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pattykcreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
hollielovesromance's review
emotional
funny
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
5.0
What a debut novel!! When Luciana finds herself evacuating before Hurricane Irma before her senior year of high school, she never imagined that the next year of her life would go this way. Told through one side of phone call conversations and remembered moments we’re invited into the inner dynamics of a family dealing with changes including an eldest daughter going off to college, a health condition, family dynamics, and a coming of age story.
I laughed so much during this novel. Luciana is an expert narrator making us laugh when the worst is happening. I felt like I was on the phone with my younger relatives catching up. But you know what no one told me—that I would be sobbing during this book. The relationship between Luciana and Emilia (her grandmother) was so sweet and weird in its own way. Watching the two of them navigate life and death and how our relationships change during them was so precious. I loved the format in which this novel was told and had a hard time putting it down because I had to know what would happen next. I cannot wait to read more from Melissa Mogollon!
I laughed so much during this novel. Luciana is an expert narrator making us laugh when the worst is happening. I felt like I was on the phone with my younger relatives catching up. But you know what no one told me—that I would be sobbing during this book. The relationship between Luciana and Emilia (her grandmother) was so sweet and weird in its own way. Watching the two of them navigate life and death and how our relationships change during them was so precious. I loved the format in which this novel was told and had a hard time putting it down because I had to know what would happen next. I cannot wait to read more from Melissa Mogollon!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Death
barbn's review against another edition
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin, and Melissa Mogollon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
(Abandoned at 6%)
This book is written as one-side of a phone conversation (with occasional recalling of other conversations). I could not adjust to or appreciate the format, so I abandoned the book.
The phone conversation was between a high school senior and her college-aged sister, so I didn't really understand the choice of a phone conversation. Although the book is set in 2017, wouldn't they have been using text or other kinds of digital messaging?
(Abandoned at 6%)
This book is written as one-side of a phone conversation (with occasional recalling of other conversations). I could not adjust to or appreciate the format, so I abandoned the book.
The phone conversation was between a high school senior and her college-aged sister, so I didn't really understand the choice of a phone conversation. Although the book is set in 2017, wouldn't they have been using text or other kinds of digital messaging?
effinalice's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Oye is a tender and funny coming of age debut featuring a young lesbian Colombian teen trying to navigate the complexities of family drama, grief, sisterhood and identity.
The story is told in a very unique and ambitious way. We're introduced to Luciana and her family through a series of one sided phone conversations she is having with her older Sister Mari who is away at school. After her grandma undergoes a surgery, Luciana is forced to share a room with her grandma and her grandma's estranged sister. If this wasn't hectic enough her older sister Mari appears to not care about their grandma's deteriorating health and Luciana's mom is intent on denying Luciana's sexuality.
Overall I think Oye is an excellent debut. I was thoroughly entertained by the sassiness of the characters in particular Luciana and her grandmother. Although this is a story that specifically highlights a Colombian family I think alot of Latinx/e families would be able to find some of the outrageous behavior relatable.
Oye will primarily resonate with younger siblings although I do recommend for anyone to pick this up. I myself am the oldest and I couldn't help but feel like I was on the phone with my non-existent younger sister.
Although the author does tackle some pretty difficult topics like grief, homophobia and family drama, the comic relief brings levity to alot of these topics.
Publication date: May 14th
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group Hogarth for an advanced reader copy of this book.
The story is told in a very unique and ambitious way. We're introduced to Luciana and her family through a series of one sided phone conversations she is having with her older Sister Mari who is away at school. After her grandma undergoes a surgery, Luciana is forced to share a room with her grandma and her grandma's estranged sister. If this wasn't hectic enough her older sister Mari appears to not care about their grandma's deteriorating health and Luciana's mom is intent on denying Luciana's sexuality.
Overall I think Oye is an excellent debut. I was thoroughly entertained by the sassiness of the characters in particular Luciana and her grandmother. Although this is a story that specifically highlights a Colombian family I think alot of Latinx/e families would be able to find some of the outrageous behavior relatable.
Oye will primarily resonate with younger siblings although I do recommend for anyone to pick this up. I myself am the oldest and I couldn't help but feel like I was on the phone with my non-existent younger sister.
Although the author does tackle some pretty difficult topics like grief, homophobia and family drama, the comic relief brings levity to alot of these topics.
Publication date: May 14th
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group Hogarth for an advanced reader copy of this book.
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Thank you PRH Audio for the ALC. Elena Rey did a fantastic job narrating this & was so much fun in her voice acting.
This book is posed as a one-sided phone call in which you only hear Luciana’s side of the call to her older sister. Luciana is the baby in her Colombian American family, and her Abue comes to live with her, noticeably shifting the dynamic of their relationship. Beyond holding family secrets that she learns from Abue, Luciana also contends with her family’s homophobia since she is a lesbian.
