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First Gen: A Memoir
*A NATIONAL BESTSELLER*
Winner of the Martin Cruz Smith Award (CALIBA)
2024 Council for Opportunity in Education National Book Club Selection
Longlisted for the Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Award for First Year Experience
An unflinching memoir and "invaluable resource" (Kirkus) about navigating social mobility as a first gen Latina—offering both a riveting personal story and an examination of the unacknowledged emotional tolls of being a trailblazer.
Alejandra Campoverdi has been a child on welfare, a White House aide to President Obama, a Harvard graduate, a gang member’s girlfriend, and a candidate for U.S. Congress. She’s ridden on Air Force One and in G-rides. She’s been featured in Maxim magazine and had a double mastectomy. Living a life of contradictory extremes often comes with the territory when you’re a “First and Only.” It also comes at a price.
With candor and heart, Alejandra retraces her trajectory as a Mexican American woman raised by an immigrant single mother in Los Angeles. Foregoing the tidy bullet points of her resume and instead shining a light on the spaces between them, what emerges is a powerful testimony that shatters the one-dimensional glossy narrative we are often sold of what it takes to achieve the American Dream. In this timely and revealing reflection, Alejandra draws from her own experiences to name and frame the challenges First and Onlys often face, illuminating a road to truth, healing, and change in the process.
Part memoir, part manifesto, FIRST GEN is a story of generational inheritance, aspiration, and the true meaning of belonging—a gripping journey to “reclaim the parts of ourselves we sacrificed in order to survive.”
Winner of the Martin Cruz Smith Award (CALIBA)
2024 Council for Opportunity in Education National Book Club Selection
Longlisted for the Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Award for First Year Experience
An unflinching memoir and "invaluable resource" (Kirkus) about navigating social mobility as a first gen Latina—offering both a riveting personal story and an examination of the unacknowledged emotional tolls of being a trailblazer.
Alejandra Campoverdi has been a child on welfare, a White House aide to President Obama, a Harvard graduate, a gang member’s girlfriend, and a candidate for U.S. Congress. She’s ridden on Air Force One and in G-rides. She’s been featured in Maxim magazine and had a double mastectomy. Living a life of contradictory extremes often comes with the territory when you’re a “First and Only.” It also comes at a price.
With candor and heart, Alejandra retraces her trajectory as a Mexican American woman raised by an immigrant single mother in Los Angeles. Foregoing the tidy bullet points of her resume and instead shining a light on the spaces between them, what emerges is a powerful testimony that shatters the one-dimensional glossy narrative we are often sold of what it takes to achieve the American Dream. In this timely and revealing reflection, Alejandra draws from her own experiences to name and frame the challenges First and Onlys often face, illuminating a road to truth, healing, and change in the process.
Part memoir, part manifesto, FIRST GEN is a story of generational inheritance, aspiration, and the true meaning of belonging—a gripping journey to “reclaim the parts of ourselves we sacrificed in order to survive.”
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2023
179 people are currently reading
11363 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
August 6, 2023
Woah! As a First and Only, I had no idea that SO many of my experiences were almost universal amongst others! I felt so seen while also saddened that many others had similar lived experiences to mine. Thank you to this incredible author for doing so much of her own healing work to pave a path for others when we’re ready to do our own.
January 27, 2024
In First Gen, Alejandra Campoverdi shares her story of being a “First and Only”. She was raised by her single immigrant mom in LA. She dated a gang member in high school. She attended USC then got her masters degree from Harvard. She worked on the Obama campaign then, as part of his administration at the White House. She also ran for Congress.
I felt stressed for Alejandra when she talked about having less than $100 and needing to get to Chicago to work on the Obama campaign. Or when her wallet got stolen and she had to borrow $20 from a coworker just to get home that day.
My experience has been much different than Alejandra’s — I grew up in nice neighborhoods and was never worried about my next meal. I definitely felt for her when it came time to look for jobs after graduating and having no connections in your desired fields. It can be a real grind, stressful and taxing, and it’s one I’m familiar with. I could relate to the anxiety she experienced too, in general and related to imposter syndrome.
Alejandra’s persistence in everything she has pursued is admirable and so is the truth she brings in sharing her story. Her resume is impressive but it doesn’t show the hurdles she’s had to clear over and over. I listened to First Gen on audio, read by Alejandra herself, and I’m really glad I did.
I felt stressed for Alejandra when she talked about having less than $100 and needing to get to Chicago to work on the Obama campaign. Or when her wallet got stolen and she had to borrow $20 from a coworker just to get home that day.
