gifted @bibliolifestyle & Ecco Books

30-year-old Flores and her mother, Paula, still live in the same Brooklyn apartment after the death of their beloved father and husband. As each woman tries to overcome the heartwrenching loss and find the courage to move on, Flores finds herself stuck in an impossible conflict at her floundering aquarium startup. At the same time, Paula attempts to redefine herself—who is she, other than a mother, wife, widow?

Books about complex mother-daughter relationships always have a special place in my heart. And while I've read ~10 (?) books just this year on Asian immigrant mothers & Asian American daughters, I adore that FLORES AND MISS PAULA is told from the perspective of a Peruvian American family.

The ample references to Peruvian culture and food are a breath of fresh air for a reader like myself who doesn't know much about Peru. Meanwhile, the common longing for home, love, and connection that Rivero explores grounds me in the story.

I particularly love the alternating POV between Flores and Paula. Paula's narrative beautifully humanizes the immigrant mother, and outlines not just the sacrifices all mothers make but also reminds me of their needs to define & redefine themselves as individuals. An incredibly profound moment: Paula realizes that her happiness in the past decades is defined by relationships with others, either as a mother or a wife. And that's ultimately dependent on others. How will she find happiness on her own? Is that possible?

FLORES AND MISS PAULA is a tender exploration of families & communities, and the importance of redefining ourselves in the face of loss.