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Flores and Miss Paula
A wry, tender novel about a Peruvian immigrant mother and a millennial daughter who have one final chance to find common ground
Thirtysomething Flores and her mother, Paula, still live in the same Brooklyn apartment, but that may be the only thing they have in common. It’s been nearly three years since they lost beloved husband and father Martín, who had always been the bridge between them. One day, cleaning beneath his urn, Flores discovers a note written in her mother’s handwriting. Perdóname si te falle. Recuerda que siempre te quise. (“Forgive me if I failed you. Remember that I always loved you.”) But what would Paula need forgiveness for?
Now newfound doubts and old memories come flooding in, complicating each woman’s efforts to carve out a good life for herself—and to support the other in the same. Paula thinks Flores should spend her evenings meeting a future husband, not crunching numbers for a floundering aquarium startup. Flores wishes Paula would ask for a raise at her DollaBills retail job, or at least find a best friend who isn’t a married man.
When Flores and Paula learn they will be forced to move, they must finally confront their complicated past—and decide whether they share the same dreams for the future. Spirited and warm-hearted, Melissa Rivero’s new novel showcases the complexities of the mother-daughter bond with fresh insight and empathy.
Thirtysomething Flores and her mother, Paula, still live in the same Brooklyn apartment, but that may be the only thing they have in common. It’s been nearly three years since they lost beloved husband and father Martín, who had always been the bridge between them. One day, cleaning beneath his urn, Flores discovers a note written in her mother’s handwriting. Perdóname si te falle. Recuerda que siempre te quise. (“Forgive me if I failed you. Remember that I always loved you.”) But what would Paula need forgiveness for?
Now newfound doubts and old memories come flooding in, complicating each woman’s efforts to carve out a good life for herself—and to support the other in the same. Paula thinks Flores should spend her evenings meeting a future husband, not crunching numbers for a floundering aquarium startup. Flores wishes Paula would ask for a raise at her DollaBills retail job, or at least find a best friend who isn’t a married man.
When Flores and Paula learn they will be forced to move, they must finally confront their complicated past—and decide whether they share the same dreams for the future. Spirited and warm-hearted, Melissa Rivero’s new novel showcases the complexities of the mother-daughter bond with fresh insight and empathy.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published December 5, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
December 27, 2023
Maybe this should have been titled Flores and Her Boring Ass Job because that was like 75% of the story.
I'm honestly a little confused. The vast majority of this novel focuses on Flores' workplace shenanigans and douchey male coworkers and her mother's retail job. We see Flores find the note under her father's urn at the very beginning of the book and it takes forever and a day for that to come back around in a meaningful way. And in between, it was just like "here is Flores at work again" and why am I supposed to care?
There were some touching moments in Paula's past that get brought up, and I appreciated the look at the complexities involved in mother-daughter relationships when the daughter is an adult. (Although...Flores ain't much of an adult.) I had expected that to be the central focus of the story, not this weird dull "oh no there are bad people at my job" arc. Even the issue of them having to move out of their apartment felt very ho-hum and like background noise.
I don't know. I don't have much to say, and neither did this book.
I'm honestly a little confused. The vast majority of this novel focuses on Flores' workplace shenanigans and douchey male coworkers and her mother's retail job. We see Flores find the note under her father's urn at the very beginning of the book and it takes forever and a day for that to come back around in a meaningful way. And in between, it was just like "here is Flores at work again" and why am I supposed to care?
There were some touching moments in Paula's past that get brought up, and I appreciated the look at the complexities involved in mother-daughter relationships when the daughter is an adult. (Although...Flores ain't much of an adult.) I had expected that to be the central focus of the story, not this weird dull "oh no there are bad people at my job" arc. Even the issue of them having to move out of their apartment felt very ho-hum and like background noise.
I don't know. I don't have much to say, and neither did this book.
June 9, 2023
"Flores and Miss Paula" is told from the rotating perspective of a Peruvian-American daughter and mother living together in Brooklyn as they navigate their individual and joint lives. Flores is in her early 30s and working as a financial officer in a start up that sells aquariums that, despite everything she's been promised, has been struggling - regardless of all the colorful Excel sheets and glossy Powerpoint slides that Flores can create. Her mother Paula works a retail job at DollaBills (a Dollar Tree spin off?), spending her time with her neighbors and sometimes, her daughter. Both are still coming to terms with the death of Martin, Paula's wife and Flores's father, who passed away after a long fight with cancer. Their relationship with each other is forced to change, however, when their landlord forces them to move so he can move a family member into their unit.
