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The Waves Take You Home
In this deeply heartfelt story about what it takes to build a new life, the death of her abuela brings a young woman home, where she must face the past in order to move forward and build a life that’s truly her own. Ten years after she immigrated to the States, twenty-eight-year-old Vi goes home to Barranquilla, Colombia, at the news of her grandmother’s death. Abuela was the one who insisted Vi leave in the first place, but now Vi learns she’s inherited Caminito, their failing family restaurant. Vi can’t understand Abuela’s intentions, but she resolves to honor those final wishes and stay—long enough, at least, to save Caminito. Her life in New York with a serious boyfriend and bourgeoning career is stable enough to wait for her return. But the longer Vi is home, the more she struggles with what that word means. Abuela’s ghost is never far, reminding her of the choices she’s made and the ones that lie ahead. As she reconnects with her family, community, and her first love, Vi will have to decide if she truly did leave for her own good all those years ago…and whether this time she should stay.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2024
585 people are currently reading
10056 people want to read
About the author
María Alejandra Barrios Vélez
1 book109 followersMaría Alejandra Barrios Vélez is a writer born in Barranquilla, Colombia. She has an MA in creative writing from the University of Manchester and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and scruffy dog, Gus.
She was the 2020 SmokeLong Flash Fiction Fellow, and her stories have been published in Shenandoah Literary, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, El Malpensante, Fractured Lit, SmokeLong Quarterly, The Offing, and more. Her work has been supported by organizations such as Vermont Studio Center, Caldera Arts, and the New Orleans Writers’ Residency.
The Waves Take You Home is María’s debut, inspired by the resilience and strength of the women in her family and the Caribbean city she spent most of her life in.
She was the 2020 SmokeLong Flash Fiction Fellow, and her stories have been published in Shenandoah Literary, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, El Malpensante, Fractured Lit, SmokeLong Quarterly, The Offing, and more. Her work has been supported by organizations such as Vermont Studio Center, Caldera Arts, and the New Orleans Writers’ Residency.
The Waves Take You Home is María’s debut, inspired by the resilience and strength of the women in her family and the Caribbean city she spent most of her life in.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
August 20, 2025
🌺 Stunning inside and out. 🌺 The cover immediately caught my eye, and after reading the synopsis, I knew I had to pick this one up.
✨ Brief Summary
The Waves Take You Home follows 18-year-old Violeta (Vi), who lives in Colombia with her Mami and Abuela. Their family runs a small restaurant, but Abuela determined that her granddaughter won’t live the same life she did pushes Vi to leave for the U.S. to study art. Vi, ever the obedient granddaughter, packs her bags and heartbreakingly leaves behind the love of her life, Rafa.
Ten years later, Vi has built an art career and found a charming boyfriend. But after Abuela’s passing, she returns to Colombia to grieve. She discovers the family restaurant is in debt and decides to stay for a month to help save it. Being back in her hometown stirs old memories, reunites her with childhood friends, and puts her face-to-face with the one man she never forgot… 👀
🌊 What I Loved
I was thoroughly immersed in this story. Not only did I get swept up in Vi’s journey, but I also learned so much about Colombia, Barranquilla, and its rich culture. Books that teach me while moving me emotionally are always favorites.
The writing was lush and transportive I could see the beach, bury my toes in the sand, hear music floating through the night air, and practically taste the flan, arroz de coco, and sancocho. The Spanish phrases woven into the text felt natural, always followed by smooth translations, which I really appreciated. The touch of magical realism was like stardust sprinkled across the story subtle but unforgettable.
❤️ Characters That Stole My Heart
• 🏝️ Vi: Her resilience, determination, and growth were inspiring. I admired how she fought for her family and dreams.
• 🏝️ Abuela: Though gone, she remained a guiding presence. Her love and wisdom radiated off the page, making her feel like everyone’s Abuela.
• 🏝️ Liam: My heart ached for him, but I couldn’t stand how unsupportive he was toward Vi’s devotion to the restaurant.
• 🏝️ Rafa: My heartthrob! 🥵 A perfect gentleman. I was rooting for him from the first page honestly, I wanted to dance the night away with him myself. 💃💋
🌺 Final Thoughts
The Waves Take You Home was a cozy, heartfelt, and wise read. It made me laugh, cry, and feel everything in between. As a debut, it’s an incredible accomplishment, filled with love, culture, and lessons about believing in yourself and never giving up. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.
“Time comes and goes, it passes and it comes back and then it repeats the same cycle, everything growing and connecting to a center where our ancestors are in front of us and our future stands behind us."
✨Thanks to NetGalley and The Author & Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.✨
Playlist
💃 Callaita- Bad Bunny
💃Corazon Sin Cara- Prince Royce
💃Brooklyn Baby- Lana Del Rey
💃Margaret- Lana Del Rey
💃In My Room- Chance Peña
💃Calm Down- Rema, Selena Gomez
💃Taki Taki- DJ Snake, Cardi B, Selena Gomez
💃Perdoname Urban Verison- Ricky Martin
Te Lo Agradezco, Pero No- Alejandro Sanz,
Shakira
💃Back In The City- Alejandro Sanz
💃I Need To Know- Marc Anthony
💃 A Mi No Me Importa- Alejandro Sanz
💃La Tortura- Shakira & Alejandro Sanz
💃Despacito Remix- Luis Fonsi & Justin Bieber
💃Cruel Summer- Taylor Swift
💃Exile- Taylor Swift
💃Never Be The Same - Camilla Cabello
💃You Gotta Be- Des’ree
💃LA CANCION - J Balvin
💃Hips Don’t Lie- Shakira
💃Sangria Wine- Pharrell, Camilla Cabello
💃Invisible String- Taylor Swift
💃Inevitable- Shakira
💃Vivir Mi Vida- Marc Anthony
💃Young & Beautiful- Lana Del Rey
💃You Sang To Me- Marc Anthony
💃Danza Kuduro- Don Omar
✨ Brief Summary
The Waves Take You Home follows 18-year-old Violeta (Vi), who lives in Colombia with her Mami and Abuela. Their family runs a small restaurant, but Abuela determined that her granddaughter won’t live the same life she did pushes Vi to leave for the U.S. to study art. Vi, ever the obedient granddaughter, packs her bags and heartbreakingly leaves behind the love of her life, Rafa.
Ten years later, Vi has built an art career and found a charming boyfriend. But after Abuela’s passing, she returns to Colombia to grieve. She discovers the family restaurant is in debt and decides to stay for a month to help save it. Being back in her hometown stirs old memories, reunites her with childhood friends, and puts her face-to-face with the one man she never forgot… 👀
🌊 What I Loved
I was thoroughly immersed in this story. Not only did I get swept up in Vi’s journey, but I also learned so much about Colombia, Barranquilla, and its rich culture. Books that teach me while moving me emotionally are always favorites.
The writing was lush and transportive I could see the beach, bury my toes in the sand, hear music floating through the night air, and practically taste the flan, arroz de coco, and sancocho. The Spanish phrases woven into the text felt natural, always followed by smooth translations, which I really appreciated. The touch of magical realism was like stardust sprinkled across the story subtle but unforgettable.
❤️ Characters That Stole My Heart
• 🏝️ Vi: Her resilience, determination, and growth were inspiring. I admired how she fought for her family and dreams.
• 🏝️ Abuela: Though gone, she remained a guiding presence. Her love and wisdom radiated off the page, making her feel like everyone’s Abuela.
• 🏝️ Liam: My heart ached for him, but I couldn’t stand how unsupportive he was toward Vi’s devotion to the restaurant.
• 🏝️ Rafa: My heartthrob! 🥵 A perfect gentleman. I was rooting for him from the first page honestly, I wanted to dance the night away with him myself. 💃💋
🌺 Final Thoughts
The Waves Take You Home was a cozy, heartfelt, and wise read. It made me laugh, cry, and feel everything in between. As a debut, it’s an incredible accomplishment, filled with love, culture, and lessons about believing in yourself and never giving up. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.
“Time comes and goes, it passes and it comes back and then it repeats the same cycle, everything growing and connecting to a center where our ancestors are in front of us and our future stands behind us."
✨Thanks to NetGalley and The Author & Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.✨
Playlist
💃 Callaita- Bad Bunny
💃Corazon Sin Cara- Prince Royce
💃Brooklyn Baby- Lana Del Rey
💃Margaret- Lana Del Rey
💃In My Room- Chance Peña
💃Calm Down- Rema, Selena Gomez
💃Taki Taki- DJ Snake, Cardi B, Selena Gomez
💃Perdoname Urban Verison- Ricky Martin
Te Lo Agradezco, Pero No- Alejandro Sanz,
Shakira
💃Back In The City- Alejandro Sanz
💃I Need To Know- Marc Anthony
💃 A Mi No Me Importa- Alejandro Sanz
💃La Tortura- Shakira & Alejandro Sanz
💃Despacito Remix- Luis Fonsi & Justin Bieber
💃Cruel Summer- Taylor Swift
💃Exile- Taylor Swift
💃Never Be The Same - Camilla Cabello
💃You Gotta Be- Des’ree
💃LA CANCION - J Balvin
💃Hips Don’t Lie- Shakira
💃Sangria Wine- Pharrell, Camilla Cabello
💃Invisible String- Taylor Swift
💃Inevitable- Shakira
💃Vivir Mi Vida- Marc Anthony
💃Young & Beautiful- Lana Del Rey
💃You Sang To Me- Marc Anthony
💃Danza Kuduro- Don Omar
March 1, 2024
I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
So… this book was very frustrating to me. But let’s start from the beginning: 18-year-old Violeta Sanoguera prepares to leave her home in Barranquilla, Colombia, broken-hearted, to go to college in the US, following her grandmother’s wishes.
Ten years later, when her strict but beloved grandmother passes away, Violeta goes back home for the funeral and decides to stay and try to save the family’s restaurant from bankruptcy with the help of her mother and Anton, her friend and grandmother’s protegé. But home brings up a lot of feelings for Vi, in particular for the boy whose proposal she rejected: Rafa. Problem is, both of them have moved on with other partners… or have they?
I liked the main plot of Vi wanting to save the restaurant and in the process finding out more about her grandmother, repairing family bonds, and discovering more about herself. But, frankly, I found that the addition of her grandmother’s *ghost* cheapened the story unnecessarily. So did the love triangle.
I understand that Vi and Rafa are ~star-crossed lovers~, but they were 18, and Vi is shown to be in a healthy relationship with someone who met her as an adult. Yet the moment she steps in Barranquilla, Rafa is all she can think about. I felt like the author didn’t want to paint Vi’s current partner as a bad guy, but then she also had to make him less appealing somehow, but did so in ways I just didn’t buy. For example, in one conversation, Liam is 100% behind Vi’s decision to save the restaurant, he believes she can do it… until somehow *she* voices the idea that he doesn’t think she can do it, and then it’s like “gotcha! I think you’re crazy and you won’t do it”. Or he sees the ghost and believes is a ghost, until Vi is like “ay he doesn’t believe in ghosts!” and then he doesn’t. Suddenly he “doesn’t understand her”… but Rafa does? The guy who doesn’t know her as an adult?
I just… this was an insane plot line done badly for me. It would have worked better if Vi and Rafa had reconnected as friends and then slowly realized that they also clicked as adults, but instead it felt like two people who’d never been able to move on and clung to a high school relationship. And it muddied Vi’s intentions of going back to Colombia.
I also took issue with this: most of the story is set in Colombia, a Spanish-speaking country, and features many characters who are presumably speaking in Spanish to each other, translated to English for the benefit of the book’s audience. Except… the dialogue is actually done in Spanglish, *heavily*. I love it when authors include some of their native language in their books, but this was a lot, it made no logical sense, and it didn’t have consistent rules for when to use Spanish and when to include a translation. Vi was bilingual; every other character she spoke to while in Colombia was not. I underlined so many examples of why this was done so poorly, so here are some:
“Ni sé. I don’t think I’m made para este calor anymore.” - The character is bilingual but talking to a native Spanish-speaker who isn’t bilingual, and they’re in Colombia.
”In Colombia, we took care of our muertos quickly.” - Muertos isn’t really a word that has reason to be in its native language.
”I could still hear Mami: Por qué couldn’t I stay for more than two weeks? Was I alérgica to Barranquilla?” - See examples 1 and 2 above.
”'Claro. Y quién más?' Who else? he said” - It repeats the sentence in English here and in a few other places even when it’s unnecessary, and not in other places where the translation might not be as clear.
I’m a native Spanish-speaker and this lack of logic was off-putting to me. I also thought it could have done with more edits, as parts of it felt repetitive, some *were* actual repeated facts that didn’t need to be, and there were issues with the timelines - at one point, Vi is 18 when Rafa is 21, but then it says they’re the same age; Vi’s mother remarried ten years ago, but Vi was 13 when she was actually 18.
Overall, I just couldn’t connect with the story or the characters because those things bugged me too much, and I considered DNF’ing several times - even though the main premise was interesting.
So… this book was very frustrating to me. But let’s start from the beginning: 18-year-old Violeta Sanoguera prepares to leave her home in Barranquilla, Colombia, broken-hearted, to go to college in the US, following her grandmother’s wishes.
Ten years later, when her strict but beloved grandmother passes away, Violeta goes back home for the funeral and decides to stay and try to save the family’s restaurant from bankruptcy with the help of her mother and Anton, her friend and grandmother’s protegé. But home brings up a lot of feelings for Vi, in particular for the boy whose proposal she rejected: Rafa. Problem is, both of them have moved on with other partners… or have they?
I liked the main plot of Vi wanting to save the restaurant and in the process finding out more about her grandmother, repairing family bonds, and discovering more about herself. But, frankly, I found that the addition of her grandmother’s *ghost* cheapened the story unnecessarily. So did the love triangle.
I understand that Vi and Rafa are ~star-crossed lovers~, but they were 18, and Vi is shown to be in a healthy relationship with someone who met her as an adult. Yet the moment she steps in Barranquilla, Rafa is all she can think about. I felt like the author didn’t want to paint Vi’s current partner as a bad guy, but then she also had to make him less appealing somehow, but did so in ways I just didn’t buy. For example, in one conversation, Liam is 100% behind Vi’s decision to save the restaurant, he believes she can do it… until somehow *she* voices the idea that he doesn’t think she can do it, and then it’s like “gotcha! I think you’re crazy and you won’t do it”. Or he sees the ghost and believes is a ghost, until Vi is like “ay he doesn’t believe in ghosts!” and then he doesn’t. Suddenly he “doesn’t understand her”… but Rafa does? The guy who doesn’t know her as an adult?
I just… this was an insane plot line done badly for me. It would have worked better if Vi and Rafa had reconnected as friends and then slowly realized that they also clicked as adults, but instead it felt like two people who’d never been able to move on and clung to a high school relationship. And it muddied Vi’s intentions of going back to Colombia.
I also took issue with this: most of the story is set in Colombia, a Spanish-speaking country, and features many characters who are presumably speaking in Spanish to each other, translated to English for the benefit of the book’s audience. Except… the dialogue is actually done in Spanglish, *heavily*. I love it when authors include some of their native language in their books, but this was a lot, it made no logical sense, and it didn’t have consistent rules for when to use Spanish and when to include a translation. Vi was bilingual; every other character she spoke to while in Colombia was not. I underlined so many examples of why this was done so poorly, so here are some:
“Ni sé. I don’t think I’m made para este calor anymore.” - The character is bilingual but talking to a native Spanish-speaker who isn’t bilingual, and they’re in Colombia.
”In Colombia, we took care of our muertos quickly.” - Muertos isn’t really a word that has reason to be in its native language.
”I could still hear Mami: Por qué couldn’t I stay for more than two weeks? Was I alérgica to Barranquilla?” - See examples 1 and 2 above.
”'Claro. Y quién más?' Who else? he said” - It repeats the sentence in English here and in a few other places even when it’s unnecessary, and not in other places where the translation might not be as clear.
I’m a native Spanish-speaker and this lack of logic was off-putting to me. I also thought it could have done with more edits, as parts of it felt repetitive, some *were* actual repeated facts that didn’t need to be, and there were issues with the timelines - at one point, Vi is 18 when Rafa is 21, but then it says they’re the same age; Vi’s mother remarried ten years ago, but Vi was 13 when she was actually 18.
