A review by axmed
Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera

Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.

i just couldn't handle the fact that there is no critical conversation about the dad being a cop even though they are a Black family (at least one of the parents is Black) living in a brown / black neighbourhood where cops are the enemy. also the whole fawning over the white guy and him so far being the only man that is described as being beautiful was so boring + the whole him being from a rich white family that is gentrifying the neighbourhood and her falling for him is soooo played. this is of course in line with the type of person the main character is, the immigrant kid who desperately wants to be the token among rich whites, which again is very boring.

the mothers storyline on the other hand is the most interesting part about the book, but where her idea to prevent people from the neighbourhood being displaced seems to be heading is probably going to make me hate her storyline as well lol.

but if you read it and know that it will all take a different turn, please let me know and i will pick it back up.