Latinx Book Bingo + Latinxathon TBR | Latinx Heritage Month 2020

Hi everyone! This post is a bit early but I’m so excited about the readathons taking place this Latinx Heritage Month that I couldn’t wait any longer to put together my tbr and share it with you all. I chose a lot of short books because I’m going to try to read 16 books and while I’m not worried about the amount of books, I’m concern about the fact that I’m going to have a set tbr that it’s that long since I’m a mood reader, but I’ll give it my all!

If you don’t know I’m one of the hosts of the  Latinx Book Bingo, this is the third year this readathon is taking place and it goes from September 15th to October 15th. On the other hand, the Latinxathon takes place from September 15th to September 24th. Both readathons share the same group book as part of an initiative called #LatinxLitTakeover.

For the Latinxaton there are 5 prompts:

1. VOICES: Read a book written by an Indigenous and/or Black Latinx author.
2. LATINIDAD: Read a book written by an intersectional Latinx author. 
3. ROOTS: Read a translated book or a book prominently featuring more than one language
4. HERITAGE: Read a book written by an author from a non-Spanish speaking Latin American country/heritage
5. #LatinxLitTakeover: Read the group Book

And for the Latinx Book Bingo, the idea is to read books that fit the prompts of this bingo board:

Without further ado, here’s my tbr:

Afro-Latinx MC/ Voices:

Here to Stay by Adriana Herrera (Goodreads | Amazon)

Julia moved to Dallas with her boyfriend, who ended up breaking up with her and moving back to NYC, despide that, Julia decides to stay in Dallas because she got an amazing new job. The only problem is Rocco, a fellow new yorker, who is in Dallas temporarily for a job- which entails proving that Julia’s job isn’t needed.

Since I’m attempting to read so many books, I obviously put a lot of romances on this tbr because I fly through them. I have read all 7 of Adriana Herrera’s books and I’m highly anticipating Here to Stay, which comes out on August 25th. Adriana Herrera is Afro-Dominican and the main character in this book is too.

Lighthearted Story / Heritage:

Crashing into Her by Mia Sosa (Goodreads | Amazon)

Eva moves to L.A. and she wants to do stunt work, but first she needs training, the problem is that her instructor ends up being a previous one night stand that she can’t stop thinking about. Anthony only does flings but he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about Eva since their night together either.

This is the third book in a series of companion novels. I enjoyed the other two books in the series as well as Sosa’s newest release The Worst Best Man, so I can’t wait to read it. Mia Sosa is a Black Brazilian American woman and in this book, the heroine is Black and the hero is Latino.

Set in LATAM / Roots:

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel (Goodreads | Amazon)

Tita has been forbidden to marry and she has to look after her mother until she dies. But Tita falls in love with Pedro, and he is seduced by the magical food she cooks. Pedro marries her sister Rosaura so that he can stay close to her, so that Tita and Pedro are forced to circle each other in unconsummated passion. Only a freakish chain of tragedies, bad luck and fate finally reunite them against all the odds.

I’m the reader in my family, my parents and my sister don’t read that much, but they have all read this book and I have not and it’s time to change that. This book is set in Mexico, it has Mexican characters and the author is Mexican too. I’ll be reading the original Spanish version of the book.

Any book by a Latinx Author:

The Dream Weaver by Reina Luz Alegre (Goodreads | Amazon)

Zoey’s grandfather owns a historic bowling alley on the Jersey Shore that it’s in danger of closing, so Zoey enlists the help of a group of kids practicing for a summer bowling tournament and they hatch a grand plan to save the place.

I’m not the biggest Middle Grade reader, but I saw the author in a panel for a virtual festival and she was so sweet and her book sounded lovely, so I immediately got it and I have been saving it to read during Latinx Heritage Month. Both the main character and the author of this book are Cuban American.

Backlist tittle:

Journey through the Socialist Countries by Gabriel García Márquez (Goodreads)

Before he was a well- known author, Gabriel García Márquez was a journalist and he wrote a series of chronicles – that are included in this book – after spending 3 months during 1957 in the Socialist Bloc: East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and the USSR.

I usually love Gabriel García Márquez’s non-fiction works a lot more than his fiction and this book sounds so interesting, I’m hoping I’ll love it! Unfortunately, this book hasn’t been translated to English. The author of this book is Colombian.

Rec’ed by a Latinx Reader:

Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz (Goodreads | Amazon)

This book is set in an alternate contemporary world, in which riders and their dragons compete in an international sports tournament. The story revolves around Lana, who is part of the team representing Puerto Rico in the tournament, until an international conspiracy threatens her dream.

I have an arc of this and it sounds amazing, so it’s going to be one of the first things I pick up for the readathon especially since I want to read it before the release date on October 6th. My friend Carol read it recently and gave it 5 stars so I’m counting it as a rec’ed by a Latinx reader. The author and the main character of this book are Puerto Rican.

Nonfiction:

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado (Goodreads | Amazon)

This is a memoir where Carmen Maria Machado talks about her experiences in an abusive same-sex relationship while using a series of narrative tropes—including classic horror themes—to create an entirely unique piece of work.

I have heard nothing but great things about this one and I’m so intrigued about the unique and inventive way this memoir is supposed to be written in. The author of this book is Cuban American.

