Latinx Book Bingo 2022 Wrap Up: what i read during Latinx Heritage Month

Latinx Heritage Month has come to an end, so it’s time to share my thoughts on the 10 books I read for Latinx Book Bingo. I was hoping to read 16 books, one for each prompt from the bingo, but unfortunately, I had a work trip to a remote rural area in Colombia for an entire week right in the middle of Latinx Heritage Month and that slowed down my reading. Still, I’m really happy with the books I managed to read.

Witchlings by Claribel Ortega (4.5 stars): My favorite book out of all the ones I read for the book bingo. This was such a sweet book, I don’t really read Middle Grade anymore so I wasn’t expecting to love this as much as I did. The characters in this were so charming, the friendship that developed between the three main characters, who are the most unlikely allies ever, was so sweet, the writing is excellent, the worldbuilding intricate but easy to understand, and I loved the use of Spanish in the magic. 

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-García (4 stars): This book is a character-driven, romance-focused story with light fantasy elements and I overall really enjoyed it. It was told from three points of view and there was a bit of a love square that gets very angsty and complicated throughout the book.

I really didn’t like the main character, Nina, for the first half, I thought she was childish and annoying and that affected my enjoyment of the beginning of this book. Nonetheless, I ended up appreciating her character development and how much she grew by the end of the book. Hector was my favorite point-of-view character from the very beginning, even when his motives were not the best at the start of the book, it was still easy to root for him. Also, despite the fact that I didn’t like Nina at first, I enjoyed seeing their relationship from the very beginning and by the end I really wanted them to have a happy ending together. The last pov character was Valeria and she was the worst in the best possible way. She was spiteful, manipulative and mean but I found her to be such an interesting character.

Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado (4 stars): Really glad that our group book was this good. This book has the main character, Raquel, that feels like an authentic teenage girl who is trying to make the best decisions she can under the circumstances. It has a really cute sapphic romance and while at the end, the relationship did progress a bit too fast for my taste, I liked seeing how both characters were there for each other. I also really liked the friendship between Raquel and her best friend, Aaron, and how supportive and understanding Aaron was.

I appreciated how many different horror elements this included and how well it incorporated them: a creepy game, a scary alternative dimension, zombies, giant insects, and a mysterious bad guy. I also really liked the connection between those horror elements and the history of the Bronx, gentrification, and racism. This book included some thought-provoking social commentary. I’ll admit that while the connection to historic events was hinted at the beginning, the final reveal of that connection was a bit info-dumpy. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the way all the elements came together

The Houseguest and Other Stories by Amparo Davila (4.5 stars): The stories in this collection are all disturbing and fascinating. They convey feelings of dread and desperation very well. I’m not usually someone that enjoys vague or open-ended stories, but I really liked the way there are no answers to what was happening in this story once you get to the end, often there was no way of knowing if things were real or not, if the narrators were reliable or not, and that added to the strength of the stories.

Amor, Actually (4 stars): I overall liked this, nonetheless, as with all short story collections, there are some stories that are a lot better than others. I appreciated that there was representation of a lot of different types of couples from m/f to f/f and m/m/f, and also that the levels of steam varied from one story to the next. My favorite stories were by Adriana Herrera, Zoey Castile, and Alexis Daria.

On The Hustle by Adriana Herrera (4 stars): At first, I was having a little of trouble understanding why she liked him even when he was kind of shitty for 3 years. But I saw throughout the book how they fell in love and I thought it was realistic, so I could let go of the issue I had with it. Besides, they had great chemistry, they cared and were there for each other, and there were some very good steamy scenes. As always with Adriana Herrera, the writing was good and the premise was entertaining.

Sun of a Beach by Mia Sosa (3 stars): This had so much potential, but the guy spent the whole novella being an ass and I could understand what made the main character go from disliking him to liking him. Also, the switch in their relationship happened too quickly to be believable and in the end, everything was solved too quickly. Nonetheless, since this was so short, the main character was compelling and there were some good steamy scenes, this didn’t end up being that bad. 

Corazón by Yesika Salgado (4 stars): Like every poetry collection, some poems resonated with me and some didn’t, but overall, the vast majority of them did. This collection addresses body positivity and self-love, family, heartbreak, alcoholism and abusive relationships, and so much more. Yesika Salgado’s poems are powerful, evoking, and unapologetic. The use of Spanish adds a captivating layer to the reading experience.

Tesoro by Yesika Salgado (4 stars): while some poems resonated with me more than others, overall I enjoyed this. This collection focused on family, Yesika Salgado’s upbringing, her heritage, being Latinx, and being a fat brown woman. Just like Corazón, it’s powerful and unapologetic.

What books did you read during Latinx Heritage Month? What books by Latinx authors have you loved recently?

