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This Is the Only Kingdom: A Novel
<LONGLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL AWARD • From the Whiting Award-winning author Jaquira Díaz, an epic novel of a mother and daughter wrestling with the aftermath of a murder, set against the backdrop of a tightknit, working-class barrio in Puerto Rico.
When Maricarmen meets Rey el Cantante, beloved small-time Robin Hood and local musician on the rise, she begins to envision a life beyond the tight-knit community of el Caserío, Puerto Rico – beyond cleaning houses, beyond waiting tables, beyond the constant tug of war between the street hustlers and los camarones. But breaking free proves more difficult than she imagined, and she soon finds herself struggling to make a home for herself, for Rey, his young brother Tito, and eventually, their daughter Nena. Until one fateful day changes everything.
Fifteen years later, Maricarmen and Nena find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation as the community that once rallied to support Rey turns against them. Now Nena, a teenager haunted by loss and betrayal and exploring her sexual identity, must learn to fight for herself and her family in a world not always welcoming. For lovers of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels, This is the Only Kingdom is an immersive and moving portrait of a family – and a community – torn apart by generational grief, and a powerful love letter to mothers, daughters, and the barrios that make them.
When Maricarmen meets Rey el Cantante, beloved small-time Robin Hood and local musician on the rise, she begins to envision a life beyond the tight-knit community of el Caserío, Puerto Rico – beyond cleaning houses, beyond waiting tables, beyond the constant tug of war between the street hustlers and los camarones. But breaking free proves more difficult than she imagined, and she soon finds herself struggling to make a home for herself, for Rey, his young brother Tito, and eventually, their daughter Nena. Until one fateful day changes everything.
Fifteen years later, Maricarmen and Nena find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation as the community that once rallied to support Rey turns against them. Now Nena, a teenager haunted by loss and betrayal and exploring her sexual identity, must learn to fight for herself and her family in a world not always welcoming. For lovers of Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels, This is the Only Kingdom is an immersive and moving portrait of a family – and a community – torn apart by generational grief, and a powerful love letter to mothers, daughters, and the barrios that make them.
Audible Audio
First published October 21, 2025
About the author
Jaquira Díaz
8 books386 followersJaquira Díaz is the author of Ordinary Girls: A Memoir, winner of a Whiting Award, a Florida Book Awards Gold Medal, a Lambda Literary Awards finalist, an American Booksellers Association Indies Introduce Selection, a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Selection, an Indie Next Pick, a Library Reads pick, and finalist for the B&N Discover Prize. She lives in New York and teaches at Columbia University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
October 5, 2018
I wrote this book. It’s good. You should definitely read it!
February 19, 2026
3.5 stars, rounded up
This is the Only Kingdom follows a Puerto Rican family across years of heartbreak. It starts when Maricarmen meets Rey when she’s just a teenager. He has opportunities as a singer but runs afoul of the law instead. Their romance is short lived but results in a daughter. Maricarmen also ends up raising Tito, Rey’s younger brother. The story jumps ahead 15 years when more tragedy befalls the family. This part of the story speaks to prejudice and hatred, poverty, drugs and police brutality, of friends and family letting you down.
I found the book uneven. It’s definitely a character rich story. It focuses on the mother-daughter relationship in all its guises. Overall, this was just such a depressing story although it has moments of happiness and hope.
I listened to this, which wasn’t the wisest move for me. I initially struggled with the Spanish names and keeping the characters straight. Not all Spanish phrases are translated and it’s harder to decipher without seeing the words. Almarie Guerra does a good job narrating, switching between the multiple voices.
Diaz does a fabulous job of putting the reader in the time and place - from the poverty of 1970s Puerto Rico, to the AIDS epidemic in 1990s Miami. Throughout, drugs are a given, although we see the drugs of choice change.
This would make a great book club selection.
This is the Only Kingdom follows a Puerto Rican family across years of heartbreak. It starts when Maricarmen meets Rey when she’s just a teenager. He has opportunities as a singer but runs afoul of the law instead. Their romance is short lived but results in a daughter. Maricarmen also ends up raising Tito, Rey’s younger brother. The story jumps ahead 15 years when more tragedy befalls the family. This part of the story speaks to prejudice and hatred, poverty, drugs and police brutality, of friends and family letting you down.
I found the book uneven. It’s definitely a character rich story. It focuses on the mother-daughter relationship in all its guises. Overall, this was just such a depressing story although it has moments of happiness and hope.
I listened to this, which wasn’t the wisest move for me. I initially struggled with the Spanish names and keeping the characters straight. Not all Spanish phrases are translated and it’s harder to decipher without seeing the words. Almarie Guerra does a good job narrating, switching between the multiple voices.
Diaz does a fabulous job of putting the reader in the time and place - from the poverty of 1970s Puerto Rico, to the AIDS epidemic in 1990s Miami. Throughout, drugs are a given, although we see the drugs of choice change.
This would make a great book club selection.
Read
November 19, 2025This is one of Book Riot’s Best Books of 2025:
With a focus on mother-daughter relationships, this is a deeply felt, layered generational drama and coming-of-age novel. Maricarmen’s life changes as a teen in Puerto Rico when her mom throws her out after overhearing her confess her love for a boy she was forbidden to date. Decades later, her daughter Nena finds herself in Miami trying to understand generational trauma. This was one of the very few 2025 releases that I was highly anticipating that actually delivered, and just like Díaz’s memoir, I felt this book inside my bones. Almarie Guerra does a fantastic job narrating the audiobook.
- Jamie Canaves
With a focus on mother-daughter relationships, this is a deeply felt, layered generational drama and coming-of-age novel. Maricarmen’s life changes as a teen in Puerto Rico when her mom throws her out after overhearing her confess her love for a boy she was forbidden to date. Decades later, her daughter Nena finds herself in Miami trying to understand generational trauma. This was one of the very few 2025 releases that I was highly anticipating that actually delivered, and just like Díaz’s memoir, I felt this book inside my bones. Almarie Guerra does a fantastic job narrating the audiobook.
- Jamie Canaves
May 6, 2025
This is a beautiful read. A coming-of-age novel that confronts poverty, racism, despair, striving, drug addiction, family estrangement, LGTBQ isolation and acceptance, redemption, and love. Told from the perspective of shifting protagonists across multiple generations of the same family. A story that spans decades beginning in a Puerto Rican housing project and ending among a community of friends in Miami Beach. A deeply touching story.
October 19, 2025
This is The Only Kingdom by Jaquira Diaz is a multigenerational family story that takes place in Puerto Rico and South Beach, Miami. It is a plot and character driven novel with quite a bit of tragedy — murder, anti-Black racism, violent homophobia. Diaz’s novel is fast paced and, at times, I felt like I could feel the sweat. The first line of the book sets the tone: “hours before they find him, everything burns.”
This passage gives some idea of the real tragedies found in Diaz’s novel:
The newspapers would mention, briefly, that the Humacao prosecutor opened an investigation. They’d say that after Rey was driven to the Ryder Memorial Hospital emergency room, the police cruiser had been stolen from the hospital parking lot, and when it was found three days later, it had been doused in gasoline, set on fire. No evidence was recovered. They’d say Rey would be remembered as a loyal friend, that he was an addict, that he left behind a daughter, a wife, a little brother. The Humacao Houdini. El Caserío’s Robin Hood. He was twenty-four years old.
I appreciated this explanation of the title:
How many times had she heard heaven described as a kingdom where Jesus sat on a throne? And how many times had she heard them describe the sins that would keep Tito—and Nena—from the kingdom of heaven? But hell wasn’t real, and heaven was no kingdom. This, she wanted to tell them all, this is the only kingdom. Everything else was a lie.
The prose was solid, but I really did not find any passages I wanted to memorize. In my opinion, This is The Only Kingdom is worth reading. It is not sublime.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a free copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
epub. 336 pgs. 18 October 2025. Publishing 21 October 2025.
