Tías and Primas: On Knowing and Loving the Women Who Raise Us

by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez

From the author of For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts, a celebration of the women at the heart of Latine families  

Born into a large, close-knit family in Nicaragua, Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez grew up surrounded by strong, kind, funny, sensitive, resilient, judgmental, messy, beautiful women. Whether blood relatives or chosen family, these tías and primas fundamentally shaped her view of the world—and so did the labels that were used to talk about them. The tía loca who is shunned for defying gender roles. The pretty prima put on a pedestal for her European features. The matriarch who is the core of her community but hides all her pain. 

In Tías and Primas, the follow-up to her acclaimed debut For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts, Mojica Rodríguez explores these archetypes. Fearlessly grappling with the effects of intergenerational trauma, centuries of colonization, and sexism, she attempts to heal the pain that is so often embodied in female family lines.  

Tías and Primas is a deeply felt love letter to family, community, and Latinas everywhere.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Latinx, Memoir, Audiobook, Queer, Sociology

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2024

About the author

Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez was born in Managua, Nicaragua but calls Nashville, Tennessee home. She got her Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt University in the Spring of 2015. The bulk of her work is around making accessible, through storytelling and curating content, the theories and heavy material that is oftentimes only taught in the racist/classist institutions known as academia.

She started the platform Latina Rebels in 2013, and currently it boasts over 300k organic followers online. She has been featured in Telemundo, Univision, Mitú, Huffington Post Latino Voices, Guerrilla Feminism, Latina Mag, Cosmopolitan, Everyday Feminism, and was invited to the White House in the Fall of 2016. She is unapologetic, angry, and uncompromising about protecting and upholding the stories of Latinx communities. Que viva la gente!

Representation
Bookings manager:
Linda Melodia linda@mtndevelopment.com
Film/TV rights:
Olivia Blaustein olivia.blaustein@caa.com
Literary inquiries:
David Patterson dp@skagency.com
Aemilia Phillips ap@skagency.com

Reviews

[Alejandra Salemi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve gone back and forth on whether or not to write this review. I will start off by saying I loved For Brown Girls and it is a book that I both reach for often and recommend far and wide. I can into this book with lots of excitement. As an immigrant Latina myself (also from Florida, also having gone to divinity school) I felt so seen by Prisca Dorca’s first book.

I managed to get an advanced copy of this book and dove right into it. I liked the ways each chapter is a stand alone entity, with beautiful illustrations of what that archetype might look like. However, I felt like the writing was a bit all over the place. Sometimes it shared personal stories which gave concrete examples of the archetype, then it would jump into a third person explanation of generalizations of the archetype. Sometimes I would speak to the archetype then it would speak to the family of the archetype. It was a bit confusing in the structure.

I also felt like in efforts to fight back against stereotypes and boxes that culture puts Latina women in, it created it’s own stereotypes that I felt frustrated and dissatisfied with.

I will say, one of Prisca Dorca’s gifts is her vulnerability and honesty. As a fellow anger-girly myself, I have often felt ashamed of the strong emotions of anger I feel as a product of living in a world built against my flourishing. In both her first book and this one, Prisca does not sugar coat her feelings, hide her pain and anger and frustration, or water down difficult truth to make it more palpable. That honesty is necessary and liberating.

Overall, I was hoping for something different and I personally didn’t love this book but perhaps this is one that should act more as a tarot deck, reading the chapters that we are particularly drawn towards in that moment and not one that should be read cover to cover.

[Shai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tías and Primas is a great new book that delves into the relationships that exist in most (if not all) Latin-American families. The author, Rodriguez, creates a vignette for each type of woman that you would probably encounter in these families. From the aunt who fat shames you to the perfect prima, these women are accurately describe to such an extent that I thought she and I might be related!

The narrator, who is also the author, did a great job brining the book to life. The book was read at a great pace, the voice was relatable, smooth and pleasing to listen to and the music played in the background was great. Rodriguez knew where to pause for emphasis and where to keep up the pace, which made the book flow easily.

I would recommend this book for anyone looking to learn more about family dynamics - especially between women or anyone looking for an interesting read.

