The Dirty Girls Social Club

Dirty Girls #1

by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

Inseparable since their days at Boston University almost ten years before, six friends form the Dirty Girls Social Club, a mutual support and (mostly) admiration society that no matter what happens to each of them (and a lot does), meets regularly to dish, dine and compare notes on the bumpy course of life and love.

Las sucias are:

--Lauren, the resident “caliente” columnist for the local paper, which advertises her work with the line “her casa is su casa, Boston”, but whose own home life has recently involved hiding in her boyfriend’s closet to catch him in the act
--Sara, the perfect wife and mother who always knew exactly the life she wanted and got it, right down to the McMansion in the suburbs and two boisterious boys, but who is paying a hefty price
--Amber, the most idealistic and artistic member of the club, who was raised a valley girl without a word of Spanish and whose increasing attachment to her Mexica roots coincides with a major record label’s interest in her rock ‘n’ roll
--Elizabeth, the stunning black Latina whose high profile job as a morning television anchor conflicts with her intensely private personal life, which would explain why the dates the other dirty girls set her up on never work out
--Rebecca, intense and highly controlled, who flawlessly runs Ella, the magazine she created for Latinas, but who can’t explain why she didn’t understand the man she married and now doesn’t even share a room with; and
--Usnavys, irrepressible and larger than life, whose agenda to land the kind of man who can keep her in Manolo Blahniks and platanos almost prevents her seeing true love when it lands in her lap.

There’s a lot of catching up to do.


A vibrant, can’t-put-it-down novel of six friends—each one an unforgettable Latina woman in her late ‘20s—and the complications and triumphs in their lives.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Book Club, Romance, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Latino

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Hello! I'm Alisa. I'm a writer and musician from New Mexico. I got my start writing in newspapers for nearly a decade, and then made the move to novels. I write in a variety of genres, though all of my work tends to have something to do with the things that interest me. Whether I'm writing young adult novels or historical fiction for adults, my stories are alike in that they seek to un-erase erased people, cultures and events, and there's usually something supernatural involved, as well as a general awe and reverence for the natural world. Fairness is important to me. Kindness is important to me. Holding monsters accountable is important to me. I try to write about all of that but also to keep things funny. Lots of labels have been placed on me over the years by a staggering variety of sleepwalking souls, but I don't tend to consider myself within such confines. I had a Near Death Experience in 2015 that changed everything for me. Now I know I'm a spirit living temporarily in a body, like everyone else. So I'm sort of existing, listening to the stories that exist all around us, allowing them to come through me to you. That's all. Sometimes my books sell. Mostly, they don't. Writing's a crap way to make a living, especially in this new era of fascism and billionaires. Ah, well. Keep loving those closest to you.

Reviews

[Tori (InToriLex) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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This book is more than just chick-lit. It explores  the challenges of finding your cultural identity and self worth while keeping up appearances. I could really relate to this book because I am Guatemalan and Black, and am still trying to understand what that means for me.  I am also a true born and raised Bostonian, where this book takes place, and it was nice to recognize the places described. These woman  all have to deal with doing what's best for themselves when that's not the easiest choice to make. I really enjoyed all of the characters and felt like this was a coming of age narrative for women in their late twenties. You never stop learning and evolving and this book demonstrates that well.

"I do not think it is wise to fight prejudice with prejudice, so I cannot hate my best friend for being ignorant. I prefer to hide from her hatred and bask in her laughter."

While this book does focus on how each woman deals with the people they love, the drama was so familiar I wanted to throw my book. Most women have felt rejected and lost, and because I've made questionable choices in my love life, I found myself in the author's descriptions. The characters unpack what being a Latina means for them, and each has a different but important interpretation. The use of Spanish and the changing point of views of these kept me immersed in these women's lives, and inspired me. It's important to read things where you are taken from your comfortable American existence and this book did this in a fun and sometimes funny way. 

"Because you were the perfect woman for this town. A beautiful black woman who talks like a white woman who is actually Hispanic."