December 3, 2025
I really didn’t connect with this book, which is a shame, considering it tackles such important topics in an interesting historical and cultural context.
I found most, if not all, characters to be extremely unlikeable with little to no redeeming qualities. The character growth that did occur felt rushed and simplistic. I understand that not all stories are about characters that we resonate with — some of the best are when we don’t! — however, I felt no payoff or overarching takeaway when I finished this book. I found myself often rooting for Nena, just to continue feeling removed from her.
In terms of the novel’s main themes, which included questions of race, villager mindset/philosophy, generational trauma, addiction, and class/community struggle, I found these topics on two ends of a spectrum. Some themes felt redundant and tiresome. Others felt briefly mentioned and overly simplistic. I would have loved a novel that could’ve shed more depth in the more underdeveloped themes. As other reviews have mentioned, the writing felt very juvenile and unsatisfactory.
I expected more with this novel as its premise held so much promise. As with a movie that isn’t edited correctly, this could’ve used a condensing of some sections and an expanding in others.
I really enjoyed learning more about Puerto Rican culture, something I know very little about and is maybe why I didn’t connect with as intended. I found the author’s depiction of setting and atmosphere a strong point; something that served as a character on its own.
If anything, this book is pointing me down a path to explore more Latinx stories, voices, and literature.
I found most, if not all, characters to be extremely unlikeable with little to no redeeming qualities. The character growth that did occur felt rushed and simplistic. I understand that not all stories are about characters that we resonate with — some of the best are when we don’t! — however, I felt no payoff or overarching takeaway when I finished this book. I found myself often rooting for Nena, just to continue feeling removed from her.
In terms of the novel’s main themes, which included questions of race, villager mindset/philosophy, generational trauma, addiction, and class/community struggle, I found these topics on two ends of a spectrum. Some themes felt redundant and tiresome. Others felt briefly mentioned and overly simplistic. I would have loved a novel that could’ve shed more depth in the more underdeveloped themes. As other reviews have mentioned, the writing felt very juvenile and unsatisfactory.
I expected more with this novel as its premise held so much promise. As with a movie that isn’t edited correctly, this could’ve used a condensing of some sections and an expanding in others.
I really enjoyed learning more about Puerto Rican culture, something I know very little about and is maybe why I didn’t connect with as intended. I found the author’s depiction of setting and atmosphere a strong point; something that served as a character on its own.
If anything, this book is pointing me down a path to explore more Latinx stories, voices, and literature.
November 20, 2025
I was so engrossed in this story that I couldn’t put it down. I love the way this story is written and how you go from character to character and feels like you are getting a real in depth story. 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 4, 2026
This Is the Only Kingdom was the stunning and extraordinary debut novel written by Jaquira Diaz. Previously I had read and loved her memoir, Ordinary Girls. However, I was not prepared for the nuanced and multi-layered book, often heartbreaking, set in the barrio of Puerto Rico, el Caserio Padre Rivera.
In the prologue of the book, set in 1993, a dead body is discovered in the island’s cane fields following a devastating fire. It is at this point, that Jaquira Diaz begins to tell the story of the life of the protagonist, Maricarmen, whose family was forced to move to the public housing project el Caserio. This is where Mari, at age sixteen, spends her summers cleaning houses and babysitting. One of her clients, Dona Iris, is dying from cancer and asks Maricarmen to help care for her baby, Tito. It is through this relationship that Maricarmen begins to know her older son known as Rey el Cantante, a gifted singer and petty thief loved and revered by el Caserio’s residents, and reviled by the police for sharing his bounty with his neighbors. Maricarmen and Rey fall in love, but because his skin is dark, Maricarmen is kicked from her home. She then drops out of school and marries Rey who is often high on drugs. They have a daughter, Nena. How she had tried to make a home for all of them in this place that she both loved and hated. This housing project built for the poor. It was known that after they were all gone, the myth of Rey el Cantante would live on—how he was all music and loyalty and reckless abandon.
In the prologue of the book, set in 1993, a dead body is discovered in the island’s cane fields following a devastating fire. It is at this point, that Jaquira Diaz begins to tell the story of the life of the protagonist, Maricarmen, whose family was forced to move to the public housing project el Caserio. This is where Mari, at age sixteen, spends her summers cleaning houses and babysitting. One of her clients, Dona Iris, is dying from cancer and asks Maricarmen to help care for her baby, Tito. It is through this relationship that Maricarmen begins to know her older son known as Rey el Cantante, a gifted singer and petty thief loved and revered by el Caserio’s residents, and reviled by the police for sharing his bounty with his neighbors. Maricarmen and Rey fall in love, but because his skin is dark, Maricarmen is kicked from her home. She then drops out of school and marries Rey who is often high on drugs. They have a daughter, Nena. How she had tried to make a home for all of them in this place that she both loved and hated. This housing project built for the poor. It was known that after they were all gone, the myth of Rey el Cantante would live on—how he was all music and loyalty and reckless abandon.
“‘This Is the Only Kingdom’ is a look into the dark social truths that one woman must face as a young matriarch fighting for his family’s survival. Yet Diaz offers no tragedy. Instead, she shines a light through the character of Nena, who conjures up not just a fierce will to survive but to thrive—as her whole self—reminding us that this life must be worth living to its fullest and truest.” — XOCHITL GONZALEZ, author of “Anita de Monte Laughs Last”
October 20, 2025
Ordinary Girls is one of those memoirs you never forget. Now we have author, Jaquira Diaz’s beautiful first novel, already long listed for the Center for Fiction First Novel prize!
Set in Puerto Rico to begin, the story envelops from the first paragraph. This is a story of generational coming-of-age. It’s the stories of Mari and Nenu and covers multiple important topics, including poverty, addiction, bereavement, and isolation and withdrawal. There’s intergenerational trauma within this family, and it’s sensitively explored.
This Is the Only Kingdom is stunning in its rendering, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to all readers. All the stars. A resounding YES.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Set in Puerto Rico to begin, the story envelops from the first paragraph. This is a story of generational coming-of-age. It’s the stories of Mari and Nenu and covers multiple important topics, including poverty, addiction, bereavement, and isolation and withdrawal. There’s intergenerational trauma within this family, and it’s sensitively explored.
This Is the Only Kingdom is stunning in its rendering, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to all readers. All the stars. A resounding YES.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
June 14, 2026
The story hit me to my core even though I truly didn’t like any of the characters. I think it’s an important story but there was a lot going on that I felt could have been cut out and made the story a little stronger. Definitely worth reading and highly recommend it. I hope PR gets to be free in my lifetime.
January 23, 2026
3.5
This is one of those books that's like a 4-5 for the writing and topics it tackled but like a 3 for me for general desire to keep reading it because of how bleak most of it was. The ending does wrap up in a satisfying way, so I rounded up, but these characters GO THROUGH IT over and over in this book. The story starts in Puerto Rico in the 70s, and specifically in a poor neighborhood affected by drugs, violence, police brutality and pollution from factories. The story then shifts to the 90s in both PR and Florida and follows the progression of fear/distrust of LGBT+ folks as the AIDS epidemic took hold. Through all of this we have a cast of characters trying to find love, meaning in life, and found family over the generations. There is a strong element of generational trauma from mothers to daughters in this story as well as a history of violence for the men. I would recommend this for anyone trying to read more for diverse perspectives, so long as you know what you're getting into. Check triggers if needed.
This is one of those books that's like a 4-5 for the writing and topics it tackled but like a 3 for me for general desire to keep reading it because of how bleak most of it was. The ending does wrap up in a satisfying way, so I rounded up, but these characters GO THROUGH IT over and over in this book. The story starts in Puerto Rico in the 70s, and specifically in a poor neighborhood affected by drugs, violence, police brutality and pollution from factories. The story then shifts to the 90s in both PR and Florida and follows the progression of fear/distrust of LGBT+ folks as the AIDS epidemic took hold. Through all of this we have a cast of characters trying to find love, meaning in life, and found family over the generations. There is a strong element of generational trauma from mothers to daughters in this story as well as a history of violence for the men. I would recommend this for anyone trying to read more for diverse perspectives, so long as you know what you're getting into. Check triggers if needed.
September 3, 2025
I've been craving a story like this for a while and I finally found it! The story centers around Maricarmen and her daughter, Nena, as they navigate life in a Puerto Rican project.
Maricarmen falls in love with Rey, the neighborhood's resident musician and bad boy. After Rey is murdered, it is up to Maricarmen to make a life for herself, Nena and Rey's brother, Tito.
This book tore me to pieces, the stories felt at the same time familiar but so very new. This is not a fun read, but these characters have you rooting for them in every page.
Read this!
Thank you to Algonquin and author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
Maricarmen falls in love with Rey, the neighborhood's resident musician and bad boy. After Rey is murdered, it is up to Maricarmen to make a life for herself, Nena and Rey's brother, Tito.
This book tore me to pieces, the stories felt at the same time familiar but so very new. This is not a fun read, but these characters have you rooting for them in every page.
Read this!
Thank you to Algonquin and author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.
March 18, 2026
This is the most frustrating book I’ve read in a long time. Constant suffering, very little empathy from supporting and background characters/members of the community, so little that it was kind of hard to believe. You want to fall in love with these characters but it was almost like you purposely weren’t allowed to actually get to know them beyond their vices/sexualities since there was only a certain depth to them? I don’t know how else to describe that. The main positives of the story are the setting and the cultural references.
December 18, 2025
A sweeping, epic saga of a multi generational puerto rican family as they face rebellion, trauma and growth. Once I started this, I could not put it down. This isn't my typical genre, but was recommended by a family member and I am so glad I picked it up.
October 17, 2026
I found this very moving and engaging. It was the first book I’ve read in a while that really consistently drew me into its world and I loved the characters and setting. Would recommend, would read again.
Want to Read
December 11, 2025Pausing at 25%
Resuming in January
Resuming in January
January 31, 2026
“But hell wasn’t real, and heaven was no kingdom. This, she wanted to tell them all, this is the only kingdom. Everything else was a lie.”
This is a multilayered and complex multigenerational family drama. It’s set with the backdrop of a Caserío, a public housing project in Puerto Rico. Exploring themes of poverty, class, race, sexuality, discrimination, religion, disease.
When Maricarmen meets Rey el Cantante, her life takes a turn she never expected, setting a course that will lead the teen to grow up and take adult responsibilities too early. With heroin wreaking havoc in the community and the police persecution that brings a death no one expected.
Years later, her daughter Nena and Tito, Rey’s younger brother are living with the consequences of their families actions and also trying to survive an environment that’s changing, with AIDS now looming and causing fear.
I absolutely loved this novel. Living in the east side of PR, many of the places mentioned in the book are areas I’m very familiar with. The history of the island plays a huge part in how the story develops for the characters. The author does a masterful work in weaving all the complex topics in a meaningful way that helps develop the story.
One of my favorite experiences was recognizing that the chapter titles are classic salsa songs, from many of the legends and greats of the island. I recognized so many, my salsa loving husband would be very proud.
If you enjoy family dramas, complex social situations, characters that feel messy and real, I highly recommend this one.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
This is a multilayered and complex multigenerational family drama. It’s set with the backdrop of a Caserío, a public housing project in Puerto Rico. Exploring themes of poverty, class, race, sexuality, discrimination, religion, disease.
When Maricarmen meets Rey el Cantante, her life takes a turn she never expected, setting a course that will lead the teen to grow up and take adult responsibilities too early. With heroin wreaking havoc in the community and the police persecution that brings a death no one expected.
Years later, her daughter Nena and Tito, Rey’s younger brother are living with the consequences of their families actions and also trying to survive an environment that’s changing, with AIDS now looming and causing fear.
I absolutely loved this novel. Living in the east side of PR, many of the places mentioned in the book are areas I’m very familiar with. The history of the island plays a huge part in how the story develops for the characters. The author does a masterful work in weaving all the complex topics in a meaningful way that helps develop the story.
