Tag: Netgalley

Review: The Next Best Fling (Librarians In Love #1) by Gabriella Gamez

Title: The Next Best Fling (Librarians In Love #1)

Author: Gabriella Gamez

Pub. Date: July 9th 2024

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Latinx

Format: eARC

Publisher: Forever

 Pages: 384

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The Next Best Fling features a plus sized Latina female librarian who is feeling stuck with a case of unrequited love for her best friend. A bestie who is getting married to a mutual college friend leaving Marcela feeling like the ship has sailed on their second chance romance. They briefly dated years ago but Marcela always felt as if she was never quite enough for him. Fast forward to the events leading up to the wedding and with it, his older brother and ex-NFL Player Theo’s return. Theo is also harboring some unrequited love of his own and its for the bride-to-be. They were all friends at one point but his feelings for the bride led him to put some distance between them for some years. Now he’s back and is considering letting her know exactly how he feels before she marries his brother who he has some friction with. Cue Marcela who overhears his plan to stop the wedding with his confession and decides to stop him. Marcela talks some sense into Theo and so begins their friendship which leads some in their inner circle to believe they’re actually dating. Including the groom who begins to aggressively try to persuade his bestie Marcela that his brother is not the great guy she thinks he is. This leads Marcela and Theo to let the lie roll so to speak while actually exploring a friends with benefits relationship.
I’m always on the hunt for Latinx romance to feed my soul, these books typically have families as supporting characters and delicious dishes being cooked in the kitchen being served alongside the steamy romance. The Next Best Fling checked off all the boxes while also stirring my appetite for some authentic Mexican food. Marcela’s mother always having food on the stove or set aside for her was heart warming and made me think of my own dad who loved to feed his daughters. I also loved the library setting and actually seeing Marcela in her work environment where she thoughtfully chooses books for the Young Adult community reading in her branch. The fun nights of Cosplay she and her friend organize to really get kids excited to read and be a part of something had me smiling and wishing I had that as a teen. Marcela is one of the coolest FMC’s I’ve come across with the exception of the lack of transparency she had with Theo while he was confessing his years long feelings for the bride to be. They were in the same exact boat except Theo spent it mostly in the dark about Marcela’s feelings for his brother the groom. Other than this, I could relate to Marcela SO MUCH! her insecurities absolutely came into play while handling her feelings and it was empowering watching her come into the realization that she’s bad a**! and NOT undesirable. Theo being the sweet kind big guy that he is allowed Marcela to see she was settling before just by simply listening and observing all of the little things she loves. Instead of making someone the center of her world, she was being doted on like she deserved. Friends to Lovers is my favorite trope to read from and although there isn’t a foundation for their friendship, it does evolve as one first before it turn romantic. This is the first installment in the Librarians In Love series by Gabriella Gamez and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

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Spoiler Free Review: Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Title: Where Sleeping Girls Lie

Author:Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Pub. Date: March 19th. 2024

Genre: Contemporary YA-Mystery

Format: eARC

Publisher: Fewer & Friends

 Pages: 416

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Where Sleeping Girls Lie is the much anticipated Young Adult Contemporary Mystery novel fans of Ace Of Spades were highly anticipating. I remember reading AOS and not being able to put that book down for too long before I was carving out time to jump back into that story.  Five years later we are introduced to the dark academia setting that is Alfred Nobel Academy boarding school where Sade Hussein has enrolled for her third year. Previously homeschooled, Sade arrives on the scene as this mysterious character who is trying to keep a low profile. We learn early on that her parents have both passed away and prior to her father’s passing, he maintained a strict upbringing for Sade where boarding school was just simply out of the question. The prestigious Alfred Nobel Academy is prepared for Sade’s arrival and have already assigned her a roommate to show her around campus. Elizabeth seems cool with her love of horticulture and willingness to share her space with newcomer Sade, including her best friend Basil. All seems well until it’s not, Elizabeth goes missing and the students of Alfred Nobel Academy suspect Sade has something to do with it. Sade who carries grief and secrets of her own decides to try and find answers to the secrets being kept within the walls of her new school.