There were a number of things about this novel that I loved, including the look inside Peruvian culture and traditions, and the ways it molded their relationships to friends and neighbors around them. The setting and atmosphere felt true-to-NYC, especially as I've been here for over a decade, and I also appreciated the little tongue-in-cheek nods to businesses and locations that many city dwellers would familiar with. Flores' day-to-day work and the complex and sometimes absurd office culture also felt accurate, reminding me of my own time spent working in various finance and tech firms. I have a soft spot for novels that focus on mother-daughter relationships, and I think Melissa Rivero did a great job crafting a true-to-life dynamic between these protagonists and the ways they are able to reconcile and empathize with each other.
Nonetheless, I did struggle with the pacing of the novel as some areas became quite dragged out and lengthy, especially when it came to Flores's sections; although the writing voice and prose shifts between her and Paula's perspectives, I found myself looking forward more to her mother's passages. There's too much time spent detailing the nitty-gritty of office politics and work culture that I didn't find contributed to the story as a whole and distracted from Flores' own backstory and character. I think the additional focus would have made for a smoother, more concise storyline and would have placed stronger emphasis on the loss of Martin, the ways they dealt with their grief and loss, and their eventual reconciliation.
Thank you Ecco Publishing for the advance copy of this novel!
There were a number of things about this novel that I loved, including the look inside Peruvian culture and traditions, and the ways it molded their relationships to friends and neighbors around them. The setting and atmosphere felt true-to-NYC, especially as I've been here for over a decade, and I also appreciated the little tongue-in-cheek nods to businesses and locations that many city dwellers would familiar with. Flores' day-to-day work and the complex and sometimes absurd office culture also felt accurate, reminding me of my own time spent working in various finance and tech firms. I have a soft spot for novels that focus on mother-daughter relationships, and I think Melissa Rivero did a great job crafting a true-to-life dynamic between these protagonists and the ways they are able to reconcile and empathize with each other.
Nonetheless, I did struggle with the pacing of the novel as some areas became quite dragged out and lengthy, especially when it came to Flores's sections; although the writing voice and prose shifts between her and Paula's perspectives, I found myself looking forward more to her mother's passages. There's too much time spent detailing the nitty-gritty of office politics and work culture that I didn't find contributed to the story as a whole and distracted from Flores' own backstory and character. I think the additional focus would have made for a smoother, more concise storyline and would have placed stronger emphasis on the loss of Martin, the ways they dealt with their grief and loss, and their eventual reconciliation.
Thank you Ecco Publishing for the advance copy of this novel!
October 17, 2023
I thought I would fall into this novel, a story about a daughter and mother, their lives after the loss of their father and husband, but I just couldn't get into it. While it has heart, the main characters, mother Paula, and daughter Monica, never came to life for me, nor did their story, their past, present, and future. Rather than a trajectory focused on them, their story kept being interrupted by side plots and characters that weren't fully developed.
Thanks to Ecco and Netgalley for the ARC.
Thanks to Ecco and Netgalley for the ARC.
July 8, 2024
[Audiobook] CONTAINS SPOILERS
I really wanted to like this book. The description made it seem like it would be a touching mother daughter relationship redemption story but unfortunately, I had to DNF it at 67%. I kept holding out for it to get interesting and it never did.
In general, here’s why this book wasn’t for me:
• I honestly don’t know if reading this on paper would’ve fixed this problem, but Paula was sometimes having internal dialogue or actual conversations where she would refer to “you.” The majority of the time, it wasn’t clear if she was literally talking to someone or having an internal thought and regardless, unclear who she was referring to.
• I do NOT speak Spanish. I know enough words to use context clues most of the time, but the reading was SO SLOW. I had to listen at 1.5 speed and even then I could STILL pick up on the Spanish words and figure out the general idea of what was being said - pointing to how slow it really was.
• It was also hard to stay in a listening flow as a non-Spanish speaker, having to stop to look up what phrases meant and often staying confused as Google would offer a literal translations, missing context for what seemed to be commonly used slang
• Working in corporate America myself, Flores’s story bored me. I read to escape my normal life and her storyline didn’t entertain me at all.
• When Flores’s storyline ventured outside of her work life into things like her love life, I just found her immature notions around the topic frustrating and unrealistic for a woman in her 30s. Example 1: In Chapter 12, not once, but TWICE, she says “This must be what they look like post-coital” first about her co-worker and his fiancé and then about her other co-worker. The first who is above her in corporate level and the second who is below her. So not only inappropriate but like…why are you thinking that to begin with? About anyone? Example 2: In Chapter 14, Flores talks about how her most recent breakup (so granted, during and/or shortly after college) forced her to rethink what love looked like, stating that it is NOT just marriage or kids or public declarations on social media or how many selfies you take as a couple…again, something I think maybe a …14 year old would think? But not an ADULT woman.