One of my favorite experiences was recognizing that the chapter titles are classic salsa songs, from many of the legends and greats of the island. I recognized so many, my salsa loving husband would be very proud.
If you enjoy family dramas, complex social situations, characters that feel messy and real, I highly recommend this one.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
October 27, 2025
This is the Only Kingdom is a multigenerational story spanning decades that is set in Puerto Rico and Miami. We're introduced to Maricarmen, who dream of leaving El Caserio and carving out a space for herself. We also follow Nena , who is struggling with her emerging feelings towards her best friend while grieving the loss of her uncle.
I have previously read Jaquira Diaz's memoir. If you have read it & enjoyed it, This is the Only Kingdom will be right up your alley.
What made the story so unforgettable for me were the characters. As I was reading I felt like I was in El Caserio with our characters dancing and having a good time. There were parts that were challenging to read. The characters are really put through the ringer. I suggest looking up possible trigger warnings. Ill include some here: homophobia, & police violence.
Thank you to Netgalley and Algonquin books for an advanced reader's copy of This is the Only Kingdom by Jaquira Diaz.
I have previously read Jaquira Diaz's memoir. If you have read it & enjoyed it, This is the Only Kingdom will be right up your alley.
What made the story so unforgettable for me were the characters. As I was reading I felt like I was in El Caserio with our characters dancing and having a good time. There were parts that were challenging to read. The characters are really put through the ringer. I suggest looking up possible trigger warnings. Ill include some here: homophobia, & police violence.
Thank you to Netgalley and Algonquin books for an advanced reader's copy of This is the Only Kingdom by Jaquira Diaz.
August 1, 2025
Thank you to Algonquin for providing me with an early copy through the #GoodreadsGiveaway.
This Is The Only Kingdom is a very impactful coming-of-age book that shows how support systems, or the lack thereof, and one's physical appearance influenced the lives of Maricarmen and her daughter Nenu despite growing up in the same neighborhood and facing the same threats of drug addiction, police brutality, and economic hardship. It tackles racism, sexism, homophobia, and their consequences for the main characters, even if these attitudes didn't directly target them. Overall, I thought this was a great and insightful read and I loved being able to receive this book before it was published!
This Is The Only Kingdom is a very impactful coming-of-age book that shows how support systems, or the lack thereof, and one's physical appearance influenced the lives of Maricarmen and her daughter Nenu despite growing up in the same neighborhood and facing the same threats of drug addiction, police brutality, and economic hardship. It tackles racism, sexism, homophobia, and their consequences for the main characters, even if these attitudes didn't directly target them. Overall, I thought this was a great and insightful read and I loved being able to receive this book before it was published!
December 26, 2025
Just could not connect with the characters in this book. Strange really because the historical background and general story looked so promising.
Culturally, I am very removed from all the characters and I wonder if maybe that explains my lack of understanding.
Culturally, I am very removed from all the characters and I wonder if maybe that explains my lack of understanding.
October 8, 2026
This book was raw, heartbreaking, and so full of humanity. I really loved how vividly Puerto Rico was brought to life and how the story explored family, poverty, colonialism, racism, religious trauma, misogyny, homophobia, and just the struggle to survive.
Maricarmen, Tito, and Nena broke my heart. They’re all so young and carrying so much, trying to figure out how to love and be loved when they’ve mostly known hurt and abandonment. I did wish some of the characters, especially the side characters, had more depth, but overall this was such a poignant story. The ending left me feeling sad and a little lost, but also hopeful that healing and reconciliation are possible.
Maricarmen, Tito, and Nena broke my heart. They’re all so young and carrying so much, trying to figure out how to love and be loved when they’ve mostly known hurt and abandonment. I did wish some of the characters, especially the side characters, had more depth, but overall this was such a poignant story. The ending left me feeling sad and a little lost, but also hopeful that healing and reconciliation are possible.