This is a slow-burn mystery set in a school that is thoroughly fleshed out giving the reader a sense of darkness in its setting and the shady students who attend. I loved the initial walk-through of the campus Elizabeth gives Sade, the author skillfully brought each wing of the campus to life through Elizabeth’s commentary on the schools history. The privileged majority attending Alfred Nobel Academy come from white families. After her disappearance we see Sade capture the attention of the popular girls in school, something that Basil (Elizabeth’s BFF who is the only other person interested in finding answers as well) finds difficult to believe. Nonetheless, Sade begins to immerse herself in social circles that get her closer to unearthing the truths she’s looking for. What I didn’t love? the pacing was beyond slow and this is coming from someone who enjoys slow-burn. Too much time was spent on the day-to-day activities vs. the development of the story/mystery. The time spent on the mundane did enhance the atmospheric vibes making this truly fit the dark academia category but it also made it feel as if it could’ve been done in less pages What I LOVED? Sade and Basil/his guinea pig provided the lightness and bits of humor that were needed to balance out the much heavier/darker themes unraveling. The Mean Girls circle known in this story as the “Unholy Trinity” who include Persephone were an interesting add-in. There’s this quiet attraction between Persephone and Sade that is jumpstarted on an intellectual/feminist level that I really enjoyed. Lastly, the themes brought to light by the time this mystery fully unravels have a history of being underreported in academic institutions. Seeing these issues covered in Young Adult Contemporary novels continues to raise awareness. I’m looking forward to Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé’s next story which I’m sure will come with some new memorable characters.

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Spoiler Free Review: Raiders Of The Lost Heart by Jo Segura

Title: Raiders Of The Lost Heart

Author: Jo Segura

Pub. Date: December 5th. 2023

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: academic rivals/close proximity

Format: eARC

Publisher: Berkley

 Pages: 357

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Lara Croft meets Indiana Jones and they embark on a dig set in the Mexican jungle…but make it hot?!? 🤗 there was no passing this up, even more so when the female main character is a Mexican archeologist with a penchant for adventure. Dr. Soccorro “Corrie” Mejia has devoted her academic career to becoming world renowned expert on the ancient warrior of the Aztec Empire Chimalli. She’s invited to an all expenses paid dig to search for Chimali’s long lost remains, the warrior she believes is one of her ancestors. When she learns that the lead archeologist is none other than her academic rival Dr. Ford Matthews, Corrie is put in the position of having to rise above or miss out. Corrie is a woman of color working in a male dominated field, her work should garner her the respect she deserves. Instead Corrie is objectified by her peers which leads her to believe this is the reason why she was overlooked to lead this dig. The point of contention throughout this expedition is the fact that Dr. Ford a white cishet male with knowledge of Chimali (but not quite as much as Corrie) was offered THE once in a lifetime opportunity she has worked so hard for.

The plot thickens when we find out Corrie and Ford have actually already hooked up years before becoming the successful archeologists they are now. She can’t deny her attraction to ford or the awkwardness that comes with having to work in close proximity to him. Neither can Ford but he also has his eye on the prize, the hefty pay-out from their investor that will help with a personal situation he’s dealing with. One that is weighing heavy on his heart and mind and that is also leading to questionable/ethical decisions. What didn’t work for me? the ick feeling Ford’s actions left on me made it hard to ship this duo even though I really wanted to. Certain things he did made it hard to think he even deserved a woman like Corrie who already has the odds stacked against her in their shared field. I’m not saying he was totally irredeemable, I just wish the core of this story wasn’t based on a less than favorable move he made.

What I loved? National Treasure is one of my all time favorite adventure movies and this book does read like one with high stakes. I loved their archeological discoveries and theories of Chimali. Throwing in the artifact smuggler angle heightened the danger you’d typically get while watching Lara Croft/Indiana Jones in action. Lastly, I’d be quicker to call this friends to lovers than hate to love. I’m always going to prefer friends to lovers, the history between Corrie and Ford is a part of this story giving the reader a sense of picking up right where they left off. The steamy scenes were giving me LIFE! while also raising a brow at how well Ford’s more intimate chapters were written ☺️ I’m all for this becoming a romance/adventure series, the intrigue and spice alone would keep me flipping pages!