There are destructive relationships described and the writing style is more stream of consciousness than some readers may appreciate. But to me everything worked well together. The shocking cultural insensitivity and violence described was refreshing because I've seen and experienced it myself. Reality for many is not pretty and easily digested and I appreciate the author getting that across to readers. The only reason this wasn't a five star rating is because the opening chapters read are a bit of a info dump before the rest of the book picks up. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about some memorable Latina's, who make it through very hard times through friendship and perseverance.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got to page 125 and finally gave up! This is a rambling mish-mash of way too many characters and points of view trying to do a lot with very little substance. The first chapter alone gave me a headache! I felt like the author chose to write about too many characters. Keeping track of their stories, looks, personalities, and all that was a nightmare and I felt like she could have written a much more engaging novel had she written about three, possibly four, women who were better developed. They all seemed to blend together and the writing was very surface level.

[Ieva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kļūdaina izvēle Dienvidamerikas mēnesim Grāmatu klubā par godu. Kļūdaina, jo neiedzilinājos, ka ir par Ameriku - bet par visadžnedažādākajām latīņamerikānietēm.
Interesanti, ka tāds dāmu romāniņš man pavēra jaunu ainu un izglītoja (kaut, ja būtu par to domājusi, viss jau ir loģiski, tikai nebiju par to domājusi līdz šim). Galvenās varones ir gaužām dažādas un droši vien tāpēc, lai ilsutrētu, cik dažādi var būt "latīņamerikāņi"- kaut visas studējušas labā koledžā, dažas jau piedzima bagātas, citām bērnība bija ļoti sūra, dažāda ir viņu ādas krāsa, reliģiskā piederība, auguma tipi, sekusuālā orientācija utt. Visas sevi ironiski nodevējušas par "susas" jeb "netīrās meičas", jo tā viņas sabiedrība gribētu vienādot.
Nez kāpēc seviški aizķērās fakts, ka Dominikāņu un Puertoriko imigranti (kaut Puertoriko īsti nav imigranti, jo tehniski skaitās ASV daļa) neciešot viens otru, kamēr lielākā daļa ASV iedzīvotāju vispār neredz nekādu starpību starp viņiem.

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this book less than a star, I would. It's terrible.

[stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like reading chicklit that's aimed at "other" audiences - just to see what it's like.

this is basically sex & the city meets hispanic new york, and it's just genius. i don't know how to describe it. there's Usnavies - (yes, her mother named her US Navies, but she pronounces it different) - and there are four other fantastic characters. you feel for them all, you love them all, you get the idea of the differences between hispanics - puero rican, dominican, latin american, mexican - they are different yet the same, and somehow . . .

i don't know. sometimes i think chicklit is the best venue for showing american women what the other side is like, and i love this book for that. i would recommend it to anyone, and that seems like i have such little taste, but it's a fun read, and it's serious at the same time, and honestly, the characters are so well done, you love them all.

[Ji · Rating 1 out of 5]

Before I get into my opinions on this book, I will admit it: I’m not a fan of “chick lit.” But, I think of myself as being open minded and willing to read anything (I even read the whole series of Twilight). I understand that not all pieces of fiction are meant to be the next Great Gatsby or Hamlet and I’m perfectly fine with that. Some books are there just for the fun of it and you take it for what it is suppose to be. So when I read a book that all my girl friends love, I except a fun, light read. Instead, I found myself in this painful process of trying to finish something I wish I never started and am too proud to quit halfway.
One of my main problems with this book was that I didn’t like any of the characters. And it wasn’t like a oh-that-character-is-so-evil-like-Snape dislike but a I-don’t-understand-where-these-characaters-are-coming-from dislike. This might be because the author chooses write in first person narrative for all 6 of the main characters, each telling their own story, so the reader is left with a tangled ball of different plot threads. And because each character needs to tell their stories, none of the stories are fully developed and are half-baked and the reader just has to take the author’s word that character A loves character B or that character C has issues with men. I personally would have appreciated a little more showing and a little less telling.
This brings me to another main problem I have with this book. From the very first chapter, I can’t help but feel that the author thinks that the reader is stupid. Almost every other paragraph has a sentenced that has to be clarified by another statement in parentheses (like this). I mean is this really necessary (like is the reader really that stupid and need the clarification)? Maybe it was done for a stylistic purpose (which probably failed). Or maybe the writer didn’t know how to incorporate the info in the brackets into the sentences (because that would have been too difficult you know). After the first chapter, I felt annoyed and defensive. I also now have a hatred for parentheses.
If you don’t care about plot development, character development, and enjoy reading about females who are successful, wealthy, and obsessed about designer labels, this is the book for you. If the thought of reading mediocre writing about girls you’ll never empathize with, stay clear. Trust me – I’m so damaged that it will be awhile before my friend can convince me to pick up another chick lit.

