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How Maya Got Fierce
The Bold Type meets Younger in How Maya Got Fierce by Sona Charaipotra, a YA fish-out-of-water contemporary novel!
Ever since she was little, farmer's daughter Maya Gera has known what her future holds.
The heiress to a mini garlic empire in the heart of Gilroy, California, she's meant to be a good Indian girl -- which means agriculture school, an MBA, and settling down with a suitable Sikh boy.
So spending her 17th summer at cow camp in New Jersey is a really big deal. Farm kids nationwide convene to learn to milk cows, shuck corn, and, uh, form 'strategic alliances.' But when Maya gets kicked out of camp after an expensive accident -- yes, it involves a boy -- she scrambles to save face and keep her parents from finding out. Hard to do when she owes the school thousands of dollars.
Desperate to earn enough to pay off her mistake, Maya interviews for an internship at Fierce, a fashion magazine she's been obsessed with forever. When she lands a gig as assistant features editor, it's a New York City dream come true. Especially because she rocks at it.
But it might soon become her worst nightmare -- because the Fierce folks think she's 26.
And just wait until her parents find out.
An Imprint Book
Ever since she was little, farmer's daughter Maya Gera has known what her future holds.
The heiress to a mini garlic empire in the heart of Gilroy, California, she's meant to be a good Indian girl -- which means agriculture school, an MBA, and settling down with a suitable Sikh boy.
So spending her 17th summer at cow camp in New Jersey is a really big deal. Farm kids nationwide convene to learn to milk cows, shuck corn, and, uh, form 'strategic alliances.' But when Maya gets kicked out of camp after an expensive accident -- yes, it involves a boy -- she scrambles to save face and keep her parents from finding out. Hard to do when she owes the school thousands of dollars.
Desperate to earn enough to pay off her mistake, Maya interviews for an internship at Fierce, a fashion magazine she's been obsessed with forever. When she lands a gig as assistant features editor, it's a New York City dream come true. Especially because she rocks at it.
But it might soon become her worst nightmare -- because the Fierce folks think she's 26.
And just wait until her parents find out.
An Imprint Book
288 pages, Hardcover
First published July 12, 2022
5 people are currently reading
708 people want to read
About the author
Sona Charaipotra
15 books693 followersThe author of the YA doc dramedy Symptoms of a Heartbreak, SONA CHARAIPOTRA is not a doctor — much to her pediatrician parents’ chagrin. They were really hoping she’d grow up to take over their practice one day.
Instead, she became a writer, working first as a celebrity reporter at People and (the dearly departed) TeenPeople magazines, and more recently contributing to publications from the New York Times to TeenVogue. She was also the editor of the Barnes & Noble Teen blog. These days, she uses her Masters in screenwriting from NYU and her MFA in creative writing from the New School to poke plot holes in her favorite teen TV shows — for work of course. She’s the co-founder of CAKE Literary, a boutique book packaging company with a decidedly diverse bent, and the co-author of the YA dance dramas Tiny Pretty Things and Shiny Broken Pieces (now a Netflix original series!), as well as the upcoming psychological thriller Rumor Game. Her follow-up to Symptoms will be the YA contemporary romp How Maya Got Fierce, which draws on her magazine world experience and is pitched as the Bold Type meets Younger. She’s a former We Need Diverse Books board member. Find her sharing pictures of her kids and her chai on Instagram @sonesone2, talking writing and books on Twitter @sona_c, or pinning gorgeous lenghas and her favorite Indian food on Pinterest.
Instead, she became a writer, working first as a celebrity reporter at People and (the dearly departed) TeenPeople magazines, and more recently contributing to publications from the New York Times to TeenVogue. She was also the editor of the Barnes & Noble Teen blog. These days, she uses her Masters in screenwriting from NYU and her MFA in creative writing from the New School to poke plot holes in her favorite teen TV shows — for work of course. She’s the co-founder of CAKE Literary, a boutique book packaging company with a decidedly diverse bent, and the co-author of the YA dance dramas Tiny Pretty Things and Shiny Broken Pieces (now a Netflix original series!), as well as the upcoming psychological thriller Rumor Game. Her follow-up to Symptoms will be the YA contemporary romp How Maya Got Fierce, which draws on her magazine world experience and is pitched as the Bold Type meets Younger. She’s a former We Need Diverse Books board member. Find her sharing pictures of her kids and her chai on Instagram @sonesone2, talking writing and books on Twitter @sona_c, or pinning gorgeous lenghas and her favorite Indian food on Pinterest.
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July 20, 2022Reading this book in the same month that I watched Ms Marvel was like a double shot of fireworks and fun. A book featuring Desi characters from the unglamorous garlic capital of California, where usually no one stops except to get gas? Bring it!
For me, this book was also a double shot of wish-fulfillment. If you can buy a competitive, fast-moving boss in the fashion media world accepting a seventeen-year-old for a full-time job by accident, then the book will work.
Because one thing Charaipotra does is make it clear that though Cinderella got to the ball, she had to work hard for her jump from PA to princess. Along the way we get to know Maya's family members, and of course there is a cute guy. Maya cheerfully throws herself into the ninety-hour-week crazy that is the media life she always wanted, and watching her excel is just plain fun.
I enjoyed the book from beginning to end, and I hope we get to see a lot more that celebrates diversity and success.
For me, this book was also a double shot of wish-fulfillment. If you can buy a competitive, fast-moving boss in the fashion media world accepting a seventeen-year-old for a full-time job by accident, then the book will work.
Because one thing Charaipotra does is make it clear that though Cinderella got to the ball, she had to work hard for her jump from PA to princess. Along the way we get to know Maya's family members, and of course there is a cute guy. Maya cheerfully throws herself into the ninety-hour-week crazy that is the media life she always wanted, and watching her excel is just plain fun.
I enjoyed the book from beginning to end, and I hope we get to see a lot more that celebrates diversity and success.
July 15, 2022
An Indian American farm girl from California spends the summer chasing her dreams of working at a fashion magazine in NYC. This #ownvoices YA romance had lots of Devil wears Prada crossed with 13 going on 30 vibes and a great cast of secondary characters. Maya mistakenly gets hired as an assistant features editor at her favorite fashion magazine, Fierce. Everyone assumes she's a 26 year old (not the 17 year old she actually is). Cue the inevitable disaster when the truth comes to light but it was a fun journey getting there. I really enjoyed the story on audio narrated by Soneela Nankani and recommend it for fans of SK Ali or Sajni Patel.
CW: trauma from a mass shooting (happened in the past), ADHD rep
CW: trauma from a mass shooting (happened in the past), ADHD rep
Want to read
September 1, 2020September 01, 2020: THIS IDEA of someone acting of an older age for opportunities...IS SO GOOD OMG
Did not finish
July 11, 2022It wasn't you How Maya Got Fierce it was totally me. My mood has struck again and I wanted something to be faster paced and unfortunately this book was the casualty. I loved Desi characters and culture within the book and I learned a lot from it. It is something I haven't read a lot of in the past. I wish the Fierce storyline with Maya actually working at Fierce was introduced sooner in the story, but that's a personal preference. I may go back to the novel at some point, but for now it's sadly a DNF. It is no fault of the story or author's work, but completely on my mood. DNF at 52 % (Chapter 13).
Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 11, 2025
trigger warning and other info at the end of the review
This book was . . . interesting. Let's break it down a bit.
“‘We’ll make it fun,’ Ranbir says, dipping his bread again. ‘Pooper-scooper!’” (45)
Things I liked about the book!