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Spoiler Free Review: The Warm Hands Of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

Title: The Warm Hands Of Ghosts

Author: Katherine Arden

Pub. Date: February 13th 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction/Speculative Fiction

Format: eARC

Publisher: Del Rey

 Pages: 325

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It’s 1918, Laura Iven has been honorably discharged from the Medical Corps as a highly decorated field nurse. Wounded while on the field, Laura returns to Canada where she receives word of her brother Freddie’s presumed death in combat. A box is delivered to her with his personal effects, Freddy is presumed to be dead because his body was never recovered. How then, have his belongings made it to her doorstep? Laura decides she must go back to active duty in Belgium if only to be closer to the front lines and get answers/certain proof of Freddie’s demise. What she isn’t anticipating is to be met with an alternate possibility. A man who has deserted the battlefield and is caught is then executed by the military. Did Freddy leave the battlefield? or could he still be alive? and is his fate worse than if he had been killed in the field? 

Told in dual point of view and past/present timelines between 1917 and 1918, we get Freddy’s account as he is trapped in a ditch created by one of the many explosives dropped. In this ditch is also a German soldier who has been severely wounded. Hans Winter should be his enemy but in these presumed final hours, he is a comfort. Together they help each other get out of that hole but are unsure of which way to go once out. They both can’t fathom the thought of returning to their respective front lines. In the chaos of raining shells and gunfire they meet a mysterious man who owns a hotel and has a penchant for creating music. The type of tunes that can make you forget the misery that surrounds you. An escape from the violence and senseless killings they’ve witnessed. For some soldiers the escapism being offered was too good to pass up. 

This was not the book I thought we’d get next from one of my favorite authors and yet this story will remain with me for years to come. Full transparency, I am never the one to pick up books set during WWI or WWII. That being said, it’s Katherine Arden! she can write the hell of a story and creates characters who leave their mark. If you love books with a speculative touch then this one is for you! it is slow paced within reason, every time I opened this book I felt instantly transported to the front lines and it terrified me. Heavily researched (notes and photos included in the Barnes & Noble special edition) and delivered by a skilled pen, it is haunting and feels like a story that needed to be told. In her author’s note Arden speaks of the juxtaposition of nurses in corsets while wearing gas masks while cavalry charged at tanks. It really doesn’t get any more real than that. It was the author’s note and photos of the graves she visited that hit hard and make for a powerful read. It’s a story about times of war but also hope where there’s none to be found. Grief and trauma as well as remembrance. There are feelings of repressed rage we see play out in characters like the mysterious hotel owner. The same rage Arden says can be felt to this day while walking alongside the final resting place of many French and German. A powerful read for fans of Arden who were patiently waiting for her next spellbinding tale.

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Spoiler Free Review: Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan

Title: Do Your Worst

Author: Rosie Danan

Pub. Date: November 14th 2023

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format: eARC

Publisher: Berkley

 Pages: 317

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Two strangers meet at a Scottish bar and share a drink, their attraction is instantaneous. They each go their separate ways not thinking their paths would cross again. Riley has traveled from New Jersey to Scotland in hopes of continuing the family business of curse breaking. There’s an infamous Scottish castle with a three hundred year old curse no one has been able to break, enter Riley. “Text Book Capricorn” Clark is an archaeologist trying to bounce back and clean up his reputation from a previous project that resulted in a scandal. The last thing he’s expecting is to have to have to work with a believer of the paranormal/curse breaker. When his attempt to have her removed from the project goes left and Riley learns of his attempts, she decides to get even.

What I Loved? the interactions between curmudgeonly Clark and optimistic/determined Riley provided comedic relief and grade A banter. The little ways Riley executed her pay back and had Clark wondering if she had some type of magic made me giggle on a few occasions. There’s a ton of steam between them that Clark tries his hardest to tamper down. Riley on the other hand embraces her undeniable attraction to Clark and what we get treated to dear readers is hot as hell. From sweet tender moments of hair braiding to the not explored enough if you ask me….edging. Mhm you get a little of everything between these two, Clark being the right amount of confident I like to see in a main love interest.

