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Karla Cornejo Villavicencio is a terrific stylist. If you liked Elif Batuman's The Idiot you'll enjoy this.

I‘ve read memoirs that feel like novels and here is a novel that feels much like a memoir in places. Catalina‘s story as an undocumented Harvard student is informed by that of the author and reminds us that no one is a monolith. I thought this was good but that it could use a little more of a punch towards the end.

NBA longlist, fiction

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Leading with a bold voice and an energetic personality, the prose in “Catalina” dances along the page. I got lost at times in Catalina‘s thoughts, but I will remember the vulnerability and strength of her character. 🎧

A surprising amount of Henry Kissinger.

3.5⭐️ I liked this. The story felt very raw from the get-go, but then it started to lose me towards the end.

I recognize what the author was trying to do, and I know that she was looking to convey Catalina‘s roller-coaster of emotions for what she was going through, and even though I never lost interest in the story, it didn‘t live up to the hype for me.

#NetGalley Pub Date: 7/23/24

Read Part 1 of this and enjoying it…Even though I feel that this book it‘s going to break my heart…

every Fourth of July, she was memorised by the fireworks in the sky. She was a New Yorker.

this book is a true story about a young girl named Areil and she was born in Mexico and her parents moved to America for a better life. her dream came to life in America .

This story truly touched my heart and was very eyeopening as well.