Starting off positive. I really liked the vibe and flow of the story. It made the it easy to just sit down and binge read, which is something I like in books like this! The writing was also good too. It wasn't the most flowery or beautiful, but it did what it set out to do, and it was easy for me to get lost in the story because of it.
Things I didn't like about the book!
I think a list would better organize my thoughts on this one.
1) There was no chemistry between Maya and her supposed "love interests." I think part of it was because it moved so fast, but it was a little disappointing because I love a good romance. Also, remind me why they like Maya?
2) Maya did stupid stuff. And here's the thing, was that realistic? I'd like to think (as someone who is also 17) that I wouldn't do some of the things Maya did that I thought were . . . unprofessional . . . but I could also see people in my high school doing and saying the same things? So it felt weird to me. She seemed way younger than her age at times, but I've also been told I seem way older than my age, so maybe this one if just a me thing.
3) It gave off very Buzzfeed-Allure vibes. Which, yeah. Duh. But it read like something twelve year old me would've loved. We don't talk about me when I was younger. This brings back PTSD from getting advice off of the "What bagel are you quiz" and the "What is your dream job? We'll tell you after just 5 simple questions!" (Side note: that bagel quiz on Buzzfeed is brutal 😭)
4) What was the message of the book tho? That's all I'm gonna say on this one.
OVERALL, I like the book! It was easy to read and held my interest enough. I've also been studying for my SAT, so this was a good thing to read before bed after a long day of work.
_________________book info____________________
Genre(s): YA, Romance, Contemporary
Recommended Age Rating: 12+
Reasons Why: Language (including the f-word on multiple occasions), romance (making out and talk of hooking up)
Recommended for Fans of: Fashion magazines and online personality quizzes
Overall Rating: B-
Brief Summary: Seventeen year old Maya Gera's Punjabi family owns a garlic farm in California where they live and breathe garlic. As the oldest, it's Maya's responsibility to take over the family farm. When her parents send her to Cow Camp -- where all the other farm heirs go to learn about expanding and running a farm -- Maya does what is expected of her.
Until she doesn't.
Cow Camp is in New Jersey, right across from New York City. Staying with her cousin Roop for the summer sounds like fun, especially once she learns that Roop's girlfriend works at Maya's favorite magazine.
Is farm life really what Maya wants? Is that something she can choose to let go?
____________________
So many mixed feelings 😭 RTC
This book was . . . interesting. Let's break it down a bit.
“‘We’ll make it fun,’ Ranbir says, dipping his bread again. ‘Pooper-scooper!’” (45)
Things I liked about the book!
Starting off positive. I really liked the vibe and flow of the story. It made the it easy to just sit down and binge read, which is something I like in books like this! The writing was also good too. It wasn't the most flowery or beautiful, but it did what it set out to do, and it was easy for me to get lost in the story because of it.
Things I didn't like about the book!
I think a list would better organize my thoughts on this one.
1) There was no chemistry between Maya and her supposed "love interests." I think part of it was because it moved so fast, but it was a little disappointing because I love a good romance. Also, remind me why they like Maya?
2) Maya did stupid stuff. And here's the thing, was that realistic? I'd like to think (as someone who is also 17) that I wouldn't do some of the things Maya did that I thought were . . . unprofessional . . . but I could also see people in my high school doing and saying the same things? So it felt weird to me. She seemed way younger than her age at times, but I've also been told I seem way older than my age, so maybe this one if just a me thing.
3) It gave off very Buzzfeed-Allure vibes. Which, yeah. Duh. But it read like something twelve year old me would've loved. We don't talk about me when I was younger. This brings back PTSD from getting advice off of the "What bagel are you quiz" and the "What is your dream job? We'll tell you after just 5 simple questions!" (Side note: that bagel quiz on Buzzfeed is brutal 😭)
4) What was the message of the book tho? That's all I'm gonna say on this one.
OVERALL, I like the book! It was easy to read and held my interest enough. I've also been studying for my SAT, so this was a good thing to read before bed after a long day of work.
_________________book info____________________
Genre(s): YA, Romance, Contemporary
Recommended Age Rating: 12+
Reasons Why: Language (including the f-word on multiple occasions), romance (making out and talk of hooking up)
Recommended for Fans of: Fashion magazines and online personality quizzes
Overall Rating: B-
Brief Summary: Seventeen year old Maya Gera's Punjabi family owns a garlic farm in California where they live and breathe garlic. As the oldest, it's Maya's responsibility to take over the family farm. When her parents send her to Cow Camp -- where all the other farm heirs go to learn about expanding and running a farm -- Maya does what is expected of her.
Until she doesn't.
Cow Camp is in New Jersey, right across from New York City. Staying with her cousin Roop for the summer sounds like fun, especially once she learns that Roop's girlfriend works at Maya's favorite magazine.
Is farm life really what Maya wants? Is that something she can choose to let go?
____________________
So many mixed feelings 😭 RTC
June 29, 2022
Thank you so much to Feiwel & Friends for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Ooooh this was such a fun read! Sona Charaipotra always has such entertaining novels and How Maya Got Fierce was no different. The premise of the novel was incredibly interesting. In this book, seventeen-year-old Maya, daughter of parents who run a garlic empire in Gilroy, California, being sent to cow camp for the summer only to be drawn into working for her favorite magazine, Fierce (unbeknownst to her parents). She applies for an internship at the magazine but through some miscommunication, accidentally ends up applying for a full-time editorial position (meant for actual adults, not seventeen-year-old high schoolers).
This book felt like the perfect summer teen movie, full of themes like pursuing your passions, friendship, new love, and finding your voice even as a young South Asian girl. I loved how passionate Maya was, even if she was deathly afraid of screwing up and disappointing her friends and family, as well as her mentors and co-workers at Fierce. I truly was living vicariously through her life at Fierce, and I actually really liked how the conflict and climax of Maya lying about her age when joining Fierce was resolved. It didn't feel cliché at all, and honestly more refreshing than storylines that contain this trope.
I also loved the themes of important topics within South Asian communities, such as homophobia, inter-faith relationships, and classism among diaspora communities. Maya's final piece about the young mothers among the Punjabi community in the Central Valley of California was really touching. There aren't many South Asian YA novels that focus on the families within the Punjabi diaspora, especially the families of Punjabi farmers. Even if Maya and her friends had their differences at cow camp, I really liked how they banded together at the end to help out with Maya's story at Fierce.
The romance in this book was also super cute! I'm obsessed with Maya and Ranbir and I liked how this book dealt with the complications of first/new love. However, I think the book could have gone without Xander being a love interest. Their "relationship" made me really uncomfortable considering Maya is a minor, and it was obvious that Xander was aware of that pretty early on during her time at Fierce.
Overall, I'd give this novel 4 stars! It was honestly a really short read and I think it could have easily had 25-50 more pages to not make the story as faced paced (I literally finished this within a 4-hour flight). As much as I've enjoyed Sona's previous novels, I think How Maya Got Fierce is definitely my favorite now!
Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!
Ooooh this was such a fun read! Sona Charaipotra always has such entertaining novels and How Maya Got Fierce was no different. The premise of the novel was incredibly interesting. In this book, seventeen-year-old Maya, daughter of parents who run a garlic empire in Gilroy, California, being sent to cow camp for the summer only to be drawn into working for her favorite magazine, Fierce (unbeknownst to her parents). She applies for an internship at the magazine but through some miscommunication, accidentally ends up applying for a full-time editorial position (meant for actual adults, not seventeen-year-old high schoolers).
