A review by rainbowbookworm
Ander and Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa

1.0

Ander is an immature, ignorant, self-centered, 19-year-old. They are a talented artist artist whose family runs a successful business and that has spared them from most of the things that cause their family and neighbors to worry. The worst part is that they have no idea how privileged their existence has been.

Santi is a seemingly hard-working young man who is seeking a better life in the U.S. He is the outline of a character we've met dozens of times before; but there is no real depth in him.

Apart from the physical attraction, it is hard for me to understand what these two see in each other; much less why they've decided to spend the rest of their lives together.

Spoiler

I am 83% in and decided to bail because this whole thing with Santi's mother and sister was too much to handle. Not just because of how horrible it must be for Santi, but because of Ander's complete lack of empathy and support. Sure Ander agonizes about it, but there is no real change in their attitude; ultimately they care more about their feelings that about what their boyfriend is going through. Then again, they haven't even said that they love each other. ("Te quiero" is very different from "te amo.")

And now this "fairy godmother" Hollywood twist. Nope I'm done.

Update: I actually finished the book and there is no way I can suspend disbelief that much.