• I just could not feel a connection or investment in the characters. I think that’s what made it clear to me that I wasn’t meant to finish this book. If I was truly invested, I would’ve been on the edge of my seat waiting to hear how Dani died or what, if anything, happened between Paula and Vicente. But I just did not care, which is saying A LOT for me as a regularly gossip queen hungry for any and all tea.
I really wanted to like this book. The description made it seem like it would be a touching mother daughter relationship redemption story but unfortunately, I had to DNF it at 67%. I kept holding out for it to get interesting and it never did.
In general, here’s why this book wasn’t for me:
• I honestly don’t know if reading this on paper would’ve fixed this problem, but Paula was sometimes having internal dialogue or actual conversations where she would refer to “you.” The majority of the time, it wasn’t clear if she was literally talking to someone or having an internal thought and regardless, unclear who she was referring to.
• I do NOT speak Spanish. I know enough words to use context clues most of the time, but the reading was SO SLOW. I had to listen at 1.5 speed and even then I could STILL pick up on the Spanish words and figure out the general idea of what was being said - pointing to how slow it really was.
• It was also hard to stay in a listening flow as a non-Spanish speaker, having to stop to look up what phrases meant and often staying confused as Google would offer a literal translations, missing context for what seemed to be commonly used slang
• Working in corporate America myself, Flores’s story bored me. I read to escape my normal life and her storyline didn’t entertain me at all.
• When Flores’s storyline ventured outside of her work life into things like her love life, I just found her immature notions around the topic frustrating and unrealistic for a woman in her 30s. Example 1: In Chapter 12, not once, but TWICE, she says “This must be what they look like post-coital” first about her co-worker and his fiancé and then about her other co-worker. The first who is above her in corporate level and the second who is below her. So not only inappropriate but like…why are you thinking that to begin with? About anyone? Example 2: In Chapter 14, Flores talks about how her most recent breakup (so granted, during and/or shortly after college) forced her to rethink what love looked like, stating that it is NOT just marriage or kids or public declarations on social media or how many selfies you take as a couple…again, something I think maybe a …14 year old would think? But not an ADULT woman.
• I just could not feel a connection or investment in the characters. I think that’s what made it clear to me that I wasn’t meant to finish this book. If I was truly invested, I would’ve been on the edge of my seat waiting to hear how Dani died or what, if anything, happened between Paula and Vicente. But I just did not care, which is saying A LOT for me as a regularly gossip queen hungry for any and all tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2023
Can you say perfect book?! It’s a shame this was released so late in 2023, otherwise it would have made my top books of the year list, which I always put together in November.
Having lost my dad at 18, I related to this novel about a grown woman and her mother navigating life after the loss of a significant loved one. The mother-daughter dynamic is brilliantly executed. You see both sides. I also love the incorporation of startup culture - the cockiness of men who act like they own the world - and the women who secretly keep things going, all while underpaid and under appreciated. This book is such a fascinating, heartfelt character story about enduring love.
Having lost my dad at 18, I related to this novel about a grown woman and her mother navigating life after the loss of a significant loved one. The mother-daughter dynamic is brilliantly executed. You see both sides. I also love the incorporation of startup culture - the cockiness of men who act like they own the world - and the women who secretly keep things going, all while underpaid and under appreciated. This book is such a fascinating, heartfelt character story about enduring love.
Read
January 2, 2024"Though the condolence hits like a gut punch. My father's absence strikes like that sometimes coming at me out of nowhere. Sharp. Quick. A pang that erupts in tears on a subway car or a tea-lit table at a restaurant or, like now, in an uncomfortable silence. Other times, it wells up. Rips at a seam I thought I'd stitched up good. A slow bleed that plunges me into an abyss. His death was the ultimate wound."
A book as much about grief as it is the generational differences between mother and daughter after father passes. Sad, life-affirming, surprising. I enjoyed this book and its nuanced exploration of different types of grief.
A book as much about grief as it is the generational differences between mother and daughter after father passes. Sad, life-affirming, surprising. I enjoyed this book and its nuanced exploration of different types of grief.
December 13, 2023
I finished Flores and Miss Paula by Melissa Rivero late last night, and was left with a strong feeling of contentment as I turned the very last page. This is just the type of story that speaks to my soul. It’s a peaceful, slower-paced, character-driven novel that explores a complex mother-daughter relationship. Both women are grieving the death of their husband/father, mending a strained past, and trying to move forward. Through dual perspectives, the reader receives great insight on each woman’s grief, struggles, and shared history that played a role in their stilted relationship. I learned so much about Peruvian culture and traditions from this novel. That was such a perk, and greatly appreciated. If you’re looking for a subdued and low-key story that’s focused on family dynamics, then Flores and Miss Paula is just the book for you.
May 29, 2023
(3.5 stars) Flores and Miss Paula is a touching narrative about a Peruvian mother and daughter, learning to live with each other after their connection, Paula’s husband and Flores’ father, Martin, has died (three years before the story starts). Paula wants more for her daughter - Flores works long hours at her job as a finance officer with an aquarium outfit with little to show for it. Flores wants more for her mother, too - Paula works an entry-level job at a dollar store. The real problem between the two, however, is getting along in the apartment they share. As the availability of this apartment comes under question and their work positions evolve, the two women must decide whether or not they can make living together work.
I enjoyed this book, especially the sections where we glimpse more into each woman’s occupation. Flores’ aquarium job and the drama that occurs there felt real and was familiar to me having worked in management in an office for many years. Paula’s job as a dollar store employee was also authentic-feeling and I found myself nervous for her as she asked for advancement. Both women had rounded-out profiles, which made them feel real. Their Peruvian backgrounds added to the story, especially the fair, which featured Peruvian music and food. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good character development and believable personal interactions. The beautiful cover doesn’t hurt, either.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ecco for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I enjoyed this book, especially the sections where we glimpse more into each woman’s occupation. Flores’ aquarium job and the drama that occurs there felt real and was familiar to me having worked in management in an office for many years. Paula’s job as a dollar store employee was also authentic-feeling and I found myself nervous for her as she asked for advancement. Both women had rounded-out profiles, which made them feel real. Their Peruvian backgrounds added to the story, especially the fair, which featured Peruvian music and food. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good character development and believable personal interactions. The beautiful cover doesn’t hurt, either.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ecco for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 4, 2024
I forced myself to finish the book because it was my book club's selection. I found both the personal and working lives of the title characters so utterly non-interesting that I grew scornful of the book's physical presence whenever it was near me. Towards the end I would give it the evil eye to let it know my feelings. The most interesting discovery from this reading experience was finding that my psychological problems are much worse than I thought.
February 7, 2024
★ 2.5
“I hadn't considered the most fundamental factor in any plan: life happens.“
Flores and Miss Paula is a slow-paced, character driven novel that follows mother and daughter as they navigate life after the passing of their father/husband. It switches back and forth between both Flores and Paula’s perspectives.
I don’t typically read literary fiction, so do take this review with a grain of salt! Unfortunately I found the pacing to be really slow and I was quite bored from start to end. As much as I wanted to, I did not find myself invested in any of the characters.
I loved all the references to their Peruvian culture. That said, there’s lots of spanish words and phrases scattered throughout. I loved what this added to the story, however as someone who doesn’t speak spanish it was confusing at times. There was not always enough context to understand what the phrases/words meant in english and for the most part they were never translated. I found myself translating so I could better understand, but that eventually became cumbersome. If you can speak spanish then you’ll probably enjoy this aspect!
I think the conversations and feelings about grief were so raw and relatable. Paula’s POV was really interesting to read; the way that she talks about and describes Flores as “you” in her perspective feels really personal and the reader is able to put themself right in her shoes. It’s a perfect example of “show, not tell” writing. I also loved that we got to see Flores and Paula on their own healing and transformative journeys. Though, Flores’ work storyline felt a bit dragged out and I had the hardest time keeping track of her different coworkers. The side stories were much more interesting than the main storyline and not really ever explored.
Overall, too slow for my taste, but if you like the genre it may still be a good fit for you!
Moderate content warnings: grief & death (of a parent)
“I hadn't considered the most fundamental factor in any plan: life happens.“
Flores and Miss Paula is a slow-paced, character driven novel that follows mother and daughter as they navigate life after the passing of their father/husband. It switches back and forth between both Flores and Paula’s perspectives.
I don’t typically read literary fiction, so do take this review with a grain of salt! Unfortunately I found the pacing to be really slow and I was quite bored from start to end. As much as I wanted to, I did not find myself invested in any of the characters.
I loved all the references to their Peruvian culture. That said, there’s lots of spanish words and phrases scattered throughout. I loved what this added to the story, however as someone who doesn’t speak spanish it was confusing at times. There was not always enough context to understand what the phrases/words meant in english and for the most part they were never translated. I found myself translating so I could better understand, but that eventually became cumbersome. If you can speak spanish then you’ll probably enjoy this aspect!
I think the conversations and feelings about grief were so raw and relatable. Paula’s POV was really interesting to read; the way that she talks about and describes Flores as “you” in her perspective feels really personal and the reader is able to put themself right in her shoes. It’s a perfect example of “show, not tell” writing. I also loved that we got to see Flores and Paula on their own healing and transformative journeys. Though, Flores’ work storyline felt a bit dragged out and I had the hardest time keeping track of her different coworkers. The side stories were much more interesting than the main storyline and not really ever explored.
Overall, too slow for my taste, but if you like the genre it may still be a good fit for you!