This book felt like the perfect summer teen movie, full of themes like pursuing your passions, friendship, new love, and finding your voice even as a young South Asian girl. I loved how passionate Maya was, even if she was deathly afraid of screwing up and disappointing her friends and family, as well as her mentors and co-workers at Fierce. I truly was living vicariously through her life at Fierce, and I actually really liked how the conflict and climax of Maya lying about her age when joining Fierce was resolved. It didn't feel cliché at all, and honestly more refreshing than storylines that contain this trope.
I also loved the themes of important topics within South Asian communities, such as homophobia, inter-faith relationships, and classism among diaspora communities. Maya's final piece about the young mothers among the Punjabi community in the Central Valley of California was really touching. There aren't many South Asian YA novels that focus on the families within the Punjabi diaspora, especially the families of Punjabi farmers. Even if Maya and her friends had their differences at cow camp, I really liked how they banded together at the end to help out with Maya's story at Fierce.
The romance in this book was also super cute! I'm obsessed with Maya and Ranbir and I liked how this book dealt with the complications of first/new love. However, I think the book could have gone without Xander being a love interest. Their "relationship" made me really uncomfortable considering Maya is a minor, and it was obvious that Xander was aware of that pretty early on during her time at Fierce.
Overall, I'd give this novel 4 stars! It was honestly a really short read and I think it could have easily had 25-50 more pages to not make the story as faced paced (I literally finished this within a 4-hour flight). As much as I've enjoyed Sona's previous novels, I think How Maya Got Fierce is definitely my favorite now!
Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!
June 29, 2025
my oh my is this a fun one
*big thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC to read and honestly review*
Maya is a force to be reckoned with and truly is the heart of this story. She dreams big and she knows she one day wants to get her name printed in Fierce magazine. When one small mistake lands her the role, it seems like all of Maya’s dreams are coming true. Only problem? The internship she applied for is actually a job, and the magazine thinks she is 26.
Sounds like an interesting premise, right? I thought so too. Once we got the part of the story where Maya was actually at Fierce, the pages just flew by. However, it took a hot minute for the story to actually get to that place. Due to this, the pace at the beginning felt a bit slow in the beginning, but luckily picked up in the mid to end section.
But do you know what wasn’t slow at all? The romance. I wish we could have had a bit more build-up when it came to the romance. A bit of tension, maybe, to make the pay-off that much more rewarding. Because once we got into the depth of the romance, it was so sweet.
Though the weird semblance of another romance going on was weird. Maya acknowledges that anything happening with Xander is weird given their workplace positions and the fact that Maya is literally 17. But there were still inklings (and more) throughout the book??? I really could have gone without. The relationship between Maya and Xander would have been much better as simply a supportive friendship, without kindlings of romance.
That aside, the character development really shines. Maya really got fierce throughout the book and watching her come into the role and pursue her own dreams is so much fun.
3.5 Overall, the familial elements, strong friendship (though the phrase "truckbois" could have been used like 48% less), and just the premise in general make for a really fun read. It definitely takes a hot minute to get into the groove of this one, but once you get into the thick of the story it really does pay off!
*big thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC to read and honestly review*
Maya is a force to be reckoned with and truly is the heart of this story. She dreams big and she knows she one day wants to get her name printed in Fierce magazine. When one small mistake lands her the role, it seems like all of Maya’s dreams are coming true. Only problem? The internship she applied for is actually a job, and the magazine thinks she is 26.
Sounds like an interesting premise, right? I thought so too. Once we got the part of the story where Maya was actually at Fierce, the pages just flew by. However, it took a hot minute for the story to actually get to that place. Due to this, the pace at the beginning felt a bit slow in the beginning, but luckily picked up in the mid to end section.
But do you know what wasn’t slow at all? The romance. I wish we could have had a bit more build-up when it came to the romance. A bit of tension, maybe, to make the pay-off that much more rewarding. Because once we got into the depth of the romance, it was so sweet.
Though the weird semblance of another romance going on was weird. Maya acknowledges that anything happening with Xander is weird given their workplace positions and the fact that Maya is literally 17. But there were still inklings (and more) throughout the book??? I really could have gone without. The relationship between Maya and Xander would have been much better as simply a supportive friendship, without kindlings of romance.
That aside, the character development really shines. Maya really got fierce throughout the book and watching her come into the role and pursue her own dreams is so much fun.
3.5 Overall, the familial elements, strong friendship (though the phrase "truckbois" could have been used like 48% less), and just the premise in general make for a really fun read. It definitely takes a hot minute to get into the groove of this one, but once you get into the thick of the story it really does pay off!
June 29, 2022
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I shamelessly binged episodes of Younger within the last year or two, so I was looking forward to reading a book with a similar premise. It turns out lying about one's age so one appears older is, somehow, much worse than lying to appear younger--probably because Maya is a literal teenager. Between that and her quitting Cow Camp without telling her parents, I was more uncomfortable than I expected to be. Sona Charaipotra tries to justify the lies and explain some of the suspension of disbelief (i.e., how the folks at the magazine did not know that she wasn't actually twenty-six), but it didn't totally work for me.
What DID work is the cultural aspect. I loved learning about Maya's home life and Punjabi traditions, especially her relationship with her mom and cousin. The descriptions of food are also excellent--it was almost impossible to not be hungry by the time I finished a chapter--and the trip to the gurdwara is fascinating. The romance is also cute and, though on the dramatic side, feels fairly organic.
It's not perfect, but if you can get past some of the ethical dilemmas it's a sweet read.
I shamelessly binged episodes of Younger within the last year or two, so I was looking forward to reading a book with a similar premise. It turns out lying about one's age so one appears older is, somehow, much worse than lying to appear younger--probably because Maya is a literal teenager. Between that and her quitting Cow Camp without telling her parents, I was more uncomfortable than I expected to be. Sona Charaipotra tries to justify the lies and explain some of the suspension of disbelief (i.e., how the folks at the magazine did not know that she wasn't actually twenty-six), but it didn't totally work for me.
What DID work is the cultural aspect. I loved learning about Maya's home life and Punjabi traditions, especially her relationship with her mom and cousin. The descriptions of food are also excellent--it was almost impossible to not be hungry by the time I finished a chapter--and the trip to the gurdwara is fascinating. The romance is also cute and, though on the dramatic side, feels fairly organic.
It's not perfect, but if you can get past some of the ethical dilemmas it's a sweet read.
August 31, 2022
I thought this was a fun story and the comparisons to the tv show Younger (which I loved) were fair ones.
Maya knows her future and she knows it isn’t up for debate. Her parents have a garlic farm and Maya will run the farm some day (like it or not). Maya begrudgingly goes along with her parents’ plans and tries not to wish for more. Things change the summer before senior year when they send her away to cow camp. Yes, cow camp. A lot of teenagers from her area get sent there. It’s step one in the family plan.
Maya is excited to find her crush is there too but his ex girlfriend is there too.
Maya is also very pleasantly surprised when she finds out her cousin’s girlfriend works at her favorite magazine Fierce. Her cousin actually got Maya a subscription to the magazine when she was ten and she’s been reading it religiously ever since.
One day, her cousin’s girlfriend takes Maya along to help out on a project at work. Just being at the magazine’s head quarters is amazing but what eventually happens is even more so.Maya applies for an intern job but accidentally gets hired for an actual job. By the time she realizes this, she’s fallen in love with the idea of writing for the magazine. She knows that lying about her age is wrong but she wants to hold onto the job for as long as she can. She figures at the end of the summer she’ll have to go back home regardless.
I enjoyed this story. It was fun but it was also interesting to see Maya trying to tackle some real issues at the magazine. It was good to see her get to discover dreams of her own.
