A review by bookwhimsy2
Say Hello to My Little Friend by Jennine Capó Crucet

5.0

This story surprised me! You think you will get something, and in the end you end up with a really interesting, experimental feeling story. The story starts with Izzy, who has been making a sort of living as a Pitbull impersonator until he receives a cease and desist order. He now has to figure out a new way to make an easy living. So, he decides that he will follow the blueprint of Tony Montana from Scarface. So you think you know where this story is going to go, except it is also the story of Lolita, an orca held in captivity in an aquarium. She remembers her family but was ripped from them at a young age and is able to make a connection with Izzy.

I am not sure how much more I should say. This is a story about Miami, about being Cuban-American. It is both a love letter to and a critique of those elements. That duality is written beautifully by Jennine Capó Crucet. 

I don't know if every element of this story worked for me but I do know that this is a story that kept me guessing and has stayed with me and that is enough that I think people should pick it up. 

Content Warnings: Violence, death, death of an animal, death of a parent, discussion of drug use