I really adored the novelty of a series of phone calls as a book. Storytelling happens every day, and the way that so many families tell stories is through phone calls. I found the entire format to be so clever and authentic to how information (or gossip) passes through a family. I am not Colombian but I can attest to the constant communication that a big family has with one another, especially if you have family in different parts of the country or world. The way you stay connected is by being updated on the latest happenings of other family members, and though it can sometimes feel messy or exhausting, it does not stop! It is so real😭
I could feel Luciana’s disgust, confusion, defensiveness, arrogance, delight, excitement, sadness, and more through these phone calls. It was the perfect way to share these narratives, as they can often jump all over the place and feel a bit unstructured, *just* like a random phone call with your loved one can feel.
This was the first book I’ve read by MM, and I will absolutely be seeking out more of her work. I also highly recommend this in audiobook format if that is accessible to you.
Thank you PRH Audio for the ALC. Elena Rey did a fantastic job narrating this & was so much fun in her voice acting.
This book is posed as a one-sided phone call in which you only hear Luciana’s side of the call to her older sister. Luciana is the baby in her Colombian American family, and her Abue comes to live with her, noticeably shifting the dynamic of their relationship. Beyond holding family secrets that she learns from Abue, Luciana also contends with her family’s homophobia since she is a lesbian.
I really adored the novelty of a series of phone calls as a book. Storytelling happens every day, and the way that so many families tell stories is through phone calls. I found the entire format to be so clever and authentic to how information (or gossip) passes through a family. I am not Colombian but I can attest to the constant communication that a big family has with one another, especially if you have family in different parts of the country or world. The way you stay connected is by being updated on the latest happenings of other family members, and though it can sometimes feel messy or exhausting, it does not stop! It is so real😭
I could feel Luciana’s disgust, confusion, defensiveness, arrogance, delight, excitement, sadness, and more through these phone calls. It was the perfect way to share these narratives, as they can often jump all over the place and feel a bit unstructured, *just* like a random phone call with your loved one can feel.
This was the first book I’ve read by MM, and I will absolutely be seeking out more of her work. I also highly recommend this in audiobook format if that is accessible to you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, and Cursing
maddiemisch's review
4.0
While reading this story, I found it overall very relatable. From the characters to some of the things that happened in this story, I definitely could find it relatable for people. The format did take a little bit of getting used to, but other than that, I loved this book. I really do like coming of age stories like this and this is definitely one I recommend.
yetanothersusan's review
2.75
Dear Book,
It's not you, it's me.
I loved the story! The feisty abuela fighting cancer, the girl trying to be her own self when she isn't quite sure what that is, the older sister away at college and trying to ignore what was happening at home, and the rest of the family. All of that was great! What ruined this book for me was the format. I know, I am old fashioned and need to get over it. But reading this book felt like spending 300 pages forced to eavesdrop on a teenager's phone conversation. I had to do that enough while riding public transportation. I didn't like it then and I didn't like it this time. This is my loss but I found myself tensing up and grinding my teeth after only a few minutes of reading. Hopefully others won't have this adverse reaction and can enjoy the story, which in itself was wonderful!
Thanks to Random House for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
It's not you, it's me.
I loved the story! The feisty abuela fighting cancer, the girl trying to be her own self when she isn't quite sure what that is, the older sister away at college and trying to ignore what was happening at home, and the rest of the family. All of that was great! What ruined this book for me was the format. I know, I am old fashioned and need to get over it. But reading this book felt like spending 300 pages forced to eavesdrop on a teenager's phone conversation. I had to do that enough while riding public transportation. I didn't like it then and I didn't like it this time. This is my loss but I found myself tensing up and grinding my teeth after only a few minutes of reading. Hopefully others won't have this adverse reaction and can enjoy the story, which in itself was wonderful!
Thanks to Random House for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
mrscorytee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Homophobia, and Fatphobia
bretts_book_stack's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
4.0
lena_mercedez's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
5.0
Oye is a laugh out loud coming of story with a complicated mother/daughter/sister relationship at it’s core. Told through a series of one sided phone calls between sisters Luciana and Mari. Throughout the novel we hear Luciana’s side of the phone calls to Mari who is at college in DC. We are introduced to the family as they prepare to evacuate Miami as hurricane Irma approaches & Luciana and her mother Elena embark on a road trip out of the storms path leaving Abue behind who refuses to evacuate. They have to cut their impromptu trip up the east coast short when Abue’s health takes a turn. Luciana who is meant to be starting her senior year is now responsible for translating & caring for her grandmother, and being the keeper of family secrets.
I adored this family I feel like I know them all personally. I laughed out loud so many times. Luciana & Abue are both hilarious and delightful to read and their banter was so good. I am so happy I picked up this book. My only complaint is the writing style is unique and at first I was confused by it , but as you read on it gets easier to read.
This is a wonderful debut novel by the truly talented Mogollon. Easily one of my favs of 2024
✨Many thanks to Netgalley & Random house / Hogarth for this ARC
I adored this family I feel like I know them all personally. I laughed out loud so many times. Luciana & Abue are both hilarious and delightful to read and their banter was so good. I am so happy I picked up this book. My only complaint is the writing style is unique and at first I was confused by it , but as you read on it gets easier to read.
This is a wonderful debut novel by the truly talented Mogollon. Easily one of my favs of 2024
✨Many thanks to Netgalley & Random house / Hogarth for this ARC