Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this one. I was long in getting to it, as per usual, but I got there. And it turns out it's a good thing that I waited long enough to get the audiobook from the library as well, because I have to be honest and say that I might not have made it all the way through without that narration-assist. I mean, it may be partially my own fault, as the timing (starting this right before leaving for a long vacation) was probably not quite right - I usually prefer lighter (magic, romance, magical romance) reads on vacay and this book is most definitely none of that. So, that being the case, I'm going to do my best to give a fair objective review, but know that, subjectively, this is not a new fav. 

 

When gentrification comes to the (predominantly Dominican) NYC neighborhood where the Guerreros have lived for years, each member of the family decides to face it in different ways. Luz, having recently been let go from her high-profile law firm job, begins a later-in-life coming of age, rebelling against the bougie lifestyle she's been living (the one her parents worked so hard to give her). Luz's mother, Eusebia, hatches a plan with other neighborhood ladies to undermine the construction in ever more dangerous ways (threatening the safety not only of the project, but also themselves and  the rest of the families in the neighborhood). Luz's father, Vladimir, counts down the final months until his retirement, while secretly building a retirement home for himself and Eusebia in the DR. As things spiral for everyone involved, the finale comes in a dramatic and near-fatal rush. 

 

Alright, like I said, I struggled to get into this novel. On the surface, it has a lot of promise, and addresses some really complex and important topics. Specifically, the rumination on gentrification, and then in this case how far would someone go to save their home (and what to do when it spirals out of your control), asked some tough questions in a really unique way that definitely made you think, as a reader. Plus, the look at where the lines of acceptability in skirting legality, and commentary on how they’re different for those with different amounts of money/power, is always important to examine. 

 

I also appreciated how Natera incorporated the "finding yourself" concepts of what you are supposed to want/be in life and how that is measured as success, or not. Luz faces difficult choices on whether to give in and follow those expeditions or not; and if not, how and when do you break out/away? Related, the choices Luz faces between heritage and opportunity, and how she begins to ask if it's always necessary for them to be mutually exclusive, feature highly. And the accumulation of past trauma that’s been tamped down so long that when it finally breaks, it’s terrible and horrible and so unforeseen/unexpected by everyone around you, even the closest (and how that builds directly into intergenerational trauma) is demonstrated with unmissable melodrama - the point *really* hits. These are universal questions, and ones that often come up thematically in first/second generation immigrant stories, and I feel that Natera did them justice. 

 

However, I have to note that the depth with which Natera looks at these themes is presented in such a surprisingly uncomfortable way. Like, this was such an uncomfortable read. From Luz’s firing and job search and relationship with Hudson to Eusebia’s plans for “saving” the neighborhood - I had so many icky feelings while reading. And I do love that these characters got to be so authentically messy (as all humans are), but still, those were not the reading vibes I was in the mood for and it was tough to stick with it. There were just so many red flags everywhere, for so many characters, that got ignored until a point of dramatic no return. 

 

There was a final piece of the story-puzzle here that was unexpected and also really one of the most unique aspects. Natera weaves all the abovementioned thematic threads together with the (terrifying) reality of TBIs/brain tumors. I'll try not to give too many spoilers on this front, but it was  interesting (and scary - I was tense for a lot of the time I was reading/listening to this book) witnessing how that can change personality, etc. And even more so, the consequences when combined with stress and family mental health history. Seeing this unfold from both internal and external perspectives actually, was fascinating. 

 

As you can see, there were so many things going for this book. Plus, the way it ended felt right to me. On all fronts. The power of community in creating and holding memory, while also forging something new, and the release of realizing that and then coming together with a purpose - in pain and joy - is cathartic and strong here. I loved the feeling I was left with. And yet... I just struggled with the kind of strange observational tone of the writing that was reminiscent of satire but not enough to make this anything other than a "normal" contemporary literary fiction. And honestly the pacing just felt so slow - the story seemed to drag and, while I understand that some "side plots" are necessary for world and character development, there was just so much I didn't really understand the inclusion of. So, I respect the author, and what they created, but this book just wasn't the right one for me.