her being an exemplary child (for legitimate reasons, of course), Victoria is not defined just by her Cuban identity or her Latina ethnicity. Instead, those things are small parts of the compilation that is a more real representation of identity where she comes from is important, but so is what she likes and dislikes, who she meshes well with, what her dreams are. The way that Milanes creates a “whole package” character in Victoria is what shines brightest in this book.
Okay, here's the thing....I wasn't sure The Victoria in My Head by Janelle Milanes was going to be a book for me. I typically don't read books where the main character is 15 or younger, but at a certain point, I was hooked. Despite Victoria making some bad calls and despite the love interest appearing to be a typical "bad boy" who hooks up with girls and can't remember their names, I fell for this book. HARD.

Victoria is an overworked fifteen-year-old with a golden voice and strict parents. They want her to go to Harvard (it's not mentioned, or I missed it, what she's going to Harvard for) and being in a rock band is not on their agenda for her. Throughout this fun story, we witness Victoria's ups and downs and live vicariously through her. She's surrounded by lovable, complex, real characters in her family and friend group, and I wanted to be part of them by the end of the book. There were total swoon moments and moments where I was like, "Oh no, Victoria, what are you doing?"

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's a fun, wild ride filled with music and friends and drama and mixed feelings and aaaah. Just do yourself a favor and buy it.