Their romance isn’t without its challenges, Riley is very aware of his disregard for her profession. This is very triggering to Riley who spent her younger years as an outcast for following in her grandmother’s footsteps studying the occult. It almost seems impossible these two could ever make it work with their opposing beliefs. While it was fun seeing them make their way to a HEA, the emotional connection fell a bit short for my liking. They had the physical chemistry/opposites attract down packed but it all seemed to stay surface level. In part I believe it’s because Clark’s character was so well developed with a backstory that drives the story, he’s seeking redemption. Riley’s character got some back story with her childhood years but it wasn’t as fleshed out as Clarks. Still, I had fun reading Riley and Clark’s story. Any time spent in a Scottish castle in the mix there’s a HIGH likelihood of time well spent 😉

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Spoiler Free Review: Full Moon Over Freedom by Angelina M. Lopez

Title: Full Moon Over Freedom (Milagro Street #2)

Author: Angelina M. Lopez

Pub. Date: September 5th 2023

Genre: Romance/Latinx

Format: eARC

Publisher: Harlequin Feature

Pages: 400

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Full Moon Over Freedom is the second book in the Milagro Street series following a Mexican-American family trying to breathe life back into a Kansas city street, home to many hard working class immigrants. This time we’re following Gillian Armstead-Bancroft, one of the Torres sisters who is returning to Freedom Kansas with her two children and in the middle of an ugly divorce/custody battle. To friends and family, Gillian has always been a do-gooder who did everything “right” and more than ever, wants to be good at being bad. Running into her childhood bestfriend Nicky Mendoza poses an opportunity to let go and go with the flow. Nicky was the one she entrusted to help her lose her virginity the summer before leaving for college, he represents home and safety. For Nicky, the return of the girl he loves comes with a ton of mixed emotions including abandonment. Nevertheless, they throw caution to the wind and ignite what they’ve never been able to forget. 

What I didn’t love? I struggled warming up to Gillian, but that may just be my preference for lead characters who go against the grain and are a bit more bold in life choices. Gillian is trying to find her footing after having her idea of success and happiness completely changed and her life turned upside down. We get a healthy dose both Gillian and Nicky independently however, their romance in present time felt a bit unbalanced. As in, Nicky was definitely pouring into Gillian’s cup but she was wrapped up in a lot of unresolved issues. The friends to lovers trope set the foundation for this connection but its also what carried this story arc. 

What I loved? returning to Freedom Kansas, seeing familiar faces, and the progress being made to open business in this long forgotten street. There’s discussion of opportunities and business plans being drawn up to help women of color gain financial independence through ownership. We also see our MC’s dig through historical documents that paint a better picture of how women of color contributed to this street in decades past. One a more personal level, Gillian is navigating being a new single mom to her kids. One of which has autism; Gillian’s very real concerns and fears of being in a toxic co-parenting situation and how it affects her child. There are heavy themes explored such as drug addiction, emotional abuse, and death of a loved one. This series also has a touch of magical realism, we come across La Llorona who is a ghost from Mexican Folklore as well as a wolf entity that follow our main characters down their paths independently. I love when my romance books are meaty and complex like the Milagro Street books are, my interest in reading about the youngest Torres sister next is definitely piqued!

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Spoiler Free Review: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

Title: The Tainted Cup (Shadow Of The Leviathan #1)

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

Pub. Date: February 6th 2024

Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Mystery/Queer

Format: DRC

Publisher: Del Rey

Pages: 351

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I couldn’t figure out what I was in the mood to read and kick off my February line-up, I found myself leaning towards Fantasy but also craving mystery. What I didn’t know was just how much The Tainted Cup would satisfy both of these cravings. It gives Sherlock and Watson Vibes paired with Knives Out, two things I absolutely love! We meet Dinios Kol, and Engraver who is magically altered to have perfect memory at the start of his assignment. Din is to work for the eccentric investigator Ana Dolabra. As her assistant, Din would go out to crime scenes and act as her seer. This is because Ana wears a blindfold and never leaves her quarters, but is considered to be the best in her field of work. When an Imperial officer is killed by a tree spontaneously sprouting from his body, Ana and Din are called to investigate. This WHODUNNIT had me invested! Din is so loyal to Ana even when some of her practices really pushed the limits. Although it’s not outright stated on the page (not likely to have a name in this fantastical setting), it appears Din struggles with Dyslexia. Despite his challenges with letters, Din is determined to graduate in rank as an Engraver. The eccentricities paired with her bold and direct way of speaking made Ana and instant fave. Ana and Din could not be more hilariously paired up but despite that, Ana was good for Din. In many ways she saw him for who he really is better than those walking around him not blindfolded. Lastly, the world-building left no stone unturned. Part Fantasy mixed with some elements of Sci-Fi and a healthy dose of mystery, The Tainted Cup is unlike any book I’ve read before. I was hooked on trying to figure out the villain(s) all the while feeling a sense if urgency for the people in this land who were gearing up t protect their walls from a Leviathan (giant sea creatures) attack. Extinction is a daily threat looming over the land building the climax while the mystery surrounding the spontaneous deaths unravels. Listed as the first book in the Shadow Of The Leviathan series on Goodreads, this is one that I’ll be eagerly anticipating!

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Spoiler Free Review: The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston


Title: The Seven Year Slip

Author: Ashley Poston

Pub. Date: June 27th 2023

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Time Travel

Format: DRC

Publisher: Berkley

Pages: 352

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*•.¸♡ “𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎, 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚒𝚝? 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔 𝚍𝚛𝚘𝚙 — 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗, 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚡𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛.” ♡¸.•*

When I say there isn’t a book Ashley Poston could write that I wouldn’t read, I truly mean it Book Lovers! I thought The Dead Romantics held the prize for breaking me into a million little pieces and then piecing me back together again UNTIL I read The Seven Year Slip. This story is about grief, healing, the passing of time, acceptance, and falling in love with your person at each phase of their life. Our MC Clementine has just experienced the loss of her aunt, the woman who was bigger than life itself and got her to fall in love with travel. She works long hours climbing the ladder at a publishing house as a publicist where her hard work is paying off. Gone are the days of travel and seeing the world, this is how Clementine copes with the passing of her aunt. She ends her days in the apartment her aunt has passed down to her. Located in Manhattan with a doorman whose been there since her childhood, this apartment holds many of Clementine’s most cherished memories with her aunt. There is where she tries to protect her heart from anymore heartbreak, but that all changes when she comes home one day and there’s a stranger sitting in her kitchen. Iwan with the southern drawl and a talent for making the most memorable lemon pies had rented the apartment from Clementine’s aunt for the summer. Clementine is caught off guard and thinks it’s some type of cruel joke since her aunt is no longer living. That is until she remembers those conversations with her late aunt who told her stories about the magic the apartment holds, time travel. Seven years to be exact, Iwan isn’t the one in the wrong timeline or the wrong place.

This is just one of those books that have stayed with me way beyond the final pages, I felt it all while getting wrapped up in “Lemon” and Iwan’s story. Clementine can for some be seen as either the grump or an unlikeable character but for me, she was experiencing some major heartbreak and loss. I found her super relatable as someone who will fully submerge myself in work when grieving the loss of someone whose passed or just exited my life. The overall theme of falling in love over and over again with your person at the very many different phases of their life was beautifully written. Food was used to trigger memories and emotions while Clementine jumped between past and present, I could practically smell and taste the lemon pies in the kitchen and tacos from the food truck. If you enjoy Magical Realism, time travel, serendipitous love stories, and great food scenes this one hits the mark!

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Spoiler Free Review: The Nanny by Lana Ferguson

Title: The Nanny

Author: Lana Ferguson

Pub. Date: April 11th 2023

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format: DRC/Audiobook

Publisher: Berkley

Pages: 432

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A fun time was had in this single dad romance, I don’t remember laughing out loud so hard reading a Contemporary Romance! Our female lead Cassie Evans has fallen on some tough times and in the past she had her Only Fans account to rely on but for REASONS, she can’t go back to that. Instead she applies for a live- in nanny position not really thinking she’d actually land the job. Single dad/Chef Aiden Reid reaches out to Cassie, she turns out to be the most qualified for the job and he insists she take the job. Cassie is excited and accepts on the spot but also can’t help but notice that her soon to be employer is SUPER hot! We live in Cassie’s head as she tries to reign in her attraction to Aiden. What I loved about Cassie? She’s genuinely great with kids! Aiden’s daughter Sophie wasn’t easily sold on the idea of a live-in nanny and it took some persistence and trust building efforts on Cassie’s behalf. Once the hit it off and Sophie stole Cassie’s heart, it becomes clear to Cassie how much Aiden’s presence at home is felt. She acknowledges how hard it must be to be a single dad to a young girl while also having a full blown career as a Chef but she also doesn’t let him off the hook. We see Cassie win over Sophie and also take on the challenge of Sophie’s aunt who doesn’t believe Aiden has the time in his busy schedule to truly be there for Sophie. 

