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bibliomich's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
Andrés N. Ordorica begins the epilogue to his novel How We Named the Stars by explaining to the reader that it is not a memoir. This disclaimer stood out to me, not because it matters if the story is true or not, but because the writing feels so profoundly true to the human experience, that as a reader, I never even stopped to question if it might be fiction.
Ordorica writes with such viscerally emotional prose that even if you have never gone through the specific experience(s) of his protagonist, you can still deeply relate to the feelings attached to these moments. As I watched Daniel fall in love for the first time, I also felt those feelings of falling. Just as his heart was broken for the first time, my heart also broke. In addition to the central love story of the novel, Daniel is also navigating the triumphs and challenges of being a first-generation Latinx college student at a predominantly white university, exploring his identity as a young gay man, connecting with his family in México, and facing grief in the wake of unimaginable loss.
Ordorica writes with the slow, careful prose of a poet, and I highly recommend taking your time moving through this story. Also, please check the content warnings (included in the comments).
Thank you to NetGalley and Tin House for my advanced copy of this beautiful novel.
Ordorica writes with such viscerally emotional prose that even if you have never gone through the specific experience(s) of his protagonist, you can still deeply relate to the feelings attached to these moments. As I watched Daniel fall in love for the first time, I also felt those feelings of falling. Just as his heart was broken for the first time, my heart also broke. In addition to the central love story of the novel, Daniel is also navigating the triumphs and challenges of being a first-generation Latinx college student at a predominantly white university, exploring his identity as a young gay man, connecting with his family in México, and facing grief in the wake of unimaginable loss.
Ordorica writes with the slow, careful prose of a poet, and I highly recommend taking your time moving through this story. Also, please check the content warnings (included in the comments).
Thank you to NetGalley and Tin House for my advanced copy of this beautiful novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, Classism, Racism, and Death
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Physical abuse
emzireads's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
jaechristy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
jayisreading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
This queer coming-of-age novel was so full of love, even if the overall tone was one of sadness. It really warmed my heart to know that the protagonist, Daniel, who is a young gay Mexican American, received so much support from his loved ones. Whether it was while he was trying to find his footing at an elite Northeast US university as a first-gen scholarship student, or in México where he reflected further on his identity and family history, he always had a support system brimming with love. I found it refreshing that Ordorica leaned into writing this novel from a place of tenderness as a way to frame Daniel’s journey of self-acceptance. One way this was shown was through Daniel’s friendship with his roommate, Sam, which became something more as time passed. I really appreciated seeing such gentle acts of care between these two young men, and my heart ached when it became clear that Sam wasn’t fully ready to accept this change in their friendship. A second form of tender love that moved me was Daniel’s relationship with his family, particularly his abuelo. It was wonderful to see how often Daniel’s family said “te amo” to him, to know that they would always be there for him. I think this particularly struck me because, as a queer person of color from an immigrant family like the protagonist, I feel that “I love you” is something many of us rarely hear, so it made me happy that Daniel’s life was filled with te amos.
Structurally, I found it effective that we not only got Daniel’s first-person perspective for this novel, but that it was done in a journal-like form that was being written to Sam (who was addressed as “you” throughout). I thought it really brought Daniel’s introspective personality to the forefront, allowing the reader to really understand what he’s going through. As a result, all the intimate moments that Daniel had (especially with Sam) were especially powerful and heartbreaking.
I did feel the ending was a little abrupt, but overall, this was a beautiful debut novel from Ordorica that made me long for more coming-of-age novels that centered care and gentle love for QTBIPOC.
Note: I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, Grief, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Car accident
k_bee_readin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
A poetic story mapping out a journey to self discovery through a first love and heartbreak. This book really hits home being a queer MexAmerican n just struggling to figure out my place and identity. The book leaves you asking yourself questions and reflecting on past memories. The author took difficult life experiences and wrote them in a way that made me want to try to see things in a different light. So that way I could try to find all the beauty hidden within the darkness.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Death, and Sexual content
imtashamonet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Disclaimer: I received a free advance review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. (Releases January 30, 2024)
How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica is a beautifully written story of love and grief intermingling in the memories of Daniel, a young Mexican American man, who has experienced both love, grief, and growth in the short span of his first year of college and the summer that follows.