Thank you to Hachette books for allowing me to listen to this book prior to its publishing date - Sept 10, 2024. I received an electronic ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Theresa N · Rating 2 out of 5]

I totally get that this book was made with love and with generations of isms to combat and I appreciate that mission behind it. If high school me had picked it up, it probably would have rocked my world. I was, however, not interested in the delivery. I agree with other reviewers that instead of dispelling tropes, many were just reinforced, and with a mildly defensive and self-righteous tone throughout imo. What I also found really frustrating was the lack of depth in every chapter when the author was telling people who fall into each trope or have loved ones that do how to react - “But how?!?” was always my question. “Stop letting your tias perpetuate fatphobia” “But how?!?” “Stop letting people benefit from pretty privilege” “okay heard. But, again, how?!?” I admit that I may not be the audience for this book because there were few critiques she made that I hadn’t already heard before or explored in depth, so all in all this book left me annoyed and wanting more.

[Daniela Perez-Velasco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED “For Brown Girls with Tender Hearts and Sharp Edges” and was excited to read this second book. (This is a standalone book and can be read without knowledge of the previous work, but I also highly recommend that book) 

This book is an exploration of female archetypes specifically in Latin-American immigrant culture, as the subtitle states on knowing and loving the women who raised us.

I believe the author’s goal is to democratize knowledge and she delivers. She went to graduate school and came back to bust open the gates of knowledge previously cloistered for the wealthy and privileged. 

This is a book to highlight and annotate with tons of little sticky tabs. I am buying a copy for all my sisters. This should be required reading.

It will resonate the most with Latinx communities, but it’s also universal, giving names to common issues we might not all have been taught to identify such as: Assimilation, Colorism, Femininity, Homophobia, Sexism, Racism, Heteronormativity and how it’s perpetuated in Latinx culture. How these things are harmful, why sometimes they’ve been tools for survival and how we can make changes. 

My hope is that armed with this knowledge I can keep the parts of my Latinx culture that I love but guide my children and my siblings’ children on how to be more equitable and just. It definitely vibes with my gentle parenting style. I read this at the same time as I was listening to “All About Love” by bell hooks and it was cosmic synergism that blew my mind.

Early in the first chapter, she writes “people often talk about being their ancestor’s wildest dreams…” and then states she thinks her “matriarca would turn in her grave is she knew the extent of my fighting spirit”. I hope your ancestors (and mine) are proud that you are free to live your life on your terms and make choices she was denied. It’s my greatest dream for my kids and theirs. 

📓Alternate title: For Brown Girls without Access to Therapy. 

Thank you to Seal Press and Hachette Book Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Anaiis Rabiela · Rating 5 out of 5]

PHENOMENAL READ!!!! Easily one of my favorites from this year. I instantly knew it was gonna be great cuz I started off listening at 2x speed (don’t judge me for being a psycho) and shordy was dropping such bars right from the first chapter, I started the whole book over at regular speed cuz I KNEW this was a read to be savored. The wisdom was wisdom-ing.

I laughed, I cried, I paused often to really let the feelings sink in. I thought of my family the whole way though. The badass matriarchs on both sides of my family (I think of you every day) and how insanely proud I am to have come from their family tree. Of my cool tia (Blanca, I’m literally texting you right after this) who was literally my idol growing up and was totally my first adult friend just like the book says. Of my beautiful parents, who dared to be different in their parenting and who shielded us from as much generational trauma as they possibly could.

This book makes me want to be softer in all ways. To be affectionate and vocalize my love more in a culture that teaches us to shy away from that. To give my family so much more grace and to be stubborn in challenging us all to be gentler—with each other and with the world. I am so proud of where I come from and this book feels like such a celebration of all the beautiful, ugly, and painful parts of growing up in a Latinx family. We are not perfect by any means and THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT MORE!!!! But this book didn’t shy away from any of it and neither will I.

Highly recommend and already can’t wait to reread.

[Marietere T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll start by saying that every experience is valid, even if it's not the same as mine.

At the start of this book I started to like try and connect these archetypes to the women in my family, and it was hard cause they just don't fit. Like my aunts and cousins have so many layers to them that in some all the archetypes fit them in some way. I think that's why I had such a huge disconnect with what this book wanted to do.

I don't know if it's because I am not part of the diaspora. Because I was raised Catholic, just not hardcore. My family is messy and has a lot of women, but most of the archetypes just felt too traditional and possibly I was too young to see these things from happening. I have multiple aunts that didn't have kids and I never once saw anyone judge/pressure them for their choice, even behind their backs. Even with my queer cousins, while they were in the closet and felt end of world for them. When they finally came out, it was all welcoming and supportive.

Last bit I want to say is that some of the archetypes felt one dimensional to me, and it lightly tries to mention that because of the way they are raised these Tias y Primas act this way, but it doesn't dive into it deeply enough for me.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez wrote yet another book that seems to have been written for me. The chapters that really spoke to me were La Loca, Sees Fantasmas, Dignified tia (my mom), the childless tia, and booksmart tia. Wow thank you Prisca for writing this. I loved listening to your voice while I listened. Thank you, thank you!!

[Rosio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was good and interesting. Not really a story but it got me thinking what titles fit the tias and primas in my family.

[Jarlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this while visiting Mexico, surrounded by my Tias and Primas. I saw myself in a few of the archetypes and I saw the women in my family being described in ways i didnt know how to put into words.

I feel more compassion and empathy for women I vilanized in my head, not truly understanding that we are all victims of colonialism, and it's byproducts.

[CJ E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the different iterations of women in the authors life. The cultural invitation, but similarities that all people of color face in the pursuit of life here in America was not only affirming, but another reminder of the importance to storytelling. I hope many people of all races read this, but especially non BIPOC!

[Maria Brambila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez's Tías and Primas beautifully captures the richness and complexity of Latinas, shattering the narrow stereotypes often seen in Hollywood. As a Latina, this book will make you feel truly seen. Prisca masterfully portrays a variety of Latina archetypes, from the academic to the street-smart prima, and you're sure to find yourself relating to more than one. She describes our tías and primas in ways that other media often fail to, offering a more nuanced and authentic representation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook from start to finish. Beyond its relatability, I loved the little nuggets of wisdom and advice Prisca provides to help us heal past and future generations. The cherry on top was hearing it all narrated in Prisca's own voice, making it feel even more personal and heartfelt.

This is a must-read for anyone looking to understand themselves and the mujeres in their lives on a deeper level.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to this powerful advance reader audio of Tías and Primas.

[Edie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts was an incredible read. I listened to the book and the author's narration added to the authenticity and vulnerability that was already on the page. Tías and Primas is the natural progression and listening to it was a deep, soul-level, pleasure. Thank you to Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez, the publisher, and NetGalley for the audio ARC.

There is a good chance this book isn't for you. And that's okay. I hope every reader finds books which fit them like a favorite cardigan. And to do that, books cannot be everything to everybody. This book has a targeted audience and it will be everything to them. I fell hard for the author's previous book and have been eagerly following updates ever since Tías and Primas was announced. I screenshot reading lists as they were posted and attended IG lives. I hope everyone who needs this book, finds it. And everyone else is welcome to read it too. Reading builds understanding and empathy. The world needs more of that. Always.

Tías and Primas documents the archetypes found in certain cultural contexts. Readers from that context will feel seen while reading the book. And people from other contexts will gain an insight, an understanding, of a culture other than their own. Both ways of reading the book are valuable. The book is full of personal narratives and hard-won wisdom. But it is built on a solid academic foundation. That is important to name. Certain stories seem to be given less scholarly weight because of who is telling the story. We, as readers, need to interrogate ourselves about that. We need to ask ourselves if we are doing that, and if so, why. This book is brave and honest and asks the reader to be as well.

[Kate Romeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have women in your family, this book describes them. ♥️ found a description of every female in my life and how they relate to the world and others. Really enjoyed this book and want to read it again.

[Amy Quichiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

you’re a star, Prisca!

[Lizbeth Salgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prisca, thank you for writing this book 🥹 When I first heard of the title, I knew this one was going to make me be in my feelings. Coming from a big and close family, this hits. The first chapter I couldn’t start reading it knowing this was my grandma’s Eva first birthday without us, La MATRIARCH💜

“Imagine the most important person in your life passing, and then multiply that tenfold - that is what it feels like to lose a matriarch.” My family also didn’t know how to grieve together. My cousins, siblings and I trying to be strong for our moms, but we were also grieving. Abuelita Eva taught the women in our lives to be strong & putting always our families first, but never taught us how to live without her presence.

My favorite chapter was the street-smart prima, I felt I can relate to her and the phrase Viva ☀️

Second Mom tia made me so emotional with knowing I am that to one of my best friend’s daughter. I always say it’s an honor/privilege being called her tia. I may not be family by blood but by CHOICE. “Your friendship with another woman teaches the girls in your life that friendships are life-giving.” 💗
I value so much my friendships with my girls- mis hermanitas de sangre y de amistad💗

Can’t wait to see you Prisca in Chicago soon! Las chicas de Chicago te adoramos 🤗

[Kitana Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a full circle, heartwarming ending. It almost feels like this book opened up my third eye. Reading the similarities in familial dynamics and generational traumas that are shared in the Latinx/Hisp communities made me feel seen. For so long I struggled to find my place within my culture, within my family. This book showed me different perspectives on why some character types act the way they do. Even how resilient each character is in their own way. I have gained a new understanding of my own abuelitas, tias, y primas. Overall great book.