October 2, 2025
Toward the end of This Is the Only Kingdom, Jaquira Díaz’s debut novel, one of her protagonists finally puts the book’s title into context: “[H]ell wasn’t real, and heaven was no kingdom,” she thinks, “this is the only kingdom.” It is the 1990s in Puerto Rico, and a Black gay man has just been killed and denied a Catholic funeral.
The kingdom known to Díaz’s characters is the projects of Humacao, Puerto Rico. Her multigenerational novel is set in el Caserío Padre Rivera, a place “people left … in a police car or a body bag or a celebration, their story all over the local papers.” The community confronts racism, homophobia, poverty, and U.S. imperialism. In the process, they turn against each other.
The novel begins in 1975. Maricarmen and her sister, Loli, are among the few white children in el Caserío, a mostly Black community. Their mother, Blanca, kicks Maricarmen out when she starts dating a Black boy named Rey... [[READ THE REST IN FP: https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/03/...]]
The kingdom known to Díaz’s characters is the projects of Humacao, Puerto Rico. Her multigenerational novel is set in el Caserío Padre Rivera, a place “people left … in a police car or a body bag or a celebration, their story all over the local papers.” The community confronts racism, homophobia, poverty, and U.S. imperialism. In the process, they turn against each other.
The novel begins in 1975. Maricarmen and her sister, Loli, are among the few white children in el Caserío, a mostly Black community. Their mother, Blanca, kicks Maricarmen out when she starts dating a Black boy named Rey... [[READ THE REST IN FP: https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/03/...]]
January 15, 2026
I did enjoy this story a lot. I listened to some of it and it helped me with the Spanish pronunciations. When I was physically reading I could pronounce the names correctly. Maricarmen is a beautiful name.
My only critique is perhaps that the last part of the book after Nena runs away seemed too rushed and months go by without description. I would’ve liked to read more about Nena‘s growth and maturity. At least at the end, she and her mother reconciled and she told off Blanca (you go girl!) which was literally perfect.
Overall a great read.
My only critique is perhaps that the last part of the book after Nena runs away seemed too rushed and months go by without description. I would’ve liked to read more about Nena‘s growth and maturity. At least at the end, she and her mother reconciled and she told off Blanca (you go girl!) which was literally perfect.
Overall a great read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2026
This is a beautiful book that covers some very dark themes including drug addiction, homophobia, racism, and police brutality. The neighborhood is vividly rendered, as are the characters. The intergenerational nature of the story works really well. It's hard to see the paths some of these characters go down, particularly the first generation. At times I felt like I dodged a bullet only for the bullet to come back around. It's a good reminder of the humanity and history of the people we often take for granted (i.e. our mothers). It's a sad story, but it's not without its moments of hope, particularly at the end. I'd definitely recommend it.
March 24, 2026
Such a heavy, hard book to read, but so worthwhile. It's difficult to think that the story is based in reality as tragic as it is, but reality sucks, right.
It's the story of generational trauma, trauma of a community sentenced to fail; the story of finding yourself and staying true to that in a world and place that doesn't get you, wants you gone in every way possible - preferably death. I liked that there we left off on some optimistic note, and I love the family Nena found in the end.
It's the story of generational trauma, trauma of a community sentenced to fail; the story of finding yourself and staying true to that in a world and place that doesn't get you, wants you gone in every way possible - preferably death. I liked that there we left off on some optimistic note, and I love the family Nena found in the end.
February 27, 2026
This book was so heartbreaking. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much while reading a book. The generational trauma and struggles these characters went through was so tough to read because you just know these stories are someone’s real life story.
October 6, 2026
This book is heartbreaking. I felt so sad for these characters and how difficult life can be in these caserios. Stuck in a generational & societal cycle of poverty, abandonment, racism & homophobia, not able to love who they love, just wanting a better life for their families. Such a good book.
February 14, 2026
this was not an easy read, but it was very well written & i enjoyed the character development!
April 1, 2026
4.5 beautiful and so sad.
March 12, 2026
Literally couldn’t put this book down. The character development, pace, writing style was perfect
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