On Cover Rep:

Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez (Goodreads | Amazon)

Sal Vidon creates wormholes and his father, a calamity physicist, is trying to shut the wormholes down to stop him from eroding the very fabric of our world. Meanwhile, Sal and Gabi have to try to make everything right with our world when there is a rogue Gabi from another universe running loose seeking revenge for the fact that her world has been destroyed.

The first book in this series is my favorite Middle Grade of all time and Gabi is one of my favorite characters, so I’m incredibly excited to read the sequel! The main characters as well as the author are Cuban American.

Never Before Read Latinx author:

A Taste of Sage by Yaffa S. Santos (Goodreads | Amazon)

Lumi is a chef with a gift: she can perceive a person’s emotions by tasting their cooking. After her own restaurant fails,  she is forced to take a position as a sous chef at a restaurant owned by Julien Dax, a celebrated chef. She is so irritated by him that she vows to never to taste his cooking, but after she takes a bite one day and is overcome with shocking emotion, she finds herself beginning to crave his cooking.

I’m always looking for new Latinx romance authors and I’m excited to give Yaffa S. Santos a chance. Also, I’m really curious about a romance book with slight touches of magical realism. The main character as well as the author are Dominican American.

Cover with Latinx Flag Colors:

The Infamous Miss Rodriguez by Lydia San Andres (Goodreads | Amazon)

Graciela Rodriguez is determined to break her engagement to Ciudad Real’s most eligible bachelor—even if it means ruining her reputation. Vicente Aguirre has been hired by Graciela’s aunt to keep her from damaging the family name. When her charms prove irresistible, will he fall for the infamous Miss Rodriguez?

I’m determinated to find some new Latinx romance authors during Latinx Heritage Month, so here’s another author I have never read before. One of my friends loves this book so I’m hoping I’ll like it too! This is set in a made up island in the Caribbean and the author is also from the Caribbean.

Awards Winning:

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica (Goodreads | Amazon)

This book takes place in a future where canibalism has become normal. The main character works at a local processing plant, where humans are slaugther though no one calls them that anymore. Then one day he is given live specimen as a gift and she changes the way he sees things.

I only heard about this book recently and it sound fascinating and unique. This book is set in Argentina, it has Argentinian characters and the author is also form Argentina. The translated version came our earlier this year, but I’ll be reading the orignal Spanish version.

Group Book / #LatinxLitTakeover:

By Any Means Necessary by Candice Montgomery (Goodreads | Amazon)

Torrey is trying to balance her freshman year of collage and trying to save the bee farm his uncle left him after his death. Torrey would love nothing more than to leave behind the family that’s bleeding him dry, but he cares about the project of his uncle’s heart. As notice letters pile up , dividing himself between family and future becomes impossible unless he sacrifices a part of himself.

This book sounds really good and I tend to enjoy books with complicated family dynamics, so I’m hoping to love it! The author of this book is Afro-Brazilian, the main character is a Black and Gay and the love interest is Afro-Brazilian.

2020 Release:

Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez (Goodreads | Amazon)

This book is set in Argentina and it’s about Camila, a rising soccer star, who must put everything on the line—even her blooming love story—to follow her dreams of playing Soccer and getting an athletic scholarship to a North American university.

I have an e-arc of this, it comes out on September 15th and it’s going to be the first thing I read once the readathon starts. I’m hoping to post my review on the 16th or 17th at the latest. This is set in Argentina, it has Argentinian characters and the author is Argentinian.

Queer Rep/ Latinidad:

Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore (Goodreads | Amazon)

In 1518, a strange sickness makes women dance in the streets, some until they fall down dead. As rumors of witchcraft spread, suspicion turns toward Lavinia and her family, and she will have to try to save them. Five centuries later, a pair of red shoes seal to Rosella Oliva’s feet, making her dance uncontrollably. They draw her toward Emil, whose family was blamed for the fever five hundred years ago. But there’s more to what happened in 1518 than even Emil knows.

I have read 2 books by McLemore in the past and really enjoyed them, so I really want to get to their newer releases. Rosella is Latina and Emil is trans and the story is Own Voices for both of those identities.

Immigrant Story:

The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio (Goodreads | Amazon)

One of the first undocumented immigrants to graduate from Harvard reveals the hidden lives of her fellow undocumented Americans. After the election of 2016, Conrnejo Villavicencio wrote her immigration lawyer’s phone number on her hand in Sharpie and embarked on a trip across the country to tell the stories of her fellow undocumented immigrants–and to find the hidden key to her own.

I don’t read that much nonfiction but for this particulary subject (immigration), I really wanted to read some real life stories and that’s why I chose this book. The author of this book is from Ecuador.

Intersectional MC:

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Andeson (Goodreads | Amazon)

After Mila’s best friend and two other girls died , Mila refuses to accept that it was some kind of two Fairmont Academy mean girls. So she brings the girls back to life, unfortunately they have no recollection of their murders, but they do have unfinished business to attend to. With only seven days until the spell wears off , Mila must work fast to discover their murderer…before the killer strikes again. 

This book was on my tbr for last year’s Latinx Book Bingo and I didn’t get to it, so it needs to happen this round! The author is Afro-Boricua and the main character is Latinx and Fat and the rep for both of those things is Own Voices.

Are you participating in the Latinx Book Bingo? Have you picked the books for your tbr?

Add me on

Bookstagram | Twitter  | Ko- fi | Goodreads | Bloglovin | Pinterest | Letterbox