[Jackie Paiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Basic Books | Seal Press via NetGalley for providing me with this ARC! I loved getting to read a kaleidoscope of different experiences of femininity and womanhood throughout this book. It was a lovely discussion of some of the shared experiences Latines may have, using archetypes to share not only experiences but also advice and wisdom. I found shimmers of many of my family members in each archetype as well as myself. A really great read, and I would love to read about other archetypes folks see in their own family too. Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez’s first book For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts came to me at a time in my life.

[Mylissa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this collection or stories and third person reflections on the women that helped raise the author. The audiobook at times felt a little unorganized, but overall each chapter was almost like a stand alone mini novel that discussed a different archetypes.

Thank you Hachette audio and netgalley for the advanced listening copy.

[Odaly Rivas · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many nuggets of wisdom to be found in this book. There are of course some archetypes and chapters I see myself reflected in and more relatable than others, but there was something to learn from each of them anyway.

[Yesenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges & Tender Hearts so I was definitely looking forward to this one. Sad to say I didn’t feel that same deep love and understanding with the execution this time. Though it aimed to give respect to the Tias and Primas, it felt like the author created more tropes and even looked down on some of the archetypes. A lot of this book felt surface level EXCEPT for her stories regarding the queer tia (which was really wholesome and lovely but also depressing and real).

Someone said maybe this is the tarot deck / pick as you go type of book that works for different folks at different times, but hard to say for sure.

Don’t highly recommend but do think you should read it and form your own opinion about it.

[Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much. While it might not be for everyone, it was perfect for me at this time. She wrote based on her own experiences with the family she grew up with and using researched sources to find a connection as to why they are the way they are.
I saw myself and many of the women in my family in a variety of the archetypes described. It’s not meant to cure but rather help the women in Latine communities be seen. Healing and refreshing.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to come but holy shit, this is an absolute must read for women in large close-knit families with women than run the show.

[Yasmin Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was literally made for me.

Prisca eres grande!! 💐

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ouch. Perfect explanation of the beauty and heartbreak that comes with latinidad. Analysis through a nostalgic lens, characterizing each feminine figure you’ve experienced from girlhood and beyond.

[Liz ✨]

fuck.

[Christy Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[La · Rating 4 out of 5]

The list of Tias is real.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

It reminded me of all of my different types of primas and tias. It reminded me of my childhood and all of the women I grew up with.

[Bernice Sheram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book if you’re Hispanic, a woman of color, or both. I felt so seen while reading it. I recognized these women—they’ve been a part of my life in one way or another. This book put into words so many things I’ve struggled to express. If you read Spanish, the experience will flow even more naturally. Tías and Primas is a must-read.

[Vannessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was excited come across a book that aims to explore the identities and experiences of Latinas, and claims to celebrate the unique bonds of family, heritage, and resilience. However, the book's execution often feels scattered, its prose sometimes messy and lacking cohesion. Rodriguez's transitions between personal anecdotes and third-person narratives are jarring, creating a fragmented reading experience. One moment, she shares intimate, raw insights; the next moment, the narrative shifts abruptly, losing the emotional resonance that personal storytelling typically provides.

While Rodriguez's intention to challenge cultural stereotypes is admirable, her approach inadvertently creates new ones. Instead of breaking free from rigid labels, the book often falls into predictable tropes, which feel reductive rather than enlightening. Instead of offering a fresh, multi-dimensional portrayal of Latina identity, Tias and Primas occasionally recycles the very stereotypes it seeks to dismantle, leaving me with a sense of dissatisfaction and frustration.

Moreover, some passages come across as uninspired, relying on clichés rather than innovative storytelling. The narrative lacks the depth and nuance that a subject as complex as Latina identity warrants. Despite Rodriguez’s intent to empower, the book sometimes feels more like a surface-level exploration, missing opportunities for richer reflection and meaningful insight.

In the end, Tias and Primas is an ambitious attempt that falls short in its trite execution, hindered by inconsistent writing and an oversimplified approach to complex themes.