Maya knows her future and she knows it isn’t up for debate. Her parents have a garlic farm and Maya will run the farm some day (like it or not). Maya begrudgingly goes along with her parents’ plans and tries not to wish for more. Things change the summer before senior year when they send her away to cow camp. Yes, cow camp. A lot of teenagers from her area get sent there. It’s step one in the family plan.
Maya is excited to find her crush is there too but his ex girlfriend is there too.
Maya is also very pleasantly surprised when she finds out her cousin’s girlfriend works at her favorite magazine Fierce. Her cousin actually got Maya a subscription to the magazine when she was ten and she’s been reading it religiously ever since.
One day, her cousin’s girlfriend takes Maya along to help out on a project at work. Just being at the magazine’s head quarters is amazing but what eventually happens is even more so.Maya applies for an intern job but accidentally gets hired for an actual job. By the time she realizes this, she’s fallen in love with the idea of writing for the magazine. She knows that lying about her age is wrong but she wants to hold onto the job for as long as she can. She figures at the end of the summer she’ll have to go back home regardless.
I enjoyed this story. It was fun but it was also interesting to see Maya trying to tackle some real issues at the magazine. It was good to see her get to discover dreams of her own.
July 13, 2022
I love this story. Opportunities and determination are a couple of my favorite things in stories and this book has it all.
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I love that this is Younger meets The Bold Type (two tv shows that I loved watching). Maya mistakenly gets the assistant features editor position and now has to lie to everyone in order to fulfill her dream of working at Fierce magazine.
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Maya has ambitions and she's good at writing. I like that she wants to diversify the publication because it means something to her.
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Overall, I was happy to have read this book and loved the whole experience. Maya's story was a fun, unforgettable one.
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Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
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I love that this is Younger meets The Bold Type (two tv shows that I loved watching). Maya mistakenly gets the assistant features editor position and now has to lie to everyone in order to fulfill her dream of working at Fierce magazine.
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Maya has ambitions and she's good at writing. I like that she wants to diversify the publication because it means something to her.
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Overall, I was happy to have read this book and loved the whole experience. Maya's story was a fun, unforgettable one.
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Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
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August 6, 2022Trigger & Content Warnings:
Mass shooting recounted
Mass shooting recounted
March 20, 2025
*actual rating is 3.25 stars*
January 19, 2022
How Maya Got Fierce is the story of a sixteen year old Indo-American who is trying to fulfill her dream for an internship in the magazine 'Fierce'. The only problem is, she got hired as an assistant features editor and her bosses think she is 26. And to make matters worse, not even her Punjabi, garlic farm owner parent's know about this.
Being an NRI myself, I was instantly attracted to this book, and my instincts were not wrong. I loved Maya's character, and related with her on many levels. Although there are many American qualities about her, I loved how she is still deeply rooted to her culture, cuisine, and language. Speaking of the story itself, I found the concept very intriguing and that didn't disappoint. I also liked how the author made reference to the LGBT community in such an authentic way. What I mean is in most books, we see that gay couples are easily accepted by their family, but that is not always the case, and this was a perfect depiction of just that. I found Maya's mom to be loud, energetic, and bubbly like most Punjabi women I know. Speaking of the negatives, I can't pinpoint exactly what was missing, but I would drive through many parts of the book. Maybe it was that parts of the story line like the On and off romance and all the drama with Dolly bored me. I think this was a memorable book that I will re-read parts of every now and again.
Being an NRI myself, I was instantly attracted to this book, and my instincts were not wrong. I loved Maya's character, and related with her on many levels. Although there are many American qualities about her, I loved how she is still deeply rooted to her culture, cuisine, and language. Speaking of the story itself, I found the concept very intriguing and that didn't disappoint. I also liked how the author made reference to the LGBT community in such an authentic way. What I mean is in most books, we see that gay couples are easily accepted by their family, but that is not always the case, and this was a perfect depiction of just that. I found Maya's mom to be loud, energetic, and bubbly like most Punjabi women I know. Speaking of the negatives, I can't pinpoint exactly what was missing, but I would drive through many parts of the book. Maybe it was that parts of the story line like the On and off romance and all the drama with Dolly bored me. I think this was a memorable book that I will re-read parts of every now and again.
July 20, 2023
Huge thanks to Netgalley, as well as the author and Feiwel & Friends for sending me an ARC of ‘Long Story Short’ in exchange for an honest, unbiased review!
OVERALL, I loved this! Super fun and easy read with nice representation.
THINGS I LOVED:
- Maya. I really loved her determination and hard working characteristics.
- Xander and the rest of the Fierce team. I wish they added some other characters other than Maya's bosses and Xander (like some more writers maybe?) because that would have been so fun to read about
- The Indian culture. I loved seeing so much of Indian and Punjabi culture, it made me so happy since I was being represented myself.
- The plot. It could be predictable at a few points, but it was so entertaining once it picked up.
THINGS I DIDN'T LOVE:
- Ranbir (the love interest) was a bit more plain than I would have appreciated. I loved Xander (a side character) much more.
- The pacing at the beginning and end was a bit weird, but everything else was great.
I highly recommend this book, and I'll be looking out for Sona Charaipotra in the future!
OVERALL, I loved this! Super fun and easy read with nice representation.
THINGS I LOVED:
- Maya. I really loved her determination and hard working characteristics.
- Xander and the rest of the Fierce team. I wish they added some other characters other than Maya's bosses and Xander (like some more writers maybe?) because that would have been so fun to read about
- The Indian culture. I loved seeing so much of Indian and Punjabi culture, it made me so happy since I was being represented myself.
- The plot. It could be predictable at a few points, but it was so entertaining once it picked up.
THINGS I DIDN'T LOVE:
- Ranbir (the love interest) was a bit more plain than I would have appreciated. I loved Xander (a side character) much more.
- The pacing at the beginning and end was a bit weird, but everything else was great.
I highly recommend this book, and I'll be looking out for Sona Charaipotra in the future!
April 13, 2025
You can tell from the detailed sunset opening where the protagonist crafts the perfect Instagram caption on the way to the airport and that this author (and the protagonist) revels in descriptions.
“There’s something about a California sky that might just make you stay.
Maybe it’s in the hues—all pinks, blues, and purples, with the occasional rage of orange streaking through like a frame. Maybe it’s the way the afternoon sun dips to meet the moon, impatient and petulant, like star-crossed lovers fated to never quite connect. Or maybe it’s that occasional waft of jasmine, demure and seductive, beckoning with long, nimble fingers.
That is, if you can smell it at all over the stretch of garlic.”
The beautiful prose is a great introduction to the plot: Maya Gera, heir of a garlic farm, is spending her summer at a precollege program in New York, unofficially called Cow Camp.
While staying with her cousin Roop and her cousin's girlfriend Shenaz, Maya gets a real-life taste of the place of her dreams, Fierce magazine. She has been an avid reader since Roop introduced her to magazine when she was ten, and Shenaz works there. Maya decides to shoot her shot and apply for internship, but this doesn't happen until a good way through the book when Maya finally works up the courage to do so. I was surprised at how long it took to get to this point, especially since the company was introduced early in the book.
She has a relationship with Ranbir, another Cow Camp kid she knew from California, but she also likes Xavier, who is in his early 20s (not sure I caught his exact age, but he's a college student.) I liked Maya and Xavier together, but as friends because Maya is 17. Maya was using someone else's social security card. Maya facing little to no consequences for this was not good message for teen readers. From a legal standpoint, in addition to her relationships, I bet it would be a whole lot worse. However, the main message of Indian women being included in their own narrative was a strong, positive message.
