Day 4 LHM Challenge: A Latine book that features family drama

Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

The story begins with an English teacher named Ava Rodriguez whose divorce was just finalized a year after her ex abruptly left her. She gets this news while at a teaching conference and decides to celebrate “New Ava” with a drink from the bar. This version of her is much more daring so when a hot guy named Roman sits down beside her and seems to be flirting, Ava is down for a casual fling. The problem is, one night isn’t enough.

The two bump into each other again at her cousin’s engagement party (he’s the best man!) and the chemistry is undeniable but Ava feels like she needs to hide it from her judgy Puerto Rican family. She’s always felt the pressure to be perfect and it builds up more with her role as maid of honor. Roman is the only person she feels she can be messy with so she doesn’t want to ruin anything by telling her family and friends (not even the Primas of Power).

To add to that drama, many of the people in Ava’s family believe that she is to blame for her divorce. They always have something to say, whether they’re talking to her or gossiping about her with each other, but if she confronts them about it they will say that she’s too sensitive and they were just joking around.

I read & reviewed this book in May and I still feel like it describes my maternal family’s dynamics incredibly well! I’m sure there are many Latinas who would agree that our men get away with a lot because our families place most of the responsibilities on the girls and women. “What did you do to make him leave you?” It’s a harm that is perpetuated by everyone, especially the mothers, grandmothers, and aunts. That internalized misogyny is intense and I was so relieved to see the author depict the truth of it in her book.

I can’t recommend it enough!