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tracytcamp's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
3.5
lindsaylhunter's review against another edition
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? No
3.0
Very endearing little read. Quite slow at times but the main character is super cute.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Sexual assault
jjb21's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A nice writing style and a unique, captivating setting. About a young Dominican woman moving to New York in the 60s, and having to live with a man she doesn’t love. She’s an infuriating yet loveable character. Not much happens, but I quite liked that - it’s kind of the point.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Rape, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Racism, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Death, Racial slurs, Grief, Gaslighting, Fatphobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Alcohol, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Medical content
aya_the_papaya's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful, empowered, and heart-wrenching story of an immigrant and all the pain and turbulence surrounding leaving your home and moving to the USA, with all its glittery and mostly empty promises. I loved it and felt so part of the story's world!
moose_reads_books's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
agostonc's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
shelfexplanatory's review against another edition
4.0
DOMINICANA by Angie Cruz is the story of a 15 year old girl named Ana, who is forced to leave her family in the Dominican Republic to immigrate to New York with her new husband. This book takes place in the mid-60's, and although it is a relatively short book, it covers a variety of themes such as immigration, migrant workers, colorism, and the American Dream.
Cruz does a great job at humanizing all the characters, which is what really stood out to me about DOMINICANA. Ana's husband Juan is twice her age, controlling to the point of abusive, and generally not a lovable character. We follow Ana's point of view for the entire book and see her resentment for Juan firsthand.
In between the lines, though, I was also able to understand Juan's flaws and see that as a migrant worker, he is making sacrifices of his own in order to succeed in the American Dream. While this isn't enough to absolve him in the eyes of the reader, it provides us insight to the difficult situations that migrant workers and immigrants have to navigate in order to make it in America.
Ana's character arc was also both satisfying and eye-opening. I had to constantly remind myself of how young Ana is throughout, and how the situation she was in forced her to grow up too quickly.
cw: sexual content, domestic abuse, abuse of a minor (physical and sexual), pregnancy, extramarital affairs
Cruz does a great job at humanizing all the characters, which is what really stood out to me about DOMINICANA. Ana's husband Juan is twice her age, controlling to the point of abusive, and generally not a lovable character. We follow Ana's point of view for the entire book and see her resentment for Juan firsthand.
In between the lines, though, I was also able to understand Juan's flaws and see that as a migrant worker, he is making sacrifices of his own in order to succeed in the American Dream. While this isn't enough to absolve him in the eyes of the reader, it provides us insight to the difficult situations that migrant workers and immigrants have to navigate in order to make it in America.
Ana's character arc was also both satisfying and eye-opening. I had to constantly remind myself of how young Ana is throughout, and how the situation she was in forced her to grow up too quickly.
cw: sexual content, domestic abuse, abuse of a minor (physical and sexual), pregnancy, extramarital affairs
liorehk's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
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? No
4.5