Also, I get that Cow Camp came up in conversation, and the lady thought it was an interesting story, but why, Maya, if you are trying to hide your identity/age, would you think writing a story about it was a good idea? Also, Roop and Shenaz had a responsibility to look out for her and encouraging this behavior and reckless choice to lie was not the right move as the role models they were otherwise portrayed as.
I wish that Maya and Roop could have reconnected. They did have some small interactions and left on good terms, but I wanted to see more on that front. I wanted them to rebuild their close relationship, with Maya healing from the distance and Roop learning to trust and be vulnerable with her much younger cousin, instead of them acting like just acquaintances that wanted the best for each other. Maya learned about what Roop was dealing with, so that helped ease some of her pain, but it was still a sore spot since Roop stayed in touch with Maya's best friend Cherry.
I enjoyed seeing Maya's passion for writing and love that the author also has a journalism background. I liked seeing her day-to-day tasks reflected in the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but some of the core elements (plot's low point, message on consequences) were missteps that are hard to ignore.
“There’s something about a California sky that might just make you stay.
Maybe it’s in the hues—all pinks, blues, and purples, with the occasional rage of orange streaking through like a frame. Maybe it’s the way the afternoon sun dips to meet the moon, impatient and petulant, like star-crossed lovers fated to never quite connect. Or maybe it’s that occasional waft of jasmine, demure and seductive, beckoning with long, nimble fingers.
That is, if you can smell it at all over the stretch of garlic.”
The beautiful prose is a great introduction to the plot: Maya Gera, heir of a garlic farm, is spending her summer at a precollege program in New York, unofficially called Cow Camp.
While staying with her cousin Roop and her cousin's girlfriend Shenaz, Maya gets a real-life taste of the place of her dreams, Fierce magazine. She has been an avid reader since Roop introduced her to magazine when she was ten, and Shenaz works there. Maya decides to shoot her shot and apply for internship, but this doesn't happen until a good way through the book when Maya finally works up the courage to do so. I was surprised at how long it took to get to this point, especially since the company was introduced early in the book.
She has a relationship with Ranbir, another Cow Camp kid she knew from California, but she also likes Xavier, who is in his early 20s (not sure I caught his exact age, but he's a college student.) I liked Maya and Xavier together, but as friends because Maya is 17. Maya was using someone else's social security card. Maya facing little to no consequences for this was not good message for teen readers. From a legal standpoint, in addition to her relationships, I bet it would be a whole lot worse. However, the main message of Indian women being included in their own narrative was a strong, positive message.
Also, I get that Cow Camp came up in conversation, and the lady thought it was an interesting story, but why, Maya, if you are trying to hide your identity/age, would you think writing a story about it was a good idea? Also, Roop and Shenaz had a responsibility to look out for her and encouraging this behavior and reckless choice to lie was not the right move as the role models they were otherwise portrayed as.
I wish that Maya and Roop could have reconnected. They did have some small interactions and left on good terms, but I wanted to see more on that front. I wanted them to rebuild their close relationship, with Maya healing from the distance and Roop learning to trust and be vulnerable with her much younger cousin, instead of them acting like just acquaintances that wanted the best for each other. Maya learned about what Roop was dealing with, so that helped ease some of her pain, but it was still a sore spot since Roop stayed in touch with Maya's best friend Cherry.
I enjoyed seeing Maya's passion for writing and love that the author also has a journalism background. I liked seeing her day-to-day tasks reflected in the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but some of the core elements (plot's low point, message on consequences) were missteps that are hard to ignore.
June 10, 2022
My full review will be found at LitBuzz closer to the publication and release date in July.
As this is my first taste of writing by Sona Charaipotra, I can assure you that How Maya Got Fierce is as fresh and fierce as the title implies.
The LitBuzz Hive is well acquainted with Sona through ClubHouse, and I am absolutely tickled to be able to read and review such a remarkable novel for an equally incredible and kind person such as Sona.
How Maya Got Fierce is a truly unique and refreshing YA Contemporary novel with a great lead character—Maya—and a storyline that’s charming, inclusive, and made me feel like I was a part of Maya’s close-knit family and community for a few hundred pages.
At Cow Camp in New Jersey, for the summer, Maya is tantalizingly close to NYC and her dream employment: Fierce magazine. Her cousin’s girlfriend is employed in the Fashion Closet for the magazine, and after a Sunday afternoon, Maya’s dreams seem more attainable than they had in the hot California sunshine back home.
A few missteps and mishaps for Maya lead to a once in a lifetime opportunity for a seventeen year old that even she cannot pass up—consequences have no place when a teen’s dream is on the line.
The heart of this storyline lies in the tangled web of lies Maya needs to maintain in order to keep her dream job, keep her family happy, and even manage to keep the guy. Sona Charaipotra masterfully evokes so many beautiful cultural references and makes them relatable for all readers. Family problems and the obligations that come with wanting to honor where you came from but make your own special mark on the world is truly a problem that transcends cultures for many of us.
Even at though it seems a bit of a reach to think that at just seventeen Maya has the writing chops, and the maturity to handle an assistant editor position at a renowned publication, it’s easy to see how some immaturity could be overlooked due to the conviction of Maya’s voice and the freshness and inclusivity of her ideas. Performative ally-ship and racism within established company hierarchies are some of issues that Maya faces and tackles head on. Giving a voice to Maya in this way also shows that the ideas of the younger generations not only deserve to be heard but should be elevated. The idea that Sona Charaipotra gives voice to is that the all voices deserve to be heard and certainly the next generation of free thinkers, is an idea that which I think we should all note.
Ok, more refinement and less rambling to come at LitBuzz.
As this is my first taste of writing by Sona Charaipotra, I can assure you that How Maya Got Fierce is as fresh and fierce as the title implies.
The LitBuzz Hive is well acquainted with Sona through ClubHouse, and I am absolutely tickled to be able to read and review such a remarkable novel for an equally incredible and kind person such as Sona.
How Maya Got Fierce is a truly unique and refreshing YA Contemporary novel with a great lead character—Maya—and a storyline that’s charming, inclusive, and made me feel like I was a part of Maya’s close-knit family and community for a few hundred pages.
At Cow Camp in New Jersey, for the summer, Maya is tantalizingly close to NYC and her dream employment: Fierce magazine. Her cousin’s girlfriend is employed in the Fashion Closet for the magazine, and after a Sunday afternoon, Maya’s dreams seem more attainable than they had in the hot California sunshine back home.
A few missteps and mishaps for Maya lead to a once in a lifetime opportunity for a seventeen year old that even she cannot pass up—consequences have no place when a teen’s dream is on the line.
The heart of this storyline lies in the tangled web of lies Maya needs to maintain in order to keep her dream job, keep her family happy, and even manage to keep the guy. Sona Charaipotra masterfully evokes so many beautiful cultural references and makes them relatable for all readers. Family problems and the obligations that come with wanting to honor where you came from but make your own special mark on the world is truly a problem that transcends cultures for many of us.
Even at though it seems a bit of a reach to think that at just seventeen Maya has the writing chops, and the maturity to handle an assistant editor position at a renowned publication, it’s easy to see how some immaturity could be overlooked due to the conviction of Maya’s voice and the freshness and inclusivity of her ideas. Performative ally-ship and racism within established company hierarchies are some of issues that Maya faces and tackles head on. Giving a voice to Maya in this way also shows that the ideas of the younger generations not only deserve to be heard but should be elevated. The idea that Sona Charaipotra gives voice to is that the all voices deserve to be heard and certainly the next generation of free thinkers, is an idea that which I think we should all note.
Ok, more refinement and less rambling to come at LitBuzz.
