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duckyreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Ander & Santi Were Here is a moving young adult romance by Jonny Garza Villa. First, we meet Ander Martínez, a nonbinary Mexican-American artist that is contemplating their future at a reputable art school while completing murals in their San Antonio, Texas neighborhood. Then they meet Santiago López Alvarado, a new waiter at their family's restaurant. As they get to know each other, Ander and Santi's blossoming love is threatened by ICE agents hunting Santi, and shakes Ander's world at its core.
Jonny has such a beautiful and captivating way of describing characters and environments. With such a complex issue of immigration in the US in general, but especially in Texas, there is a lot of care put into Santi's story. My heart broke many times for Santi and his family, and this is a stark reminder that there immigrants and people seeking asylum are complex human beings with histories and families that deserve to be treated with respect.
I loved all of the Spanish throughout the story and the fact that it wasn't translated. As someone who isn't a native Spanish speaker, it felt very authentic to the story and put the responsibility on the reader to translate or use context clues during conversations. Ander has such a great supportive circle of family and friends, especially their grandmother.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jonny has such a beautiful and captivating way of describing characters and environments. With such a complex issue of immigration in the US in general, but especially in Texas, there is a lot of care put into Santi's story. My heart broke many times for Santi and his family, and this is a stark reminder that there immigrants and people seeking asylum are complex human beings with histories and families that deserve to be treated with respect.
I loved all of the Spanish throughout the story and the fact that it wasn't translated. As someone who isn't a native Spanish speaker, it felt very authentic to the story and put the responsibility on the reader to translate or use context clues during conversations. Ander has such a great supportive circle of family and friends, especially their grandmother.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Kidnapping, and Deportation
caseythereader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
5.0
Thanks to Wednesday Books for the free advance copy of this book.
- Oh, my heart, this book. ANDER AND SANTI WERE HERE is truly something special. I loved everything about it. The openly welcomed queerness, the love for San Antonio, the grappling with unfair and scary situations.
- Ander and Santi are incredible characters, both still finding the softness and joy in life amid brutality.
- This book also toes the line between YA and NA with some borderline spicy scenes, and I appreciate a book for young people that doesn't shy away from that aspect of life, like teenagers don't experience it.
- I feel like I can't put the beauty of this book into words. It's really a must read if you like YA, queer lit, Latine lit, or any combination of those.
- Oh, my heart, this book. ANDER AND SANTI WERE HERE is truly something special. I loved everything about it. The openly welcomed queerness, the love for San Antonio, the grappling with unfair and scary situations.
- Ander and Santi are incredible characters, both still finding the softness and joy in life amid brutality.
- This book also toes the line between YA and NA with some borderline spicy scenes, and I appreciate a book for young people that doesn't shy away from that aspect of life, like teenagers don't experience it.
- I feel like I can't put the beauty of this book into words. It's really a must read if you like YA, queer lit, Latine lit, or any combination of those.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Deportation
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Working at their family's taqueria in their home in San Antonia, Texas is all Ander has ever known. In fact, their home is what inspired them to be a muralist, to follow their dreams to become an artist. However, in order to make sure they make the best of their gap year between high school and college, their family "fires" them. Now, they have the chance to focus on their art.
Until Santi enters the picture. Santi, Ander's replacement at the restaurant, inspires Ander to explore their identity as an artist. Makes them feel more like themselves. But the threat of ICE agents hang over both of their heads. And they'll realize how fragile their new home really is.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for an advanced copy of Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa! This is their second YA book, and it packs a punch. Just like Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun. Both of these books explore the idea of that transition period between high school and college, especially when you find someone you connect with. If you haven't read their other book, I highly recommend it!
This book focuses on Ander's gap year, meeting with a mentor before they go off to an art program. However, part of the story is about their artistic journey, learning that they maybe don't have to follow the conventional path. And that those college art programs can sometimes put you into a specific box. I loved the way that art was woven into this story, and how it related to Ander's own growth as a person.
Their chemistry with Santi is also well written. Being undocumented, Santi has seen a lot of difficulties, but you can just tell that he feels safe with Ander. There were so many cute moments between them, and they both have a wonderful, vibrant community around them. A community that would do anything to make sure that they both feel safe.
Villa's writing has also gotten stronger in this book, with descriptions written in a way that just makes the images leap off the page. I honestly wanted to go paint something when I was done reading this!
All in all, another beautiful novel by Villa. Can't wait to see what they write next.
Until Santi enters the picture. Santi, Ander's replacement at the restaurant, inspires Ander to explore their identity as an artist. Makes them feel more like themselves. But the threat of ICE agents hang over both of their heads. And they'll realize how fragile their new home really is.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for an advanced copy of Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa! This is their second YA book, and it packs a punch. Just like Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun. Both of these books explore the idea of that transition period between high school and college, especially when you find someone you connect with. If you haven't read their other book, I highly recommend it!
This book focuses on Ander's gap year, meeting with a mentor before they go off to an art program. However, part of the story is about their artistic journey, learning that they maybe don't have to follow the conventional path. And that those college art programs can sometimes put you into a specific box. I loved the way that art was woven into this story, and how it related to Ander's own growth as a person.
Their chemistry with Santi is also well written. Being undocumented, Santi has seen a lot of difficulties, but you can just tell that he feels safe with Ander. There were so many cute moments between them, and they both have a wonderful, vibrant community around them. A community that would do anything to make sure that they both feel safe.
Villa's writing has also gotten stronger in this book, with descriptions written in a way that just makes the images leap off the page. I honestly wanted to go paint something when I was done reading this!
All in all, another beautiful novel by Villa. Can't wait to see what they write next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Deportation
Moderate: Police brutality and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual content, Violence, and Trafficking
bookreviewswithkb's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
look at this coverrrr 😍
highly recommend this one, especially if you enjoy young adult fiction and/or romance. absolutely beautiful storytelling with impeccable characters. i really appreciated the seamlessness of the identity aspects and the portrayal of Ander’s family having full acceptance of them. it felt like this was a gift of trans and queer identities being extremely normalized, just a part of the story rather than the story itself. you will 100% be sucked into Ander’s world
this novel is packed with wittiness and is extremely current and youthful in its language, with great reflections on culture and politics and a ton of great representation
don’t hate me but it did feel a little cheesy and unrealistic at times, which is the only reason it’s not a 5 star for me
thank you so much to @goodreads and @wednesdaybooks for the ARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Deportation
Moderate: Police brutality and Kidnapping
mellowreading's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Deportation