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murphyjc's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.25
readingwithathena's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5
I’m gonna sit with this one for a bit, this isn’t a true 5-star read, but it was really fantastic so I could see myself rounding the rating up.
Edit: I rounded up :-)
I’m gonna sit with this one for a bit, this isn’t a true 5-star read, but it was really fantastic so I could see myself rounding the rating up.
Edit: I rounded up :-)
jedore's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
“...the internet is the world's biggest backyard freezer, keeping everything fresh...”
This is a quiet story about big emotions. It follows Reina, a young Colombian woman, as she navigates life in Miami, balancing the demands of family and her own aspirations. The novel delves into the immigrant experience, exploring themes of love, loss, and the enduring bonds of family.
Engel does a fantastic job of crafting Reina as a complex and relatable character. Her struggles felt authentic and raw, and I found myself invested in her journey. Nesto, her Cuban boyfriend, could have benefited from further exploration. The supporting characters remained in the shadows.
I was initially frustrated by Reina's decision to prioritize her brother's life over her own. But, a surprising plot twist completely flipped my perspective. While the reveal wasn’t exactly jaw-dropping, it added a layer of depth to the story that I appreciated.
As someone who has spent the last three years living in Panama, I connected deeply with the immigrant experience portrayed in the novel. My experiences enabled me to connect to Reina and Nesto’s struggles on a more personal level. I was rooting for their happiness, whether they chose to be together or apart.
This is a slow-paced novel that is a poignant story about family trauma and the immigrant experience. If you're into action, it's not going to be for you. But, if you appreciate a literary exploration of the complexities of human relationships, give it a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal cruelty
bgw's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
reality_x's review against another edition
2.0
I tried but I'm sorry to say I don't connect with any characters in this book. It seems to me the author wants to express some big concept of life like love but the story just falls short. And the way the main guy believed in his gods is way too melodramatic to me. Like three sentences of five he said were what gods told him. There's one scene I feel really awkward where he talks about a son of gods who decided to follow the slaves shipped to another continent and he sings the song his father taught him which revealed the secret of life. And the heroine asked him what secret it is. He answered 'Love'. And I was like speechless. I respect religion but when all of a person talks about is always religious talks, it just feels insincere to me as he always just quotes what god said rather express his own ideas and feelings.
karennaim's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Heartbreaking from page 1. This book was a tough story filled with generational trauma. I enjoyed hearing about the main character’s focus on and care for the animals around her. The end was hopeful.
uvahoogirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.5