Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by carmellow
When We Were Widows by Annette Chavez Macias
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I can only hope but one day achieve the emotional punches that Annette Chavez Macías do with such beautiful and simple words, reminding me that writing is not about how stylistic the prose is, but how much feelings you can awake by choosing the right words.
And Chávez Macias, once again, left me completely filled with joy as I turned the last page of "When We Were Widows", as her stories have now become such a great hug to my soul with their despiction of grief, female relationship, healing, and latinidad.
The story beautifully despicts the healing journey in which both Ana and Yesica, mother and daughter, embark once life circumstances forces them to share a house for some weeks. Their personalities often clash, as Ana, always putting herself last, can't understand Yesica's ambition and drive. However, both of them are consumed with a grief that they barely talk about, and a grief that has the potential to bond them considering that now both of them are widows... And Yesica is a young one, as she lost her husband at 32, the same age her grandma, Mamá Melda, also lost her own husband and Ana's father.
In a lighthearted tone that makes it a breezy reading, Chávez Macias not only explores grief, but how complicated the mother-daughter relationships can be (especially in Latino's households in which the fathers are usually the one spoiling rotten the children and mothers are in charge of discipline), the stigma of mental health among the Latino community and the healing power of communication. However, the story has some sprinkles of romance that feel a bit predictable and scream at some point because it is build on top many casualties. However, the charm of Oscar and Lucas.
Lovely reading, even if entomatadas are not done with melted queso fresco 😭 But that's just my Mexican speaking. Thanks, Anette, for allowing me to grieve with your characters.
And Chávez Macias, once again, left me completely filled with joy as I turned the last page of "When We Were Widows", as her stories have now become such a great hug to my soul with their despiction of grief, female relationship, healing, and latinidad.
The story beautifully despicts the healing journey in which both Ana and Yesica, mother and daughter, embark once life circumstances forces them to share a house for some weeks. Their personalities often clash, as Ana, always putting herself last, can't understand Yesica's ambition and drive. However, both of them are consumed with a grief that they barely talk about, and a grief that has the potential to bond them considering that now both of them are widows... And Yesica is a young one, as she lost her husband at 32, the same age her grandma, Mamá Melda, also lost her own husband and Ana's father.
In a lighthearted tone that makes it a breezy reading, Chávez Macias not only explores grief, but how complicated the mother-daughter relationships can be (especially in Latino's households in which the fathers are usually the one spoiling rotten the children and mothers are in charge of discipline), the stigma of mental health among the Latino community and the healing power of communication. However, the story has some sprinkles of romance that feel a bit predictable and scream at some point because it is build on top many casualties. However, the charm of Oscar and Lucas.
Lovely reading, even if entomatadas are not done with melted queso fresco 😭 But that's just my Mexican speaking. Thanks, Anette, for allowing me to grieve with your characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Car accident