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astoldby_cece's review
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
if47's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bookmindedmag's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, even though I still feel like some things were unresolved. To be honest, I was more intrigued by the mothers’ backstories than the main one. Reading about what their lives were like as young women and best friends, the good and the bad, was way more interesting. But what really stood out was Spanish Harlem and what it’s like to live there. Gentrification is changing it rapidly, making it as boring as the suburbs. But for the Latino families who still live there, it is a vibrant and very close-knit area full of people who are holding on to their homes with a death grip (as they should). For good or ill, Spanish Harlem is a special place and the author basically writes a love letter to it. I loved the ending because it reminded me of the times my family had parties in the Bronx, dancing and singing to Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon and the other Latin greats of that time.
thelenjanae's review
5.0
Funny, mysterious, and beautiful. My favorite read so far this year. Beautiful words on being an immigrant, a teenager, a woman, and so much more.
reasek's review
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, and Pregnancy
Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, and Racial slurs
casandra_lovealwaysbooks's review
2.0
I really wanted to love this book. Genuinely. I picked it up and was intrigued by the back cover saying there was a pregnant virgin in Spanish Harlem, a boy in love with her and wanting to show her he believes her, a web of crime, and family secrets.
Unfortunately, the pregnant virgin was the most unlikeable character for me; the boy wasn’t in love, he was super naïve and honestly quite dumb at certain parts; the crime wasn’t a web, it was one scam and like most young kids, he got caught; and the family secrets were non-existent.
The writing was great, I can say that. But then there were parts that really pissed me off. So here’s what I didn’t like:
1. This book was trying WAY TOO hard to be in Spanish Harlem. As a Puerto Rican woman, I was so beyond mad at how the Puerto Ricans in this book were portrayed. It was so stereotypical, so greedy, so irrational, so dumb. There was a character who said “Papo” every two words, and it just seemed ridiculously unbelievable. I’ve been around Puerto Ricans my whole life, we don’t talk like that.
2. Taína is the titular character and she was such a horribly written person to me. She had a foul mouth for absolutely no reason, it didn’t further the plot, it wasn’t nice. Additionally, she was a teenager who was written to be so incredibly childish. There was no need for her to be written like a spoiled little 5 year old whose entire motivation is getting what she wants. Simultaneously she seems old. I don’t know how the author did it but I was so bothered by it. It actually made me really dislike her because she treated Julio like crap. He bought the girl an iPod and she got mad at him because he forgot gum and called him a myriad of insults because of it. The worst of it was the use of the R word. I’m someone who understands that characters are not meant to be perfect, I actually like it that way, but the use of the R-word in this book had no point or logical sense being there. It didn’t further the plot, no character development came from it, no one was held accountable, there was no apology. So if the purpose was just to use an insult, a different one could have been used and it would not screw up anything in any way for the book. For a book published in 2019, you would think an editor, author, or someone on the team would have advised against the use of that word.
3. Julio. Ugh, Julio was both interesting and not, all at the same time. He seemed so simple to me at certain points and really mature and great at others. Given the back cover, I would hope there was at least some history but not only did this boy never at all speak to Taína before she got pregnant, but he let her and her family walk all over him and use him for his money. This boy turned to a clever little scam solely to get money because the only way Taína’s mother would let him talk to her was if he gave her money. Her reasoning was that Taína couldn’t work and she was on welfare and her family couldn’t help and the church wouldn’t help her and it pissed me off. This woman would not open the door unless the money was given first. And then once it came time for the big pay out, she was literally going to kick him out of the apartment after receiving the money. So not only was this grown ass woman using him for his money but her daughter was treating him like a doormat and he let them. I was NOT rooting for Julio and Taína at any point in this book.
4. There was no payout at the end. It just ended. The family secrets were never actually revealed. They were alluded to and honestly they didn’t feel like secrets. They were things that were explained at different parts of the book by different characters and then at the end what happened was that each character became aware that the other characters knew the stories, something the readers knew since like page 100. It just fell extremely flat for me.
Now there were things I did like, I didn’t hate the book entirely:
1. The most interesting storyline in the book was between the two mothers. Their section was my favorite and I really needed more of that story in my life, because it was fantastic and fantastically written.
2. Sal! At first he was whatever, but his backstory and the way his character grew was so beautiful. I really loved reading about him and his transformation. Also a lot of his monologues were really deep and poetic, such a beautifully written character.
3. The last paragraph when Julio is describing what it was like to hear Taína singing. Ugh, that was such a poetic and lyrically written paragraph, it was gorgeous.
If someone is a fan of magical realism, they might really like this story. It was certainly not for me and that’s why I have to give it 2 stars. 1 for Sal and 1 for the moms.
Unfortunately, the pregnant virgin was the most unlikeable character for me; the boy wasn’t in love, he was super naïve and honestly quite dumb at certain parts; the crime wasn’t a web, it was one scam and like most young kids, he got caught; and the family secrets were non-existent.
The writing was great, I can say that. But then there were parts that really pissed me off. So here’s what I didn’t like:
1. This book was trying WAY TOO hard to be in Spanish Harlem. As a Puerto Rican woman, I was so beyond mad at how the Puerto Ricans in this book were portrayed. It was so stereotypical, so greedy, so irrational, so dumb. There was a character who said “Papo” every two words, and it just seemed ridiculously unbelievable. I’ve been around Puerto Ricans my whole life, we don’t talk like that.
