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martinj's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexism, Classism, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Racism
Minor: Sexual violence
lorettalucia's review
emotional
hopeful
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
4.75
This was a gorgeous novel. The plotting and characterizations were impeccable. The critique or racism in halls of the elite—the Ivy League, Upper East Side shindigs, the Art Establishment—was incisive and pulled no punches. (Believe me, I’ve been the Brooklyn-reared “ethnic” female outsider in those rooms for most of my life.)
The prose is straightforward rather than flowery but Gonzalez’s ability to get straight to the root of an emotion, big or small, is brilliant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexism and Racism
starrfishandcoffee's review
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
5.0
Yes, yes, yes!!!! I absolutely devoured and LOVED this powerful, rage-filled, sometimes snarky, feminist tale. Set in the ~art world~, told in multiple POVs over dual timelines (1980s/1990s), this novel explores so many universal themes: class, privilege, racism, power dynamics, gender roles, sexism, toxic masculinity, toxic relationships, the weaponization of culture… to name just a few.
Gonzalez flawlessly swings back and forth from artist Anita and her chaotic marriage to the abusive Jack to Raquel falling under the spell of fellow student Nick and entering an ever so subtly suffocating relationship with him (read: toxic, racist, controlling, rich, white fxxkboy). The nuances of what abuse and privilege look like are crafted so perfectly, it reads and feels like a story that we’ve all heard so many iterations of so many times, too many times, or perhaps unfortunately are personally familiar with.
Anita is at times unhinged and vengeful (which I love), but she is fundamentally what so many of us women are: seeking to be seen, heard, and appreciated in our own right.
This book made me laugh, made my blood pressure rise, made me punch the air in triumph. READ IT!!!!!!!
Gonzalez flawlessly swings back and forth from artist Anita and her chaotic marriage to the abusive Jack to Raquel falling under the spell of fellow student Nick and entering an ever so subtly suffocating relationship with him (read: toxic, racist, controlling, rich, white fxxkboy). The nuances of what abuse and privilege look like are crafted so perfectly, it reads and feels like a story that we’ve all heard so many iterations of so many times, too many times, or perhaps unfortunately are personally familiar with.
Anita is at times unhinged and vengeful (which I love), but she is fundamentally what so many of us women are: seeking to be seen, heard, and appreciated in our own right.
This book made me laugh, made my blood pressure rise, made me punch the air in triumph. READ IT!!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexism and Racism
bibliomich's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Following two parallel stories set a decade apart, Anita de Monte Laughs Last dives deep into the themes of art, ego, racism, classism, feminism, and love. And Xochitl Gonzalez does this with such brilliant wit that the book had me literally laughing out loud one second, and then dropping my mouth in astonishment in the next.
What I loved:
- The audiobook narration. If you can listen to this one, I highly recommend it. The book rotates between three different narrators, all of whom bring so much life and passion to the characters' voices.
- The characters: Anita de Monte is the queen of revenge, and I loved every second of it. Beyond the title character, though, Gonzalez has created a full cast of characters whom you love to love and/or love to hate.
- The way the author depicts the art world: I'll admit--I know nothing about the art world, art history, or art genres, but it didn't matter at all. Gonzalez swept me up into this world, and even though I was coming in with no prior knowledge, I felt like I understood it all. The elitism, the b.s., the racism--all of it was so well illustrated that I could see these scenes playing out in my mind as if I were standing there in those very galleries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced listener copy!
What I loved:
- The audiobook narration. If you can listen to this one, I highly recommend it. The book rotates between three different narrators, all of whom bring so much life and passion to the characters' voices.
- The characters: Anita de Monte is the queen of revenge, and I loved every second of it. Beyond the title character, though, Gonzalez has created a full cast of characters whom you love to love and/or love to hate.
- The way the author depicts the art world: I'll admit--I know nothing about the art world, art history, or art genres, but it didn't matter at all. Gonzalez swept me up into this world, and even though I was coming in with no prior knowledge, I felt like I understood it all. The elitism, the b.s., the racism--all of it was so well illustrated that I could see these scenes playing out in my mind as if I were standing there in those very galleries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced listener copy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Death, Eating disorder, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Murder, and Racism
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