My experience has been much different than Alejandra’s — I grew up in nice neighborhoods and was never worried about my next meal. I definitely felt for her when it came time to look for jobs after graduating and having no connections in your desired fields. It can be a real grind, stressful and taxing, and it’s one I’m familiar with. I could relate to the anxiety she experienced too, in general and related to imposter syndrome.
Alejandra’s persistence in everything she has pursued is admirable and so is the truth she brings in sharing her story. Her resume is impressive but it doesn’t show the hurdles she’s had to clear over and over. I listened to First Gen on audio, read by Alejandra herself, and I’m really glad I did.
January 30, 2024
Campoverdi’s memoir details her experiences and that of her family, particularly the women. From growing up poor in a single-parent household with her grandmother, three aunts, and mother, the author writes about her path from Los Angeles to Harvard to the White House.
She speaks about her anxiety and her feelings of not belonging, her struggles with debilitating panic attacks, and feeling like an imposter. She frames all this in what she calls being “The First and Only.”
Her story is an interesting one, but I didn’t really connect with her experiences, and felt she was not fully identifying the causes of her feelings of inadequacy.
Were it not a book-club selection, I probably would not have picked it up.
She speaks about her anxiety and her feelings of not belonging, her struggles with debilitating panic attacks, and feeling like an imposter. She frames all this in what she calls being “The First and Only.”
Her story is an interesting one, but I didn’t really connect with her experiences, and felt she was not fully identifying the causes of her feelings of inadequacy.
Were it not a book-club selection, I probably would not have picked it up.
October 15, 2023
alejandra campoverdi has certainly had a very interesting life! despite this, i feel like a few of things really hindered me from connecting with this memoir. the first is the writing style--i did not find it particularly compelling, and there were a few similes that did not feel appropriate and took me out of the writing. the writing seems sparse at points which prevented me from feeling the full emotional weight of it. the second thing that hindered me was the political tepidness of it all. campoverdi mentions going to BOTH "israel" & palestine during her time in grad school but offers absolutely no commentary about it beyond it being an illuminating experience for her--serving as an example of the kind of political "worldliness" that came with going to an elite institution like harvard. the last thing that took me out of this was my own familiarity with a lot of the concepts that campoverdi discusses (like imposter syndrome & epigenetics). the inclusion of these theories distracted me from the specificity of campoverdi's experiences and came across to me like a bunch of instagram infographics. i think that this might be appropriate for other audiences & might be more illuminating to others but it wasn't for me.
what DID work for me in this memoir was the love that radiates from it. campoverdi avoids that pitfall that so many other memoirists fall into: of regarding their upbringing with contempt. it's obvious that being a "first and only" to campoverdi is not to disregard nor break with the upbringing that she received from her mom and grandmother. in fact, campoverdi views her trajectory as an extension (for better and for worse) of all that came before her. i found this to be a very nuanced viewpoint, and one that i appreciated.
what DID work for me in this memoir was the love that radiates from it. campoverdi avoids that pitfall that so many other memoirists fall into: of regarding their upbringing with contempt. it's obvious that being a "first and only" to campoverdi is not to disregard nor break with the upbringing that she received from her mom and grandmother. in fact, campoverdi views her trajectory as an extension (for better and for worse) of all that came before her. i found this to be a very nuanced viewpoint, and one that i appreciated.
October 2, 2024
3.5-4? I think I would’ve maybe enjoyed the book more if I would’ve read the physical copy and looked at the pictures that’s shown in the book.
I listened to the audio and for some reason I just did not enjoy the narration (even tho it was the author narrating it). Something about her expressions while reading, it kept making me roll my eyes (but this is a me thing- nothing against the author!!!)
Now, time for the book review. As a first gen, I really wanted to relate to her story, but I didn’t.
Campoverdi is an extremely successful first gen Latina who, after all the hardships growing up in a low income household in California, she persevered and obtained a Harvard degree. Alejandra was the first White House Director of Hispanic Media under the Obama Administration and even ran for office.
She worked her way from being a waitress, to being a model, living off of credit cards and taking care of her family while attending school to getting her first “real” job at the White House.
Alejandra is advocate for health and mental health since her grandmother, mother and aunts suffered breast cancer and generational trauma.
Still a good read!
I listened to the audio and for some reason I just did not enjoy the narration (even tho it was the author narrating it). Something about her expressions while reading, it kept making me roll my eyes (but this is a me thing- nothing against the author!!!)
Now, time for the book review. As a first gen, I really wanted to relate to her story, but I didn’t.
Campoverdi is an extremely successful first gen Latina who, after all the hardships growing up in a low income household in California, she persevered and obtained a Harvard degree. Alejandra was the first White House Director of Hispanic Media under the Obama Administration and even ran for office.
