Anita de Monte Laughs Last is the sophomore novel by Xochitl Gonzalez. Her first novel, Olga Dies Dreaming, was one of my top reads of 2022. Anita de Monte Laughs Last is similar in themes but very different in mood and style. This book is a good fit if you like stories that explore gendered power dynamics and classism and racism in the art world, especially towards women of color. 

Told in two timelines that seem unconnected for much of the story, the reader learns about Anita de Monte's untimely death and about Raquel, a first generation Ivy League college student. Anita de Monte was a rising star in the art world married to a famous white male artist, but she tragically died in 1986. Anita was frustrated with the controlling nature of her husband and was sick of his behavior. Later in 1998, Raquel starts dating an old art student from a wealthy family and she finds herself in new social circles. As she experiences the nuanced discrimination of these circles discovers a story relevant to art history that has been swept under the rug and she starts to explore it. 

I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing about the plot and I loved it, but I did find the major style differences from Gonzalez's last book surprising. Mild spoilers:

This book is partially told from the perspective of a ghost who is able to impact the lives of the living.

Overall, I found this wickedly smart and unhinged in a way that was fun and horrible at the same time. This book tackles tough topics and there was one particular scene that made me feel almost sick- but it was important and well written. If you want a book that is entertaining and cuts to the quick of how society treats women of color, pick this up!