gifted by the publisher

When Tatum Vega receives a call from a reporter to comment on an alleged assault of her old friend/mentor, famous author M. Domínguez, the careful separation Tatum has constructed between her past and present begins to crumble.

I adore everything about HAPPINESS. The academia/publishing setting, the layered story of a complex and destructive relationship, and the examination of the power imbalance between two Latinx individuals. Villarreal-Moura digs deeper into toxic relationships that surpass superficial white vs. non-white tropes but analyzes the blurred lines between mentor-mentee, friendship, and grooming. When there are vast differences between age, fame, and financial stability, can we build meaningful relationships that stand the test of time?

Told in letters addressed to Domínguez from present-day Tatum, I appreciate the maturity in her voice while witnessing Tatum's character evolve. LIKE HAPPINESS pairs well with I LOVE YOU SO MUCH IT'S KILLING US BOTH (Mariah Stovall) and ANNIE BOT (Sierra Greer), and is a debut I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking for a nuanced exploration of the unexpected ways power dynamics manifest.