Moderate content warnings: grief & death (of a parent)
December 26, 2023
I finished this one last night when I woke up at 2:30 (thank you Menopause). The ending was such an excellent end to an emotional and non-linear journey from grief back to living.
Flores (main character goes by her last name) and her mom (Paula) are living in the midst of grief after the patriarch of the family has died.
This story is told from 2 points of view- one Flores and one Paula talking to her daughter. That was a really cool and interesting new way to read a POV. The two have a very complicated relationship. It turns out that all most of Paula’s love went to her husband, and most of her husband’s love went to their daughter.
Flores works in finance at a start-up and is dreaming of the day the company will be bought out, she’ll become rich and she won’t have to work there anymore. Paula has gone to work at DollaBills and is finding her independence and confidence.
As the story unfolds, we venture though their lives- from Peru to the US. Their Peruvian heritage and customs play an important role. It is what eventually leads them back to finding peace and fulfillment. Their paths are rocky, and this author deftly explores these almost opposite female personalities to perfection. The exploration of their relationship was so so good. The misunderstandings, the unsaid words, the misdirected anger…so good. They both are working toward self-discovery and self-love.
The only difficult thing for me were some of the cultural sayings woven into the book. Had I read the e-book, I could have clicked on them to find out the translation. Since I was reading a paperback, I didn’t have that option and feel like I might have missed out on a few precious interactions. That being said, I would not have wanted the author to remove them - I just wish I understood more Spanish.🤓
My father passed away in 2020. This book spoke to me many times through the language of loss and memories. I loved this book and highly recommend. Thank you bibliolifestyle and Ecco books for the copy.
Flores (main character goes by her last name) and her mom (Paula) are living in the midst of grief after the patriarch of the family has died.
This story is told from 2 points of view- one Flores and one Paula talking to her daughter. That was a really cool and interesting new way to read a POV. The two have a very complicated relationship. It turns out that all most of Paula’s love went to her husband, and most of her husband’s love went to their daughter.
Flores works in finance at a start-up and is dreaming of the day the company will be bought out, she’ll become rich and she won’t have to work there anymore. Paula has gone to work at DollaBills and is finding her independence and confidence.
As the story unfolds, we venture though their lives- from Peru to the US. Their Peruvian heritage and customs play an important role. It is what eventually leads them back to finding peace and fulfillment. Their paths are rocky, and this author deftly explores these almost opposite female personalities to perfection. The exploration of their relationship was so so good. The misunderstandings, the unsaid words, the misdirected anger…so good. They both are working toward self-discovery and self-love.
The only difficult thing for me were some of the cultural sayings woven into the book. Had I read the e-book, I could have clicked on them to find out the translation. Since I was reading a paperback, I didn’t have that option and feel like I might have missed out on a few precious interactions. That being said, I would not have wanted the author to remove them - I just wish I understood more Spanish.🤓
My father passed away in 2020. This book spoke to me many times through the language of loss and memories. I loved this book and highly recommend. Thank you bibliolifestyle and Ecco books for the copy.
December 20, 2023
Soooooo slowwwww and just never picked up. But plot is very relatable for all mothers and daughters.
June 4, 2024
Flores and Miss Paula started a bit slow but I decided to give this ARC a chance and I'm glad I did. This book beautifully captures the strains, parallels, and challenges of ever-evolving mother-daughter relationships. The author did well at personalizing each character. At first, I was confused about why we needed people with different backgrounds, but it was important to highlight the different systems impacting and influencing both women. The author also did well highlighting how different grief can look when losing one person (husband/father). At a certain point, we all realize our parents were individuals first, and this story captures that along with adjustments parents make when their children are decision-making adults/caregivers. Themes highlighted through the story included: relationships, grief, minorities and immigrants, infidelity/relationship challenges, growth, and business. This book would be great for book clubs, parents, and teens of various demographics and I plan on passing it along for others to read! 3.5/5 stars
December 24, 2023
A moving intergenerational, mother-daughter immigrant story featuring two strong-minded, Peruvian-American women. This was good on audio and a I really enjoyed learning more about the culture. Recommended for fans of authors like Xochitl Gonzalez or Angie Cruz. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy of this latest from a new to me author in exchange for my honest review!
December 12, 2023
I loved this novel; the ending left me feeling happy for both main characters.
August 30, 2024
Nice little story.
January 7, 2024
First review of the year! Hooray!