2. Taína is the titular character and she was such a horribly written person to me. She had a foul mouth for absolutely no reason, it didn’t further the plot, it wasn’t nice. Additionally, she was a teenager who was written to be so incredibly childish. There was no need for her to be written like a spoiled little 5 year old whose entire motivation is getting what she wants. Simultaneously she seems old. I don’t know how the author did it but I was so bothered by it. It actually made me really dislike her because she treated Julio like crap. He bought the girl an iPod and she got mad at him because he forgot gum and called him a myriad of insults because of it. The worst of it was the use of the R word. I’m someone who understands that characters are not meant to be perfect, I actually like it that way, but the use of the R-word in this book had no point or logical sense being there. It didn’t further the plot, no character development came from it, no one was held accountable, there was no apology. So if the purpose was just to use an insult, a different one could have been used and it would not screw up anything in any way for the book. For a book published in 2019, you would think an editor, author, or someone on the team would have advised against the use of that word.
3. Julio. Ugh, Julio was both interesting and not, all at the same time. He seemed so simple to me at certain points and really mature and great at others. Given the back cover, I would hope there was at least some history but not only did this boy never at all speak to Taína before she got pregnant, but he let her and her family walk all over him and use him for his money. This boy turned to a clever little scam solely to get money because the only way Taína’s mother would let him talk to her was if he gave her money. Her reasoning was that Taína couldn’t work and she was on welfare and her family couldn’t help and the church wouldn’t help her and it pissed me off. This woman would not open the door unless the money was given first. And then once it came time for the big pay out, she was literally going to kick him out of the apartment after receiving the money. So not only was this grown ass woman using him for his money but her daughter was treating him like a doormat and he let them. I was NOT rooting for Julio and Taína at any point in this book.
4. There was no payout at the end. It just ended. The family secrets were never actually revealed. They were alluded to and honestly they didn’t feel like secrets. They were things that were explained at different parts of the book by different characters and then at the end what happened was that each character became aware that the other characters knew the stories, something the readers knew since like page 100. It just fell extremely flat for me.
Now there were things I did like, I didn’t hate the book entirely:
1. The most interesting storyline in the book was between the two mothers. Their section was my favorite and I really needed more of that story in my life, because it was fantastic and fantastically written.
2. Sal! At first he was whatever, but his backstory and the way his character grew was so beautiful. I really loved reading about him and his transformation. Also a lot of his monologues were really deep and poetic, such a beautifully written character.
3. The last paragraph when Julio is describing what it was like to hear Taína singing. Ugh, that was such a poetic and lyrically written paragraph, it was gorgeous.
If someone is a fan of magical realism, they might really like this story. It was certainly not for me and that’s why I have to give it 2 stars. 1 for Sal and 1 for the moms.
magalinatalia's review
5.0
I loved this book. Quiñonez does a fantastic job of painting vivid scenes full of magical realism, barrio culture, and history. 10/10 would recommend.
lollitscristina's review
3.0
3/5.
Every time I see a Latinx fiction novel.... IT'S MINE!! And being it magical realism? With Latinx main characters and set in the Spanish Harlem? What more can I ask?
Well, actually a lot, but not the point! The point is: I read this book and that's what matters most out of anything. I had not heard anything about Taina, but the cover is simply beautiful, it looks like a graffiti work or just a simple art sketch and it has the bright yellow cover. It captured my attention and beautiful name also. I have not heard the name Taina hardly ever, it's a bit rare for myself. No one I follow or know has read this book before and I had no clue what it's about, which is a good thing in your reading life when not knowing ever book in the planet.
So, I had zero expectations and I just simply wanted to see what this book was about, and allow it to unfold in front of me. Which, in conclusion, I did like this book, but not entirely.
Quinonez's writing style is great, atmospheric, detailed, easy to read, and witty. Though it's the story line that did not follow and the whole center around the main story which is Taina's pregnancy. It's a simple fashion of Latinx magical realism mixed in with family, culture, love, loss, sadness, and life's ups and downs. It's all combined, but I felt it did not go accordingly. I did not really connect with the characters or some of the story plot lines that were demonstrated. I enjoyed few of the scenes and the stories that were introduced more about the adult characters that we are getting introduced and the main portion of the story, but not all of it.
Some of it felt slow, but there are symbolic touches that a reader can definitely go in depth about. But I felt some of the stories and character motives were lacking and did not really help the characters move forward. Only the adult characters, not Taina, Julio (a little), and other younger characters. However, it still was a ride with reading this story and interesting to see where the story will go.
Overall, Taina is a magical realism Latinx novel that is hardly talked about and I'm glad that I got the chance to find this book. Even though, I did not like all of the novel, I still enjoyed the reading experience and some of things that were in this novel. I think if you have not read this Latinx novel yet, give it a try, it may be different for some readers! Reading stories that are hardly talked about is an experience that is thrilling and risky all into one. I'm glad that I read it and I'm curious to read this author's others works.
Happy reading!