There are many things I can say about this book and how it lyrically captures the newness and uncertainty of first love, loss, grief, and heartbreak, but I think what I appreciated most about this book was the tenderness in which these subjects were handled. I cannot say that I did not cry because I most definitely did. However, I was not absolutely gutted by the trauma while still feeling every part of it and I believe Ordorica has a beautiful way of turning life's pains into poetry. I also appreciated how though I am not like the main character, Daniel, I saw myself in him. Perhaps this is because Daniel read as more than just a character in a book I was reading. He felt real as if I knew him and as if at some point in my life (maybe even now) I am dealing with things quite like him, learning to deal with and move forward from/with grief.
Structurally, the way the chapter (section?) titles mirrored where Daniel was in the world was excellently executed. When he was at his elite university in Ithaca the titles were in English and when he was in Mexico for the summer, they were in Spanish. They also served to help ground me in the passage of time as well as how Daniel viewed time as his experiences changed. Additionally, the usage of Spanish within the text was done without alienating non-Spanish speakers. While I do speak Spanish, I was pleased to see that everywhere it was used within the novel also included context clues or translations to help non-Spanish speakers get the message.
As much as I loved this book, there were small things that I wish were handled differently. For instance, early in the book there are clear moments or racism and homophobia being displayed as Daniel is living his life in Ithaca, but after those moments pass they just seem to fade away and we're living in the bubble of first love and heartbreak. The characters do continue to live their lives at school, but there aren't many more mentions of how those things impact them. Granted, this book is not completely about that and the focus is on Daniel's story. I do just feel it was brought up so blatantly and then swept into the background not to be seen explicitly again.
Still, this was an emotional read for me and I am happy I read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
zigzagzmak's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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? Yes
5.0
This story about love and loss and grief and queerness and family hit so many beautiful notes. It's an exploration of growing into one's self amidst and despite and because of tragedy, and Ordorica does just that so well in his debut novel. It felt lyrical and prosaic throughout, so it is no surprise that Ordorica has a poetry background.
I adored the framework for this novel: both the month by month re-telling of Daniel and Sam's story and also the Tío Daniel letters and diary entries that begin each chapter. It helped really sink in the idea that Daniel was taking time to find his footing as a young man named after someone he knew so little about. It was really lovely to watch him uncovering the mystery of who this person was and bringing the memory of his uncle back to his family just as he was bringing his own self to them.
The characters felt rich and fleshed out, even the ones we only saw for a few moments or interactions. Daniel, Sam, Abuelo, Diego, Naomi, Bernie-Bernice, Luis: I knew them and what was important to them and how they interacted with the world. They were in community with Daniel in different ways, all important and necessary and so wonderful to read about.
There were some times when I felt like Daniel or other characters were speaking in a very "written" way as opposed to the way people naturally speak, but after a bit I realized that it really fit with the narrative. Whether intentionally done or not, it works with the story of Daniel remembering all of these instances; of course a person would paraphrase or re-write their memories as they go through them to document such as Daniel has here.
It's rare that a book will have me tearful but still hopeful, still smiling and excited to turn pages. Often a book about grief is hard to read and while there were certainly difficult parts to get through, there are similarly difficult parts of life. Having a story like this where our beloved main character makes it out on the other side is something really special.
Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company and Netgalley for access to an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
I adored the framework for this novel: both the month by month re-telling of Daniel and Sam's story and also the Tío Daniel letters and diary entries that begin each chapter. It helped really sink in the idea that Daniel was taking time to find his footing as a young man named after someone he knew so little about. It was really lovely to watch him uncovering the mystery of who this person was and bringing the memory of his uncle back to his family just as he was bringing his own self to them.
The characters felt rich and fleshed out, even the ones we only saw for a few moments or interactions. Daniel, Sam, Abuelo, Diego, Naomi, Bernie-Bernice, Luis: I knew them and what was important to them and how they interacted with the world. They were in community with Daniel in different ways, all important and necessary and so wonderful to read about.
There were some times when I felt like Daniel or other characters were speaking in a very "written" way as opposed to the way people naturally speak, but after a bit I realized that it really fit with the narrative. Whether intentionally done or not, it works with the story of Daniel remembering all of these instances; of course a person would paraphrase or re-write their memories as they go through them to document such as Daniel has here.
It's rare that a book will have me tearful but still hopeful, still smiling and excited to turn pages. Often a book about grief is hard to read and while there were certainly difficult parts to get through, there are similarly difficult parts of life. Having a story like this where our beloved main character makes it out on the other side is something really special.
Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company and Netgalley for access to an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, and Gun violence
atreegrowsinbooks's review against another edition
dark
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? It's complicated
5.0
Even though I just finished this book, I am already thinking about the next reread. There is such a wonderful mix of devastating, heartbreaking, and beautiful emotions that I feel as though I left a part of myself in this book.
HOW WE NAMED THE STARS by Andrés N. Ordorica tells the story of Daniel as he embarks on the new adventure of college with new friends, experiences, and his roommate Sam. Daniel is an extremely relatable character who struggles with feeling at home in college while dealing with a lot of struggles he’s internalized as a classic overthinker. He feels lost in all of the new experiences that college brings (a relatable experience for many of us) and is still trying to understand who he is in his queerness while navigating situations he’s never experienced before. His roommate Sam becomes an important person in his life. We follow Daniel throughout his first year away in college as he experiences wonderful beautiful things as well as incredible loss and grief.
What makes this book so unique, is while it is narrated in first person, the narrator, and main character Daniel is addressing Sam in a second person narration style using “you”. I haven’t come across many books utilizing second-person narration, so I was immediately drawn in. Ordorica weaves an incredible story with poetic prose and remarkable characters that I fell for instantly.
I don’t feel that my review truly captures just how magnificent the writing is here. Ordorica is simply amazing with his words, it is clear that he is an amazing poet because his words flow effortlessly off the page. His writing was so easy to follow but incredibly vivid and real. This story truly touched my soul.
As much as this story is about the beauty of first love and friendship there is also a heavy dose of grief, immense loss, and how we begin to heal. HOW WE NAMED THE STARS is an ode to love and honoring those who we have lost along with the ways we can move on while still keeping them in our thoughts. It’s worth it to talk about those we have lost and remember things about them in order to heal.
Daniel is a character I wanted to hug many times throughout this book. He goes through so much and has some important epiphanies that are relatable to all. Growing up is hard but there is also beauty in the difficulty, and for anyone who has struggled with confidence, anxiety, overthinking, or being unsure of yourself or who you are PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. Be ready to cry and fall in love with the characters and this book.
Thank you to Andrés N. Ordorica for writing this book. I’ll be sure to read more from him in the future. Also thanks to NetGalley and Tin House for this e-ARC! #HowWeNamedTheStars #NetGalley
HOW WE NAMED THE STARS by Andrés N. Ordorica tells the story of Daniel as he embarks on the new adventure of college with new friends, experiences, and his roommate Sam. Daniel is an extremely relatable character who struggles with feeling at home in college while dealing with a lot of struggles he’s internalized as a classic overthinker. He feels lost in all of the new experiences that college brings (a relatable experience for many of us) and is still trying to understand who he is in his queerness while navigating situations he’s never experienced before. His roommate Sam becomes an important person in his life. We follow Daniel throughout his first year away in college as he experiences wonderful beautiful things as well as incredible loss and grief.
What makes this book so unique, is while it is narrated in first person, the narrator, and main character Daniel is addressing Sam in a second person narration style using “you”. I haven’t come across many books utilizing second-person narration, so I was immediately drawn in. Ordorica weaves an incredible story with poetic prose and remarkable characters that I fell for instantly.
I don’t feel that my review truly captures just how magnificent the writing is here. Ordorica is simply amazing with his words, it is clear that he is an amazing poet because his words flow effortlessly off the page. His writing was so easy to follow but incredibly vivid and real. This story truly touched my soul.
As much as this story is about the beauty of first love and friendship there is also a heavy dose of grief, immense loss, and how we begin to heal. HOW WE NAMED THE STARS is an ode to love and honoring those who we have lost along with the ways we can move on while still keeping them in our thoughts. It’s worth it to talk about those we have lost and remember things about them in order to heal.
Daniel is a character I wanted to hug many times throughout this book. He goes through so much and has some important epiphanies that are relatable to all. Growing up is hard but there is also beauty in the difficulty, and for anyone who has struggled with confidence, anxiety, overthinking, or being unsure of yourself or who you are PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. Be ready to cry and fall in love with the characters and this book.
Thank you to Andrés N. Ordorica for writing this book. I’ll be sure to read more from him in the future. Also thanks to NetGalley and Tin House for this e-ARC! #HowWeNamedTheStars #NetGalley
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Car accident and Alcohol
Minor: Death
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