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miaaisha's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mazza57's review against another edition
1.0
I received a copy of this book via net galley in exchange for an Honest review.
i found it a very difficult book to get into, I restarted it at least 3 times and still had no idea what I was reading. The author says she was writing with humour , I can only say that our idea of humour must be very different as there was nothing remotely funny about this book. Illegal immigrants under appalling duress due to financial difficulty. Made to do things they would never contemplated. Attacked with iron bars and constantly under observance this is far from comical. I hated every minute of it and would not have continued had it not been for a challenge. I would gie it 0 stars if i could but as i cannot it will have to be 1. I won't be reading any more by this author and don't understand how such drivel gets published
i found it a very difficult book to get into, I restarted it at least 3 times and still had no idea what I was reading. The author says she was writing with humour , I can only say that our idea of humour must be very different as there was nothing remotely funny about this book. Illegal immigrants under appalling duress due to financial difficulty. Made to do things they would never contemplated. Attacked with iron bars and constantly under observance this is far from comical. I hated every minute of it and would not have continued had it not been for a challenge. I would gie it 0 stars if i could but as i cannot it will have to be 1. I won't be reading any more by this author and don't understand how such drivel gets published
beepbopbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Unputdownable. Moves seamlessly between being laugh out loud funny to exposing the horrific realities of being an illegal immigrant.
I adored this book and I’m gutted to have finished it. I will miss the Palacios family!
I adored this book and I’m gutted to have finished it. I will miss the Palacios family!
christina_adamson's review against another edition
4.0
Think Romeo and Juliet, but swap Verona for Trinidad, swap Juliet for Yola Palacios, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela fleeing Maduro’s socialist “utopia”, and swap Montague for the Trinidadian people trafficker named Ugly extorting her family after Aunt Celia (who, like the Nurse, provides stellar relationship advice) spontaneously died owing him $600,000. Romeo (or Román) is his begrudgingly-hired muscle, and he and Yola must stealthily navigate the matters of Ugly’s blackmail, indentured servitude, deportation and murder if their love is to survive.
Mackenzie's choice to depict the Palacios’ experiences through a bitingly comedic lens (and forego the ‘more traditional immigrant narrative’) was a deliberate decision that, in my opinion, paid off to great effect. By deftly and light-heartedly introducing us to their intra-familial gripes, and their witty, anxious and airheaded personalities, the Palacioses are depicted first-and-foremost as relatable and likeable people, who just so happen to be living as illegal immigrants.
And what fantastically fully-fleshed, people they are! Let me just shout a little: I LOVED EVERY SINGLE WOMAN IN THIS BOOK. From acerbic Celia (rest in peace, you spiteful legend), to Milagros’ ardent Catholicism and NGO badassery, and lovestruck but fiercely independent Yola, OYofU was populated with three-dimensional, powerful women, who were devoted to their family in their own, wholly unique ways.
My only qualm was with the author’s depiction of the strippers working in Ugly’s “gentlemen’s” club: refreshing as it is to see such positive depictions of strippers who ‘liked to earn a living shaking their asses… and sweet-talking men’, it seemed clumsy to not at all consider the vulnerable political/economic background that these South American ‘career strippers’ were coming from, regardless of whether they were explicit victims of sexual trafficking or otherwise.
Nevertheless, One Year of Ugly was a fantastic read, depicting the plight of the Palacios’ - and of Venezuelan’s fleeing persecution in their home country - with sensitivity and pathos. I definitely recommend it!
Mackenzie's choice to depict the Palacios’ experiences through a bitingly comedic lens (and forego the ‘more traditional immigrant narrative’) was a deliberate decision that, in my opinion, paid off to great effect. By deftly and light-heartedly introducing us to their intra-familial gripes, and their witty, anxious and airheaded personalities, the Palacioses are depicted first-and-foremost as relatable and likeable people, who just so happen to be living as illegal immigrants.
And what fantastically fully-fleshed, people they are! Let me just shout a little: I LOVED EVERY SINGLE WOMAN IN THIS BOOK. From acerbic Celia (rest in peace, you spiteful legend), to Milagros’ ardent Catholicism and NGO badassery, and lovestruck but fiercely independent Yola, OYofU was populated with three-dimensional, powerful women, who were devoted to their family in their own, wholly unique ways.
My only qualm was with the author’s depiction of the strippers working in Ugly’s “gentlemen’s” club: refreshing as it is to see such positive depictions of strippers who ‘liked to earn a living shaking their asses… and sweet-talking men’, it seemed clumsy to not at all consider the vulnerable political/economic background that these South American ‘career strippers’ were coming from, regardless of whether they were explicit victims of sexual trafficking or otherwise.
