A review by readingthroughinfinity
The Apartment by Ana Menéndez

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

This a really interesting take on how a story can span multiple generations while focusing solely on one location. The book centres on the Helena apartment complex - apartment 2B in particular - but we get to meet various different residents as they navigate complexities in their lives. I enjoyed the small connections between several residents; the characters whose stories are early in the novel sometimes make a reappearance later in the book, which was very satisfying. 

The most time is spent on Lana - the apartment's resident in the present day who is struggling with a bereavement alongside her fame. Although I enjoyed Lana's story, I felt like the book was very end-weighted because we spent so much time with her, and would have preferred a more equal amount of time to be spent on each character. Lana's story does a good job of connecting some of the other stories, but I didn't feel like the mystery of the young man's death that plagues here was fully resolved. Overall, a thoughtful read, but there were certain things I would have liked to have seen done differently.