Reviews

One Year of Ugly is a darkly humorous tale filled with cultural richness and family love. The book follows the Palacio family from the point of view of Yola; it follows their immigration from Venezuela to Trinidad, where the family finds themselves under the thumb of a local criminal known as Ugly.

As the title suggests, this story takes place over 12 months. The ups and downs, trials and tribulations, and the utter shit show that is the Palacio family’s current situation. The family consists of Hector, His wife and two daughters, Zulema and Yola; Milagros, Hector’s sister; Mauricio, Hector’s late sister Celia’s ex-husband/lover, and his three Daughters Ava, Alejandra and Vanessa.

Though dead, Celia’s voice rings loudly. Unbeknownst to the family, Celia had written a memoir about her life, and it was a wild one. Celia is known as the bitch of the family, a crazy mother*cking bitch who attempts to murder Mauricio on multiple occasions because of his infidelity, who did whatever the heck she wanted; the woman who moved to Miami in search of riches, adventure and all the men she could possibly fuck. Her pessimistic, acerbic, and sarcastic voice was an amusing addition to this darkly funny story.

Celia, having to flee Venezuela due to Mauricio’s illegal venture being discovered, took as much cash as they could and used the money to buy passage and documentation for her daughters to finish high school, to set up a new life in Trinidad. Shortly after the rest of the Palacio family joins, Celia dies, leaving the family in the debt of kin-pin, mafioso Ugly. Which is where the book starts.

With no way to pay the enormous debt, the Palacios find themselves under Ugly’s thumb, having to house illegal immigrants taking the same journey as themselves out of Venezuela. Thankfully the family don’t have much contact with the vicious Ugly but are subjected to Román, his surveillance man.

One Year of Ugly is the type of book I would usually read, meaning it’s fiction that is not mostly romance. However, I did enjoy it. It was fast-paced, filled with tension, nail-biting scenarios, and a family who loves each other and helps each other through the shit show their lives have become; from working 14 hours grooming people to being a school bus driver and illegal taxi driver; translating work non-stop, to eventually working in a gentleman’s club, aka. a strip club. The family stuck together through thick and thin, and it was heartwarming to read, considering that the tone of this book was one of dark humour, the kind of humour that only comes from someone who has to laugh or else they’ll break apart. This book had a side plot of romance, a forbidden romance that had to be kept secret (duh!) to protect those involved. The romance of Yola and Román. These two spark as soon as they meet, drawn to each other like magnets that come together in a highly secretive but explosive relationship. Overall this book was a fun read, with Yola’s narration, the quick pace and unbelievable events that transpire.