Look. I have so much to say about this novel and nothing at all.
In a word: remarkable.
From the start, Tatum’s story has you sucked in; her remarkable storytelling paired with her love/fascination of Dominguez is deeply personal while relatable. Watching their story unfold from both the end and the beginning is such a unique and fascinating experience. From her nuanced recounting of being a Latinx woman in a privileged, white university to her revelation of the power dynamics of her relationship with a celebrity, Tatum’s story is heart wrenching, eye opening, relatable, and all the feels in between.
Ursula Villarreal-Moura is a force to be reckoned with. Writing? Impeccable. Premise of the story? Stunning. Eye opening take on how men in literature use the women around them for their fame? Enraging.
I must confess, I find books written by men hard to read; there is almost always something that feels so disingenuous about how women written by men. Even the most enlightened, feminist man simply cannot know what it’s like being a woman, especially a woman of color existing in America. This story finally had all my little brain puzzle pieces clicking into place with the words that perfectly describe this unease I’ve always felt. Villarreal-Moira does an incredible job showing us how Tatum’s favorite story written by Dominguez was foreshadowing all along how their story would end. Because what can a man know about girlhood?
This is a gorgeous book that has rocketed Ursula Villarreal-Moura to a slot at the top of my favorite authors list.
In a word: remarkable.
From the start, Tatum’s story has you sucked in; her remarkable storytelling paired with her love/fascination of Dominguez is deeply personal while relatable. Watching their story unfold from both the end and the beginning is such a unique and fascinating experience. From her nuanced recounting of being a Latinx woman in a privileged, white university to her revelation of the power dynamics of her relationship with a celebrity, Tatum’s story is heart wrenching, eye opening, relatable, and all the feels in between.
Ursula Villarreal-Moura is a force to be reckoned with. Writing? Impeccable. Premise of the story? Stunning. Eye opening take on how men in literature use the women around them for their fame? Enraging.
I must confess, I find books written by men hard to read; there is almost always something that feels so disingenuous about how women written by men. Even the most enlightened, feminist man simply cannot know what it’s like being a woman, especially a woman of color existing in America. This story finally had all my little brain puzzle pieces clicking into place with the words that perfectly describe this unease I’ve always felt. Villarreal-Moira does an incredible job showing us how Tatum’s favorite story written by Dominguez was foreshadowing all along how their story would end. Because what can a man know about girlhood?
This is a gorgeous book that has rocketed Ursula Villarreal-Moura to a slot at the top of my favorite authors list.