Overall, I just couldn’t connect with the story or the characters because those things bugged me too much, and I considered DNF’ing several times - even though the main premise was interesting.
March 18, 2024
This cover drew me to the book immediately. It is so stunning and certainly matches the descriptions of Columbia.
I enjoyed this story so much. The strong female characters and the journey of personal growth Violeta "Vi" takes. I was rooting for her throughout the entire story.
The magical realism was a really nice touch. I liked that addition to the story. It gave me all the feels, I miss my grandmother so much. She was one of my favourite people.
The story lost a star for me when it came to aspects of the writing. I didn't understand why in some parts of the story the use of Spanish was translated but in other parts it wasn't at all? I found that to be very confusing.
Overall this a terrific debut that would make an excellent bookclub read. There is so much to unpack and discuss.
My thanks to Over The River PR for this gifted copy.
I enjoyed this story so much. The strong female characters and the journey of personal growth Violeta "Vi" takes. I was rooting for her throughout the entire story.
The magical realism was a really nice touch. I liked that addition to the story. It gave me all the feels, I miss my grandmother so much. She was one of my favourite people.
The story lost a star for me when it came to aspects of the writing. I didn't understand why in some parts of the story the use of Spanish was translated but in other parts it wasn't at all? I found that to be very confusing.
Overall this a terrific debut that would make an excellent bookclub read. There is so much to unpack and discuss.
My thanks to Over The River PR for this gifted copy.
November 28, 2023
I enjoyed this book so much that I read it in one sitting. Initially, I was drawn in by the beautiful cover but once I read the synopsis, I knew it was my kind of book.
The author interwove family, loss, magical realism, character growth, and a failing restaurant in a way that made it all feel important and beautiful. The storyline was captivating and kept me guessing throughout. I'm not sure if it was the theme of coming home or finding yourself or all the talk of food, but this book felt cozy and comforting to me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
The author interwove family, loss, magical realism, character growth, and a failing restaurant in a way that made it all feel important and beautiful. The storyline was captivating and kept me guessing throughout. I'm not sure if it was the theme of coming home or finding yourself or all the talk of food, but this book felt cozy and comforting to me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
August 15, 2024
Such an artistic book!
July 22, 2024
This is a beautiful and dramatic story of Violeta and her grandmother. Their bond transcends this world and Violeta continues to be guided by her grandmother even after her death.
Violeta is in New York City, when she receives word of her death. She returns to Columbia and works to continue the restaurant that was so much a part of her grandmother's life. This is a really nice story and some of the hard decisions Violeta has to make are so relatable.
Violeta is in New York City, when she receives word of her death. She returns to Columbia and works to continue the restaurant that was so much a part of her grandmother's life. This is a really nice story and some of the hard decisions Violeta has to make are so relatable.
March 10, 2024
The Waves Take You Home, Maria Alejandra Barrios Velez
I have to say that the cover was gorgeous! The cover and its premise made me first pick up The Waves Take You Home. I really wanted to love this book about a young woman who leaves her country, Columbia, in order to fulfill her grandmother’s wishes for her to have a brighter future. Great set up for an exploration of the things one gains and loses when one chooses to immigrate to another country. However, I am sad to say, I had to DNF this one. I made it to the 63% mark, but I just couldn’t continue. The main character’s actions and motivations were not consistent and hard to believe. I love a book that uses magical realism as a literary device and not for the convenience of the storyline, I was also a bit confused on the logic behind when she chose to use Spanish and when she did and didn’t “translate” its meaning.
I love supporting debut and Latine authors and I am hopeful that Barrios Velez’s next novel will bring me back.
I have to say that the cover was gorgeous! The cover and its premise made me first pick up The Waves Take You Home. I really wanted to love this book about a young woman who leaves her country, Columbia, in order to fulfill her grandmother’s wishes for her to have a brighter future. Great set up for an exploration of the things one gains and loses when one chooses to immigrate to another country. However, I am sad to say, I had to DNF this one. I made it to the 63% mark, but I just couldn’t continue. The main character’s actions and motivations were not consistent and hard to believe. I love a book that uses magical realism as a literary device and not for the convenience of the storyline, I was also a bit confused on the logic behind when she chose to use Spanish and when she did and didn’t “translate” its meaning.
I love supporting debut and Latine authors and I am hopeful that Barrios Velez’s next novel will bring me back.
September 12, 2023
I loved this book, which was filled with so much heart and wisdom, the characters stayed with me long after I finished reading the last page. This was a tender, evocative meditation on inheritance, and the three women at the center of The Waves Take Me Home felt as real to me as family. Barrios pulled off so many things well here: a ghost story filled with magical realism, a love triangle that constantly kept me guessing, and a conjuring of the sights and smells and tastes of Barranquilla that was so cinematic it felt like I was walking its streets. I couldn’t put this one down!
April 7, 2024
Read this book if you're looking for one-dimensional and inconsistent characters, slut-shaming, endless unnecessary metaphors, and subpar writing. This book reads like a first draft that was never edited.
The protagonist is whiny and judgmental, and her actions are inconsistent. It feels like it was written by a 13 year old. The writer repeats the same dialogue over and over. If I could give it 0 stars, I would.
The protagonist is whiny and judgmental, and her actions are inconsistent. It feels like it was written by a 13 year old. The writer repeats the same dialogue over and over. If I could give it 0 stars, I would.
April 8, 2024
it was just so flat ?? and the use of english / spanish was so random it was giving bad millennial slam poetry
July 12, 2025
Protagonist Violeta "Vi" Sanoguera is a 28-year-old from Barranquilla, Colombia who left her homeland at age eighteen to obtain an art degree in New York City. She works as an illustrator from her apartment in Brooklyn, where she lives with Liam, her boyfriend of four years. Her beloved grandmother Emilia paid for Vi’s education. When Emilia dies Vi returns to Barranquilla, where she discovers she has inherited a share of the failing family restaurant. The restaurant is located Barrio Prado, an area of Barranquilla known for its art deco architecture and beautiful foliage. While there, she encounters her first love, Rafa. Vi often feels the ghostly presence of her grandmother.
The story touches on themes of migration, belonging, family traditions, and self-discovery. I enjoyed the setting and the descriptions of Barranquilla, especially its culture, food, and colorful ambiance. I am not keen on romances, so the love triangle contained too much melodrama for my taste. The author was born in Barranquilla, and this is her debut. There are many untranslated Spanish phrases, which I enjoyed but others might not. This book will appeal to readers interested in women's fiction featuring a strong female protagonist and a romantic subplot. It falls into my category of “liked it but didn’t love it.”
The story touches on themes of migration, belonging, family traditions, and self-discovery. I enjoyed the setting and the descriptions of Barranquilla, especially its culture, food, and colorful ambiance. I am not keen on romances, so the love triangle contained too much melodrama for my taste. The author was born in Barranquilla, and this is her debut. There are many untranslated Spanish phrases, which I enjoyed but others might not. This book will appeal to readers interested in women's fiction featuring a strong female protagonist and a romantic subplot. It falls into my category of “liked it but didn’t love it.”
April 27, 2024
I wanna go back home to Colombia pt. 2 💔
This book is for the indecisive girlies, the people pleaser girlies, y pa' las chillonas. (*´∀｀)ﾉ
As a Colombian woman who was raised by strong Colombian women I love so much but who are more often than not as sweet as bitter lemons, I just got this book, yk?? Like I get it it on a super personal level. My only issue was the romance fell a bit flat for me, BUT ☝️ credit where credit is due, the love triangle was not annoying and Vi and Rafa were cuties fr. Other than that, phenomenal book to read at the beach, that experience was peak 👌
4 stars!! 🌺🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book is for the indecisive girlies, the people pleaser girlies, y pa' las chillonas. (*´∀｀)ﾉ
As a Colombian woman who was raised by strong Colombian women I love so much but who are more often than not as sweet as bitter lemons, I just got this book, yk?? Like I get it it on a super personal level. My only issue was the romance fell a bit flat for me, BUT ☝️ credit where credit is due, the love triangle was not annoying and Vi and Rafa were cuties fr. Other than that, phenomenal book to read at the beach, that experience was peak 👌
4 stars!! 🌺🌟🌟🌟🌟
December 8, 2025
I’m not much of a romance person…..but this one grabbed my heart!!!
June 14, 2023
This sounds like such a gorgeous story - so excited to read!
March 31, 2024
Thank you Maria Alejandra Barrios Vélez for my #gifted copy of The Waves Take You home!
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐣𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬 𝐕é𝐥𝐞𝐳
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
★★★★★
The Waves Take You Home is a beautiful story about family, loss, grief, and growth. I loved the magical realism aspect and just fell in love with Violeta and her journey. If you love heartwarming books infused with character growth, you will not want to miss this book!
Violeta, born and raised in Colombia, left her home, her family and their restaurant, and her boyfriend to chase her dreams of education and art in NYC. After establishing herself in the US, she is called to return home after her grandmother passes away. As she begins her journey home, she starts to receive messages and signs from her grandmother. Upon returning to Colombia, she finds that not only is the family restaurant failing, but that she is heir to the restaurant and the family legacy. After trying to hard to leave her life in Colombia behind, Violeta must confront her past in this beautiful debut novel.
I loved every character in this book and really enjoyed the focus on generational trauma. This book just flowed so well I really did not want it to end. I truly admire the author and her ability to vividly paint a picture of each character and scenery so well. If you think the cover of The Waves Take You Home is beautiful, wait until you read about Violeta and her story!
🌺Magical Realism
🌺Love Triangle
🌺Loss and Grief
🌺Personal Growth
🌺Heartwarming
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐣𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬 𝐕é𝐥𝐞𝐳
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
★★★★★
The Waves Take You Home is a beautiful story about family, loss, grief, and growth. I loved the magical realism aspect and just fell in love with Violeta and her journey. If you love heartwarming books infused with character growth, you will not want to miss this book!
Violeta, born and raised in Colombia, left her home, her family and their restaurant, and her boyfriend to chase her dreams of education and art in NYC. After establishing herself in the US, she is called to return home after her grandmother passes away. As she begins her journey home, she starts to receive messages and signs from her grandmother. Upon returning to Colombia, she finds that not only is the family restaurant failing, but that she is heir to the restaurant and the family legacy. After trying to hard to leave her life in Colombia behind, Violeta must confront her past in this beautiful debut novel.
I loved every character in this book and really enjoyed the focus on generational trauma. This book just flowed so well I really did not want it to end. I truly admire the author and her ability to vividly paint a picture of each character and scenery so well. If you think the cover of The Waves Take You Home is beautiful, wait until you read about Violeta and her story!