She worked her way from being a waitress, to being a model, living off of credit cards and taking care of her family while attending school to getting her first “real” job at the White House.
Alejandra is advocate for health and mental health since her grandmother, mother and aunts suffered breast cancer and generational trauma.
Still a good read!
February 3, 2024
If you’ve ever been a first (like a first-gen college student, like me) or an only (like being the only person of color in your class or at your job), so many parts of this book will resonate with you. If not, there’s a lot you can learn about what it’s like to be first gen or first and only from Alejandra’s experiences. She writes with honesty and openness, painting a picture of a woman self-actualized enough to reflect critically on how her past has shaped her while also showing the reader she’s also still growing. She does a great job breaking down the impact of generational poverty and trauma, all the background and struggle and faking-it-till-you -make-it that we often don’t shine a light on when we hold up the stories of first and only’s who have “made it”. She also writes so well about social mobility, and about the tension of not fitting in to your family or “old life” while also not feeling like you belong in your new one. Highly recommend.
October 14, 2025
3.75 stars
This was interesting. I wouldn't normally have looked for this if it wasn't on the Goodreads Challenge for Hispanic Heritage. That's what I've enjoyed about the added challenges, it encourages me to branch out and learn new things.
I have to be honest, I never heard of Alejandra Campoverdi prior, but while reading this, I found myself googling things and learning more about what she did during the Obama administration. I'm always in awe with people that come from little, persevere and make real change in the world. I don't know if I have that kind of gumption and it's always impressive.
This was interesting. I wouldn't normally have looked for this if it wasn't on the Goodreads Challenge for Hispanic Heritage. That's what I've enjoyed about the added challenges, it encourages me to branch out and learn new things.
I have to be honest, I never heard of Alejandra Campoverdi prior, but while reading this, I found myself googling things and learning more about what she did during the Obama administration. I'm always in awe with people that come from little, persevere and make real change in the world. I don't know if I have that kind of gumption and it's always impressive.
November 14, 2025
4.75⭐️ “It is a beautiful thing to be a First and Only, the one who disrupts deep-rooted generational patterns to become our ancestors’ wildest dreams.“
December 11, 2025
A must read for any marginalized person—the ideas and concepts resonate so much with those who are the “first and only”. So many incredible lessons.
March 4, 2025
I had high hopes for this book as a first generation Latin American, it really excited me before I read it, but then it just fell flat.
I ended up having a huge disconnect with this author, mainly because her entire personality was focused around trying to fit in. The majority of the anecdotes from this book were stories of her trying so hard to be accepted by different groups and I, fortunately, have never had trouble fitting in or any sort of identity crisis where I was looking to fit into a place where I don't belong.
What saddened me the most is that the author, to me, had little to no ties to her own Mexican heritage. She kept preaching about Latinxs, but she felt absolutely white-washed to me. This is where my own sense of identity clashed with hers. I've never wanted to be American, nor have I ever felt American. What I have fully and always embraced is my Colombian heritage with no care in the world about the country my parents immigrated to, because I come from their same homeland as far as I'm concerned.
What's prompted me to be able to do so, is being born in New York City, where roots are rarely, if ever, dismissed. I feel like where the author grew up, and having her own mother grow up in the states too, really did a number on her. She couldn't even pronounce "novena" right and it pissed me off the entire time I was listening to this audiobook.
Some parts of this book, especially when it came to generalized statements about a first gen's education were relatable, but then even her university experience was not. She joined a fucking sorority full of white girls for fucks sake, and then spoke about how she related more with the housekeepers than her sisters and yet she stayed there.
While a resilient and intelligent woman Campoverdi is, I related with the "cholas" who felt she had no business in their friend group more than her.
I ended up having a huge disconnect with this author, mainly because her entire personality was focused around trying to fit in. The majority of the anecdotes from this book were stories of her trying so hard to be accepted by different groups and I, fortunately, have never had trouble fitting in or any sort of identity crisis where I was looking to fit into a place where I don't belong.
What saddened me the most is that the author, to me, had little to no ties to her own Mexican heritage. She kept preaching about Latinxs, but she felt absolutely white-washed to me. This is where my own sense of identity clashed with hers. I've never wanted to be American, nor have I ever felt American. What I have fully and always embraced is my Colombian heritage with no care in the world about the country my parents immigrated to, because I come from their same homeland as far as I'm concerned.
What's prompted me to be able to do so, is being born in New York City, where roots are rarely, if ever, dismissed. I feel like where the author grew up, and having her own mother grow up in the states too, really did a number on her. She couldn't even pronounce "novena" right and it pissed me off the entire time I was listening to this audiobook.