Nevertheless, One Year of Ugly was a fantastic read, depicting the plight of the Palacios’ - and of Venezuelan’s fleeing persecution in their home country - with sensitivity and pathos. I definitely recommend it!
annmariereads's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book so much and wish I could somehow become a member of the Palacio family!
delena_mae's review against another edition
3.0
This book was OK for me. It wasn't until the end that it started to get interesting. Overall, I found it a bit slow.
outer_books's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was such a fun read, despite the annoying childish Yola, holy moly. This is a medium paced read and it centers around the situation that immigrants from Venezuela had to go through and lose when they had to run away from the rule of Maduro. It's really sad but the author gave it humor, even if I laughed at a 3 or 5 lines.
The reason why I didn't give it a full 5 is because of the writing style. This is a debut novel so I understand that it won't be a smooth type writing but the long, I don't know what to call it, puns or negative talks you link to a show or actor to make it more funny, breaks the immersion as well as it drags some of the situation.
Though it was much more tolerable when listening to the audiobook. I am happy to get this book and try something outside of my comfort zone.
The reason why I didn't give it a full 5 is because of the writing style. This is a debut novel so I understand that it won't be a smooth type writing but the long, I don't know what to call it, puns or negative talks you link to a show or actor to make it more funny, breaks the immersion as well as it drags some of the situation.
Though it was much more tolerable when listening to the audiobook. I am happy to get this book and try something outside of my comfort zone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Cursing
Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, Slavery, Trafficking, Classism, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Animal death, and Alcoholism
cassidee_omnilegent's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars!
Happy Publishing Day to Trinidad native @carolinemackenziewrites! This was such a fun story. Yola is in the midst of grieving her Aunt Celia when a dangerous man named Ugly pays her family a visit. He brings it to their attention that Celia owes him A LOT of money and he expects them to work off her debt. So begins the journey of using their family homes to harbor the illegal immigrants that Ugly moves across borders for extortionate fees. The matter is made more complicated when Yola falls in lust with Roman, Ugly’s strong arm.
This writing won’t be for everyone but I really enjoyed it. It’s frank and honest. Forewarning, since I know some of my friends on here have strong religious convictions towards sexuality and sexual partners, this isn’t a book for you. I am not religious in the least, so no issue for me. Yola is crass and bold and comfortable in her own body. There was a lot of body positivity in this novel. There were serious moments and hilarious moments. The relationship between Roman and Yola was actually really tender. I liked that Caroline didn’t try to tell the immigrant story since she’s a native, but rather showed the interactions between the immigrants and Yola’s family. It all ended up working towards an ending that I was quite surprised about.
A few thoughts, I actually didn’t think Yola was as “bitchy” as everyone said. She is a strong woman that says her mind, but I found that as a strength. Her Aunt Celia is definitely a different story. She says some things that are pretty awful, sometimes very politically incorrect. I didn’t enjoy the aspect of her older brother dating a minor/just turned 18 year old girl. I don’t condone that in any way and couldn’t get that part of the story, even though they ended up working out okay with the way the storyline went. All in all, I enjoyed this a lot but had a few issues! I would definitely read more of Caroline’s writing.
Happy Publishing Day to Trinidad native @carolinemackenziewrites! This was such a fun story. Yola is in the midst of grieving her Aunt Celia when a dangerous man named Ugly pays her family a visit. He brings it to their attention that Celia owes him A LOT of money and he expects them to work off her debt. So begins the journey of using their family homes to harbor the illegal immigrants that Ugly moves across borders for extortionate fees. The matter is made more complicated when Yola falls in lust with Roman, Ugly’s strong arm.
This writing won’t be for everyone but I really enjoyed it. It’s frank and honest. Forewarning, since I know some of my friends on here have strong religious convictions towards sexuality and sexual partners, this isn’t a book for you. I am not religious in the least, so no issue for me. Yola is crass and bold and comfortable in her own body. There was a lot of body positivity in this novel. There were serious moments and hilarious moments. The relationship between Roman and Yola was actually really tender. I liked that Caroline didn’t try to tell the immigrant story since she’s a native, but rather showed the interactions between the immigrants and Yola’s family. It all ended up working towards an ending that I was quite surprised about.
A few thoughts, I actually didn’t think Yola was as “bitchy” as everyone said. She is a strong woman that says her mind, but I found that as a strength. Her Aunt Celia is definitely a different story. She says some things that are pretty awful, sometimes very politically incorrect. I didn’t enjoy the aspect of her older brother dating a minor/just turned 18 year old girl. I don’t condone that in any way and couldn’t get that part of the story, even though they ended up working out okay with the way the storyline went. All in all, I enjoyed this a lot but had a few issues! I would definitely read more of Caroline’s writing.
monikasbookblog's review against another edition
4.0
Its was fun reading “One year of Ugly”. Its a fresh take one family drama. You might have read many dysfunctional family stories, but this is truly unique. I loved everything about the Palacios.. and who names a local thug “Ugly”, the author pulled off wonderfully with this one. Read it to know why this book is named after a thug!! Its light, funny and witty throughout..
Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for reader’s copy of this book. This review is my own and is not influenced in any way!
Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for reader’s copy of this book. This review is my own and is not influenced in any way!
soph_naughton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75