[Marian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gustó. Si bien se hacen demasiadas referencias a personas, situaciones, tv shows, que tuve que googlear para comprender sobre lo que se estaba contando, pasé una jornada enganchada a estas amigas. El desarraigo, la pobreza, la discriminación, los prejuicios y en general la falta de inteligencia son temas muy bien tratados. Me quedé pensando en cómo cada protagonista se vio condicionada por su infancia.- Un libro que quedará dando vueltas un buen tiempo por mi cabeza.

[Rachel Lichtman Castaño · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It wasn't your typical immigrant success story book, it wasn't poverty porn or struggle porn, it was just about a group of Latina friends, and their lives and struggles as Latina professionals in a white-dominated world. And it was great. The commentaries on casual racism in the workplace, microaggressions, homophobia, domestic abuse, and interracial relationships was intelligent and well-written. This book is hugely underrated.

[Lana *Best left alone with books and snacks* · Rating 4 out of 5]

It did resamble Sex in the City, only with more color and swag if you can imagine. Fans of the series may disagree but whatever, I only liked Samantha anyway. ;P

[Nakia · Rating 3 out of 5]

(re-read 5/19/2013)
(I would have loved to give this 3.5 stars. If only Goodreads allowed 1/2stars).

Review from first reading 5/1/2011:
I've heard a lot about Alisa Valdes and follow her on Twitter, so when I saw her first novel at a library sale for a measley $3, I snatched it up and quickly added it to my list of books to read in 2011. I have a fondness for Latina writers, ever since Sandra Cisneros's "The House on Mango Street", but a coming of age story this is not. Valdes weaves the lives and friendships of the "sucias" or "dirty girls", six women who have continued their friendship since meeting in college and bonding as the only Latina women in their journalism program at Boston Univ.

I won't get into the particulars of each character (there are six, that would take forever, and...thats why you should pick up the book and read it lol), but I will tell you that Valdes did an EXCELLENT job of breathing life into Lauren, Sara, Amber, Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Usnavys-- all individual characters with extremely different origins, values, backgrounds and personalities, while still managing to make them relateable.

Some have named this novel the Hispanic "Waiting to Exhale". I actually think that distinction is for those who are too lazy to think deeper, for the similarities are far and few between. Yes, this is the honest look at urban educated women, who must deal with love (or the lack thereof), racism, sexism, life, family, career aspirations, and friendship, but Valdes seems to also be a pro at conveying character emotions, creating a deeper connection within a story that is more than a few sister-friends who like to gossip and complain about not finding love.

This book is all about drama, but if there is a thing such as smart drama, it falls squarely into that category. Valdes devotes an extensive amount of time to detailed character development, which results in even the silliest scenarios making sense. She also makes every character a symbol of social commentary, each being a mouth piece for the pathos of Hispanics and their differences.

It was hard to put this book down. There were a few missteps though, most notably Valdes' decision to have business driven and rigid sucia, Rebecca, fall in love with an African businessman, who goes an a rant about the negatives of African Americans. This struck a nerve, especially when the very confused sucia, Lauren, falls in love with a Dominican drug dealer who embodies the same negatives, but is given a pass for his actions because it's much harder to succeed when you aren't born in America. Ummm...no. Both scenarios came across as social commentary, and I was not please with either message.

Also, another sucia, Amber, who lives her life as a musician with a passion for the Mexica movement (geared toward recognizing Mexicans as Indians), was completely boring to me. Her story was utterly unbelievable, and other than learning about the Mexica movement, I saw no purpose for her to appear in the book.

Other than that, and a very lackluster, thrown together ending, I really enjoyed each and every drama filled page. This would be fantastic on the big screen. I heard that it was in development for a television series, but fell into the steretypical pigeon-holing that many minority filled projects seem to encounter. Nevertheless, I look forward to reading many more from Valdes. "Playing with Boys" is next!

[Nat Newton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of people hated this book. But I kind of dug it. I think listening to it on tape when I used to have a long commute actually contributed to my enjoyment of it...and I'll tell you why.

The actress who read this book on tape added a lot to it for me. The story is told from the point-of-view of five different women with extremely varying interests and personalities, and the actress/reader portrayed them all pretty well, with different attitudes and accents.