Some parts of this book, especially when it came to generalized statements about a first gen's education were relatable, but then even her university experience was not. She joined a fucking sorority full of white girls for fucks sake, and then spoke about how she related more with the housekeepers than her sisters and yet she stayed there.
While a resilient and intelligent woman Campoverdi is, I related with the "cholas" who felt she had no business in their friend group more than her.
October 11, 2023
I had the pleasure of meeting Alejandra Campoverdi at an intimate author talk sponsored by the Latino Colleague Network at my company, as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. She was so wonderful and impressive, I started her book right away. I particularly enjoyed the parts about her time campaigning for President Obama and working in the White House.
October 4, 2023
If you are a first gen Latine person, this book is for you. I felt seen and validated. Finally some of the things I had experienced were put into words that I had not been able to express. Thank you Alejandra.
October 12, 2025
I felt drawn into the life of a woman who was the first in her family to achieve so much, and it really made me think about the challenges she faced. Following her journey from humble beginnings, I felt the weight of her struggles and the courage it took to step into spaces where she often felt out of place. Her story made me reflect on the sacrifices that come with ambition, the constant push to prove oneself, and the quiet strength required to carry the hopes of a family while forging one’s own path.
What struck me most was how honestly she shared both triumphs and vulnerabilities. I could feel the tension of navigating elite institutions and professional spaces as someone from an underrepresented background, and the emotional toll of balancing cultural identity with societal expectations. Reading about her health challenges and personal hardships alongside her achievements made her resilience feel even more remarkable, and I couldn’t help but empathize with the complexity of her journey.
Beyond the accomplishments and obstacles, I connected with her reflections on identity, belonging, and the pressure of being a trailblazer. She wasn’t portrayed as perfect; she made mistakes, experienced fear, and had moments of doubt, which made her story feel authentic and human. By the end, I felt inspired and challenged, reminded of the courage it takes to break barriers, stay true to oneself, and navigate the intersections of ambition, family, and heritage.
she is me. read this like I talk deep with her. heartwarming book ❤️
What struck me most was how honestly she shared both triumphs and vulnerabilities. I could feel the tension of navigating elite institutions and professional spaces as someone from an underrepresented background, and the emotional toll of balancing cultural identity with societal expectations. Reading about her health challenges and personal hardships alongside her achievements made her resilience feel even more remarkable, and I couldn’t help but empathize with the complexity of her journey.
Beyond the accomplishments and obstacles, I connected with her reflections on identity, belonging, and the pressure of being a trailblazer. She wasn’t portrayed as perfect; she made mistakes, experienced fear, and had moments of doubt, which made her story feel authentic and human. By the end, I felt inspired and challenged, reminded of the courage it takes to break barriers, stay true to oneself, and navigate the intersections of ambition, family, and heritage.
she is me. read this like I talk deep with her. heartwarming book ❤️
September 6, 2025
I have soooo many thoughts and will probably rewrite this when I am able to contextualize them, but this was PHENOMENAL!!
August 7, 2025
This was a great read. As a first gen, I found myself identifying and being being able to empathize with so much of what Campoverdi was saying. Many times in my life I thought that there must be something wrong with me but Campoverdi was able to label all those feelings and help me realize that I am not alone and the feelings I had were completely normal for a first gen.
October 5, 2023
Review coming soon, thanks to the publisher for a gifted copy.
May 4, 2024
I loved her vulnerable writing and explanation of invisible inheritances and being parentified children. Lots of lightbulb moments and very beautiful writing!
July 30, 2025
oh i loved this! getting to meet her in person and hear her speak about her life was the cherry on top to this book. she is an angel and so smart and so cool and i am fangirling hard. the way she reflects on her experience as a first generation american, first to go to college, first to “make it” is so full of empathy, honesty, self-awareness, and self-love. great book to learn about latina experience in the US. she takes you through every up and down, every precious family moment, every point of self doubt. it’s so real and human and inspiring eep.
August 19, 2025
Had to read this for work before our staff discussion…but it was an easy read. A really important story about being first generation to college, navigating imposter syndrome, childhood trauma, etc. The idea of navigating an “invisible curriculum” was particularly interesting. At times it felt she was writing an argumentative essay rather than a memoir, and I didn’t feel that she needed to create labels/neatly categorize all of her experiences in order for it to still be powerful. But that’s just me being picky
September 21, 2025
I went into this thinking that there wasn't anything about being a first-gen that I wouldn't know, because I am one and I'm surrounded by them but there were a few perspectives from this author that truly changed the way I see things.
