Reviews

What a chaotic novel .... I really struggled to follow both characters and chopped timeline. Every chapter tells a different story which actually is a part of a bigger picture. At the end of an audiobook the author herself explains that this book initially has started as a number of short stories. It actually feels like short stories collection rather than a novel.
In my opinion this is not well thought through piece of work, unfinished. Has a potential for becoming something much better. Just not as it is.

kaczorlantz's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

The interweaving of immigrant stories was interesting, as was the history of Cuba. There were a lot of details left out along the way that made it a little harder to follow. I could’ve done with a little more detail

keltronz's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

kt_schutte's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense 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

4.25

Content Warnings

jencunn2024's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I’m rounding up from a 3.75/5 stars. This novel is a little disjointed to follow, especially in audio format, but Gabriela Garcia’s writing is wonderful, proseful, and easy. Her disjointed timeline and narrator multiplicity still tells a moving and interwoven story across six generations of interrelated women from Cuba to America and back again, with overlaps into other Latino cultures including El Salvador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Dominica. The narrative gathers from the edges into a solid core of motherhood featuring generational gaps and secrets. I would recommend for anyone wanting to read about Latinos, immigrants, and women and their intercultural as well as intercultural struggles with racism, classism, and sexism and trying to do what’s best for themselves, their families, and each other. The battles with morality and law and crime and love and every facet of survivalist decisions are both heart-breaking and inspiring.

kncody's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

parkereg's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Really good! I wish it would have dove deeper into every woman's story (in the family)

More...