Add me on
 | Twitter  | Ko- fi | Goodreads BookstagramBloglovin Pinterest Letterbox

Latinx Book Bingo 2022 TBR | Latinx Heritage Month 2022

Putting together a tbr for the Latinx Book Bingo is one of my favorite things to do every year and this time it was not an exception. I was trying to pick short books or romances, which I read really fast for this tbr because I want to read one book for each prompt. But adding the page count of all of these books, it’s 4.606 pages in total, which is a bit ambitious because I have a full-time job and a work trip on top of that during the weeks of the readathon. Still, I will try my best.

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

Add me on
 | Twitter  | Ko- fi | Goodreads BookstagramBloglovin Pinterest Letterbox

80 Book Recommendations for the Latinx Book Bingo | Latinx Heritage Month 2022

My favorite time of the year aka Latinx Heritage Month is almost here, which means the Latinx Book Bingo is coming and it’s time to share some recommendations for all of the people participating and also in general for everyone looking for books by Latinx authors. Just like last year, this year I decided to only include books I have already read in this recommendations post, the only exceptions are the group book and the two recommendations for the prompt “disabled mc” because while I have read a few books with a disabled mc, unfortunately, the representation in them has not been great.

I will link my recommendation posts for previous years, which in most cases included books that I have not read, in case anyone needs more options:

For each one of my recommendations, I’m including the genre, age group (Middle-grade, YA, or adult) and if it fits other prompts besides the one I’m recommending it for. Without further ado, here are my recs:

Set in LATAM

TRANSLATED

CO-AUTHORED


ROMANCE

POETRY OR NOVEL IN VERSE

FOODIE

INDIE

NONFICTION

AFRO-LATINX AUTHOR

GROUP BOOK

Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado: YA book. Other prompts: Afro-Latinx author and horror.

HORROR

BANNED

MIDDLE GRADE

JOYFUL

PART OF A SERIES

DISABLED MC

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

Latinx Book Bingo 2022: Readathon Announcement

Today I’m bringing really exciting news! Latinx heritage month is almost here and I’m really happy to share with you that the Latinx Book Bingo is officially coming back for round five! This year the readathon is going to be hosted by Paola, Cande and me.

THE BINGO

The Latinx book bingo will take place from September 15 to October 15, which is when we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month. The goal of the readathon is to highlight books written by Latinx authors.

The aim of the bingo is to read as many Latinx books as you can, guided by the prompts on the bingo board.  You can also try to get a bingo (read all prompts on a single line or row — you can read horizontally, vertically, and diagonally), but it’s not necessary, we just hope you read some Latinx reads during this month.

GROUP BOOK

This year we are super excited to have a group book, which is Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado, a YA Horror book written by a nonbinary, Afro-Latine author. This book is described as Stranger Things meets Get Out and it’s Sapphic.

Synopsis:

For over a year, the Bronx has been plagued by sudden disappearances that no one can explain. Sixteen-year-old Raquel does her best to ignore it. After all, the police only look for the white kids. But when her crush Charlize’s cousin goes missing, Raquel starts to pay attention—especially when her own mom comes down with a mysterious illness that seems linked to the disappearances.

Raquel and Charlize team up to investigate, but they soon discover that everything is tied to a terrifying urban legend called the Echo Game. The game is rumored to trap people in a sinister world underneath the city, and the rules are based on a particularly dark chapter in New York’s past. And if the friends want to save their home and everyone they love, they will have to play the game and destroy the evil at its heart—or die trying.

OTHER INFO

If you want up-to-date information, or to participate challenges and reading sprints, follow  @LatinxBookBingo  on Twitter or @LatinxBookBingo on Instagram. You can use the #LatinxBookBingo hashtag for all your related tweets and posts and we will be retweeting and sharing on our platforms.

  • We will also do a liveshow on October 16 at 8 pm EST where we will talk about the group book. It will be on Paola’s channel.
  • There will be weekly Instagram challenges, which will be announced on our Instagram account (@LatinxBookBingo)
  • There will be reading sprints every Tuesday during the readathon on Paola’s channel:

I hope you can join us! If you have any questions, please let them in the comments! 

Add me on
 Twitter  | Bookstagram  Ko- fi | Goodreads Bloglovin Pinterest Letterbox

Latinx Book Bingo Wrap Up | Latinx Heritage Month 2021

Hi everyone! The fourth round of the Latinx Book Bingo has come to an end, I had so much fun hosting this year and I’m so grateful and happy becuase so many people participated. I love seeing people reading and enjoying books by Latinx authors.

For my part, I managed to read 13 books for this readathon and even if I was 3 books short of my goal, I found some amazing books and some incredible authors that I can’t wait to read more books from.

Here are some of my thoughts on the books I read for the Latinx Book Bingo:

Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez (4.5 stars): This book does a good job of commenting on subjects like poverty, addiction, feminicide, police brutality, and so much more, through a gothic lens and with a touch of paranormal elements (a lot of them related to Argentinian folklore). Most of the stories are disturbing and quietly eerie, some with grotesque moments, some transmitting very well the sense of dread and fear of the characters, and a lot of them with spooky and mysterious circumstances. The author leaves the resolution of a lot of the stories up to the reader’s imagination, so it feels like they end quite abruptly, which is a bit jarring but ends up working really well to maintain the sense of uneasiness that the stories create.

Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin (4 stars): This was very atmospheric, it was disorienting and trippy because the story is told by a confused, feverish woman, and the book makes the reader feel the frustration of the main character, Amanda, with this very intense and strange little kid who is very pushy and vague with his answers. Beyond that, Samantha Schweblin does a good job of commenting on the use of pesticides in Argentina and its effect on the land, the water, the animals, and the people, but adding a paranormal element that it’s never quite explained but that adds to the weirdness and creepiness of the story. 

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado (4 stars): This was such an unsettling short story collection, it was weird, unique, powerful, and thought-provoking. It was full of interesting concepts, beautiful writing, and stories that had a lot to say about the experiences of women and the bodies that they live in, the things that are done to their bodies, the way their bodies are viewed and perceived, and the meanings that are assigned to their bodies, both by themselves and others.

The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio (4 stars): This is a book about the varied struggles and perseverance of different Latinx undocumented Americans. It’s a book about their experiences, mixed with the author’s own experiences of being undocumented and having undocumented parents, and it’s told in a very casual tone. This book does a great of showing how wildly different the experiences of being an undocumented American are and how the effects of undocumented vary from person to person. The author talks about the undocumented immigrants’ experiences with access to healthcare, work opportunities and conditions, old age and retirement, education and so much more.My only issue with this is that there was something about the writing style that didn’t completely work for me. I think it had to do with the author’s voice.

Her Night with Santa by Adriana Herrera (4 stars): This is smut and it’s great smut. For such a short novella, Adriana Herrera manages to give us compelling characters, an instant connection and tons of chemistry between the characters, and a lot of very steamy scenes. This was a fast, fun and steamy read

One Week to Claim It All by Adriana Herrera (4 stars): This was so fun, dramatic (in telenovela style) and steamy. The main characters had a lot of chemistry and they were easy to root for. My one issue is that the heroine forgot quite easily (before she knew the truth) about what he did to her, which didn’t seem realistic when she has been angry at him for 10 years, but I didn’t mind it too much.

Lupe Wong Won’t Dance by Donna Barba Higuera (3,5 stars): I struggled a lot with the first half of this book because the main character, Lupe, is not necessarily a likeable character. For a big portion of this book, she is selfish, self-centred, and she steamrolls her friends and I had to keep reminding myself that she is a child who is learning about these things. Nonetheless, by the end, I appreciated her character development and I ended up enjoying the second part of the book a lot because it showed her slowly realizing the things that she had done wrong, changing her way of seeing things and working to make up for the way she had behaved. I also appreciated the way this book talked about outdated traditions that are not as inclusive as they could be and should be and how they can be changed without taking away the meaning and significance that they have for people.

Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera (3,5 stars): This novella addresses immigration in a very compelling way by mixing myth and reality, the writing is good and the linguistic choices are interesting. I don’t know if it was because it was so short but something was missing for me.

Sabrina and Corina by Karla Fajardo Anstine (3,5 stars): I have mixed feelings about this collection. These are mostly stories about women suffering and going through hard things -violence, abandonment, inherited trauma, loss, grief – and it does a good job depicting these things but there was no hope here and that made me struggle reading this. Also, these were slice of life stories and I figure out while reading this that I don’t like that in short story collections, most of the time I was left feeling like there was something missing.

Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-García (4 stars): I ended up enjoying the way things unraveled with the mystery at the heart of this story and I appreciated the setting and context of this, in my opinion, they served as a great backbone to the story. (Full review)

Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin (3 stars):I had a hard time getting into this book because the stories felt very disjointed and I wasn’t really interested in some of them. Nonetheless, the second half of the book is a lot more interesting, because you know the characters of the different stories, you see what it means to them to be a keeper or a dweller, what relationship they establish with the kentukis and the people on the other side of them, as well as broader implications of this technology. The end was very pessimistic and cynical but it seemed realistic to me and while it wasn’t entirely satisfactory, it was thought-provoking.

Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story by Lilliam Rivera and Steph C. (4 stars): I ended up enjoying this, I think it does a great job of discussing the difficulties and fears that undocumented immigrants experience and I think that’s the best part of this graphic novel. The portrait of Jessica’s emotions was very well done and her anger and despair felt very realistic after everything that she went through. My main issue with this is that it includes Mayan gods but that element didn’t really feel integrated into the story and I wish the gods played a bigger role than simply being angel and devil figures whispering in Jessicas ear in a couple of scenes and that’s it.