It took me awhile to get into the story, because the book starts out with a fairly unremarkable character talking about fairly unremarkable problems with men and food. Ho hum...this story has "chick-lit" written all over it, and none of this is anything new.

But I hung in there because the drive to and from work was growing so boring, and the selection of books-on-tape at the library was meager. Eventually I started to understand the characters as they developed some personality and more complex problems, and there were parts of the story that I even found dramatic and engaging.

I pretty much fully surrendered to the story without any expectation or trying to figure anything out (which was pretty much all I could muster at 7 a.m. driving to work anyway) and therefore was titillated and surprised by some of the plot twists.

The book was also kind of an interesting look into Latina culture in Boston, and I knew very little about the city of Boston or the population prior to reading this, so there was that.

Anyway, I didn't think it was so terrible. Although I did try reading it again a couple years later (on paper this time, not on tape) and it did seem to lose a lot of the captivating drama and character that I had originally perceived listening to that lady do all those neat voices.

[Zulmara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dirty Girls Social Club is a great story about 6 Latina friends that are about as diverse as Latinas can be…they come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds. What they do have in common is a shared heritage of being Latina in America, highly educated, not living in poverty, and sharing a common bond of friendship that cannot be shaken, no matter what trials and tribulations life brings them.

Alisa uses a very unique style for telling us the story that is sure to charm some readers and annoy others, the story is told from the first person point of view of the chapter author, thus we get to know each of these Latinas from how they seen themselves, and then how their friends see them, a very unique and enchanting style. It really hits home that we filter, even our BFF’s through our own lens and what we think we know, is not always the way it is. It is sobering to see how what we see and know about the ones we love, can be totally different than their lived experiences. That even the assumptions we make about others, is not always the way it is for them.

I love the technique and know it is not very easy to do…it is a writing style that requires a lot of research and planning. As an Latina educator, I love this book as a teaching tool…it not only allows you to teach point of view and how to write and plan for it, but you get to explore six very diverse, very secure/insecure Latinas with style, vida, y amor.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this book for a class. Let's just say forty pages of flat exposition and Lauren's judgmental description of her "friends" had me impatient from the start. Once things finally started happening... halfway through the book... I became more invested in these women's lives.

However, on some level, it felt like each woman was assigned a specific "problem," as though her entire character was centered around her issue. To relate it to YA, it felt like a Chris Crutcher book--nearly every possible serious problem works its way into the story. I feel like that method sometimes undermines certain issues in favor of others. Like, "Oh, you're upset you got a bad grade on an exam? Well, there are starving children in Africa!" No one tried to do anything about Lauren's eating disorder, but when Sara ended up in the hospital, the women came together for her. Both Lauren and Sara had serious problems, but because more time and effort was devoted to Sara's trauma, Lauren's disorder was brushed off and neatly "resolved" in a few words, if only to make sure Lauren was included in the happy ending.

When it comes down to it, this book just wasn't written for someone like me. I read it, it's done, two stars.

[Rana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful. I'm marking this as read in my collection simply so I can be reminded in the future not to attempt it again. I'm not one to give up on a book once I've started it. But I quit this one after page 15. It could be argued that I didn't give it enough of a chance, but how many times do I have to read "girl" and "ya'll" at the end of a sentence when it doesn't really belong there. These are things that can add a little emphasis when used sparingly. Same with the italics. I appreciate that non-English words are italicized to set them off, but it was the overuse of italics to emphasize a word that irritated me. I was getting a headache with all the word-stress going on in my reading mind. I just couldn't go on. Congrats to those of you who were able to soldier through it and who enjoyed it. I am not counted among your ranks.

[Christina Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book 📖 was ok.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel pretty badly about giving this book two stars, but here's the good:
1) It's readable; it's easy to read
2) Reading it gives attention to one of the women that publicly detailed Junot Diaz's misogyny and abuse, so it's a good way to redirect your reading efforts.
3) It's kind of like Sex in the City, if that's your thing.

And Sex in the City really used to be my thing, but maybe I'm just getting old, more class conscious, and less materialistic. So, maybe I'd not be into that show anymore either.

But these characters are unbearable. They are all obsessed with wealth in the most sleek and superficial way. And, for people of color, I get that we should see the attainment of wealth as a hard-won success. But, I just can't help but feel disconnected from the values of wealthy people, values that seem really damaging to those around them. And ALL of these girls were pretty toxic to themselves and each other in some shape or form.