🌺Magical Realism
🌺Love Triangle
🌺Loss and Grief
🌺Personal Growth
🌺Heartwarming
December 4, 2023
I got a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
So, I'm from India. And we have similar familial structures to that in Colombia. And I lost my grandfather a year ago and I'm still not over it. Needless to say, this book had me in tears for 2 nights.
Sometimes it feels like our previous generation, our grandparents try so hard to stop us from making the same mistakes that they did. But in this process, they alienate us because they never tell us their stories. I never knew what mistakes my grandfather made because it was probably not something he was comfortable discussing with us. But he wanted us to have a comfortable life, to not worry about money - because he didn't have the sort of comfort that money could give.
There's so much to feel in this book. I think this book was so much about Abuela, that we somehow didn't get much of Vi at all. It didn't feel like it was a huge problem, but that's my only gripe about the book, that it didn't spend time talking about the main character as much as it should have.
But that being said, the shining point for me was this thing, this draw that people have to their homes. We somehow overhype Western countries to the point of oblivion, so much so that everything seems to pale in comparison. But life there isn't easy. Not saying life back home is easy, just that we're blinded with the benefits of living a life abroad.
There were a lot of beautiful moments in the book that particularly touched me because in some ways I too am like Vi, and some of the lessons here are things that will stay with me.
All in all this was a massively enjoyable book. I'm so glad I read it.
So, I'm from India. And we have similar familial structures to that in Colombia. And I lost my grandfather a year ago and I'm still not over it. Needless to say, this book had me in tears for 2 nights.
Sometimes it feels like our previous generation, our grandparents try so hard to stop us from making the same mistakes that they did. But in this process, they alienate us because they never tell us their stories. I never knew what mistakes my grandfather made because it was probably not something he was comfortable discussing with us. But he wanted us to have a comfortable life, to not worry about money - because he didn't have the sort of comfort that money could give.
There's so much to feel in this book. I think this book was so much about Abuela, that we somehow didn't get much of Vi at all. It didn't feel like it was a huge problem, but that's my only gripe about the book, that it didn't spend time talking about the main character as much as it should have.
But that being said, the shining point for me was this thing, this draw that people have to their homes. We somehow overhype Western countries to the point of oblivion, so much so that everything seems to pale in comparison. But life there isn't easy. Not saying life back home is easy, just that we're blinded with the benefits of living a life abroad.
There were a lot of beautiful moments in the book that particularly touched me because in some ways I too am like Vi, and some of the lessons here are things that will stay with me.
All in all this was a massively enjoyable book. I'm so glad I read it.
March 8, 2024
I really wanted to love this book because the story was so promising but there were too many issues for me to be able to settle into a reading rhythm.
This book needed several more rounds of edits. It is so repetitive. We are given information that we already know several times over. Sometimes sentences are repeated almost verbatim one after the other. Vi and Rafa’s age difference changes frequently
Another issue I had was that both Liam and Paula were incredibly wishy washy in their support. One minute Liam believes in Vi wholeheartedly and the next minute he’s acting like she’s incapable of tying her own shoes. Same with Paula. One minute she could not care less about the restaurant and then the next minute she’s losing her mind accusing Vi of not caring enough. I just needed them both to choose a lane.
I also really needed Vi to grow a backbone. It’s almost as if she’s being shepherded through life by her loved ones and she’s an obedient sheep that goes where ever she’s told and then when she’s blamed for following their commands she just takes that too. Her abuela and mom insist she must go to America so she doesn’t repeat family history but then her mom shits on her nonstop for never being in Barranquilla and she just takes it and feels guilty for it. She never says a word. She never even thinks about how absurd it all is. She even goes as far as to say multiple times that she ran away from her life in Barranquilla which is wild because she was clearly forced to leave. Her abuela never wanted her in the kitchen even though she desperately wanted to learn but when she moves away she doesn’t even attempt to teach herself. She’s obedient from a thousand miles away. And at no point does she question why she stays living in NYC. Every time she talks about the city she acts like she’s in a marriage she hates.
Even though saving the restaurant was one of the main plot points of the book, Vi does almost nothing to make that happen. They change the menu a tiny bit and Paula posts on social media. That’s it. There are no flyers around town, no go fund me with social media support, no call to action for the town where supposedly everyone cares about everyone. Vi could have painted murals for cash or done an art auction or literally anything. She could’ve played the freaking lottery even.
I know it sounds like I’m shitting on this book but I’m just critiquing it because I know it could be a really wonderful story. It just really fell short for me and I’m so disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC
This book needed several more rounds of edits. It is so repetitive. We are given information that we already know several times over. Sometimes sentences are repeated almost verbatim one after the other. Vi and Rafa’s age difference changes frequently
Another issue I had was that both Liam and Paula were incredibly wishy washy in their support. One minute Liam believes in Vi wholeheartedly and the next minute he’s acting like she’s incapable of tying her own shoes. Same with Paula. One minute she could not care less about the restaurant and then the next minute she’s losing her mind accusing Vi of not caring enough. I just needed them both to choose a lane.
I also really needed Vi to grow a backbone. It’s almost as if she’s being shepherded through life by her loved ones and she’s an obedient sheep that goes where ever she’s told and then when she’s blamed for following their commands she just takes that too. Her abuela and mom insist she must go to America so she doesn’t repeat family history but then her mom shits on her nonstop for never being in Barranquilla and she just takes it and feels guilty for it. She never says a word. She never even thinks about how absurd it all is. She even goes as far as to say multiple times that she ran away from her life in Barranquilla which is wild because she was clearly forced to leave. Her abuela never wanted her in the kitchen even though she desperately wanted to learn but when she moves away she doesn’t even attempt to teach herself. She’s obedient from a thousand miles away. And at no point does she question why she stays living in NYC. Every time she talks about the city she acts like she’s in a marriage she hates.
