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Last Night in Brooklyn
Not yet published
Expected 21 Apr 26New York Times bestselling author Xochitl Gonzalez delivers a captivating story about a young woman whose life becomes ensnared in her glamorous neighbor’s secret past
SPRING, 2007
At twenty-six, Alicia Canales Forten feels smothered by her future. She’s in a long-distance relationship, living at home with her mother’s beliefs, saving up for her wedding to a future doctor. But after Alicia ventures out one night in the neighborhood of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, she finds herself lured by the siren song of youth and possibility that the striving crowd of creatives holds, and moves in.
No one embodies this milieu more than La Garza, a larger-than-life, up-and-coming fashion designer whose epic house parties fuel neighborhood lore. La Garza’s life, observed by Alicia from her apartment across the street, seems to hold the allure and fearlessness Alicia has never dared to imagine for herself.
But when Alicia’s wealthy banker cousin moves to the neighborhood, she finds herself increasingly drawn into both his and La Garza’s precarious lives.
Against the backdrop of a potentially life-changing presidential election and a looming once-in-a-generation fiscal crisis, Last Night in Brooklyn explores the dark compromise of the American Dream for people of color living, unknowingly, in the twilight of a cultural moment. It is a story about everything money can buy—and the destruction of what it can’t.
SPRING, 2007
At twenty-six, Alicia Canales Forten feels smothered by her future. She’s in a long-distance relationship, living at home with her mother’s beliefs, saving up for her wedding to a future doctor. But after Alicia ventures out one night in the neighborhood of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, she finds herself lured by the siren song of youth and possibility that the striving crowd of creatives holds, and moves in.
No one embodies this milieu more than La Garza, a larger-than-life, up-and-coming fashion designer whose epic house parties fuel neighborhood lore. La Garza’s life, observed by Alicia from her apartment across the street, seems to hold the allure and fearlessness Alicia has never dared to imagine for herself.
But when Alicia’s wealthy banker cousin moves to the neighborhood, she finds herself increasingly drawn into both his and La Garza’s precarious lives.
Against the backdrop of a potentially life-changing presidential election and a looming once-in-a-generation fiscal crisis, Last Night in Brooklyn explores the dark compromise of the American Dream for people of color living, unknowingly, in the twilight of a cultural moment. It is a story about everything money can buy—and the destruction of what it can’t.
8 pages, Audible Audio
Expected publication April 21, 2026
14934 people want to read
About the author
Xóchitl González
4 books2,783 followersI'm a native South Brooklynite, where I was raised by my maternal grandparents . A proud graduate of the New York City public school system, I studied performing arts at Edward R. Murrow high school before getting my B.A. in Fine Art and Art History at Brown University in 1999. Twenty years later, I decided to listen to the long whispered dream of writing. I attended The Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and then was accepted to the Iowa Writers' Workshop. I completed my MFA in May of 2021 at the tender age of 43. Before writing I worked as an entrepreneur, consultant, wedding planner, fund-raiser, tarot reader and writer of etiquette columns. I currently live between Brooklyn and Long Island with my dog Hectah Lavoe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
Want to read
January 29, 2026if being nosy about my neighbors is wrong i don't wanna be right
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January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
Putting aside my discomfort that a historical novel can be set in 2007, this is a fantastic meditation on a very particular moment in Brooklyn history. The neighborhood where the main character, Alicia, lives is Fort Greene. She finds joy and possibility in the all-night parties thrown by her neighbor La Garza. Neither Alicia nor her friends realize that the coolness of Fort Greene is going to upend the neighborhood. Before the construction of the Barclays Center, and right at the tipping point of Brooklyn becoming expensive, Alicia and her friends and family try to find their way in NYC. —Julia Rittenberg
Putting aside my discomfort that a historical novel can be set in 2007, this is a fantastic meditation on a very particular moment in Brooklyn history. The neighborhood where the main character, Alicia, lives is Fort Greene. She finds joy and possibility in the all-night parties thrown by her neighbor La Garza. Neither Alicia nor her friends realize that the coolness of Fort Greene is going to upend the neighborhood. Before the construction of the Barclays Center, and right at the tipping point of Brooklyn becoming expensive, Alicia and her friends and family try to find their way in NYC. —Julia Rittenberg
August 22, 2025
Here she goes again! Xochitl Gonzalez has a gift for writing about place and its evolution. I couldn't put this book down. From start to finish I was enchanted by the rich narration that made me feel like each of the characters was someone I knew in a past life. The point of view is reflective. Gonzalez captured that nostalgic feeling we all experience when looking back at a moment in time and seeing in hindsight how it irrevocably shaped our future. The discussions of class and gentrification were nuanced and complex in a way that mirrored things I've only felt and never been able to articulate. A masterpiece yet again.
December 8, 2025
Thank you to Flatiron Bookd for the ARC of Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez. This was a vivid and character-driven read. The author’s voice is sharp, modern, and emotionally rich, pulling you straight into the rhythm of Brooklyn life. The characters were easily the standout for me—complex, flawed, and full of depth in a way that made every interaction feel real. The flow felt a little choppy despite the fast clip of the book but overall well done in a way that is so fresh and modern. Gonzalez excels again.
Want to read
July 19, 2025I like Xóchitl González as a writer. Her prior books
and
I found compelling.
I always like reading books set in Brooklyn, NY as I have been there so many times. Looking forward to this new book coming out next year, April 7, 2026.
and
I found compelling. I always like reading books set in Brooklyn, NY as I have been there so many times. Looking forward to this new book coming out next year, April 7, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5⭐
This novel was a love letter to a NYC that no longer exists due to gentrification. It also brings back the time around my graduation from college, post 9/11, but pre 2008 recession.
The novel does a wonderful job of encapsulating the feelings of hope for the future that occurred around this time while telling a very personal story of the main character. It was so easy to feel lost in a proverbial sea being in your 20s in the mid 2000s and I think Gonzalez did a great job capturing that feeling.
I was so invested in the story, I finished this book in a single day.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
This novel was a love letter to a NYC that no longer exists due to gentrification. It also brings back the time around my graduation from college, post 9/11, but pre 2008 recession.
The novel does a wonderful job of encapsulating the feelings of hope for the future that occurred around this time while telling a very personal story of the main character. It was so easy to feel lost in a proverbial sea being in your 20s in the mid 2000s and I think Gonzalez did a great job capturing that feeling.
I was so invested in the story, I finished this book in a single day.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
January 21, 2026
I was v excited for this audiobook after the awesome Anita de Monte Laughs Last. This is a nostalgic look back at 9/11 era NY, specifically Brooklyn as gentrification was really taking off. (How do I know I'm not a New Yorker? My main association with this time is Miranda moving to Brooklyn on Sex and the City.) That's the overarching theme, but most of the book focuses on the narrator and her relationships, specifically with a Brooklyn fashion designer who gets involved with her family. I liked it - it's telling a perspective that I appreciate as someone from another high cost of living area - but I wouldn't say it's as impactful as Anita de Monte.
The narrator was pretty good and felt authentic in the role, but was lacking a little in fluidity. It sounded like someone reading a book, rather than narrating their own story conversationally. Great on tone, not so much on delivery.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
The narrator was pretty good and felt authentic in the role, but was lacking a little in fluidity. It sounded like someone reading a book, rather than narrating their own story conversationally. Great on tone, not so much on delivery.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
January 18, 2026
Book Report: Last Night in Brooklyn by Xóchitl Gónzalez
Alicia is 26 and standing at the edge of a life that already feels decided…living at home…planning a wedding…following the safe path laid out for her. But one night in Fort Greene changes everything. Pulled into a magnetic circle of creatives…excess and ambition…she becomes fascinated by the life unfolding across the street…especially La Garza…a bold…intoxicating fashion designer who seems to embody everything Alicia has never dared to want. As money…desire and identity collide Alicia is forced to confront what the American Dream really costs and who it leaves behind.
This is Xóchitl González’s third novel and somehow she keeps raising the bar. I loved Olga Dies Dreaming…was blown away by Anita de Monte Laughs Last and Last Night in Brooklyn completely floored me. In under 256 pages…she weaves together class…culture…ambition and longing with such precision…all through unforgettable voices and a vividly drawn Brooklyn on the brink of change. I recommend giving this one a few extra pages to really sit with what’s quietly unfolding. Every one of her books has been a five-star read for me, and I’m already counting down to whatever she writes next.
Thank you Flatiron Books || Macmillan Audio for the ARC
Releases 4/21
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
Alicia is 26 and standing at the edge of a life that already feels decided…living at home…planning a wedding…following the safe path laid out for her. But one night in Fort Greene changes everything. Pulled into a magnetic circle of creatives…excess and ambition…she becomes fascinated by the life unfolding across the street…especially La Garza…a bold…intoxicating fashion designer who seems to embody everything Alicia has never dared to want. As money…desire and identity collide Alicia is forced to confront what the American Dream really costs and who it leaves behind.
This is Xóchitl González’s third novel and somehow she keeps raising the bar. I loved Olga Dies Dreaming…was blown away by Anita de Monte Laughs Last and Last Night in Brooklyn completely floored me. In under 256 pages…she weaves together class…culture…ambition and longing with such precision…all through unforgettable voices and a vividly drawn Brooklyn on the brink of change. I recommend giving this one a few extra pages to really sit with what’s quietly unfolding. Every one of her books has been a five-star read for me, and I’m already counting down to whatever she writes next.
Thank you Flatiron Books || Macmillan Audio for the ARC
Releases 4/21
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
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January 14, 2026Magnetic and absolutely riveting.
December 2, 2025
This is the book I needed to read at 26.
I am a longtime fan of Xochitl’s writing but this one hit it out of the park. It’s a relatively simpler novel, compared to Olga and Anita? But nevertheless, absolutely STELLAR💫
I can’t explain how well she captured the complicates emotional truth of friendship and admiration between young women. What it is like to feel free on an evening out on the dance floor (nothing like it). Both the driving energy and recklesss paralysis that comes with craving that release and attention. What it is like to live vicariously through the last precipice of hope before everything changes, something that stirred some intense nostalgia and a true shadow of what I am witnessing in my own hometown today. There is just so much to talk about. It is truly a phenomenon of a book that captures Brooklyn at its finest and its coolest - perhaps the best, last, classic New York Novel.
I am a longtime fan of Xochitl’s writing but this one hit it out of the park. It’s a relatively simpler novel, compared to Olga and Anita? But nevertheless, absolutely STELLAR💫
I can’t explain how well she captured the complicates emotional truth of friendship and admiration between young women. What it is like to feel free on an evening out on the dance floor (nothing like it). Both the driving energy and recklesss paralysis that comes with craving that release and attention. What it is like to live vicariously through the last precipice of hope before everything changes, something that stirred some intense nostalgia and a true shadow of what I am witnessing in my own hometown today. There is just so much to talk about. It is truly a phenomenon of a book that captures Brooklyn at its finest and its coolest - perhaps the best, last, classic New York Novel.
January 26, 2026
This novel is about a young woman unsure of her path forward, set in a rapidly gentrifying Brooklyn in the early 2000s. Alicia was always told to go after and grab onto the best that life has to offer, so she is holding on tight to her fiancé, a med student studying upstate, despite her body (and soul) going out with her Brooklyn friends every night. Her wealthy cousin just bought a brownstone, and there are parties and happenings everywhere. She falls under the spell of a Brooklyn-based, self-taught fashion designer who also has designs on her cousin. Complications ensue, leading Alicia to question everything. The characters and story are absorbing, and the audiobook narration is excellent.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #LastNightinBrooklyn for review purposes. Publication date: 21 April 2026.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #LastNightinBrooklyn for review purposes. Publication date: 21 April 2026.
December 6, 2025
I won this in a giveaway I tried reading but I unfortunately couldn't get into it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2026
3.5 stars review soon
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Last Night In Brooklyn is an elegiac and brilliant novel about the gentrification of Brooklyn in the early aughts. Through the eyes of Alicia Canales Forten, we experience an eclectic group of young, 20s-ish Brooklynites in the early 2000s. They fall in love, they party, and they live their lives, ever true to their borough. They are all young and on the way up, but, with progress comes change, and not always for the better.
Alicia lives across the street from La Garza, a hot new designer, who also happens to be a dyed-in-the-wool native Brooklynite. Her heritage is important to her, and it informs how she lives her life. But, glamorous as she is, La Garza has had a difficult life, one that involves a well-heeled financier who also happens to be Alicia's cousin. Alicia, you see, is the daughter of a struggling Latina mother, and her ex-husband, a scion of a wealthy Dominican family. Alicia is familiar with both worlds, having spent summers with her father's family on the Cape, so she is the literal embodiment of the struggle between the heart and soul of Brooklyn and those who wish to exploit it.
Gonzalez's writing is hypnotic, fully evoking a neighborhood in Brooklyn. Her characterization is flawless and, in theme, Last Night In Brooklyn stirs comparisons to The Great Gatsby, with its commentary on wealth, class, and tragedy. Last Night In Brooklyn is a brilliant novel, and is sure to be a contender for the Best of 2026 lists.
Alicia lives across the street from La Garza, a hot new designer, who also happens to be a dyed-in-the-wool native Brooklynite. Her heritage is important to her, and it informs how she lives her life. But, glamorous as she is, La Garza has had a difficult life, one that involves a well-heeled financier who also happens to be Alicia's cousin. Alicia, you see, is the daughter of a struggling Latina mother, and her ex-husband, a scion of a wealthy Dominican family. Alicia is familiar with both worlds, having spent summers with her father's family on the Cape, so she is the literal embodiment of the struggle between the heart and soul of Brooklyn and those who wish to exploit it.
Gonzalez's writing is hypnotic, fully evoking a neighborhood in Brooklyn. Her characterization is flawless and, in theme, Last Night In Brooklyn stirs comparisons to The Great Gatsby, with its commentary on wealth, class, and tragedy. Last Night In Brooklyn is a brilliant novel, and is sure to be a contender for the Best of 2026 lists.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3 stars
I'm a FAN of this author. I loved _Olga Dies Dreaming_, and I really enjoyed _Anita_, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this audiobook. While I did enjoy the read, the degree to which I've REALLY enjoyed Gonzalez's previous efforts made this feel a little underwhelming.
Alicia is extremely relatable when readers first meet her. She's in her mid-20s and feeling really caught between the disappointments of her romantic relationship and the expectations that she and others have about how she's going to skyrocket out of her circumstances in favor of some sort of near magical upgrade. When Alicia reconnects with friends and family members from her past in new ways, she begins to immediately wonder about her choices and future possibilities.
Gonzalez does two things incredibly well here. First, Alicia is giving quarter-life realizations in big, obvious, extremely genuine ways. I felt like in some ways I was looking into images of my own life at that point. More seasoned readers may have similar thoughts about the follies of these characters' youths (and their own!) and feel grateful for what they've learned and for how effectively Gonzalez portrays this stage of life. Another clear success? The atmospheric nature of the novel overall. Gonzalez writes exceptionally, not just in her novels but also in nonfiction, about the importance of place, and she makes the location a character. The allure of Alicia's life is really about Brooklyn more so than her immediate circumstances, and anyone who lives in or has spent significant time in a place like this will also appreciate the soul crushing nature of having to consider leaving a place that made you and is a fundamental part of you.
Now, all of these love notes aside, this book just feels too pedestrian. The extremely developed characters, social issues, and themes I'm used to in Gonzalez's work are just not working on the level I anticipated. It's good but not the extremely memorable, moving missive I eagerly anticipated.
Two huge wins followed by a strong but not earth shattering book? I still feel very lucky to have gotten to read this and am already waiting eagerly for what this writer will create next.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I'm a FAN of this author. I loved _Olga Dies Dreaming_, and I really enjoyed _Anita_, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this audiobook. While I did enjoy the read, the degree to which I've REALLY enjoyed Gonzalez's previous efforts made this feel a little underwhelming.
Alicia is extremely relatable when readers first meet her. She's in her mid-20s and feeling really caught between the disappointments of her romantic relationship and the expectations that she and others have about how she's going to skyrocket out of her circumstances in favor of some sort of near magical upgrade. When Alicia reconnects with friends and family members from her past in new ways, she begins to immediately wonder about her choices and future possibilities.
Gonzalez does two things incredibly well here. First, Alicia is giving quarter-life realizations in big, obvious, extremely genuine ways. I felt like in some ways I was looking into images of my own life at that point. More seasoned readers may have similar thoughts about the follies of these characters' youths (and their own!) and feel grateful for what they've learned and for how effectively Gonzalez portrays this stage of life. Another clear success? The atmospheric nature of the novel overall. Gonzalez writes exceptionally, not just in her novels but also in nonfiction, about the importance of place, and she makes the location a character. The allure of Alicia's life is really about Brooklyn more so than her immediate circumstances, and anyone who lives in or has spent significant time in a place like this will also appreciate the soul crushing nature of having to consider leaving a place that made you and is a fundamental part of you.
Now, all of these love notes aside, this book just feels too pedestrian. The extremely developed characters, social issues, and themes I'm used to in Gonzalez's work are just not working on the level I anticipated. It's good but not the extremely memorable, moving missive I eagerly anticipated.
Two huge wins followed by a strong but not earth shattering book? I still feel very lucky to have gotten to read this and am already waiting eagerly for what this writer will create next.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
General Thoughts:
This book had so many things going for it. I admit when I read the synopsis I wasn't 100% sure this was something I was going to enjoy. Which makes the fact that it was one of the best reads I've read this month even the more surprising. I don't think the synopsis does a good job of explaining just how emotionally charged, messy, and layered this book is. But I'm here to tell you it was riveting.
I read this book in one day. I know it's not a very long book but honestly, I felt like I've been reading for an hour by the time I finished. It went by so quickly, the pacing was absolutely perfect for me and there was always something happening for the storyline. The characters all had an interwoven story that was interesting and fresh.
The culture and community of Brooklyn was definitely felt throughout the novel. I myself have never been to Brooklyn, but I felt like a true Brooklynite reading this story and being immersed in the culture and community. The feeling of the streets and family were felt.
Is this book full of Messi, Family and friend drama?? Absolutely it is and it was of the best kind. I could not take my eyes from the page for any reason.
Really enjoyed this and really happy that it's my first five star read of the year.
Things to Love:
* Sense of community
* Love song to Brooklyn
* Complex and flawed characters
* Messy premise
Things to Question:
* Nothing. Really enjoyed this one
Book Stats:
📖: 256 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Format: Physical ARC
Series: STANDALONE
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 7 hours 37 minutes
🎤: Elizabeth Rodriguez
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Format: Single POV/Timeline
Was the narration good??
* I enjoyed the narration for this one. A couple of the voices used for some of the characters were a little hard to get used to it first but eventually they blended into the story and felt unnatural. Overall, really happy with the audiobook experience.
Disclaimer: I read this book as a gifted physical ARC from the publisher and a gifted audiobook from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review
This book had so many things going for it. I admit when I read the synopsis I wasn't 100% sure this was something I was going to enjoy. Which makes the fact that it was one of the best reads I've read this month even the more surprising. I don't think the synopsis does a good job of explaining just how emotionally charged, messy, and layered this book is. But I'm here to tell you it was riveting.
I read this book in one day. I know it's not a very long book but honestly, I felt like I've been reading for an hour by the time I finished. It went by so quickly, the pacing was absolutely perfect for me and there was always something happening for the storyline. The characters all had an interwoven story that was interesting and fresh.
The culture and community of Brooklyn was definitely felt throughout the novel. I myself have never been to Brooklyn, but I felt like a true Brooklynite reading this story and being immersed in the culture and community. The feeling of the streets and family were felt.
Is this book full of Messi, Family and friend drama?? Absolutely it is and it was of the best kind. I could not take my eyes from the page for any reason.
Really enjoyed this and really happy that it's my first five star read of the year.
Things to Love:
* Sense of community
* Love song to Brooklyn
* Complex and flawed characters
* Messy premise
Things to Question:
* Nothing. Really enjoyed this one
Book Stats:
📖: 256 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Format: Physical ARC
Series: STANDALONE
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 7 hours 37 minutes
🎤: Elizabeth Rodriguez
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Format: Single POV/Timeline
Was the narration good??
* I enjoyed the narration for this one. A couple of the voices used for some of the characters were a little hard to get used to it first but eventually they blended into the story and felt unnatural. Overall, really happy with the audiobook experience.
Disclaimer: I read this book as a gifted physical ARC from the publisher and a gifted audiobook from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
For anyone who has read at least 1 previous book by this author, Last Night in Brooklyn will feel no different.
We follow a young female main character, Alicia, who is torn between what is expected from her and what she really wants for her in life. There are also different characters who enter Alicia's life and they'll give her different perspectives, ideas, desires, and healing.
Brooklyn itself works as a character of its own, so we, the readers, witness what happens not only to Alicia's growth as a person, but also to the changes the borough is going through.
I loved Gonzalez's debut, and even though I didn't particularly love her sophomore novel, I was very excited for her third and new novel.
This one reminds me a little of Olga Dies Dreaming...however, I couldn't connect to any of the characters on Last Night in Brooklyn the way I did with Olga.
I do not think, at all, that there is anything essentially wrong with this book. I personally didn't relate to Alicia as a character or anyone else, as a matter of fact.. Sure, I empathise with her. Whoever is or was once a 20-something year old, with a heavy baggage of disappointments on their back, will understand where Alicia is coming from. She can be easily relatable to.
It just didn't clique with me. La Garza is a character who, at first, got me intrigued, but very quickly ceased to do that.
It's just me. Maybe in this particular case this book is not for me.
I'm sure other readers will enjoy this novel much more than I did. If you have read books by this author before and enjoyed, consider picking this one up, too.
I listened to the audiobook format and it is really well done. The single narrator does a great job by voicing different characters and using a wide range of tones. I do recommend it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for allowing me to listen to an advanced free audio copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
We follow a young female main character, Alicia, who is torn between what is expected from her and what she really wants for her in life. There are also different characters who enter Alicia's life and they'll give her different perspectives, ideas, desires, and healing.
Brooklyn itself works as a character of its own, so we, the readers, witness what happens not only to Alicia's growth as a person, but also to the changes the borough is going through.
I loved Gonzalez's debut, and even though I didn't particularly love her sophomore novel, I was very excited for her third and new novel.
This one reminds me a little of Olga Dies Dreaming...however, I couldn't connect to any of the characters on Last Night in Brooklyn the way I did with Olga.
I do not think, at all, that there is anything essentially wrong with this book. I personally didn't relate to Alicia as a character or anyone else, as a matter of fact.. Sure, I empathise with her. Whoever is or was once a 20-something year old, with a heavy baggage of disappointments on their back, will understand where Alicia is coming from. She can be easily relatable to.
It just didn't clique with me. La Garza is a character who, at first, got me intrigued, but very quickly ceased to do that.
It's just me. Maybe in this particular case this book is not for me.
I'm sure other readers will enjoy this novel much more than I did. If you have read books by this author before and enjoyed, consider picking this one up, too.
I listened to the audiobook format and it is really well done. The single narrator does a great job by voicing different characters and using a wide range of tones. I do recommend it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for allowing me to listen to an advanced free audio copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I can't wait!! I just received an audio ARC from NetGalley and MacMillan Audio. SO EXCITED!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this audioARC of Last Night in Brooklyn. I was so excited to get my hands on this audiobook. I LOVED Xochitl Gonzalez two previous books and was salivating at the thought of this one. Overall, this was a really enjoyable audiobook experience. The narrator was fantastic and her Brooklyn accents and Boriqua/Spanish accents added to the experience.
We experience a coming of age summer for Alicia Canales. She is living her life upholding everyone’s expectations, especially her mother’s. She is engaged to the Med Student, she graduated from Yale, and she has summered on Martha’s Vineyard with her father’s family. Alicia knows how to navigate the wealthy elite circles, while still drinking bodega coffee and what it was to grow up in Brooklyn. Alicia’s reflection of the summer of 2007 is really a reflection of her maturation into her adult self and learning who she is without seeing herself in the reflection of a man or money. It is Alicia coming into her independent life and her womanhood without the influence of the money and entitlement that is gentrifying Brooklyn and the community she loves (her cousin Devin), as well as without the influence of a future doctor husband (her Mother's expectations) or a toxic love that “leaves you in ashes” (Mateo). She was sucked into the absolutely legendary world of La Garza under what she later discovers were false pretenses, though this relationship and loss brought her a lot of clarity and discovery. La Garza is such a larger than life figure. She is all consuming and Alicia is able to reflect on her own life through her relationship with her.
As is her style, Gonzalez story telling has many layers. This story is no different. Hearing Alicia tell her story through her summer experience in La Garza’s world was such a unique way of telling a story of growth and self discovery. I really enjoyed this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this audioARC of Last Night in Brooklyn. I was so excited to get my hands on this audiobook. I LOVED Xochitl Gonzalez two previous books and was salivating at the thought of this one. Overall, this was a really enjoyable audiobook experience. The narrator was fantastic and her Brooklyn accents and Boriqua/Spanish accents added to the experience.
We experience a coming of age summer for Alicia Canales. She is living her life upholding everyone’s expectations, especially her mother’s. She is engaged to the Med Student, she graduated from Yale, and she has summered on Martha’s Vineyard with her father’s family. Alicia knows how to navigate the wealthy elite circles, while still drinking bodega coffee and what it was to grow up in Brooklyn. Alicia’s reflection of the summer of 2007 is really a reflection of her maturation into her adult self and learning who she is without seeing herself in the reflection of a man or money. It is Alicia coming into her independent life and her womanhood without the influence of the money and entitlement that is gentrifying Brooklyn and the community she loves (her cousin Devin), as well as without the influence of a future doctor husband (her Mother's expectations) or a toxic love that “leaves you in ashes” (Mateo). She was sucked into the absolutely legendary world of La Garza under what she later discovers were false pretenses, though this relationship and loss brought her a lot of clarity and discovery. La Garza is such a larger than life figure. She is all consuming and Alicia is able to reflect on her own life through her relationship with her.
As is her style, Gonzalez story telling has many layers. This story is no different. Hearing Alicia tell her story through her summer experience in La Garza’s world was such a unique way of telling a story of growth and self discovery. I really enjoyed this story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook
Alicia's life feels stuck in neutral: she's in a job she likes well enough, but doesn't love; she's in a long distance relationship with her fiance, and she's barely scraping together enough money to pay her part of the rent. When she's invited to one of the infamous parties for her neighbor "La Garza" her life suddenly kicks into high gear. La Garza, an up-and-coming fashion designer, sucks Alicia into her orbit, which includes reconnecting with Alicia's cousin. Set against the intersection of a precarious financial crisis and life-altering presidential election, Alicia's summer with La Garza will make her question everything she thought about herself and her relationships.
If you ever wondered what an updated gender bent GREAT GATSBY, set in the early aughts, with a cast of Black and brown New Yorkers, would look like, this is the book for you. Gonzalez infuses her book with the same sense of welcoming readers deep into the world of the narrator, the way she's done with her two previous books. If you've read GATSBY and remember the story beats, it's fun to see the places where the author stayed fairly true to the original story and the places she diverged. Like Nick Carraway, Alicia's story happens on the fringes of the bigger than life La Garza and the wealthy lives of her cousin and his wife. Unlike Nick, Alicia has more substance and drive, as a character. The end of the book felt a little soft, but overall this was a great read filled with the time capsule of 2007 pop culture and strong writing.
Last Night in Brooklyn is out April 21, 2026
Alicia's life feels stuck in neutral: she's in a job she likes well enough, but doesn't love; she's in a long distance relationship with her fiance, and she's barely scraping together enough money to pay her part of the rent. When she's invited to one of the infamous parties for her neighbor "La Garza" her life suddenly kicks into high gear. La Garza, an up-and-coming fashion designer, sucks Alicia into her orbit, which includes reconnecting with Alicia's cousin. Set against the intersection of a precarious financial crisis and life-altering presidential election, Alicia's summer with La Garza will make her question everything she thought about herself and her relationships.
If you ever wondered what an updated gender bent GREAT GATSBY, set in the early aughts, with a cast of Black and brown New Yorkers, would look like, this is the book for you. Gonzalez infuses her book with the same sense of welcoming readers deep into the world of the narrator, the way she's done with her two previous books. If you've read GATSBY and remember the story beats, it's fun to see the places where the author stayed fairly true to the original story and the places she diverged. Like Nick Carraway, Alicia's story happens on the fringes of the bigger than life La Garza and the wealthy lives of her cousin and his wife. Unlike Nick, Alicia has more substance and drive, as a character. The end of the book felt a little soft, but overall this was a great read filled with the time capsule of 2007 pop culture and strong writing.
Last Night in Brooklyn is out April 21, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Last Night in Brooklyn is set in 2007, which my brain wants to call 'just a couple years ago' but then I do the math and... yikes, it’s actually forever ago. There’s something weirdly comforting but also kind of unsettling about New York/Brooklyn stories from that era, because you totally recognize the world but you can also see how fast everything is about to change. The book follows Alicia, who is basically just trying to figure out what she wants from life, and then she gets tangled up with this larger-than-life designer (as one does), and then chaos ensues.
There are some genuinely funny lines in this book...Also, the random little advice tidbits sprinkled in? I found humanize the characters. Maybe this is just a me thing, but I kept having to rewind and relisten (I got the audiobook from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for review), because I kept thinking I missed something. I didn’t. I think some parts just didn’t flow super well, kind of choppy, like I needed a little more glue between scenes. Still, it was entertaining! Probably a 3.5 for me, but I’ll round up to 4 because I felt compelled to finish it and needed to know what was going to happen, but I still wanted more? idk if that makes sense!
Thanks netgalley!
There are some genuinely funny lines in this book...Also, the random little advice tidbits sprinkled in? I found humanize the characters. Maybe this is just a me thing, but I kept having to rewind and relisten (I got the audiobook from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for review), because I kept thinking I missed something. I didn’t. I think some parts just didn’t flow super well, kind of choppy, like I needed a little more glue between scenes. Still, it was entertaining! Probably a 3.5 for me, but I’ll round up to 4 because I felt compelled to finish it and needed to know what was going to happen, but I still wanted more? idk if that makes sense!
Thanks netgalley!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Last Night in Brooklyn reads like a coming-of-age story filtered through memory. Told from a place of hindsight, it’s reflective and observant, capturing a Brooklyn that feels both vividly alive and already gone. Gonzalez has a gift for rendering place and people with clarity and texture, and the result is a novel that feels less like a traditional narrative and more like a meditation on a particular time, mood, and creative ecosystem.
This is very much a character-driven book rather than a plot-driven one. I think I would have liked to know that going in. The narrator spends much of the novel watching—absorbing the lives and energies of the creatives around her. As in Anita de Monte Laughs Last, Gonzalez is clearly drawn to electric, artistic women who loom large in the cultural imagination. Here, a bold, magnetic, flawed artist becomes a focal point of fascination, shaping the narrator’s understanding of life, relationships, and identity.
While readers looking for momentum and plot twists may find this quieter than expected, those drawn to atmosphere, reflection, and character studies will find a lot to admire. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
This is very much a character-driven book rather than a plot-driven one. I think I would have liked to know that going in. The narrator spends much of the novel watching—absorbing the lives and energies of the creatives around her. As in Anita de Monte Laughs Last, Gonzalez is clearly drawn to electric, artistic women who loom large in the cultural imagination. Here, a bold, magnetic, flawed artist becomes a focal point of fascination, shaping the narrator’s understanding of life, relationships, and identity.
While readers looking for momentum and plot twists may find this quieter than expected, those drawn to atmosphere, reflection, and character studies will find a lot to admire. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What makes a coming of age story work? It's relatability. I didn't grow up in Brooklyn but the universal act of being in your 20's and having a drive to be the best at your job, have a core group of friends who never fail to have a good time all while trying to figure out whom your heart belongs to is a common experience in the world. This book does all of it!
Alicia lives in Brooklyn, it's 2007, the housing marking hasn't crashed, Obama is running for president, the first iPhone was just released. Alicia is engaged but has postponed the wedding, her trips to visit her fiancé become less frequent. Brooklyn is electric, it's a small town still, everyone knows each other. In comes La Garza, fashion designer about to take her fashion company public. La Garza and Alicia have a common acquaintance that will intertwine their friendship immediately.
Elizabeth Rodriguez did a great job narrating all the different characters and adding emotion at the right moment.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advance copy of the audiobook.
Alicia lives in Brooklyn, it's 2007, the housing marking hasn't crashed, Obama is running for president, the first iPhone was just released. Alicia is engaged but has postponed the wedding, her trips to visit her fiancé become less frequent. Brooklyn is electric, it's a small town still, everyone knows each other. In comes La Garza, fashion designer about to take her fashion company public. La Garza and Alicia have a common acquaintance that will intertwine their friendship immediately.
Elizabeth Rodriguez did a great job narrating all the different characters and adding emotion at the right moment.
Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advance copy of the audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars rounded up
I will never pass up a "Great Gatsby" retelling. I love that Xóchitl González pulled inspiration from her own life and friends. This book takes place in the early 2000's in Brooklyn, New York. We follow our main character Alicia who is in her early 20's trying to figure out life. She is engaged to a guy in med school upstate that she rarely sees, meets Matteo a mysterious businessman/DJ, and gets sucked into the high fashion and art world of her neighbor La Garza. I love the mixed feelings we get from Alicia throughout the book and the messiness of real life decisions and love. I thought that the narrator Elizabeth Rodriguez did a great job. I loved her accent! I would definitely check this audiobook out if you have a soft spot for New York, millennial nostalgia, and The Great Gatsby! Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC.
I will never pass up a "Great Gatsby" retelling. I love that Xóchitl González pulled inspiration from her own life and friends. This book takes place in the early 2000's in Brooklyn, New York. We follow our main character Alicia who is in her early 20's trying to figure out life. She is engaged to a guy in med school upstate that she rarely sees, meets Matteo a mysterious businessman/DJ, and gets sucked into the high fashion and art world of her neighbor La Garza. I love the mixed feelings we get from Alicia throughout the book and the messiness of real life decisions and love. I thought that the narrator Elizabeth Rodriguez did a great job. I loved her accent! I would definitely check this audiobook out if you have a soft spot for New York, millennial nostalgia, and The Great Gatsby! Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC.
January 25, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Xóchitl González for this ALC!
I had first heard of this author with her novel, Olga Dies Dreaming, which I have had on my shelf for quite some time. When I saw Last Night in Brooklyn as an option on NetGalley, I jumped at the opportunity to request this one.
I loved that this was a short listen, and the story was certainly entertaining. However, I found that I just wasn’t fully engrossed in the story, nor was I 100% sure about what message this story was trying to convey. It’s clear that González is a very talented writer, and I am still interested in reading more of her works. I was also more intrigued in the beginning than I was towards the end of the book, and I found the ending to be a little lackluster. I was hoping that there would be a bigger revelation with this one, as that’s what the beginning led me to believe was coming.
Overall, this was not a bad listen, but I just wanted more from the story and the characters.
I had first heard of this author with her novel, Olga Dies Dreaming, which I have had on my shelf for quite some time. When I saw Last Night in Brooklyn as an option on NetGalley, I jumped at the opportunity to request this one.
I loved that this was a short listen, and the story was certainly entertaining. However, I found that I just wasn’t fully engrossed in the story, nor was I 100% sure about what message this story was trying to convey. It’s clear that González is a very talented writer, and I am still interested in reading more of her works. I was also more intrigued in the beginning than I was towards the end of the book, and I found the ending to be a little lackluster. I was hoping that there would be a bigger revelation with this one, as that’s what the beginning led me to believe was coming.
Overall, this was not a bad listen, but I just wanted more from the story and the characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Last Night in Brooklyn explores the awakening of Alicia Forten, a 26-year-old who breaks free from her stifling life and plunges into the hip New York/Brooklyn party scene. In her third novel, Gonzalez once again creates an appealing heroine grappling with her own personal struggles while weaving in broader societal issues.
Set in 2007, amid intense gentrification in Brooklyn, with plans for the Barclays Center pushing out longtime residents and the presidential election and financial crisis looming, the novel reads as both a love letter to Brooklyn and a critique of its changing landscape. I was riveted. I listened to the audiobook, narrated vividly by Elizabeth Rodriguez.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advance audio.
Set in 2007, amid intense gentrification in Brooklyn, with plans for the Barclays Center pushing out longtime residents and the presidential election and financial crisis looming, the novel reads as both a love letter to Brooklyn and a critique of its changing landscape. I was riveted. I listened to the audiobook, narrated vividly by Elizabeth Rodriguez.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advance audio.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 Stars. This is a hard review for me to write, because the ending brought the book together so well and I felt great closure when I finished the book. I have loved previous books by this author (Anita De Monte laughs last was a 2024 favorite for me!)and I think I just wanted to laugh and be blown away again and this book was different. It is a love letter to Brooklyn and I loved the Spanish phrases incorporated into the story and the early 2000's references, but it wasn't a book that I had to pick up. I am so glad I read the whole thing and I think it would be a good bookclub book because I bet others will takeaway different things from the story. The audiobook narrator was fantastic. Thank you Macmillan Audio for an early copy of this from Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Xóchitl González creates the most memorable characters, and then puts them in an interesting time and location in the middle of interesting conversations. The characters feel so real, they jump out of the book, especially with this excellent narration.
I loved this one even more than usual because it's about early 2000s in Brooklyn and I was living in Manhattan at the time. And the conversations and settings felt all the more real. Each character is three dimensional and you can't help but love these characters and see the world a little from their eyes.
Another excellent, excellent offering from Xóchitl González.
with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
I loved this one even more than usual because it's about early 2000s in Brooklyn and I was living in Manhattan at the time. And the conversations and settings felt all the more real. Each character is three dimensional and you can't help but love these characters and see the world a little from their eyes.
Another excellent, excellent offering from Xóchitl González.
with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have read and enjoyed Xóchitl González's previous books and was excited to receive an early audio copy of the new one. I love anything set in New York so this new one was up my alley and I enjoyed it.
The characters in this book are not exactly likable, but were still interesting to read about and compelling. I enjoyed the discussion of fashion and really liked La Garza's character and her impacts.
I am glad that I was able to listen to this one. I really liked Elizabeth Rodriguez's narration and would definitely listen to more by her!
I am excited to read more Xóchitl González in the future - I enjoy being submerged in the worlds she creates.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
The characters in this book are not exactly likable, but were still interesting to read about and compelling. I enjoyed the discussion of fashion and really liked La Garza's character and her impacts.
I am glad that I was able to listen to this one. I really liked Elizabeth Rodriguez's narration and would definitely listen to more by her!
I am excited to read more Xóchitl González in the future - I enjoy being submerged in the worlds she creates.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Last Night In Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez 3⭐⭐⭐
This was my first ever novel by Xochitl Gonzalez and was very different from anything else I have read which mostly consist of fantasy/contemporary romances. This book focuses on Alicia's life and relationships. I enjoyed the culture and community of Brooklyn described in the pages and sense of community. For me I didn't really become invested in the characters as much as I thought. If you have read previous books by the author, I think you will enjoy this one as well.
Thank you, Net Galley and Macmillan Audio, for this advanced free audio copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was my first ever novel by Xochitl Gonzalez and was very different from anything else I have read which mostly consist of fantasy/contemporary romances. This book focuses on Alicia's life and relationships. I enjoyed the culture and community of Brooklyn described in the pages and sense of community. For me I didn't really become invested in the characters as much as I thought. If you have read previous books by the author, I think you will enjoy this one as well.
Thank you, Net Galley and Macmillan Audio, for this advanced free audio copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book pulled me into Brooklyn with vivid imagery and characters. Gentrification and politics were explored throughout this character driven read. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters in this book. They were complex and their stories were captivating and interesting. Alicia's character in particular goes through a lot of growth and development as she becomes more independent and self-aware.
I listened to the audio which was well produced. The narration by Elizabeth Rodriguez was well done, and I appreciated that there were distinct voices for each character.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advance copy!
I listened to the audio which was well produced. The narration by Elizabeth Rodriguez was well done, and I appreciated that there were distinct voices for each character.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advance copy!
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