It’s day 10 of the #LHMBookstaChallenge and I’m sharing an upcoming release with y’all that I think matches the prompt “¿Que bochinche?” perfectly.

Thank you to the author Vincent Tirado for sending me an advanced reader's copy of their brand new book, You Should Have Been Nicer To My Mom in exchange for an honest review.

This novel encapsulates so much of what it means to be a part of a family that will tear each other apart rather than admit to any wrongdoing. Tirado was very intentional in the way that they depicted this wealthy Dominican-American family.

We enter this story from Xiomara's point-of view. She's heading to her grandfather Papi Ramon's house for the reading of his will by herself because her mother passed away and she wants to shield her father from just how terrible the Abreu family can be. Aside from Xiomara, the family now consists of two uncles, two aunts, and three cousins, all of whom are in attendance. To her surprise, her estranged childhood friend is also there, having spent the years after her mother passed away taking care of Papi Ramon just like her mom before her.

The lawyer reveals that Papi Ramon's will only consists of a message warning his family that a demon is among them and that they must destroy it within the following 12 hours or be damned. The only person who takes this threat seriously is Xiomara.

There were so many times I felt seen in this book because Tirado captured the essence of the types of people who seem to be a part of almost every Dominican family! We've got...

• a couple of hypocritical, misogynist, and self-important Christians

• a vain serial romantic

• a jealous gossip

• a lame duck who seems a bit off

• a status-obsessed playboy

• an aloof yet insecure cousin

• and the one who means well

I really appreciate Tirado for calling out anti-Haitian prejudice amongst Dominicans, as well. We come from the same island and yet Dominicans and fellow Dominican-Americans blame so much on Haitians. This book was a powerful push to look at ourselves in the mirror, see the way hatred tears us all apart, and do better.

I recommend You Should Have Been Nicer To My Mom to anyone who loves gothic horrors, is interested in social commentary, and/or feels pulled to it after reading this review!

This book is set to be released in March 2026.