Eartheater by Dolores Reyes (4.5 stars): This is a powerful book mainly about the violence that women face. It has a compelling main character that felt like a real, complex, fully rounded person, a fascinating concept – a women who can see how people died or where they are and what happened to them by eating earth connected to the person – and writing that, beyond being absolutely beautiful and raw, perfectly transmits the array of feelings that the main character goes through and that the story tries to capture: anger, frustration, fear, grief, passion, indifference, love. I only docked 0.5 stars because the ending wasn’t as satisfactory as I wanted, but overall it was a fantasctic read.

What was the last book written by a Latinx author that you read? What’s your favorite book by a Latinx author?

Add me on
 | Twitter  | Ko- fi | Goodreads BookstagramBloglovin Pinterest Letterbox

Latinx Book Bingo TBR | Latinx Heritage Month 2021

Hi everyone! This is a post that I look forward to writing ever year, I have so much fun putting together a tbr for the Latinx Book Bingo and i’m happy to be sharing this year’s tbr with all of you. I will try to read one book per each prompt of the bingo board, which means I’ll try to read 16 books total.

If you don’t know I’m one of the hosts of the  Latinx Book Bingo, this is the fourth year this readathon is taking place and it goes from September 15th to October 15th and the goal is to read as many books by Latinx authors as you can.

Set in LATAM

Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno Garcia

An adult historical fiction book about a daydreaming secretary, an enforcer, and a missing woman they are trying to find.

I read Mexicna Gothic and Gods of Jade and Shadow last year and LOVED them both, so I can’t wait to read Silvia Moreno-Garcias newest book even if it’s completely different to the other books I have read by her. I’m excited to read Moreno-Garcia’s take on a historical noir thriller.

Name in the title

Lupe Wong Won’t Dance by Donna Barba Higuera

Book Cover

Lupe Wong has a chance to meet her favorite pitcher, who’s Chinacan/Mexinese just like her, the only thing standing in her way is square dancing as part of her gym class, which can affect her grade, but she won’t let that stop her.

2020 was the year I discovered my love for middle grade books, especially if they are about latinx characters, so I’m excited to read this middle grade novel a chance, espcially since I have heard nothing but great things about.

Nonfiction

The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

One of the first undocumented immigrants to graduate from Harvard reveals the hidden lives of her fellow undocumented Americans. 

This was on my tbr last year but I didn’t get it from my library on time, so I had to read something else. This year, I’m really excited to be able to read it, it sounds like a hard hitting and very interesting read.

Backlist

Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez

Book Cover

A short story collection about a contemporary Argentina where shocking inequality, violence, and corruption are the law of the land, while military dictatorship and the people that went missing during that time loom large in the collective memory.

Within the last few years, there has been a boom in Latin America of horror books written by women which are getting very positive reviews and since I have been getting into horror lately, I’m looking forward to reading more of them.

Indie Pub

Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera

21535546

A book about the border between Mexico and the United States and those who cross it that explored the crossings and translations people make in their minds and language as they move from one country to another.

I only heard about this book recently, but two people I trust have really enjoyed this, so I’m excited to give it a chance. I haven’t read that many stories about immigration, so that’s another reason why I want to read this.

Favorite Color

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

YA retelling of Peter Pan where children are going missing from a small town and Wendy and Peter will work to find them.

I LOVED Cementery Boys, so I can’t wait to read another Aiden Thomas story. I haven’t read that many Peter Pan retellings nor have I read the original, but i find the story of Peter Pan interesting, so i’m excited to see their take on this classic tale.

Favorite Genre

Oculta by Maya Montayne

A thief and a prince have to work together to save their kingdom after freeing an ancient evil power. 

Oculta is the sequel to Nocturna, which came out in 2019, so I have been waiting 2 years to read the continuation, and after the ending of the first book, I can’t wait to know what happens next. Some people I really trust enjoyed this, so I’m hopeful that it will be a good sequel.

Intersectional MC

Sabrina and Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

A Short story collection about Latina characters of indigenous ancestry and the land they inhabit. It explores friendship, mothers and daughters, and the deep-rooted truths of our homelands

This sounds like a really good book and I need to read more books about indigenous characters, but I’m also really nervious because I’m not the biggest fan of short story collections.

Translated

Fever Dream by Samantha Schweblin

30763882

A young woman lies dying in a rural hospital. A boy sits beside her. She’s not his mother. He’s not her child. Together, they tell a haunting story of broken souls, toxins, and the power and desperation of family.

As I mentioned before, there’s a boom in Latin America of horror books written by women, this book is another one that it’s part of that boom and that’s highly recommend, so I’m excited to give read it and see if I like it.

Rec’d by a Latinx Reader

Illusionary by Zoraida Córdova

This series is about a girl who has a magical ability that makes her feared and she has to infiltrate the palace to help a group of rebels that wants to save her people from persecution.

I’m always nervious about reading sequel of books I love because I have been disappointed one too many times. But all my friends who have read this have loved it, which makes me feel more confident that I will like this and it’s the reason I decided to choose it for the prompt of rec’d by a Latinx reader.

Queer Rep

Her Night With Santa by Adriana Herrera

56390539. sy475

 The romance between Santa, who is a lesbian named Kris, and Farnaz, the bisexual niece of one of the Kings of the Magi, who left the family toy business to start her own adult toy company. 

I always enjoy Adriana Herrera’s books, so I was obviously going to pick this up, but the synopsis sounds so fun that I’m even more excited to read it.

Any Book by a Latinx Author

A Lot Like Adiós by Alexis Daria

56197428

A second chance at romance for two childhood best friend, who haven’t seen each other in years until they are reunited and have to work together.

I LOVED You Had Me at Hola, as well as Daria’s Dance Off series, so I’m really excited for this one. I also really like friends to lovers romances, so I’m hoping I’ll love this.

Song Title

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

55311334. sy475

A young woman goes to the city for the first time and there she meets another telekinetic like her, who teaches her to control her abilities and starts to court her, but he has an ulterior motive that threatens to end their relationship.

this has been on my tbr for years and it’s finally time for me to read it. I have heard nothing but great things about it, and after loving other Silvia Moreno-Garacía books, I’m sure i’ll enjoy it.

2021 Release

Cazadora by Romina Garber

This series is about a girl who is an undocumented immigrant and she has a distinctive eye color, which ends up connecting her to a secret magical world of lobizones (werewolves) and witches. 

I have been highly anticipating this book, it came out less than a month ago and you don’t know how much it has costed me to wait to read it during Latinx Heritage Month. I loved the first book SO MUCH and I can’t wait to see where the story goes.

Afrolatinx

One Week to Claim it All by Adriana Herrera

Second chance romance where a woman is set to become the CEO of her late father’s company and her ex is the only one standing in the way.

As I mentioned before, I have read and enjoyed almost every single book that Adriana Herrera has released, so I’m so excited to read her newest full lenght novel, espcially since it has two tropes I love, second chance romance and dislike to love.

Author’s Debut

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

33375622

Short Story collection about the realities of women’s lives and the violence visited upon their bodies.

I read Carmen Maria Machado’s memoir last year and it was great, so I’m looking forward to checking out her debut. I’m not the biggest fan of short story collection, but I’m crossing my fingers that I will like this one.

Are you participating in the Latinx Book Bingo? Have you picked the books for your tbr?
Add me on
Twitter  |   Ko- fi | Goodreads | Bookstagram | Bloglovin Pinterest Letterbox

50+ book recommendations for the Latinx Book Bingo | Latinx Heritage Month 2021

Latinx Book Bingo banner photo

Hi everyone! Today, I’m bringing a super exciting post that it’s a bit late this year. In this post, I’m recommending books for the 2021 Latinx Book Bingo.

The three previous years I have written really long posts with 90 book recommendations, 100 book recommendations , and 170 book recommendations, but a lot of the books were books that I haven’t read yet, so this year I decided to do something a little bit different. I’m recommending 50+ books by Latinx authors that I have read, enjoyed and that I think you should read. I provide recs for each square in the bingo board, I share a short synopsis of the book and I added information like the genre of the books and the kind of rep they have, so you know if it works for more than one prompt in the bingo board. If you need more options or recommendations, you can always check out the lists from previous years.

If you would like to support me or compensate the work I put into running the Latinx Book Bingo each year and making recommendation lists that take a lot of work (it’s not necessary or expected, but if you want to), you could buy me a Ko-fi

Set in Latam

  • Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez:  A YA Contemporary about a girl who is fighting for her dream of being a soccer player despite having to deal with a lot of sexism even from her own family. It has Argentinian rep  and it’s set in Argentina
  • Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo: A YA Contemporary about two sisters that didn’t know theo ther existed until their father dies in a plane crash. Afrolatinx protagonists & author and it’s mostly set in Domican Republic.
  • Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: an adult horror book about a young woman who has to go to a creepy house in the middle of nowhere that it’s inhabited by creepy people who are keeping dark secrets to save her cousin. It has Mexican rep and it’s set in Mexico
  • Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno- Garcia: Adult Fantasy about a young woman who saves the Mayan god of death but ends up tying her fate to his by mistake and has to help him to save herself. It has Mexican rep and it’s set in Mexico.

Name in the Title

Non-fiction

Backlist title

  • Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Sosa: a YA Fantasy about a group of teens trying to pull off a quest that may cost them their lives. it has ace rep, bisexual rep, fat rep and anxiety rep.
  • Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera: A YA Contemporary about a queer Puerto Rican woman who spends a summer in Portland as an intern to a hippy white woman. It has Puerto Rican rep and lesbian rep.
  • Acting on Impulse by Mia Sosa:  Adult Romance about a physical trainer and a Hollywood star falling in love. It has Puerto Rican rep, and Afro-latinx main character and author.
  • Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova: YA Urban Fantasy about a teenage bruja who wants to get rid of her magic and ends up banishing her family to a magical land and has to rescue them. It has Ecuadorian rep, and an f/f romance

Afro-Latinx

  • By Any Means Necessary by Candice Montgomery: a YA contemporary story abouy a young man who is trying to save the bee farm his beloved uncle left him after his death while trying to start a new life at college. It has Brazilian rep, and an Afro-latinx mc & author.
  • The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo: a YA Contemporary about a girl who joind her school’s slam poetry club behind her mother’s back because in a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent. It has Dominican rep and it’s a backlist title.
  • Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Older: a Middle Grade Fantasy about a group of kids living in an alternative reality where there are Dinasours in New York during the Civil War. This has afrolatinx rep and it’s a backlist title.
  • Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson YA Paranormal about a girl who resurrects her best friend and 2 other girls from her school using witchcraft  to prove that they were murdered, but they only have 7 days to do it. it has Mexican rep, fat rep, Afro-Latinx mc & author and it’s a backlist title.

Intersectional MC

  • Miss Meteor by Tehlor Kay Mejia and Anna-Marie McLemore: a YA story about a girl who enters a beauty pageant and asks her ex- best friend for help. To pull off the unlikeliest underdog story in pageant history, they have to imagine a future where girls like them are more than enough. It as fat rep, pansexual rep and trans rep.
  • When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez: a YA Contemporary story abut two girls, who are classmates and who are dealing with depression in very different ways. It has depression rep and it’s a backlist title.
  • Analee, in Real Life by Janelle Milanes YA Contemporary about a girl dealing with the death of her mother and the popular boy who asks her to be his fake girlfriend and coax her out of her comfort zone. It has Cuban rep, social anxiety rep and it’s a backlist title.
  • More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera: a story about a teen who is struggling with family tragedy and with things about himself that he wants to forget, and a memory-alteration procedure that might be the solution. It has gay rep,, Puerto Rican rep, and it’s a backlist title.

Translated book

  • Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica: an adult horror book about an alternative reality where cannibalism is socially accepted and it explores the industry of human meat. It has Argentinian rep and it’s set in Argentina.
  • Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel: a classic about a woman who isn’t allowed to marry because she has to look after her mother until she dies, but she falls in love and her lover marries her sister to stay close to her. It has Mexican rep, it’s set in Mexico and it’s a backlist title.
  • The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende: a classic magical realism book about three generations of the Trueba family, a story that addresses the personal lives of this family and big political events in Chilean history.  It has Chilean rep, it’s set in Chile and it’s a backlist title.
  • City of Clowns by Daniel Alarcon: a graphic novel about a young Peruvian journalist fwho has to confront the idea of his father’s other family after his death while chronicling the life of street clowns in Lima. It has Peruvian rep, it’s set in Peru and it’s a backlist title.

Rec’d by a Latinx Reader (my recommendations!)

  • Lobizona by Romina Garber: A YA Fantasy about a girl who is an undocumented immigrant and she has a distinctive eye color, which ends up connecting her to a secret magical world of lobizones (werewolves) and witches. It has Argentinian Rep.
  • You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria: an adult romance about a soap opera star and a Telenovela star, who have to work together in a tv show for the biggest streaming service in the country and end up falling in love. It has Puerto Rican Rep.
  • Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar a middle grade contemporary about a little girl whose dad gets deported and, later on, her and her pregnant mom are also taken into a deportation facility. it has Mexican rep.
  • Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova: A YA fantasy about a girl who has a magical ability that makes her feared and that has to infiltrate the palace in her kingdom to help a group of rebels that wants to save her people from persecution.

Queer Rep

  • Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas: A YA fantasy about a trans boy and a ghost who are trying to solve a murder mystery and end up falling in love. It has latinx and trans rep and a m/m relationship.
  • When the Moon was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore: A Magical Realism story about two best friends, a trans boy who loves the moon and a Latina who grows roses from her hands, and how they face their struggles while falling in love. It has latinx and trans rep and it’s a backlist title.
  • They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera: A YA Sci-fi story set in a world where people know when they are going to die and two teens decide to spend their last day together. It has gay rep, OCD & anxiety rep, Puerto Rican and Cuban American Rep. It has an intersectional mc and it’s a backlist title.
  • Each of Us a Desert by Mark Oshiro: a YA Fantasy about a girl who has to listen and ,magically absorbe the stories of the people of her town that may produce bad feels because if she doesn’t the stories manifest themselves as monsters. It has a f/f relationship.

Song Title

For this prompt, you can chose a book with a title that has the word “song” in it, or a title that it’s the same as the name of a song or it’s the same as song lyrics.

  • Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera: A YA retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, it deals withe mental illness, toxic realtionships and trauma. It has Puerto Rican Rep.
  • Dance All Night by Alexis Daria: romance novella about a broadway start and a dancer who works for a tv dance competion falling in love.
  • We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay MejiaA YA Fantasy about a young woman forced to help a rebelious group to save herself, who learns to stand up for what she believes in. It has a f/f romance.
  • Pride by Ibi Zoboi: A YA retelling of Pride and Prejudice that focuses on gentrification. It has Haitian-Dominican Rep and it’s a backlist title.

Author’s debut

  • Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz: a YA Fantasy about a group of teens who are representing Puerto Rico in the Blazewrath games, which is an international sports tournament where teams of dragons and humans compete. It has Puerto Rican rep.  
  • Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega: A Middle Grade Fantasy about two girls who accidentally awaken malicious spirits and have to team up with a grandma and a cat to save their town. It has Dominican rep.
  • The Dream Weaver by Reina Luz Alegre: a Middle Grade Contemporary about a girl who has to go live with her grandfather and ends up joining a bowling team and trying to save here grandpa’s bowling alley. It has Cuban Rep.
  • American Dreamer by Adriana HerreraAdult Romance about the owner of a food truck and a nerdy librarian who fall in love. It has a Afro-Latinx main character and author, it has gay rep and it’s a backlist title.

Any book by a Latinx author

  • His Perfect Partner by Priscilla Oliveras: this is an adult romance about a single dad and his daughter’s dance teacher. It has Puerto Rican & Mexican Rep and it’s a backlist title.
  • Nocturna by Maya Motayne: A YA Fantasy about a thief and a prince who have to work together to save their kingdom after freeing an ancient evil power. This is Dominican inspired.
  • Category Five by Ann Davila Madrigal:  A YA Horror about about teenagers who get involved with a supernatural mystery involving ghosts. It has Puerto Rican Rep and it’s set in Puerto Rico.
  • With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo: A YA Contemporary about a teen mom fighting for her dream of becoming a chef while falling in love with a cute guy. It has Puerto Rican rep.

Indie Published

  • The Infamous Miss Rodriguez by Lydia San Andres: Adult Historical Romance about a rebellious Afrolatinx heroine and an Argentinian hero. It’s set in the Caribbean, it has a Afrolatinx protagonist and it’s a backlist title.
  • Peluda by Melissa Lozada-Olivia: a poetry collection about the link between femininity, body hair, the immigrant experience and Latina identity. The author is Guatemalan-Colombian.

2021 Release

This is the only category where I’m recommending books that I haven’t read, because the 2021 releases that I have read are either sequels or I didn’t love them enough to recommend them. So what I’m going to do is mention the 2021 releases that are not part of a series and that I can’t wait to read.

I hope this post is useful to everyone participating in the Latinx Book Bingo or to anyone who wants to read more books by Latinx authors!
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

Latinx Book Bingo Announcement | Latinx Heritage Month 2021

Hi everyone! I’m really excited to share with you all that … the Latinx Book Bingo is officially coming back in 2021! This is the forth round of the readathon and Paola and I are so happy to be hosting it again this year.

THE BINGO 

The Latinx book bingo will take place from September 15 to October 15, which is when we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month. The goal of the readathon is to highlight books written by Latinx authors.

The aim of the bingo is to read as many Latinx books as you can, guided by the prompts on the bingo board.  You can also try to get a bingo (read all prompts on a single line or row — you can read horizontally, vertically, and diagonally), but it’s not necessary, we just hope you read some Latinx reads during this month.

We always want to promote intersectional stories, so while there’s one square that says intersectional MC – which prompts you to read a book where the main character is Latinx AND is part of the LGBTQIA community or has a mental illness or is neurodivergent or disabled- we hope you try to read as many intersectional stories as you can throughout the readathon.  

OTHER INFO

If you want up to date information or recommendations, follow  @LatinxBookBingo  on Twitter or @LatinxBookBingo on Instagram. You can use the #LatinxBookBingo hashtag for all your related tweets and posts and we will retweeting and sharing on our platforms.

I will be posting a tbr and a recommendation list in the next couple of weeks in case you need help setting up your tbr. Also, my twitter and Instagram dms are always open if you need recs!

I hope you can join us! If you have any questions, please let them in the comments! 

Add me on
 Twitter  | Bookstagram Ko- fi | Goodreads Bloglovin Pinterest Letterbox

Latinx Book Bingo Wrap Up

Hi everyone! Today I’m going to talk about the books I read for the Latinx Book Bingo, a readathon that I host every year during Latinx Heritage Month, which goes from September 15th to October 15th. I had so much fun this year, both hosting and participating. I want to take this oportunity to thank everyone who join me and my co-host, Paola @ By My Shelf.

In this wrap up, I’ll be talking about the 16 books I managed to read for this readathon, one for each square of the bingo board.

Without further ado, here are the books I read and some of my thoughts:

YA

Miss Meteor by Anna-Marie McLemore & Tehlor Kay Mejia (5 stars): THIS BOOK IS FANTASTIC!! the friends to lovers romances are adorable, the friendships healed my soul, the siblings’ relationships are wonderfully complicated, the character development is great. It addresses messed up beauty standards, xenophobia, homophobia. (Full Review)

Lobizona by Romina Garber (5 stars): the magical world is interesting and complex, the magic system is captivating, the characters are easy to root for, the Argentinian food, expressions and folklore are a wonderful addition to the story, the soccer inspired magical sport is so cool, the way it addresses immigration is very powerful… Everything about this book is just SO GOOD!! (Full Review)

Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz (4.5 stars): This book is SO GOOD! It’s action-packed, it’s entertaining and it has such a cool concept. Tee world building is fantastic, the plot is engaging and the characters are easy to root for. (Full Review)

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson (4 stars): this is a quick and entertaining read. I liked all the characters and the main story about a group of girls that go from enemies to friends. This book does a great job of being humorous while still dealing with heavier topics, especially grief and bullying. The mystery was a bit predictable but it didn’t decrease my enjoyment of the story. The ending made me cry, which doesn’t happen that often.

By Any Means Necessary by Candice Montgomery (3,7 stars): The voice of the main character is really strong in this book, it was engaging and funny and very real from the very first page. This book addresses some serious topics like racism, gentrification, and homophobia within the Black community. Also, the importance of self-care. I don’t know exactly how to put this but I think I would have liked to see a little less of the main character’s internal monologue and a bit more of him interacting with others

Middle Grade

The Dream Weaver by Reina Luz Alegre (4 stars): A very sweet middle grade that deals with hard subjects like grief, complicated family dynamics and not feeling Latinx enough. This book tells such a hopeful story about giving yourself time to figure out your dreams, fighting for them but also allowing them to change with time. This book includes a bowling team, sleepovers, friendships, a strong sibling relationship, and a lovable grandfather.

Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez (4 stars): This is cute and fun. I love Sal and Gabi, they are some of my favorite characters ever. I also liked seeing Sal’s character development in this book. I wish we got to see a bit more of Sal and Gabi work together because it felt a little bit like they had separate storylines and things they weren’t telling the other, but overall I really enjoyed it.

The Fire Keeper by J.C. Cervantes (3,5 stars): As the first book in the series, this was fun and entertaining. I really enjoyed the Mayan mythology, the different gods and magical creatures were really cool. I liked the characters in the book as well. But as with the first book, I’m a bit worried about the disability rep.

Romance

Here to Stay by Adriana Herrera (4 stars): I really enjoyed this book. The chemistry between the main characters is out of this world, the sex scenes are so hot, the friend group is amazing, I loved Julia’s family and Rocco is an adorable hero. The issue I had with this book is that the will they/ won’t they part of this book dragged a bit. (Review)

Crashing into Her by Mia Sosa (4 stars): This book is funny, entertaining and a quick read. I really liked the main characters and I enjoyed their dynamic that went from dislike to like, and their relationship that went from a one night stand to a friendship full of sexual tension to finally a romance. The banter and chemistry between them were amazing, the sex scenes were steamy, and the romance was heartwarming.

The Infamous Miss Rodriguez by Lydia San Andres (4 stars): This is short and sweet. This book has an Afrolatinx heroine and an Argentinian hero, both of them are great. There’s a marriage of convenience and that trope is well executed and the way the relationship transforms throughout the book. I would have liked to see a bit more of the main characters together, but overall this was really good.

Adult

Like Water for Chocholate by Laura Esquivel (4,5 stars): I loved the experience of reading this book, I couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what was going to happen next. I loved the unique structure of this book, the way the magical aspects are integrated into the story especially when it comes to the food, how atmospheric this was, and the complicated relationships between the characters.

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica (4 stars): This book is very disturbing because it makes cannibalism seem like something that could actually happen, the way the author executes the whole concept makes it seem so plausible. Beyond the interesting concept, the plot revolves around events of a smaller scale but it’s as disturbing as everything else.

Journey Through the Socialist Countries by Gabriel García Marquez (4 stars): This is a very interesting account from an outsider’s point of view of what was happening in the socialist countries at the end of the 1950s. I really enjoy García Márquez’s nonfiction writing and I learned a lot reading this book.

In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado (4 stars): This is really good. It has a unique structure and the writing is beautiful. Machado does an amazing job of looking into the history of abuse in sapphic relationships and also addressing her own experience. My only issue is that the unique structure of the book, as much as it is interesting, made me feel a bit distant from Machado’s personal account of the situations she lived through and I’m not entirely sure if it was intentional or not.

Lima :: Limón by Natalie Scenters-Zapico | Copper Canyon Press

Lima :: Limón by Natalie Scenters-Zapico (2 stars): this poetry collection simply wasn’t for me

Those are all the books I read for the Latinx Book Bingo. Hosting this readathon for the third time was an amazing experience and I can’t wait for next year to do it again!

What books by Latinx authors have you enjoyed lately? Have you read any of the books I mentioned?
Add me on
Bookstagram | Twitter  | Ko- fi | Goodreads Bloglovin Pinterest Letterbox

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