July 15, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Fierce Reads and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced finished copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
How Maya Got Fierce turned out to be a quick and fun summer contemporary for teens and young adults alike. While this book took some time to set the stage, I was really able to appreciate that later on as I really felt for the characters in this story.
I really loved the representation throughout this story. Coming from New York, I can’t say I know much about the agriculture industry, so having a story around Desi families and farming was really interesting. In the first half of How Maya Got Fierce, we really get to know the characters and how their families’ businesses impact their lives in so many ways.
But then there’s Maya’s adoration for journalism and Fierce magazine, and these two worlds came together in such an unlikely, yet wonderful way. As I read, I wasn’t sure how this book would end off, but it was better than I expected.
A lot of what made the pace pick up for me was wanting to know how Maya would untangle her lies. I do think a little bit of suspension of disbelief has to go into reading this given that Maya’s pretending to be almost ten years older in a position that would have required past experience, but for the messages that came out of this book I feel like it was worth it. We all have stories to tell, and from so many unique perspectives. When I started my first job, I was encouraged to ask why we did the things we did at the company – since I grew up around technology, my perspectives were embraced, knowing that I could have ideas that could change things for the better. Maya was able to do this too, but by sharing the stories of populations that were less often heard.
There was definitely some second-hand stress trying to figure out how Maya would pull it off, and you can definitely feel that through her. But her passion for the magazine really came through as she strived for better representation in the magazine, and despite some of the questions I had about the odds of this kind of situation happening, the overall message of this book made it so worth it.
July 15, 2022
This is a story about pursuing your dreams. Maya, who just finished her junior year of high school, comes from Gilroy, California, home of a nationally known garlic festival. Her family owns a struggling garlic farm that they expect Maya to take over. Maya loves her parents, but she is not excited about life running their family farm. She dreams instead of working at a magazine, like her favorite magazine, Fierce, which she has read religiously for the last several years. Her parents send her to a summer program in New Jersey designed to train those bound for careers in agriculture and to live with her cousin, who works nearby.
When Maya arrives in New Jersey, she is surprised to learn that her cousin's live-in girlfriend actually works at Fierce. Through her cousin's girlfriend, Maya is able to apply for an internship at the magazine. Maya nails the interview and gets the job. She is so excited for the internship, even if it means dropping out of her summer program and lying to her parents. When she arrives at Fierce for her first day, though, she is surprised to discover she has been hired not as an intern, but as a full time associate editor. And her new boss has no idea that she is 17. Maya concludes she has no choice but to keep up the deception if she wants to keep her dream job. As she navigates her various lies, to her parents, her co-workers, and her friends, she wonders how long she can keep it up -- and what happens to her dream if she tells the truth?
This was a sweet and often insightful story. The author captures what it is like to have a dream that your parents just don't understand, and the exquisite agony of having that dream in reach but knowing that getting it will break your parents' heart. With Maya, her cousin, Roop, and her love interest, Rana, the author portrays the push-and-pull of family expectations and the challenges for children who do not fit into the path their parents envisioned for them. The book also offers interesting observations about working in media, and the ways it is changing -- and the ways it is not.
Recommended!
When Maya arrives in New Jersey, she is surprised to learn that her cousin's live-in girlfriend actually works at Fierce. Through her cousin's girlfriend, Maya is able to apply for an internship at the magazine. Maya nails the interview and gets the job. She is so excited for the internship, even if it means dropping out of her summer program and lying to her parents. When she arrives at Fierce for her first day, though, she is surprised to discover she has been hired not as an intern, but as a full time associate editor. And her new boss has no idea that she is 17. Maya concludes she has no choice but to keep up the deception if she wants to keep her dream job. As she navigates her various lies, to her parents, her co-workers, and her friends, she wonders how long she can keep it up -- and what happens to her dream if she tells the truth?
This was a sweet and often insightful story. The author captures what it is like to have a dream that your parents just don't understand, and the exquisite agony of having that dream in reach but knowing that getting it will break your parents' heart. With Maya, her cousin, Roop, and her love interest, Rana, the author portrays the push-and-pull of family expectations and the challenges for children who do not fit into the path their parents envisioned for them. The book also offers interesting observations about working in media, and the ways it is changing -- and the ways it is not.
Recommended!
February 21, 2023
This was a fun one. Kind of a fantasy, but a fun kind of fantasy based in the contemporary world.
Maya Gera is the daughter of California garlic famers and knows her future is to run the family farm once her parents retire. To ensure she's skilled up to do that, this summer she's heading to an agricultural college in New Jersey to begin her journey. And maybe to meet a nice Indian boy.
Unfortunately garlic, cow camp and a Sikh boyfriend are not what Maya really wants. Since her older cousin bought her a subscription to Fierce magazine, Maya has wanted nothing but to work there. She has hundreds of ideas about how to improve representation and to get more diverse voices heard.
So it's a dream come true when she discovers her cousin's live-in girlfriend is working at Fierce. The same cousin she's staying with while at cow camp. At first Maya just spends weekends at Fierce, helping out in the massive fashion wardrobes. She adores it - far more than cow camp where the only good thing is the handsome young dude from a winery. A guy she realises she's beginning to crush on despite promising herself she wouldn't go ga ga over any boys.
When an intern position comes up at Fierce, Maya decides to do something for herself for once and applies. She's thrilled to get the role and ditches cow camp in favour of the magazine. She'll explain it all to her parents later, once she's rocked the position hard enough that they can't get mad about it.
When she starts at the magazine, she discovers she might be in a little over her head. All the paperwork says she's an assistant editor. And the cute intern is now working for her?
As she juggles more lies than she can count, Maya somehow manages to make an impression at Fierce. All she needs now is to get the guy too. And make sure her family never hears about any of this.
There's nothing very realistic about this book, but who hasn't dreamed about landing a dream job out of the blue? And as a seventeen year old? It was a quick, fun read and I found myself rooting for Maya even as she got more and more over her head.
So I'd recommend this one. Especially if you're looking for something fun to get away from the world's usual gloom and doom. I could picture this as a movie, kind of in the same vein as something like 13 Going on 30.
Maya Gera is the daughter of California garlic famers and knows her future is to run the family farm once her parents retire. To ensure she's skilled up to do that, this summer she's heading to an agricultural college in New Jersey to begin her journey. And maybe to meet a nice Indian boy.
Unfortunately garlic, cow camp and a Sikh boyfriend are not what Maya really wants. Since her older cousin bought her a subscription to Fierce magazine, Maya has wanted nothing but to work there. She has hundreds of ideas about how to improve representation and to get more diverse voices heard.
So it's a dream come true when she discovers her cousin's live-in girlfriend is working at Fierce. The same cousin she's staying with while at cow camp. At first Maya just spends weekends at Fierce, helping out in the massive fashion wardrobes. She adores it - far more than cow camp where the only good thing is the handsome young dude from a winery. A guy she realises she's beginning to crush on despite promising herself she wouldn't go ga ga over any boys.
When an intern position comes up at Fierce, Maya decides to do something for herself for once and applies. She's thrilled to get the role and ditches cow camp in favour of the magazine. She'll explain it all to her parents later, once she's rocked the position hard enough that they can't get mad about it.
When she starts at the magazine, she discovers she might be in a little over her head. All the paperwork says she's an assistant editor. And the cute intern is now working for her?
As she juggles more lies than she can count, Maya somehow manages to make an impression at Fierce. All she needs now is to get the guy too. And make sure her family never hears about any of this.
There's nothing very realistic about this book, but who hasn't dreamed about landing a dream job out of the blue? And as a seventeen year old? It was a quick, fun read and I found myself rooting for Maya even as she got more and more over her head.
