Thank you to Wednesday Books for sharing a copy in exchange for my honest review.
The Santos Vista neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas, is all Ander Martínez has ever known. The smell of pan dulce. The mixture of Spanish and English filling the streets. And, especially their job at their family's taquería. It's the place that has inspired Ander as a muralist, and, as they get ready to leave for art school, it's all of these things that give them hesitancy. That give them the thought, are they ready to leave it all behind? To keep Ander from becoming complacent during their gap year, their family "fires" them so they can transition from restaurant life to focusing on their murals and prepare for college. That is, until they meet Santiago López Alvarado, the hot new waiter. Falling for each other becomes as natural as breathing. Through Santi's eyes, Ander starts to understand who they are and want to be as an artist, and Ander becomes Santi's first steps toward making Santos Vista and the United States feel like home. Until ICE agents come for Santi, and Ander realizes how fragile that sense of home is. How love can only hold on so long when the whole world is against them. And when, eventually, the world starts to win. Ander and Santi Were Here is a queer love story set against a backdrop of modern immigration policies that separate loved ones and force families to gamble on uncertain futures. This is one of the most heartbreaking books I’ve read recently, but there is still a light and fluffy feel to the romance aspects. Jonny Garza Villa is adept at transitioning between the sweet romance plotline and the heavier aspects of the story about Santi’s reality as an undocumented person. They know how to turn a story that might be a difficult read into something that feels impossible to put down. I was so invested in characters that I spent the entire afternoon reading. Ander’s family features prominently in the story, as well as their larger community. They work at their family’s restaurant, which is a community staple owned by their tita. The love shared between them and their family came through so well in the story, and I loved that they had such a large role in determining how Ander felt about their future and figuring out who they are as an artist and person. Santiago, or Santi as he is known in the story, is reticent to get to know Ander at the beginning of the story because it would mean opening up about his undocumented status. However, the friendship and new love between the two becomes too powerful to ignore, and it is amazing to watch Santi trust Ander more and start to feel at home around them and their community. The two have such a lovely relationship that left me wanting more even after the book ended. I haven’t read anything else by Villa, but I would be so pleased if they were the type of author who features prior main characters in cameos in future novels. My favorite aspect of the book was Ander’s skill as a muralist. The way they translate their feelings about family, love, their culture, and San Antonio into art that gets displayed in their community is so powerful. I wish the book had come with full color illustrations! I loved how their art was described, and the way it brought joy to their family and friends was so adorable. This beautifully written story earns 5/5 stars from me.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
Categories
All
Archives
June 2023
|