Also, there were wayyyyy too many characters. You spend the first half of the book being introduced to each character through a first person chapter. By the time you get around to second chapters about them, you've forgotten who they were. So the plot just kind of crawled along.

And then the voice of it! Ay, mi'ja, I tell you! It's annoying as all hellfire chica! Dios mio! You know what I mean? <----That's pretty much the voice of every chapter for every character and it just wore on my nerves having all these characters I didn't like talk directly to me like we were friends.

The authenticity of some of it felt cringey too. I've been in and been close to domestic violence situations, and the character that is NEARLY GETTING KILLED from her husband is not that concerned about it. "Ay, chica! He doesn't always hit me, you know? And it's no big deal, mami! He's a good man. A good father. I can't wait to have his daughter! You don't think he'll hurt it, do you mi'ja?" Okay, yes, people in these situations have long term habits of hiding it and defending the abuser, but there are also some serious physical and psychological effects that were no where to be seen in this character, aside from seeing her comatose.

I wanted to like this; it just wasn't my thing.

[Ambs ❤❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a handful of books by author Alisa Valdes, and I have loved every single one of them from the beginning. Not so with this book. This book was written from the point of view of several different women/friends, alternating between chapters. First up, Lauren, who also introduces us to all the other ladies, Sara, Amber, Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Usnavys. All these women bonded in college because they all came from a Latina background of some sort. Lauren, who is only half Latina talks with a thick southern accent and seemed to be prejudice against the "different types" of Latina. I did not like her or her storytelling, and was turned off.

At about 30% through, the story started to get better, which I'm glad I stuck it out. Had I not been listening to it on audiobook, this might have ended up in my "dnf" pile. In the end, Alisa came through, drawing you into each and every one of the ladies lives like you grew up with them. You know they are pains in the asses, but you can't help but love them at the end of the day. I wouldn't say this is her best work, but when it was all said and done, it brought my 3 stars up to a 4.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

So if they made a book about Sara, Elizabeth, and Rebecca I'd be all over it and would have ranked it about 4 stars. I didn't really care for Usnavys, Amber/Cuicatl, or Lauren (seemingly the main character). It was a slow start for me but maybe because it led off with Lauren narrating.

I'll probably read the next one for a Sara/E-beth/Rebecca update.

I won't go into why I was more interested in certain characters vs the others as it would likely spoil much of the plot.

[Megan Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is often dismissed as chica lit which isn't in and of itself disparaging though detractors would connote it as such. Our stories, stories about latinx bodies and experiences needn't be about the immigrant struggle in order for it to have critical value. Stories about love, sex, and womanhood are valid and this is an excellent place to start.

Also: This book has latin women from all backgrounds, representing our community as it actually is rather than how the media portrays it.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. I read it because I heard it was sold to a production company and the author was upset because of the plot changes said production company was making. I found the book to be pretty cliched and predictable. Not a total waste of time, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone either.

[Nathalie C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something funny (and slightly wild) about reading a book from 2003 in 2025. As a millennial, I caught every pop culture reference—and yet it still opened my eyes to how much things have changed… and how much they haven’t, especially for Latina women. 💃🏽✊��� Sure, the terminology has evolved, but the essence still hits the same.

I’d totally compare the sucias to the ladies from Waiting to Exhale—ride-or-die friendships with plenty of drama. 🔥 I loved getting into each woman’s backstory and seeing the very real challenges they faced. This book touched on pretty much every issue under the sun, and the ending wasn’t tied up with a neat little bow… because that’s real life.

Overall, I’m so glad my local book club picked this as our monthly read. A classic for a reason—and now I finally get the hype! 📚✨

[G.L. Tomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so most people who know me well know I read this book years ago. At the time of its release, it was hyped as the Latinx “Waiting To Exhale” and I think the hype and comparison was well deserved.

Before I keep going further, this review is going to be a reflection of my own feelings about it, as it touches so many topics, that re-reading it as a 31 year old had a much different effect than when I was 16 and had no real life experience.

This book touched on domestic violence, homophobia, racism/colorism, and so many things it’ll be hard to touch everything in a single sit down for this review. Just know, whether you like the book or not, its story feels just as relevant now, if not more, than when it was released in 2004.

