Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Ander and Santi Were Here

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Ander and Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa

23 reviews

just_one_more_paige's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This one ended up on my TBR thanks to a review post on IG that I saw, but I didn't note who posted that review, so I can't give credit where it's due. Anyways, after just recently finishing, and loving/being totally impressed by, We Deserve Monuments, I was in the mood for another emotionally hard-hitting and salient YA novel. And this seemed like the perfect fit.

Ander Martínez has lived in San Antonio, Texas, for their whole life. They even delayed leaving for art school in favor of sticking around for a year to work on local murals and, of course, at their family's taquería. When he and a (super hot) new waiter, Santiago López Alvarado, fall for each other over the summer, everything changes. With Santi's help, Ander starts to understand who they want to be as an artist, while Ander helps Santi start to really make San Antonio feel like home. But the world is not that easy to live in - though why shouldn't it be?! - and when ICE agents come for Santi, Ander realizes how fragile everything they've built together actually is. How can they hold on to love when the country they live in tears them apart? And what options are there for the two that allow for them to follow their dreams *and* make a future together, while not sacrificing the safety/stability they deserve to have?

Oh this novel was beautiful and tragic and *just barely* on the happier side of hopeful. Let me start with some of the lighter things that I loved. First, the narrative voice was fire. It's told from Ander's perspective, and their voice is seriously spot-on, tone-wise, for a smart and snarky adolescent. The way they spoke with everyone around them, from coworkers to family (especially their mom; I was such a fan of her character and voice as well) to, of course, Santi was spectacular. And you know I'm a sucker for great dialogue. And it went past that into incredibly genuine relationships as well. The casual acceptance from parents/family for Ander’s gender (here's to more novels where that is not the primary conflict) was so great. I loved seeing the gender neutral Spanish. The tension/pull between Ander and Santi is top notch, both leading up to and after they get together. Now, I will say, Ander was so much bigger than Santi on the page. And so, partly, I feel like they were much more developed, character-wise, than Santi, who then ended up as more of a support/secondary role, instead of an equal. Now, Ander had a bigger personality IRL, which played into that. And the fact that it was told from Ander's POV probably also increased that impression. But I did want to mention it. Finally, OMG that cover. *star eyes*

As far as the heavier topics, Villa doesn't shy away from addressing them head on. Which: yes to that. The rage and terror of being undocumented, or caring for someone who is undocumented, is portrayed without any softening. As it should be. There is no circumstance where a person should be considered illegal simply by trying to live and remain safe and try for a better future for themselves/loved ones...and we see myriad ways where that is not only the baseline assumption of our country's immigration law/policy, but how unjust and horrific it is in general and in a very individual, very human, way. Ander and Santi are just two young people in love, already a very real challenge for many, and they cannot simply enjoy or experience it without the threat of separation and legal ramification over their heads (we see this mostly in regards to Santi's citizenship, but also, knowing they are in Texas, there's a very real threat due to their queerness as well - that intersectionality that leads to, potentially, no safe spaces is deeply tragic). So yea, that aspect was full of love and hope and tender youthful optimism, but mixed with upsetting and disrupting and horrific realities that this kind of young love (or just, young…or just, people, any people) shouldn’t have to list as part of their struggles/worries. By the end, this part of the story had me bawling my eyes out in all the good and bad ways.

There was also a phenomenal interrogation of art throughout the novel. Ander is struggling with what one is “allowed” to do, to want to do, to idolize and emulate, to represent. As Ander is finding their identity as an artist in general, and a queer Mexican-American artist specifically, and learning to own what they care about because they care about it, for not other reason(s) and regardless of whether they should or not, it's hard, but it's handled with care and nuance. The way Santi helps them with it is beautiful. And what it provides for Santi in turn is equally touching.

If I could say one thing about this novel, it would be this: it is so vibrant and full of freaking LIFE. It presents an important and necessary POV in a style that is the epitome of YA: funny and hopeful and messy/inappropriate (in the most wonderfully inclusive way), even under the shadow of very real threat/danger. This is why youth are the future, you can’t quash that instinctive belief that things will get better. Heartbreaking and spectacular. I saw fireworks while reading this.

“It’s a weird space to be in mentally, aware that I'm really good at something but still so afraid of the future.”

“I hate that sometimes liking that art I do seems like I'm settling for what people expect me to be doing. That they get in my head and make me overanalyze every idea I have and make me ask myself, Is it because I want to paint this, or is it because I'm supposed to only want to paint this?”

“There’s only us, here together in a moment that is both beautiful and frightening, for however long the world wants to give us. And we're going to make the most of it.”

“There are these moments where I can't tell the difference between authenticity and trying to make a point.”

“And with every touch, I am reminded that we are powerful. That our existence is powerful. That we can be both protector and protected. [...] ...we exist. Together. Right here and right now, with each other. ANd no man or government or racist ideology can ruin this. At least, not right now.” (my god it’s so unbelievably tender and, as I believe is the point but is also universal and should never be as easy to ignore as it seems to be, *human*)

“Fuck borders. Fuck some arbitrary lines that colonizers made up on land that doesn't even belong to them. And fuck how those lines have become a way to make people hate each other and fear each other and want to keep each other out and have no guilt about any of it.”

“Because time continues to exist whether we acknowledge it or not.”

“I wish that this wasn’t the world we’re forced to live in.”

Content Warnings

robinks's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I enjoyed Ander & Santi’s love story, though some moments felt too predictable and perfect. I love Roque’s voice acting! Also, amerikkka sucks.

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thatswhatmegread's review against another edition

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4.0

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abby_can_read's review

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

Content Warnings

adrianas65's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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skudiklier's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book was beautiful; I loved nearly everything about it. I loved the characters and their relationships, having a nonbinary main character, all the art, the way the book doesn't shy away from the really hard parts. This so perfectly captured the best version of falling in love for the first time.

This story is such a necessary depiction of how awful the United States's immigration system is, and it accurately and fairly villainizes ICE. It's heartbreaking and amazing and I'd recommend it to anyone. It made me cry but was still so joyful and hopeful in so much of it.

Also I saw a different review talking about how the gen z slang was too much, but I thought it felt pretty natural and realistic. Just to offer a different point of view with regard to that!

My only complaint is sooo small and I'm only bringing it up because I can't find any other reviews mentioning it and I just want anyone looking for this to know if this matters to them (but I'm also spoilering it because it's kind of a spoiler and also I don't want people to see me talking about this lmao):

I was a bit confused by how closed door it was? Not that I expected it to be open door from the start, but there were several little comments/lines that pointed towards it being more open door throughout the first third of the book or so. Like usually I feel like there are hints toward what will happen that help manage expectations, and this book kind of did the opposite--hinted at being open door then was closed door in the end. Which again, is fine, but I'd rather just not have had all those little comments at the beginning that made me think that. It was a little annoying. But overall not at all a huge thing in the scope of the book, and I still would absolutely recommend it and rate it 5 stars.

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beesjess's review against another edition

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challenging funny hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Content Warnings

hobbithopeful's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

As beautiful as it is heartbreaking, Ander & Santi Were Here is a masterful romance about belonging, immigration, and fighting against a system not built to actually help people.
Ander is fairly content painting murals, and working at their family's' taquería. New waiter Santi immediately catches their eye, and the two become inexplicably close. But Santi is undocumented, and ICE agents aren't just a looming distant threat, they are a very present and very real one.
This is now one of my favorite books of all time. If you ever want to read any books I rec, please make this one of them.
I spent so much of the book on edge, worried about ICE and what would happen. Every happy moment, every bit of love Ander and Santi experience together just made me more nervous for the inevitable. I do think this is intentionally done by Villa, so the reader gets a small idea of the sense of impending doom that Santi experiences every day. All the racism, how ICE treats people, everything is so on the nose, so much so that it was difficult to read a times. Overall this is a very sweet and loving story, but those moments take you by surprise and hurt. I wish the world could read this, or at least every single Texan because there are so many misunderstandings and stereotypes around the immigration experience. Immigrants are truly held to such a higher and insane standard. Just because someone isn't a doctor or a genius doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to live here and thrive. America has been built on the back of immigrants, and continues to thrive off of exploiting their labor.
There is a lot of español in this book and it is written in so seamlessly and I am so happy to see the inclusion of it. Anyone who wants to complain come meet me in a dark alley...I just want to talk. People who always want to complain about español in books or even calling it spanglish never seem to have a problem with any other language or culture doing it. I spent a lot of time in San Antonio growing up, so reading this felt so nostalgic for me. All the little things I enjoyed about visiting all came flooding back and I felt this homesickness.
If you go into reading this on an empty stomach, beware! All the delicious food descriptions and mouth-watering meals had my stomach grumbling the whole time. I had to make a plan to go get pan dulce because this book made me crave it!
Ander's family is supportive, loving, and such a heart-warming and sweet spot in this. Reading all their interactions and genuine love for eachother is so nice to see. While homophobia is incredibly prevalent in the Hispanic community, it's nice to see a family that isn't like that.
Ander loves painting, and their worries and struggle with worrying about being not Mexican enough or too Mexican with their art is such a reality for so many Mexican American artists. The way their adviser was so racist and all his microaggression to Ander UGH! It made me so mad, and brought me back to my college experience.
I absolutely fell in love with this book. It is one of my new top reads of 2023, and I have found a new favorite author in Jonny Garza Villa. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS, READ IT! Now I'm going to go request Villa's entire collection from the library.
The cover for this is phenomenal. I don't often see that style of font on book covers, but it works so perfectly here. There is so much great depth and lighting in the illustration, it conveys such love and yearning. Often when I see book covers depicting BIPOC characters, especially those of a darker complexion, usually they look like a smudge because the artist doesn't understand how to draw them. I am so glad this isn't the case here. (Also obsessed with Santi's cactus crown!)

Content Warnings

bookcaptivated's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Content Warnings

warlocksarecool21's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ander and Santi Were Here is a beautifully devastating story about family, heartbreak, joy and love. I adored Ander and Santi and I enjoyed every second of watching their relationship develop. At first, it seems like the book is going to be a light-hearted (and a lil raunchy) queer rom-com but it’s so much more than that. The topics of immigration and deportation are explored in such a profound and impactful way. Those moments in the book were heart-wrenching, I won’t lie I cried a lot, but the hope and love that Ander and Santi had despite everything was so beautiful. I also loved how normalized queerness was in this story. It was so refreshing to see all of Ander’s friends and family not only accept them but also celebrate their identity, and to have a character that is not afraid to be bold and take up space. Coming out stories are definitely important, but it made me happy to have queer joy centered so much in this book. The writing in this story was beautiful, I felt so connected to Ander’s art, their family and their relationship with Santi. This is a powerful read and one you won’t want to miss.

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