So I'd recommend this one. Especially if you're looking for something fun to get away from the world's usual gloom and doom. I could picture this as a movie, kind of in the same vein as something like 13 Going on 30.
June 14, 2022
Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and #NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of How Maya Got Fierce by Sona Charaipotra. This contemporary young adult novel will be released July 12, 2022. All opinions are my own.
Maya is the heiress to a small garlic empire. As such, her traditional Punjabi parents send her away to Cow Camp for the summer. For families like hers, this is viewed as the first step towards taking over the family business. Maya, though, dreams of working for a magazine. Specifically, she wants to work for Fierce and help ensure that the stories of women like her get told. After arriving in New York for camp, Maya learns that her cousin’s girlfriend works for Fierce and the opportunity to intern there knocks at her door. There’s just one problem, Maya didn’t apply for an internship, she accidentally interviews for and accepts a full time, paid position. In too deep and afraid of what the truth will bring, Maya forges ahead, but how long will she be able to keep up the ruse?
I really enjoyed this book. It’s about finding your identity, being true to yourself, and family. There is a romance line throughout the book that, honestly, I could have done without. I don’t think it’s the healthiest relationship for either involved. I did enjoy the glimpse into Maya’s culture and the discussions of representation, who gets their story told, and who gets to tell it. The book also touches on LGBTQ relationships and how they’re viewed within the Punjabi culture. Classism is another big topic in the book. I felt as if the author really tried to fit a lot into this book and did amazing with most of it, but somethings didn’t get as much depth or attention because there was just one too many things. For example, removing the romance plot could have allowed for other plot elements to be deepened. The book is fun and quick paced and would make a good summer read.
Maya is the heiress to a small garlic empire. As such, her traditional Punjabi parents send her away to Cow Camp for the summer. For families like hers, this is viewed as the first step towards taking over the family business. Maya, though, dreams of working for a magazine. Specifically, she wants to work for Fierce and help ensure that the stories of women like her get told. After arriving in New York for camp, Maya learns that her cousin’s girlfriend works for Fierce and the opportunity to intern there knocks at her door. There’s just one problem, Maya didn’t apply for an internship, she accidentally interviews for and accepts a full time, paid position. In too deep and afraid of what the truth will bring, Maya forges ahead, but how long will she be able to keep up the ruse?
I really enjoyed this book. It’s about finding your identity, being true to yourself, and family. There is a romance line throughout the book that, honestly, I could have done without. I don’t think it’s the healthiest relationship for either involved. I did enjoy the glimpse into Maya’s culture and the discussions of representation, who gets their story told, and who gets to tell it. The book also touches on LGBTQ relationships and how they’re viewed within the Punjabi culture. Classism is another big topic in the book. I felt as if the author really tried to fit a lot into this book and did amazing with most of it, but somethings didn’t get as much depth or attention because there was just one too many things. For example, removing the romance plot could have allowed for other plot elements to be deepened. The book is fun and quick paced and would make a good summer read.
July 6, 2022
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
How Maya Got Fierce is a fun YA contemporary, and as the pitch promises, there’s major Younger vibes. I will say that the blurb drastically simplifies the sequence of events, as the promised point of conflict with Maya unwittingly ending up in an editor position does take quite a while to come to pass. So if you’re a reader who wants the premise to immediately pay off, this is not one of those books.
I do really like how it allows for Maya to really shine as a character. She’s a Punjabi teen defying her family’s expectations by having bigger dreams beyond the family garlic farm by pursuing her dreams to work at Fierce. However, her narrative and the stories of others working for Fierce highlight the prejudices women of color face. As a reaction to this, there’s new editorial staff working to help diversify the industry who become Maya’s allies, even if she’s initially reluctant to divulge the truth of what happened, lest she lose her big opportunity.
While I do feel the marketing does the book a disservice, it is a good book that just needs to find the right readers. If you’re interested in a character-driven look at a desi teenager interested in fashion and journalism and navigating that world more or less for the first time with a twist, following her growth as a character, I think you’ll enjoy it.
How Maya Got Fierce is a fun YA contemporary, and as the pitch promises, there’s major Younger vibes. I will say that the blurb drastically simplifies the sequence of events, as the promised point of conflict with Maya unwittingly ending up in an editor position does take quite a while to come to pass. So if you’re a reader who wants the premise to immediately pay off, this is not one of those books.
I do really like how it allows for Maya to really shine as a character. She’s a Punjabi teen defying her family’s expectations by having bigger dreams beyond the family garlic farm by pursuing her dreams to work at Fierce. However, her narrative and the stories of others working for Fierce highlight the prejudices women of color face. As a reaction to this, there’s new editorial staff working to help diversify the industry who become Maya’s allies, even if she’s initially reluctant to divulge the truth of what happened, lest she lose her big opportunity.
While I do feel the marketing does the book a disservice, it is a good book that just needs to find the right readers. If you’re interested in a character-driven look at a desi teenager interested in fashion and journalism and navigating that world more or less for the first time with a twist, following her growth as a character, I think you’ll enjoy it.
February 11, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Publishers for an advanced digital copy of How Maya Got Fierce by Sona Charaipotra!
From the synopsis I sort of figured this books would be a bit cheesy but cute. I was prepared to suspend some disbelief so that the main character could work at a women's magazine at 17. And while I liked the main character and the general pace of the story and the diverse cast of characters, I had a hard time staying in that world because of a few things. There were a lot of places where the dialogue either didn't flow or didn't feel believable. Either it felt like that character wouldn't say a certain phrase or like the author included certain phrases to sound more youthful. There were conversations that felt stilted or like a page was missing, the way the dialogue progressed. No one ever said enough, but they understood each other, which made no sense. This made me have a hard time accepting other details, like that the main character really would've gotten the assistant editor job at 17 or that her cousin's girlfriend would help her lie to the important people in her own job.
I did appreciate getting to read about a bunch of Desi teenagers from farming families, which isn't something I've seen before. I liked the diversity of the cast, and most of the characters. So I'd still try reading something by this author again in a few years, I think.
From the synopsis I sort of figured this books would be a bit cheesy but cute. I was prepared to suspend some disbelief so that the main character could work at a women's magazine at 17. And while I liked the main character and the general pace of the story and the diverse cast of characters, I had a hard time staying in that world because of a few things. There were a lot of places where the dialogue either didn't flow or didn't feel believable. Either it felt like that character wouldn't say a certain phrase or like the author included certain phrases to sound more youthful. There were conversations that felt stilted or like a page was missing, the way the dialogue progressed. No one ever said enough, but they understood each other, which made no sense. This made me have a hard time accepting other details, like that the main character really would've gotten the assistant editor job at 17 or that her cousin's girlfriend would help her lie to the important people in her own job.
I did appreciate getting to read about a bunch of Desi teenagers from farming families, which isn't something I've seen before. I liked the diversity of the cast, and most of the characters. So I'd still try reading something by this author again in a few years, I think.
July 12, 2022
"How Maya Got Fierce" was a quick and enjoyable read. Beyond the Teen/YA categorization, I would also tag it as multicultural/own voices, and I liked getting immersed in Maya's experience and the Punjabi perspective. The pressures of familial expectations, and the tension with coming of age and finding your own way, were nicely explored here. Not just via Maya's story, but also with the supporting cast of characters.
When I read YA, I usually use two lenses for review/recommendation. One being my own grown up preferences & perspective, the second being "would I recommend this to my tween/teen daughters?"
