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kylasmv15's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Infertility, and Suicide
Minor: Rape and Abortion
mmccombs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual harassment
redwrapped's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Olga Acevedo is an American woman facing the internal struggle that so many feel, to be seen as she sees herself, yet Olga isn't necessarily sure of who she is or to whom her loyalty is strongest. She has lived her entire life in Brooklyn and feels American, but her family hails from Puerto Rico. She feels alienated by the rich, white WASP clientele she serves as an elite wedding planner, and is crucially separated by distance and emotional warmth toward her mother.
Her mother, Blanca, left Olga, her brother Prieto, and their father behind in Brooklyn to try to embolden and free Puerto Rico from the United States through revolutionary action, becoming a fugitive for terroristic ties and disappearing entirely except for barbed, critical letters sent to her family members, guiding them what to do. Blanca's dedication to the cause is stronger than to her children or her marriage.
The theme circulates around love and all the complexities of it: love for your country, love for family, love for life, and love for someone new. Despite how heavy and political it can be, the tone is never cynical, but made up of hope and resilience, and that adds a tender sort of strength to each of the love stories in here.
While reading this, I was compelled to read about the history of Puerto Rican resistance and mainland America's lack of aid or respect toward the archipelago. My viewpoint toward statehood or the United States relinquishing control over Puerto Rico has been altered, due to the compelling argument in this book and for the fact it drove me to independently research the toll and fundamental inadequacies that Puerto Rico faces due to its indeterminate status as a territory and not as a state with the level of protective measures for emergency aid as another state would have, usage of natural resources for electricity, etc.
Thanks to Flatiron Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
2treads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Gonzalez has written an utterly entertaining contemporary novel, filled with snark, snappy dialogue and recollections, interesting characters and interactions, while also managing to speak to social, familial, intimate and racial issues.
Olga is savvy and her ambitions keep her pushing, she will tweak a process here and appropriate some napkins there. All in the fairness of turning a profit.
The absent presence of Olga's mother is so strong that her revolutionary and socialist ideals and beliefs are felt through her letters and in the ways we see Olga respond to and conduct herself in the rich circles in which she has fought to climb into.
The more we glean from letters written by their mother helps the reader to question the deeper, concerning ideals still being held so close to heart by our main characters. Olga searches for her worth through the attention and patronage from the rich for whom she creates lavish weddings and other events, to her brother, an educated and intelligent congressman who holds harmful internalised views on sexuality and identity. Which is worrying with respect to what felt like a glossing over of the queer presence within the narrative.
Although the revolutionary passion of Olga's mother is appreciated, how she decides to show support to her kids is worrying. She berates Olga for following her dreams, yet encourages Prieto to not let family or familial obligation keeping him from his aspirations. To me that read of an inherent bend towards boosting a son more than a daughter. But this is all an agenda to utilise for her own means.
Minor: Rape and Sexual harassment
armontheroad's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infertility, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Death of parent, Outing, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment