A review by wellreadmegs
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was filled with complex characters and I didn't really know what to expect going into it. I knew it was about Puerto Rico and a family living in New York but this book was so much more than that. 

Olga is a wedding planner for the elite in New York City, while Prieto is a congressman representing Sunset Park. Both of them are trying to make their mom proud but in different ways. I ignorantly have never really thought about Puerto Rico's wants/needs for independence and I really appreciated the perspective, especially with colonialism continuing to be at the forefront of world politics today. Although you could argue Olga's mom's way of living was extreme - you can appreciate her perspective. 

Other difficult issues that were addressed in this book are drug abuse, sexuality, & HIV/AIDS. Both Olga and Prieto were in their late 30s still trying to find their true selves away from the weight of their parents. 

This book was all about family, purpose, and discovering what truly matters in this world. 
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