My own grown up perspective - 3 stars: It was a little slow, took awhile to get to the "Younger" angle with the magazine job (I think ~40%). It picked up from there, and I wish there had been a bit more of the book spent with the magazine, near misses getting caught, etc. I had to suspend a lot of disbelief that a teenager could actually pull that off (and that some grown ups would go along with it, or be blind to it).
My mom "would I recommend to my kids" perspective - 4 stars: I definitely would. I like that it gets into the BIPOC experience. I like that it shows Maya struggling with expectations vs. her own desires and going for it. I like that it shows some healthy and realistic teenage relationships. I didn't love the lying, the doubling-down on the lying, and found the resolution a bit too easy and not remotely realistic. I think this would be a great book to read along with your kid and discuss after.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for my honest review.
When I read YA, I usually use two lenses for review/recommendation. One being my own grown up preferences & perspective, the second being "would I recommend this to my tween/teen daughters?"
My own grown up perspective - 3 stars: It was a little slow, took awhile to get to the "Younger" angle with the magazine job (I think ~40%). It picked up from there, and I wish there had been a bit more of the book spent with the magazine, near misses getting caught, etc. I had to suspend a lot of disbelief that a teenager could actually pull that off (and that some grown ups would go along with it, or be blind to it).
My mom "would I recommend to my kids" perspective - 4 stars: I definitely would. I like that it gets into the BIPOC experience. I like that it shows Maya struggling with expectations vs. her own desires and going for it. I like that it shows some healthy and realistic teenage relationships. I didn't love the lying, the doubling-down on the lying, and found the resolution a bit too easy and not remotely realistic. I think this would be a great book to read along with your kid and discuss after.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for my honest review.
July 9, 2022
Maya is set to have an adventure this summer. Maybe not the one she wants seeing as she’s going to Cow Camp, a camp for high schoolers to learn how to run/grow their families farms. But seeing as her family owns a garlic farm in need of rescue, Cow Camp for the summer it is! But when she arrives to stay with her cousin for the summer who’s girlfriend just so happens to work at her absolute tip top favorite magazine, Fierce, her whole summer changes (for the better of course 💁🏻♀️) thru this connection, Maya lands an internship interview 🥳 but oops! She accidentally gets interviewed for an assistant features editor instead (& she gets it!) only problem? They think she’s 26 😱
Y’all this book was just fun! Maya, as a character, was flawed as she’s supposed to be (I mean she’s 17!). She didn’t always know what to do or have all the right answers. I was reading and the whole time I was thinking “tell them before it’s too late!! 😩” I also really liked that Shenaz (her cousins gf) was really there for her. There is tension between Roop, the cousin, & Maya, but Shenaz was great to both sides especially with trying to get them to open up. There were discussions of Maya trying & failing to meet the expectations put on her by her family and trying to balance that with a career in the field she most wants to be in. Y’all know I love a good coming of age story & this did not disappoint! I would def recommend!
WARNING! Don’t read this book when your hungry, I’m not kidding I didn’t even know what half of the dishes were but my mouth was watering they all sounded so good 🤤
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfzC831rP...
Y’all this book was just fun! Maya, as a character, was flawed as she’s supposed to be (I mean she’s 17!). She didn’t always know what to do or have all the right answers. I was reading and the whole time I was thinking “tell them before it’s too late!! 😩” I also really liked that Shenaz (her cousins gf) was really there for her. There is tension between Roop, the cousin, & Maya, but Shenaz was great to both sides especially with trying to get them to open up. There were discussions of Maya trying & failing to meet the expectations put on her by her family and trying to balance that with a career in the field she most wants to be in. Y’all know I love a good coming of age story & this did not disappoint! I would def recommend!
WARNING! Don’t read this book when your hungry, I’m not kidding I didn’t even know what half of the dishes were but my mouth was watering they all sounded so good 🤤
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfzC831rP...
December 12, 2021
The idea of someone acting of an older age for opportunities is so much fun!
Rating: 2/5
Synopsis:
Maya dreams of working in magazines. But as the daughter of garlic farmers, her path is set: it’s off to Cow Camp instead. But when she ends up in the New York City area and realizes her cousin's girlfriends works at Maya's favorite magazine - Fierce - an opportunity falls in her lap to intern. It's her dream job, and she can't pass it up, even if means disappointing her family and lying to her parents.
The only problem? Maya hasn't accepted an internship. She's accepted a full time job, as a staff writer, and everyone at Fierce thinks she's 26.
Maya is so close to making her dreams come true, even if the glam life at Fierce isn’t quite as shiny and fun as she hoped. But when she suggests the perfect candidate for a big story—and manages to get the scoop—all eyes are on her. How long can she keep her real age from her boss—and her real life from her parents?
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC!
Rating: 2/5
Synopsis:
Maya dreams of working in magazines. But as the daughter of garlic farmers, her path is set: it’s off to Cow Camp instead. But when she ends up in the New York City area and realizes her cousin's girlfriends works at Maya's favorite magazine - Fierce - an opportunity falls in her lap to intern. It's her dream job, and she can't pass it up, even if means disappointing her family and lying to her parents.
The only problem? Maya hasn't accepted an internship. She's accepted a full time job, as a staff writer, and everyone at Fierce thinks she's 26.
Maya is so close to making her dreams come true, even if the glam life at Fierce isn’t quite as shiny and fun as she hoped. But when she suggests the perfect candidate for a big story—and manages to get the scoop—all eyes are on her. How long can she keep her real age from her boss—and her real life from her parents?
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC!
July 5, 2022
This was a fun read! The description relates this book to the show “Younger” but I also think of the movie “13 going on 30”.
Maya’s dream is to work at the fashion magazine, “Fierce”. Despite being only 17, and because of a series of mishaps and miscommunication, Maya’s fashion magazine dreams come true. The only problem is that she’s only in NY so she can go to Cow Camp and eventually take over her family’s garlic farm in California. With one summer and two very different paths for her future, Maya has some big choices to make. Can she make her parents happy and not lose herself in the process? Can she actually work at a major magazine at 17? Read the book for a sweet, fun, and bumpy coming of age story.
Maya’s dream is to work at the fashion magazine, “Fierce”. Despite being only 17, and because of a series of mishaps and miscommunication, Maya’s fashion magazine dreams come true. The only problem is that she’s only in NY so she can go to Cow Camp and eventually take over her family’s garlic farm in California. With one summer and two very different paths for her future, Maya has some big choices to make. Can she make her parents happy and not lose herself in the process? Can she actually work at a major magazine at 17? Read the book for a sweet, fun, and bumpy coming of age story.
July 11, 2022
This was a fun summer read! Who wouldn't want to land their dream job and the hot guy for the summer? Maya feels torn between what she feels she should do, what her family wants her to do, and the dreams she wants for herself. Spending the summer away from home helps her clarify things -- even though she weaves an epic weave of lies as she makes her way through. Recommended for grades 8 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
July 20, 2022
I love an implausible situation as much as the next reader, but this takes the cake. I didn't even see how Maya would get out of the bananas job she got herself into without absolutely destroying any contacts, and I have read quite a lot of YA. And while this has some romance, Charaipotra focuses on the family relationships first and foremost, which makes this story feel realistic and comfortable. Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel Friends for an early read in exchange for my honest review.
June 10, 2022
I loved this story of women who were brave enough to strike out on their own after finding their own voices. In passing I have to add that I doubt a seventeen-year-old could pull off a job meant for a 26-year-old, but the author did a great job showing how she did it. Read more about this book on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....
August 28, 2023
Middle school readers should know there is underage drinking in the story, but it's not glorified in any way. This was cute, but just so impossible to be a believable story in any way. That's not to say it wasn't a fun read, just that you have to think of this as a fluffy fairy tale and not real life. :)
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