Now this book, lemme tell you. The nuanced characterization of Flores and ESPECIALLY Miss Paula are what made the book for me. Miss Paula was a breath of fresh air to me and I am so glad I started the year strong with a story centering on a complex and yet compelling character such as hers. Unfortunately, I ultimately feel like there are a few reasons why this book didn't make it to being a 5 star for me. A major reason was the whole Flores workplace plot point. Without getting into spoilers, I understand why this plot point was there and how it served to elevate Flores as a character. However, if I could describe this whole plot point with one word it would be MID. I just felt super apathetic towards the side characters involved and thought the chapters that focused on this plot point DRAGGED FOR SOOOOO LONG. Other than that one plot point, I did feel like some tiny other side plots were left unresolved in my opinion, but it doesn't really bother me. But I still highly recommend this book, I feel I must share the word about how cool Miss Paula is as a character and everyone should read this book to appreciate her.
Now this book, lemme tell you. The nuanced characterization of Flores and ESPECIALLY Miss Paula are what made the book for me. Miss Paula was a breath of fresh air to me and I am so glad I started the year strong with a story centering on a complex and yet compelling character such as hers. Unfortunately, I ultimately feel like there are a few reasons why this book didn't make it to being a 5 star for me. A major reason was the whole Flores workplace plot point. Without getting into spoilers, I understand why this plot point was there and how it served to elevate Flores as a character. However, if I could describe this whole plot point with one word it would be MID. I just felt super apathetic towards the side characters involved and thought the chapters that focused on this plot point DRAGGED FOR SOOOOO LONG. Other than that one plot point, I did feel like some tiny other side plots were left unresolved in my opinion, but it doesn't really bother me. But I still highly recommend this book, I feel I must share the word about how cool Miss Paula is as a character and everyone should read this book to appreciate her.
December 18, 2023
Flores and Miss Paula by Melissa Rivero is the perfect weekend read. It explores the mother-relationship told from dual perspectives and I found myself completely enamored with both women. Both are processing the loss of Martin, Miss Paula’s husband and Flores father, and you really get a front row seat to their growth. I love learning about different cultures and traditions and also a good New York City setting. This book was more of slow burn which is also my favorite. This one is out now and one I also really recommend!
Thank you @eccobooks for the copy!
4.5 stars
Thank you @eccobooks for the copy!
4.5 stars
December 14, 2023
Book Review: Flores and Miss Paula
By Melissa Rivero
Flores and Miss Paula is a heartwarming story about a Peruvian daughter and mother trying to find their way after the death of the man who held them together. Three years prior, Martin, Paula’s husband and Flores’ father died. In a parrellel manner, each struggles with the loss. The story is told over the hardest three months of the year, the months that stretch between Martin’s birthday to his deathday.
Flores works for a start up company that makes aquariums and seems be getting nowhere despite all her hard work. Paula has made due working in a dollar store when her dreams of returning to Peru to run the family store fell apart. They both complain that the other deserves more in life but each fails to have the courage to ask for more. When they are informed that they will have to vacate the apartment in which they’ve always lived as a family, both women feel disoriented. If that wasn’t a big enough disruption, one day while cleaning, Flores finds a note that causes her to question the depth of her parents’ love for one another, burnishing the memories of their marriage. The move, after all, may be the ideal opportunity Flores needs to set off on her own and create some needed distance between the two. We witness both women striving to carve out a meaningful life for themselves while navigating the choppy waters of their relationship.
In a heartfelt but realistic manner, Rivero portrays the depth and imperfections of love that can exist between a mother and a daughter, and with great compassion illustrates the complexities of grief. I especially enjoyed the charming snapshots of life representing Peruvian culture interwoven throughout the story. If you are a reader who seeks engaging diverse books depicting the real complexities of family life, then I highly recommend this little gem of a novel.
My thanks to @MelissaRivero_Author, @EccoBooks and @NetGalley for the gift of this digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
By Melissa Rivero
Flores and Miss Paula is a heartwarming story about a Peruvian daughter and mother trying to find their way after the death of the man who held them together. Three years prior, Martin, Paula’s husband and Flores’ father died. In a parrellel manner, each struggles with the loss. The story is told over the hardest three months of the year, the months that stretch between Martin’s birthday to his deathday.
Flores works for a start up company that makes aquariums and seems be getting nowhere despite all her hard work. Paula has made due working in a dollar store when her dreams of returning to Peru to run the family store fell apart. They both complain that the other deserves more in life but each fails to have the courage to ask for more. When they are informed that they will have to vacate the apartment in which they’ve always lived as a family, both women feel disoriented. If that wasn’t a big enough disruption, one day while cleaning, Flores finds a note that causes her to question the depth of her parents’ love for one another, burnishing the memories of their marriage. The move, after all, may be the ideal opportunity Flores needs to set off on her own and create some needed distance between the two. We witness both women striving to carve out a meaningful life for themselves while navigating the choppy waters of their relationship.
In a heartfelt but realistic manner, Rivero portrays the depth and imperfections of love that can exist between a mother and a daughter, and with great compassion illustrates the complexities of grief. I especially enjoyed the charming snapshots of life representing Peruvian culture interwoven throughout the story. If you are a reader who seeks engaging diverse books depicting the real complexities of family life, then I highly recommend this little gem of a novel.
My thanks to @MelissaRivero_Author, @EccoBooks and @NetGalley for the gift of this digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2023
I literally read the blurb for this one and said Yes Please… a book about a Peruvian immigrant mother (Miss Paula) and her millennial daughter (Flores) who are working their way through grief, their own complex relationship and the everyday burdens life brings. Told from a unique alternating POV… a book where not much is happening but also everything, this feels like a story a friend would share with you… a coworker… it was quiet and memorable to me.
Here are just a few quotes that made me pause!
“How fortunate and fragile that is -to be so young and protected that one can find magic in something others find terrifying.”
“I couldn’t bring myself to trust the good moments.”
“We'll find a way or the way will find us.”
“If I close my eyes, I can almost feel his fingers between mine and hear his voice just outside my ear. The sound swirls at the back of my throat, and for a moment, I accept the trick. I accept that the exchange for this ache of losing him are all the moments I was able to love him.”
“…a picture that captured a multitude of crossroads.
What a magical and frightening thing.”
“I romanticized the idea, you know. Of my first love being the forever kind.”
“Perhaps I cannot let go of my former self. She lingers around me, reminding me of what could have
been, of my regrets and remorse”
Thank you @bibliolifestyle @eccobooks for the gifted copy!
Here are just a few quotes that made me pause!
“How fortunate and fragile that is -to be so young and protected that one can find magic in something others find terrifying.”
“I couldn’t bring myself to trust the good moments.”
“We'll find a way or the way will find us.”
“If I close my eyes, I can almost feel his fingers between mine and hear his voice just outside my ear. The sound swirls at the back of my throat, and for a moment, I accept the trick. I accept that the exchange for this ache of losing him are all the moments I was able to love him.”
“…a picture that captured a multitude of crossroads.
What a magical and frightening thing.”
“I romanticized the idea, you know. Of my first love being the forever kind.”
“Perhaps I cannot let go of my former self. She lingers around me, reminding me of what could have
been, of my regrets and remorse”
Thank you @bibliolifestyle @eccobooks for the gifted copy!
December 8, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you so much @bibliolifestyle and @eccobooks for my gifted copy of Flores and Miss Paula!
Flores and her mother, Paula, live together but they don’t have anything in common. It’s been three years since Martin passed, the father of Flores and husband of Paula and the only bridge between the two. One day while cleaning, Flores finds a note from Paula to Martin under his urn asking for forgiveness, leaving Flores with doubts and old memories.
Flores and Miss Paula is definitely a story that had heart. I found both Flores and Paula to be real and relatable characters, making it easy to follow and enjoy this story. If you’re looking for a book and story with a ton of things happening, this isn’t it, but rather a story about family life, work life, love, and relationships. I enjoyed the story and there were a lot of quotable sayings in this book that I can keep with me and reflect on in life. One that stuck out to me was “we’ll find a way or the way will find us”. Overall, I enjoyed this book, not only was it enjoyable but it was also relatable.
Thank you so much BiblioLifestyle and Ecco Books for true gifted ARC and the chance to read and review it honestly.
Publication day 12/6/23
Happy reading!
Thank you so much @bibliolifestyle and @eccobooks for my gifted copy of Flores and Miss Paula!
Flores and her mother, Paula, live together but they don’t have anything in common. It’s been three years since Martin passed, the father of Flores and husband of Paula and the only bridge between the two. One day while cleaning, Flores finds a note from Paula to Martin under his urn asking for forgiveness, leaving Flores with doubts and old memories.
Flores and Miss Paula is definitely a story that had heart. I found both Flores and Paula to be real and relatable characters, making it easy to follow and enjoy this story. If you’re looking for a book and story with a ton of things happening, this isn’t it, but rather a story about family life, work life, love, and relationships. I enjoyed the story and there were a lot of quotable sayings in this book that I can keep with me and reflect on in life. One that stuck out to me was “we’ll find a way or the way will find us”. Overall, I enjoyed this book, not only was it enjoyable but it was also relatable.
Thank you so much BiblioLifestyle and Ecco Books for true gifted ARC and the chance to read and review it honestly.
Publication day 12/6/23
Happy reading!
January 13, 2024
Flores and Miss Paula is an incredibly beautifully written novel that resonated with me more than I could ever imagine. As someone who similarly lost my father, this book explores the relationship that remains between a daughter and mother who were once bridged by the patriarch of the family that echoed within me on every page.
What I loved most about this book was how realistic and compelling the characters were. They stayed true to who they were yet allowed for growth as they both fought and navigated their own battles, similar yet so opposite. Flores and Paula are two strong women trying to rediscover who they, and I love the way that we are brought along for the messy, complicated, and often heartbreaking journey. The community that is built around them, from toxic workplaces to judgmental neighbors and childhood friendships, is constructed so effortlessly that it makes you invested in each and every character.
Truly, not a single flaw in my eyes — but I know I’m biased as someone who was lived such similar experiences.
What I loved most about this book was how realistic and compelling the characters were. They stayed true to who they were yet allowed for growth as they both fought and navigated their own battles, similar yet so opposite. Flores and Paula are two strong women trying to rediscover who they, and I love the way that we are brought along for the messy, complicated, and often heartbreaking journey. The community that is built around them, from toxic workplaces to judgmental neighbors and childhood friendships, is constructed so effortlessly that it makes you invested in each and every character.
Truly, not a single flaw in my eyes — but I know I’m biased as someone who was lived such similar experiences.
September 8, 2023
This is a wise, funny, beautiful novel. It’s about work and relationships and families (especially mothers and daughters, fathers and daughters, husbands and wives), about secrets and loyalty and grief and what we owe each other. Like with her first novel, the author has an amazing gift for bringing characters to wholehearted life, with beautiful, easily flowing language that pulls you into their lives and decisions. I think this will be a book people will be talking about, so read as soon as you can!
April 24, 2023
A mother and daughter's journey to connect with one another, and find peace among many trials. I loved this story and I really enjoyed reading a diverse perspective. I think this is one you should absolutely pick up and read.
July 29, 2025
FORMAT: Combo physical & audio (dual narration)
RECAP: Flores & her mother Paula still share a Brooklyn apartment, but little else - especially since Martín, the beloved father & husband who once united them, passed away. When Flores finds a note from Paula asking for forgiveness, old wounds resurface just as their daily tensions over work, relationships & life choices grow. With eviction looming, the two must finally face their past & decide if they can build a future together.
READER REC: Someone who's looking for a character-focused story about how loss changes families. Will say that this book is heavy on the grief trigger warning.
NOTE: I feel like the bulk of this book is the issues that Flores faces at her job - which don't really tie into her feelings re: the loss of her father, if that makes sense, so I think the synopsis can be a bit misleading.
RECAP: Flores & her mother Paula still share a Brooklyn apartment, but little else - especially since Martín, the beloved father & husband who once united them, passed away. When Flores finds a note from Paula asking for forgiveness, old wounds resurface just as their daily tensions over work, relationships & life choices grow. With eviction looming, the two must finally face their past & decide if they can build a future together.
READER REC: Someone who's looking for a character-focused story about how loss changes families. Will say that this book is heavy on the grief trigger warning.
NOTE: I feel like the bulk of this book is the issues that Flores faces at her job - which don't really tie into her feelings re: the loss of her father, if that makes sense, so I think the synopsis can be a bit misleading.
December 3, 2023
Great start to a book. It captured my attention from the beginning. We meet the mother and daughter who are still recovering from the loss of husband/father. We hear from both characters throughout the story which I enjoyed. One of the reasons I enjoyed this book were Flores and Miss Paula felt like real characters that you might meet at work, the store or the library. Their story was their own but one the reader can relate to through descriptions of their jobs, worry of the future and thinking about the past. There is a chasm in their relationship at the beginning and we begin to see that heal.
Being exposed to the Peruvian culture certainly added to the enjoyment and I do wish there had been a bit more of that in the story. I enjoyed this book and thank Netgalley for the chance to review.
Being exposed to the Peruvian culture certainly added to the enjoyment and I do wish there had been a bit more of that in the story. I enjoyed this book and thank Netgalley for the chance to review.
March 30, 2024
For my Peruana/Estadosunidensa friends, this is a fun book to read. I don’t often see fiction in the “immigrant” genre about Peruanos. So the references to Lima and to Pucallpa, the jerga and dichos that are netamente regional make this book enjoyable. It’s kind of a coming of age story about a woman who was born in NY to Peruvian immigrant parents. Her father has died so it’s just she and her mom negotiating the complexities of work, their relationships with each other and with the men in their lives.
January 20, 2024
Thought I would casually knock this one out but I actually had to keep stopping to look out the window and weep lolllllllll
While some parts drag, there’s some really beautiful passages in here. Dare I say, the millennial adult take on Real Women Have Curves?
While some parts drag, there’s some really beautiful passages in here. Dare I say, the millennial adult take on Real Women Have Curves?
June 26, 2024
I might be a bit biased because I am Peruvian-American. I related to certain aspects of the mother-daughter relationships. I agree with other reviewers that the job discussion was a bit boring but overall I enjoyed the story.
September 25, 2023
3.75 stars. I really wanted to love this, but it was boring. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and the story was just not interesting. Like it was fine, the writing was great. Just not for me.
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