Even though saving the restaurant was one of the main plot points of the book, Vi does almost nothing to make that happen. They change the menu a tiny bit and Paula posts on social media. That’s it. There are no flyers around town, no go fund me with social media support, no call to action for the town where supposedly everyone cares about everyone. Vi could have painted murals for cash or done an art auction or literally anything. She could’ve played the freaking lottery even.
I know it sounds like I’m shitting on this book but I’m just critiquing it because I know it could be a really wonderful story. It just really fell short for me and I’m so disappointed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2023
The Waves Take you Home by @mariaalebvelezwrites cannot come out soon enough! I was able to read the ARC vía @netgalley, and quite honestly, if life didn't get in the way, I would have finished it in one day!
I can't even bring myself to explain just how much I loved this one! There was not one character that I didn't love. They're ingrained in my mind visually, and no one can change them! Also, all I want to do is go eat at El Caminito! You will, too, as the cultural aspects were painted so as to allow the reader to enjoy the dishes that were prepared!
Violeta is the epitome of many immigrants that, with the sacrifice of her abuela and mother, is able to come to the US to study. Ten years later, she must go back to Colombia to say goodbye to her abuelita, who has now passed. Now, let me just say that abuelitas for me are a bit of a trigger. I miss mine so much every single day and to read about their connection...well, it brought about the feels! Enters the magical realism....and so to not spoil the novel, I'll just say I wish! I SO WISH!
Violeta is not only facing returning home where she left her family and first love behind, but she's leaving behind her boyfriend Liam with whom she has built a life in the US. What will she do? Will things change? Well, these are things that come into play once she learns that she has inherited part of her grandmother's restaurant, sees her first love and has to work together with her mom who she was really not that close to. This novel takes us on a journal of magic, resilience, love, and growth, all the while facing generational trauma and learning to forgive and trust in yourself. If this isn't on your radar, let this be the sign that it should be! For a debut novel, this novel was exquisite!
I can't even bring myself to explain just how much I loved this one! There was not one character that I didn't love. They're ingrained in my mind visually, and no one can change them! Also, all I want to do is go eat at El Caminito! You will, too, as the cultural aspects were painted so as to allow the reader to enjoy the dishes that were prepared!
Violeta is the epitome of many immigrants that, with the sacrifice of her abuela and mother, is able to come to the US to study. Ten years later, she must go back to Colombia to say goodbye to her abuelita, who has now passed. Now, let me just say that abuelitas for me are a bit of a trigger. I miss mine so much every single day and to read about their connection...well, it brought about the feels! Enters the magical realism....and so to not spoil the novel, I'll just say I wish! I SO WISH!
Violeta is not only facing returning home where she left her family and first love behind, but she's leaving behind her boyfriend Liam with whom she has built a life in the US. What will she do? Will things change? Well, these are things that come into play once she learns that she has inherited part of her grandmother's restaurant, sees her first love and has to work together with her mom who she was really not that close to. This novel takes us on a journal of magic, resilience, love, and growth, all the while facing generational trauma and learning to forgive and trust in yourself. If this isn't on your radar, let this be the sign that it should be! For a debut novel, this novel was exquisite!
December 16, 2024
Although I think this had potential, this book suffered majorly from flat writing and a lack of editing, both of which led to a frustrating reading experience. It felt very much like a first draft, rife with unnecessary repetition, inconsistent characters, confusing inclusion of Spanish/Spanglish, and timeline errors (e.g. inconsistent age differences throughout the story). This needed several additional rounds of editing and I’m honestly surprised it got the okay to be published as-is; there were basic errors and issues that should have been caught by the editing team before this went to print.
All of the characters felt one dimensional and were incredibly inconsistent in their behavior; it felt as though the author just could not decide who they really were or what to do with them. Literally, from one sentence to another, a character’s behavior or perspective would flip a full 180°, going from loving and supportive to very much the opposite in a matter of sentences—it was bizarre and frustrating, and got in the way of being able to connect with any of the characters or care about their trajectory. My issues with the plot and romance subplot aside, there was just so much in the actual execution of the story that I couldn’t get past enough to enjoy the reading experience. Ultimately, this fell flat for me and I would have DNF’d it if I hadn’t read it for a book club with friends. 2 stars for the descriptions of Colombian cuisine and making me want to visit Colombia, though!
All of the characters felt one dimensional and were incredibly inconsistent in their behavior; it felt as though the author just could not decide who they really were or what to do with them. Literally, from one sentence to another, a character’s behavior or perspective would flip a full 180°, going from loving and supportive to very much the opposite in a matter of sentences—it was bizarre and frustrating, and got in the way of being able to connect with any of the characters or care about their trajectory. My issues with the plot and romance subplot aside, there was just so much in the actual execution of the story that I couldn’t get past enough to enjoy the reading experience. Ultimately, this fell flat for me and I would have DNF’d it if I hadn’t read it for a book club with friends. 2 stars for the descriptions of Colombian cuisine and making me want to visit Colombia, though!
December 27, 2023
I truly saved the best for last because this ARC just became one of my top reads of 2023. There was a certain point where I could not stop crying. This book was filled with so many love - through family, second chance romance, and community. It taught you the power of love over fear, learning to let go, and how valuable your intuition is in guiding you to the place where you belong. Such a beautiful and eloquent debut novel by a POC author. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. I cannot wait for the official release 💗
May 15, 2024
Charming, stirring, and liberating - can't wait to read more from Maria Barrios Velez!
June 28, 2025
⭐️4.5
A deepthoughts read. Superb !!
Tada 🪄
A deepthoughts read. Superb !!
Tada 🪄
March 20, 2024
A beautiful story but just didn’t captivate me.
August 6, 2024
Has potential but needs work.
May 28, 2024
3.75⭐️
Magical realism. Family. Home. Food. Comfort. Grief. Complicated relationship between a mother & daughter. And a love triangle that although not the focal point, I don’t know how I feel about it. I’m just not a fan. But I digress, it was not the focal point.
I thoroughly enjoyed how Vi has this connection with her grandma who although is no longer here, visits Vi. I enjoyed the back and forth in time that runs parallel to Violeta’s. I just felt like I lacked something. Not sure what. Not at all the fault of the authors. Maybe just my headspace. Definitely recommend to anyone who loves magical realism infused with a rich culture and story. Definitely an excited to see this authors future work!
Magical realism. Family. Home. Food. Comfort. Grief. Complicated relationship between a mother & daughter. And a love triangle that although not the focal point, I don’t know how I feel about it. I’m just not a fan. But I digress, it was not the focal point.
I thoroughly enjoyed how Vi has this connection with her grandma who although is no longer here, visits Vi. I enjoyed the back and forth in time that runs parallel to Violeta’s. I just felt like I lacked something. Not sure what. Not at all the fault of the authors. Maybe just my headspace. Definitely recommend to anyone who loves magical realism infused with a rich culture and story. Definitely an excited to see this authors future work!
February 24, 2024
My first ARC: The Waves Take You Home courtesy of netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was easy because I LOVED it.
This book was 5 stars for me because it was well paced, beautifully written, and kept me engaged wondering what was going to happen.
BUT it’s also 5 HEARTS for how it crashed into my Latina, first gen, oldest daughter soul with mouthwatering food descriptions (I can smell the cilantro), and then captivated me with the abuela-mami-hija dynamics. Excellent debut novel. I hope more books are on the way.
🐚Here’s the recipe for an amazing book IMHO:
⚡Good Pace
⚡Good internal character development
⚡International Love triangle
⚡Immigrant longing/homesickness
⚡Familial Duty Pressures
⚡Second Chance Love
⚡Magic Realism
⚡Mother-daughter-ancestor-ghost dynamics
This book was 5 stars for me because it was well paced, beautifully written, and kept me engaged wondering what was going to happen.
BUT it’s also 5 HEARTS for how it crashed into my Latina, first gen, oldest daughter soul with mouthwatering food descriptions (I can smell the cilantro), and then captivated me with the abuela-mami-hija dynamics. Excellent debut novel. I hope more books are on the way.
🐚Here’s the recipe for an amazing book IMHO:
⚡Good Pace
⚡Good internal character development
⚡International Love triangle
⚡Immigrant longing/homesickness
⚡Familial Duty Pressures
⚡Second Chance Love
⚡Magic Realism
⚡Mother-daughter-ancestor-ghost dynamics
November 19, 2023
This was such a beautiful story about family and never giving up.
From the first page you were sucked into the story, that the author so wonderfully wrote.
Vi, our main character, hasn't had an easy life. After moving to NYC she worked so hard to be able to pay the bills. She even worked for a person who didn't treated her the right way, but she needed the money. Throughout the story we see her evolve from the person who was struggling, who let herself be put aside by others and who didn't come up for herself to a person who still was struggling but wasn't alone, who had her family by her side. She became someone to admire, someone who came up for herself and who never gave up even if it didn't look great.
This book held such a powerful message: believe in yourself and never give up, even if you don't see how it will work out.
Last but not least I want to thank the author for providing me with an earc.
From the first page you were sucked into the story, that the author so wonderfully wrote.
Vi, our main character, hasn't had an easy life. After moving to NYC she worked so hard to be able to pay the bills. She even worked for a person who didn't treated her the right way, but she needed the money. Throughout the story we see her evolve from the person who was struggling, who let herself be put aside by others and who didn't come up for herself to a person who still was struggling but wasn't alone, who had her family by her side. She became someone to admire, someone who came up for herself and who never gave up even if it didn't look great.
This book held such a powerful message: believe in yourself and never give up, even if you don't see how it will work out.
Last but not least I want to thank the author for providing me with an earc.
April 18, 2024
Beautiful. Perfect blend of YA and adult fiction
March 12, 2025
The Colombian culture, rooted in food and community, felt like a warm hug. I loved the food descriptions, I loved Abuela's diary entries and her spiritual visits. There were so many little nuggets in this book about life, grief, finding yourself, about love and about the importance of home.
October 12, 2023
The Waves Take You Home transports you to La Costa Atlantico de Colombia. With lush descriptions of las palmeras del mar caribe and the perfect peppering of Costeno talk. I found myself remembering my childhood summers in Barranquilla and missing the warmth of la Costa and the taste of of arroz de coco. Barrios Velez makes the coastal city as much a character as the complex ensemble that inhabit the rich landscape, such as the strong spirited protagonist, the stubborn abuela, the sweet and dutiful boyfriend, and of course the loyal and dreamy long lost love. While at first glance, one can think this a story about choosing romantic love set in both New York and Barranquilla. It's more, it's about choosing to love oneself. The Waves Take You Home is about believing in yourself and knowing everything is possible like a familial ghost and second chances.
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