I think that a lot of people's complaints in their reviews seem to come from the idea that her experience doesn't look like theirs. We seem to forget that Latinos are not a monolith and her journey may not mirror our own but in the end, it is still important and valid.
Did I think she could have elaborated more on some things, especially as she navigated the political arena? Yes, but I think that this memoir was supposed to tell us about her journey there not fill us in on what it was like once she was there. It remained honest and vulnerable like she promised, which made me emotional at times.
I think that a lot of people's complaints in their reviews seem to come from the idea that her experience doesn't look like theirs. We seem to forget that Latinos are not a monolith and her journey may not mirror our own but in the end, it is still important and valid.
Did I think she could have elaborated more on some things, especially as she navigated the political arena? Yes, but I think that this memoir was supposed to tell us about her journey there not fill us in on what it was like once she was there. It remained honest and vulnerable like she promised, which made me emotional at times.
September 11, 2024
This book has been huge at my job. Alejandra came to speak to our students last month and to see how many of them were moved emotionally just really heightened the power of storytelling for me. To see them feel so seen is something I’ll never forget.
I was not a first generation student. However, I think Alejandra bringing up all the intersectional pieces of her identity makes this story relevant for anyone who has felt a lack of belonging in spaces they desperately wanted to be in.
I was not a first generation student. However, I think Alejandra bringing up all the intersectional pieces of her identity makes this story relevant for anyone who has felt a lack of belonging in spaces they desperately wanted to be in.
October 18, 2025
This was a 6 star read for me. If you enjoy memoirs and are also a first generation immigrant and/or first to go to college in your family, you will feel so seen after finishing this. I’m so happy I chose this book to read for Hispanic heritage month. Learning about Alejandra’s experiences were so touching and so much resonated with my own upbringing. I’m inspired by how much of a trailblazer she is in her community. I cried happy tears for her!
November 11, 2025
This book beautifully touched on what it means to come from a broken family and the emotional trauma/baggage that comes with it. Her story and mental health struggles were so captivating and so real through her writing. You can tell she took serious risks to get to where she is now and, at times, reading this book I was stressed for her. Overall, an amazing story of overcoming being the generation of firsts for her family.
May 19, 2023
I received this book as an ARC, thanks to Netgalley.
I was drawn by the title (not the cover) as a first gen myself. Campoverdi takes the concept of first gen (first generation American children of immigrants) a step further as she describes her experience being a "first and only." Her book brought back into memory a lot of experiences and feelings growing up. Themes are woven into this memoir so beautifully; there was a very organic flow that is sometimes missing when authors try to drive their point home. I can't wait to share this with my DEI book club!
I was drawn by the title (not the cover) as a first gen myself. Campoverdi takes the concept of first gen (first generation American children of immigrants) a step further as she describes her experience being a "first and only." Her book brought back into memory a lot of experiences and feelings growing up. Themes are woven into this memoir so beautifully; there was a very organic flow that is sometimes missing when authors try to drive their point home. I can't wait to share this with my DEI book club!
November 26, 2023
Absolutely loved this one. I thought it was going to be sociological from the opening, but it was a brilliantly told memoir with some framework around the experience of being first generation. I learned a lot from how Campoverdi shared her story. I loved her commentary on being a complex woman and the pressure to be either beautiful or smart. What a riveting story she has and a real talent for telling stories. Highly recommend!
January 11, 2025
This was a fantastic book. There were so many points that I could relate to, and that ability is so important for a book about being a first generation college student. I have always kept my “first and only” identity very close to me, but I now view that part of myself differently and with light instead of within secrecy and darkness.
April 2, 2025
As a first gen myself, I appreciated this read greatly, despite not finding her lived experiences relatable. Ultimately, most of us carry similar, complex sentiments. The weight of growing up as the child of an immigrant(s) in a country that demonizes them remains with us no matter where we go. As does our culture, our stories, and the pride we carry.
March 26, 2024
I have so much admiration for this woman! She demonstrated resolve, persistence, and self motivation.
She explains what it’s like to be a “first and only” and all that goes along with it. I’m not either one, but I still found parts of her experience that I could relate to. She’s a gift!
She explains what it’s like to be a “first and only” and all that goes along with it. I’m not either one, but I still found parts of her experience that I could relate to. She’s a gift!
June 1, 2024
So powerful. What an amazing reflection on the intersections of race, socioeconomic status, education level, immigration status, and mental health. There are so many different types of First and Onlys, and I am sure this memoir will resonate with them all.
August 4, 2024
Beautifully written book that encapsulates the experiences of being first generation. Alejandra Campoverdi has put into words emotions and experiences that I hadn’t been able to put into words myself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews