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Decent People: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 9 Mar 27Set on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border and spanning more than a century, this powerful multi-generational debut charts the fate of a gifted, young Mexican American woman and the corrupting consequences of misogyny, racism, and colonialism on her family, her community, and, ultimately, her life.
Omar has known Martha since childhood, but when she unexpectedly returns to their East Dallas neighborhood to finish high school after two years away, he hardly recognizes her. She’s still the bookish, defiant, overachieving girl he knew, though now in a body that every guy, including Omar, notices.
But Martha is only interested in creating a life that matches her potential, and she won’t allow the leering eyes, her devotion to her brother, or a budding friendship with Omar to change that. As we watch Martha overcome obstacle after obstacle in pursuit of a better future, we also bear witness to the lives of the three generations that preceded her mother, Mariana, a light-skinned beauty who’s been searching for a Prince Charming all her life; the silenced grandmother, Imelda, whom she never had the chance to know; and her great-grandmother, Ana, the fierce revolutionary who rode with Pancho Villa, only to meet a violent end. The more Martha learns about the systems that shaped these women, and the closer she grows to Omar, the more clearly she sees that someone like her was never going to be allowed to just live on her own terms.
A blistering debut set on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border, Decent People is at once an intimate coming-of-age tale and a powerful reckoning with history, an unforgettable window into the ways entitlement, inheritance, and quiet violence can shape a life—especially a woman’s. In showing us that confronting our past—personal and collective—may reopen old wounds, Guel also demonstrates, with extraordinary intelligence and empathy, how owning that history offers our best hope of healing.
Omar has known Martha since childhood, but when she unexpectedly returns to their East Dallas neighborhood to finish high school after two years away, he hardly recognizes her. She’s still the bookish, defiant, overachieving girl he knew, though now in a body that every guy, including Omar, notices.
But Martha is only interested in creating a life that matches her potential, and she won’t allow the leering eyes, her devotion to her brother, or a budding friendship with Omar to change that. As we watch Martha overcome obstacle after obstacle in pursuit of a better future, we also bear witness to the lives of the three generations that preceded her mother, Mariana, a light-skinned beauty who’s been searching for a Prince Charming all her life; the silenced grandmother, Imelda, whom she never had the chance to know; and her great-grandmother, Ana, the fierce revolutionary who rode with Pancho Villa, only to meet a violent end. The more Martha learns about the systems that shaped these women, and the closer she grows to Omar, the more clearly she sees that someone like her was never going to be allowed to just live on her own terms.
A blistering debut set on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border, Decent People is at once an intimate coming-of-age tale and a powerful reckoning with history, an unforgettable window into the ways entitlement, inheritance, and quiet violence can shape a life—especially a woman’s. In showing us that confronting our past—personal and collective—may reopen old wounds, Guel also demonstrates, with extraordinary intelligence and empathy, how owning that history offers our best hope of healing.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 9, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
2027
September 15, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Latine Heritage Month TBR
Latine Heritage Month TBR
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Decent People by Jessica M. Guel is a powerful and thought-provoking debut. I really enjoyed the way Martha’s coming-of-age story is woven together with the stories of the women who came before her, showing how trauma, family history, and survival can be passed down through generations.
Martha is smart, determined, and unwilling to let other people decide what her future should look like. I found myself rooting for her as she navigated family, relationships, racism, and sexism while trying to build a life on her own terms.
The multigenerational storytelling was my favorite part. The stories of Ana, Imelda, Mariana, and Martha show how much women can be shaped by the circumstances and expectations of their time.
Emotional, thought-provoking, and beautifully written, Decent People is a memorable story about family, identity, and confronting the past in order to move forward.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own
Martha is smart, determined, and unwilling to let other people decide what her future should look like. I found myself rooting for her as she navigated family, relationships, racism, and sexism while trying to build a life on her own terms.
The multigenerational storytelling was my favorite part. The stories of Ana, Imelda, Mariana, and Martha show how much women can be shaped by the circumstances and expectations of their time.
Emotional, thought-provoking, and beautifully written, Decent People is a memorable story about family, identity, and confronting the past in order to move forward.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own
Want to Read
September 25, 2026A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC copy of Decent People from Jessica Guel in exchange for an honest review
A tragic tale outlining the realities and cruelties of life for people in the borderlands. Spanning 3 generations, Decent People looks at a complex cast of characters and their dreams for their futures, the heartbreaks of the present and the hauntings of our pasts. Guel gives a history lesson of US involvement in Mexican governmental affairs for over a century and its impacts on Mexicans and Mexican Americans in that time. An informative and engaging read overall.
A tragic tale outlining the realities and cruelties of life for people in the borderlands. Spanning 3 generations, Decent People looks at a complex cast of characters and their dreams for their futures, the heartbreaks of the present and the hauntings of our pasts. Guel gives a history lesson of US involvement in Mexican governmental affairs for over a century and its impacts on Mexicans and Mexican Americans in that time. An informative and engaging read overall.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Told across multiple perspectives and time period, "Decent People" centers on the life of Martha, a young Mexican-American woman growing up in Dallas who dreams of something more. We learn about her mainly through the perspective of Omar, her childhood friend who soon develops feelings for her, but it's clear from the very beginning that Martha is nothing like her peers. From a young age, she worked every odd job possible to make money, especially after her father leaves; her primary focus is on her studies, especially when she sees a chance to attend a prestigious magnet school; and her time is spent studying or buried in books, much to Omar and her brother Pablo's chagrin.
But behind Martha's drive is something more, much of which is influenced by the women in her family who came before her. Across alternating chapters, both Omar and Martha's families and their stories are revealed, including Mariana, Martha's mother and her initial young, impulsive actions that led to a husband she didn't foresee; Imelda, Martha's grandmother who became known as a skilled seamstress, despite her own misfortunes as a young girl, and Ana, Martha's great-grandmother who joined forces with Francisco "Pancho" Villa during the Mexican Revolution. Underlying each of their stories is a painful, bitter thread - highlighting the misogyny, abuse, suppression, and corruption that they had to bear and the generational trauma that seems impossible to escape.
This an ambitious and impressive debut by Guel, and one that has packed a lot into a deceptively short novel. I did find at times that some sections and passages seemed extraneous, especially the ones told from Omar's perspective, and I struggled at times at the lack of use of quotation marks, which I know is a decision some writers make. For me, the sections that focused on the flashbacks to their families were the most impactful, especially when told in third person. It's an eye-opening and thought-provoking work however, and especially relevant given current events. This is far from an easy read given the heavy subject matter, and the ending is one that is devastating and heartbreaking.
But behind Martha's drive is something more, much of which is influenced by the women in her family who came before her. Across alternating chapters, both Omar and Martha's families and their stories are revealed, including Mariana, Martha's mother and her initial young, impulsive actions that led to a husband she didn't foresee; Imelda, Martha's grandmother who became known as a skilled seamstress, despite her own misfortunes as a young girl, and Ana, Martha's great-grandmother who joined forces with Francisco "Pancho" Villa during the Mexican Revolution. Underlying each of their stories is a painful, bitter thread - highlighting the misogyny, abuse, suppression, and corruption that they had to bear and the generational trauma that seems impossible to escape.
This an ambitious and impressive debut by Guel, and one that has packed a lot into a deceptively short novel. I did find at times that some sections and passages seemed extraneous, especially the ones told from Omar's perspective, and I struggled at times at the lack of use of quotation marks, which I know is a decision some writers make. For me, the sections that focused on the flashbacks to their families were the most impactful, especially when told in third person. It's an eye-opening and thought-provoking work however, and especially relevant given current events. This is far from an easy read given the heavy subject matter, and the ending is one that is devastating and heartbreaking.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was beautiful. It took me awhile to get into it completely, but this book especially shined in all of its flashback historical sections, slowly revealing the history generation by generation. Omar's narration was by far my least favorite of the book, and while I do think it was incredibly readable with its conversational tone, he was very unlikeable. He has an understanding of how his behavior reflects poorly on him, but it doesn't make it any more tolerable, especially when he falls into harmful patterns. Unlikeable characters can still be amazing, but this wasn't really the case with Omar. Luckily, all of the interlude chapters taking place in the past were a welcome break from him. Guel builds out an entire neighborhood and its past so expertly, and by the time the book is done I couldn't believe how many characters I got to know. I did not see that final chapter coming, and it slightly tarnished my love for this story. I grew so fond of Martha and wanted to see her succeed at everything in life. This book does an incredible job at educating and revealing how Mexican history reaches across borders and affects everyone, generations into the future. I learned so much from this and I think it's one of the best historical fictions I've ever read.
Thanks to Doubleday and Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Doubleday and Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Decent People* is an ambitious, sweeping narrative spanning a hundred years between the U.S. and Mexico. It explores themes of struggle, hope, and people working to improve their lives while coping with family histories and expectations.
At its heart is Martha, a sharp, determined young Mexican American woman carving her own path. Her story connects with those of the women before her, creating a meaningful link between her coming-of-age and the legacies she carries.
I especially appreciated how different generations and eras gradually weave together, showing how one generation's choices influence the next. The novel addresses themes of family, identity, racism, gender, colonialism, and survival, all emphasizing the universal desire to build a better future.
Tender, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful, *Decent People* offers a broad perspective on how the past shapes us—and how understanding it can guide us toward a new future. Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Stars
At its heart is Martha, a sharp, determined young Mexican American woman carving her own path. Her story connects with those of the women before her, creating a meaningful link between her coming-of-age and the legacies she carries.
I especially appreciated how different generations and eras gradually weave together, showing how one generation's choices influence the next. The novel addresses themes of family, identity, racism, gender, colonialism, and survival, all emphasizing the universal desire to build a better future.
Tender, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful, *Decent People* offers a broad perspective on how the past shapes us—and how understanding it can guide us toward a new future. Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Told across both time and generation, Decent People connects you to East Dallas teenagers living in 2007, the Mexican Revolution of the 1910s, and those that lived in-between. By weaving through the voices of neighbors Omar and Martha, and three generations of Martha’s female ancestors, Guel tells the story of a sharp, bookish girl fighting for a brighter future. I was left with so many different feelings after reading the stories of Martha's mother, Mariana; grandmother, Imelda; and great-grandmother and soldadera, Ana. Decent People unleashes so many heartbreaking and heartwarming emotions… tears, frustration, moments that pack a punch, and an ending that stays with you. Guel delivers a deeply moving story and characters intertwined seamlessly with history and, ultimately, at the heart of it all, a look at hope. A beautiful debut.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow! This story follows the women of Martha's family for about 100 years, starting in the early 1900s to the early 2000s. The author does an amazing job depicting the lives of four young women as they grow up and fight for a better future. While the story is fiction I believe it does a good job of describing the horrors of civil war, poverty, immigrating, and racism. This is a very moving story that may sit with the reader for a while.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Doubleday and Netgalley for an eARC of Decent People by Jessica Guel. Decent People was an outstanding generational literary epic that had me completely invested. I loved following Martha's story as well as the women who preceded her and was completely absorbed in the world that I could relate to. The pacing, character, and plot development were on point and led to an extremely satisfying ending. Decent People will make you feel and wonder about how to own and honor our identities and histories.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was certainly an epic. A stunning debut! I was struck by how my heart broke and also felt hopeful in reading the story of Martha and the women in her family. I was left thinking a lot about the choices our ancestors make and how that influences what comes to be. The gifts and the burdens carried forward. There were themes struggling with racism, colonization and the like. I enjoyed this novel immensely!
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews