Mamey: a Spanglish novel

by Anny Caba, Amanda Ortiz (Editor)

Written entirely in Spanglish (70% English/30% Spanish).

Mamey [ma-may] is about the enduring power of family bonds that can both create and heal our deepest wounds.

When Dena’s mother, Gloria, passes, she must return to la República Dominicana for la nine days of prayer dedicated to the deceased. At the funeral, a mysterious event hints at a long-buried secret. With the help of a handsome campesino, Dena begins to reconnect with her breathtaking motherland and uncover Gloria’s enigmatic past.

Growing up in rural DR, Gloria’s life was marked by duty, as she worked to pick and peel fruit for her family’s dulce business. Everything changed when she met a boy at the finca. Torn between her heart and the promise of freedom, she had to make sacrifices that redefined her family’s destiny.

Genres: Spanish Literature

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 5, 2025

Reviews

[bookworm Rosie 🤓📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

To read a book that is written in Spanish and English was awesome! I had the opportunity to practice reading in Spanish. I loved that ! Being Dominican I can definitely relate to the story and what each and every character went through in this book . It was about family and betrayal. An amazing read !

[Raquel Fuell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. You could really see the heart and soul of the author and the love of her culture leaping from the pages. I loved that it was Spanglish because honestly that happens a lot when I talk to my friends so it truly felt like just having a really good conversation with a gf.

[Omayrax3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best books I’ve read all year . I rate very critically , this was such an immersive and heartfelt book, as a Dominican myself it literally took me an a nostalgic trip back to my country . You can tell the author is very in touch with her culture and roots and it seeped through the pages . So happy to have randomly come across this book on TikTok and read it . Best choice ever .

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the use of Spanglish throughout the story. It felt so natural and comforting to read in both languages. It created a sense of home and authenticity that made the characters and their experiences feel even more real.

This book truly moved me. There were moments that made me tear up, especially as the story unfolded its layers of secrets and emotional depth. The way it explores grief is incredibly powerful. It shows how people grieve in different ways, some quietly, some loudly, some in ways that are not always understood, and that felt so honest and human.

Overall, Mamey is a beautifully written, emotional read that captures love, loss, and identity in such a meaningful way. It is the kind of book that makes you pause, reflect, and feel deeply. I will definitely be adding this to my top reads of 2026.

[Carolina Itajahy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Natasha Colon · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5/5**
LOVED reading a book written in Spanglish. It helped me connect with the characters more reading their conversations written that way. Overall, the book is beautifully written. It put things into perspective that we all have some secrets we will take to our grave and honestly that is okay. I personally believe that Gloria did go through a lot, but at times I felt like she was too harsh to Dena. That probably came from either the fact they were so similar and Gloria felt maybe a jealousy that Dena had more freedom to live out her wild adventures compared to Gloria or simply the fact that she was Antonio’s daughter.
I was not a huge fan of the back and forth between Gloria and Dena. I am not sure why, but to me it didn’t flow that well, especially when Jess fell and we had to wait if something happened to her since there was a ‘Gloria’ chapter - it felt out of place.
The ending was beautiful. Overall, loved this book! 🇩🇴

“Mejor así! Calladita, te ves más bonita!” Page 52

“ needless to say, I left a bad taste in her mouth. Now religion felt like a childhood friend that she grew apart from, but still ran into one special occasions.” Page 74

“ te has ahogado? En agua, no pero en la vida sí” Page 260

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a literary fiction lover who adores a multi-generational, multi-perspective story, this novel scratched a huge itch! I enjoyed every moment of it. It quite frankly had all the elements that for me make up a good literary fiction book. It has excellent writing that is not overly detailed or poetic (which for me makes a book too tedious and boring to read), but it was detailed enough to paint a picture and evoke the senses. I felt like I was with the characters on their land in the DR, smelling the fruit trees and feeling the cool river water on my feet. It has complex, well developed characters who are relatable. It examines universal themes such as grief, family dynamics, cultural dynamics, motherhood, sisterhood, trauma, etc. I loved being able to follow the emotional trajectory of Dena and her mother in her younger years. For us the diaspora (not only Dominicans but other Latin Americans---I'm Cuban), it was refreshing to read a book in Spanglish! It felt very authentic to the story and engaged my brain in ways English only books don't! Very well done, and actually surprising that this is a debut novel. Anna Caba hit it out of the park.

[Solange · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book moved me in a way I didn’t expect. It tells the story of grief so honestly, but what made it unforgettable for me was how deeply it captured the first-generation Dominican American experience. There were so many small, specific details, little moments, family dynamics, unspoken emotions that felt instantly familiar. I kept thinking I know this family. They felt real, like people I’ve known my whole life.

Through the complicated, messy, and deeply human feelings of mourning, the story shows just how universal our experiences can be as Dominican Americans. The love, the tension, the traditions, the way grief lives alongside everyday life, it all felt so relatable and true. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it all since I finished it. It’s a beautiful, tender reminder of how shared and connected our stories really are.

There is love, family, a bit of a mystery and many funny moments between las tias 🥰.

[Reina Noriega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book

My heart!!! This book was everything and more. I laughed, I cried, my heartstrings were pulled. The author not only did an amazing job in perfectly capturing and encapsulating the Dominican culture so seamlessly into her story, but also the experience and feeling of being the eldest daughter, the frustrated, strong-willed woman in a Latinx culture, the harrowing experience of being an immigrant in a new country, and so on (no spoilers lol). I usually am one to fly through a book but I took my time with this one and really lived this story and these characters. A truly beautiful book, it felt like coming home.

[Daisy Murillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Representing the perspective of so many of us born and or raised in the US, but with significantly strong Hispanic, (especially Caribbean) roots, this book strikes right at the heart!! The colloquial Spanglish, the love/ annoyance relationships, the everyone in every other one’s business! This book paints the picture with heartfelt accuracy and pulls you into the real life of these two sisters figuring things out after their mother’s death

Entertaining, comically poignant portrayal of the way our families deal with tragedy, secrets and each other.

[Cat ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book being in spanglish felt “Homey”

This book was about grief , family secrets , sisterhood , forbidden love, and assimilation.

Being first generation American (in my experience) can leave you feeling not being enough of either or but still proud of both cultures. At the same time there’s a disconnect when you don’t fully understand your parents struggles and vice versa.

For any first gen grieving a relationship with their mothers despite of the reason … this one is for you.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 recommend this book! Finished this book in 2 days! Couldn’t put it down. Reading it felt deeply personal, nostalgic, reflective, and genuinely curious to continue exploring my Dominican heritage. It sparked conversations, memories, and emotions that my sisters and I hadn’t fully explored before.

[Chrisbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

literally my life in words

As a Dominican this story was amazing. I cried, I laughed, I reminisced and I had flashbacks. I love every bit of the story and the family. Reminded me of my family, my aunts, my uncles and my cousins.

I do need more on Dena and Ariel.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a deeply profound book. I loved every second of it!!

[Lesley C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It felt so personal, like a reminder of home and a hug from my dearest family members. I cannot wait for the next book 🥹❤️