vivian's Reviews > Catalina

Catalina is the golden child, a powerhouse, and a force of nature when it comes to just about anything. Her grandparents raised her after a terrible accident in Ecuador that took her parents' life. Growing up with them in Queens, all she can focus on are the constant immigrant phantom hands pushing her to be more, more and more. She is undocumented and deportation can happen at any second. But she might as well make the most of what she can.

I picked up the book even though it is not my typical genre and I am so glad that I did. Villavicencio's writing style is so rich, decadent, and visceral. It did take me a bit to get used to the staccato of emotions depicted by Catalina in the beginning, but once I was familiar with her stream of consciousness it was impossible to put the book down. Her commentary throughout her experience at Harvard, her love life, and her Latina identity is utterly snarky and hilarious. I also adore the characterizations Villavicencio has created for the characters. Reading their caricatures makes me feel as if I know them in real life.

I would say that the synopsis didn't do the book justice. Romance isn't really the focus of the book. It's much more about the interstitial feelings, the bottomless pit of pursuance, and what it means to love in a foreign language. The book is a shorter read (just under 230 pages) but it did not feel like it's missing anything. And surely I won't be forgetting about Catalina Ituralde.

Thank you NetGalley for the vibrant contemporary ARC!