A review by hermusings
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

I loved that this book plays into the stereotypical Dominican immigrant mother in ny, to then spin it on its head as we get to know Cara Romero more deeply.

In a way, Cara is the every woman of her community, yet Angie Cruz does not shy away from showing Cara’s individuality; what makes her the human that she is. 

This book is character driven in that messy, slightly problematic way that most books usually written about (white) women in their 20s are. Which was refreshing and allowed humor to be a main character in the book as Cara could express things about herself that she mentioned she usually wouldn’t.

Cruz’s decision to make this book 12 sessions was fun at first but toward the end I think the ambitious style rushed the story.

The ending felt too fairytale for a story that was pretty grounded in the tragic parts of reality.

The commentary on women’s lives in DR, gentrification, intergenerational relations, sexuality and more were wonderful to read threw Cara’s POV. It was compelling and hilarious