Audiobook Rating: 5 Stars (Samantha Summers narrated and made this one a fun time to listen to, HIGHLY recommend the audiobook)

The interactions between Cassie and the side characters were quality enjoyable scenes. The interactions between Cassie and Aiden (when they do interact) were also top tier steamy and hot. Especially when Cassie realizes Aiden is not the stranger she thought he was, he’s actually a client from her Only Fans account! and instead of disclosing this bit of admittedly awkward information, she decides to keep it to herself. Readers, the ANGST! it is delivered in hefty servings I thoroughly enjoyed. My only “want” was more time to build up the connection between Cassie and Aiden in person. We do see their history through chats in their Only Fans interactions but I just wanted more page time with them instead of feeling the weight of Aiden’s schedule myself. I still had a good time, Cassie has such a fun personality that makes her easy to love. There’s also Wanda, her older ex-roomate who still checks in on Cassie to make sure she hasn’t been kidnapped and thrown in a basement by her new employer. Wanda is a good time! Seriously, her dating life is thriving and I would read her story ARC any time! The Nanny has a cast full of characters you won’t forget 😉

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Spoiler Free Review: Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo

Title: Family Lore

Author: Elizabeth Acevedo

Pub. Date: August 1st 2023

Genre: Contemporary/Fiction/Latinx

Format: DRC

Publisher: Ecco

Pages: 371

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☆☆ARC PROVIDED BY PUBLISHER IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW☆☆

One of my MOST highly anticipated reads of 2023 by one of my all time favorite authors, I could not wait to get my hands on a copy! and since I’ve always listened to Acevedo’s books while reading along, I couldn’t break tradition. If you haven’t done so already, you should absolutely treat your ears to Acevedo’s narrative style and join the many readers who simply adore this author’s storytelling/voice. This is Acevedo’s first adult fiction debut and we follow the six women of the Marte family in past + present timelines between Santo Domingo and New York City. Sisters Flor, Matilde, Pastora, and Camila have gathered to organize a living wake for Flor. The Oldest of the sisters has always had a close relationship with death, experiencing premonitions at a very young age that predicted which family members were close to passing. After watching a documentary of a man having a living wake with his loved ones present, Flor decided she would have one for herself. This story is slow paced as we get to know the sisters and some of their offspring, cousins Ona and Yadi also have chapters of their own as they navigate their mother/aunts live funeral. 

There’s something comforting in reading one of Acevedo’s books and I believe it’s because family is always at their core. Also, as a Latina woman myself having grown up in a large family there is one universal truth and that is…everyone is deeply invested in everyone elses lives for better or worse. Matilde is dealing with a husband who is always having an affair and this time has taken his extra marital activities much further. Pastora is tired of seeing Matilde put up with her philandering husband and wants her to end her marriage. She’s also trying to get to the bottom of the reasoning behind Flor’s live wake. Camila is the youngest and most forgotten of the sisters and she’s grown tired of that. Flor’s daughter Ona is struggling with fertility issues and wanting more than anything to have a child with her husband. Pastora’s daughter Yadi has her world rocked when her boyfriend from her teenage years returns after having been in prison for some years. 

I found some of these women’s stories to be  more compelling than others but can appreciate what Acevedo set out to achieve. It was during the scenes that took place back in Santo Domingo where you can see where and why these ladies have unhealed generational trauma and wounds to heal. Although they’re all deeply woven with one another, six lives to follow can get chaotic and sometimes I found myself getting lost. I felt some women were better developed than others and this led to some blending in of voices and difficulty keeping the story lines straight. Even though we Know Camila is sick of being the forgotten one, I still felt she pretty much was forgotten in this story which seemed like a missed opportunity. If you enjoy reading slower paced stories with a strong focus on family dynamics paired with a unique storytelling voice, you can’t go wrong with Elizabeth Acevedo. 

Favorite POV’s: Matilde and Yadi

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