First thing I’d like to mention is how biased I am. I’m an Afro-Cuban woman who normally identified as African-American(which isn’t untrue, but identity is complicated) up until my 20’s. To see two Afro-latinx characters have to face the abuse they had, reminded me just how ignored our abuse in the Latinx community tends to be. I also lived in JP(Jamaica Plans, a neighborhood in Boston) so I can honestly say it brought out the JP I remembered, and brings to mind The Pineapple Diaries if you like Latinx narratives set there =)

DGSC focuses on 6 characters who all identify as Latinx but are different sizes, races, religions, political affiliations, you name it.
It might confuse some people to have to remember that many characters, but since I was listening to the audiobook, each voice was unique so I always knew who was talking when prompted.

There was Usnavys (which couldn’t get more Puerto Rican/Dominican if you ask me) a light skinned, plus sized Afro-Latinx woman who was ultra-feminine but street smart. Elizabeth, the explicit looking Afro-Latinx woman from Colombia, who was a closeted lesbian, conservative Christian and a newscaster. I mention them first because they reminded me the most of myself, being Black and essentially a pariah in the Latinx community. Sara, Elizabeth’s best friend and a white Jewish Cuban with an abusive husband. Amber/Cuicatl, a Mexican/Indigenous brown musician seeking to validate her roots before colonization. Rebecca, a white Catholic latinx with racist/prejudice parents, and Lauren, another White Latinx woman with an eating disorder, with a non-mf factor boyfriend who aint ish.

A lot right?

Domestic Violence
Trigger warning for survivors of DV. It’s not pretty or glamourous. It’s actually pretty graphic. It brought me back to my own abusive father hitting and beating on my mother growing up, and I’m telling you, you never get truly over abuse, so it’s best to know that before you read it. It showed it in such a real way(and I mean from my own experience. Someone’s experience can be totally different, and abuse isn’t always physical like it was in this book) I was really uncomfortable. But lemme just say Sara had the bombest kids ever. Her sons did not for one second normalize that abuse, so when push came to shove, they snitched on that non-mf factor father of theirs. This is so important in a latinx home, because the more you see it and ignore it, the more desensitized you become to it. I can’t help that some imagery loses it’s effect on me, because I grew up in a house filled with violent imagery. I haven’t normalized it per se, I’m just always thinking “it could be worse”, which I admit is problematic as well.

Colorism/Racism
This is where things are the most uncomfortable for me. I grew up part Miami, part New Haven, so my experiences as an Afro-Latinx person have changed based on location. The term Afro-Latinx didn’t exist when I was a kid, so since I didn’t want to confuse people, I’d just say AA because it was easier. Latinx culture is diverse, and beautiful, there isn’t a question about that. But it can also be an ugly, negative and dangerous place for Black-Latinx people like myself.
So many times the white latinx women so easily threw around how “disappointed” their parents would be if they dated Black, and that’s what Black latinx people hear their whole lives. That literally no one wants us, so take what you can get if it’s light :p That damages so much of our self esteem, and I had to come to terms with my own feelings about being dark skinned(I’m actually quite dark. Most Afro-Latinx on screen don’t look like me, so I usually have and still continue to look up to AA actresses and entertainers, because it seems like they don’t allow certain Afro-Latinx looks to make it to the small or big screen).

I think the plot brought out the conversation, but some points were a little out of touch, mostly since it was written so long ago. Rebecca’s love interest was a (swoon) British-Nigerian man, but I beg to differ that he’d never experienced racism living in the UK. Most black people experience racism, even if just through microaggressions. The author is a mixed race/white passing latinx woman, so I think that was just a little out of touch, but not enough for me to hate the book.

Overall, there’s so much I could bring up, but my review would be too long.

The author narrated her own book, and since she’s latinx, I’m glad she did. She did the accents, both Bostonian, and non-American latinx really well, as well as the Spanish being on point, so it’s going to suck when I read the sequel since she doesn’t narrate.

If you’re looking for an inclusive book that showcases different narratives of latinx women, I’d highly recommend. Especially as an audiobook =)

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the first books I read as a young adult that had an ensemble of Latinas as protagonists. I find their stories comforting and I appreciate how each has distinct personality traits, opinions, and voice. They're all really successful before the age of 30, and one of the most intriguing characters, Elizabeth, gets barely any time on the page, two things I wasn't as into. I wanted to see a bit more career struggle for more of them because that's what life is like in your 20s. But overall, I enjoy and appreciate what this book is and what it means to me.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot! I kind of felt like everything became too perfect too fast towards the end but on the other hand it's what the girls deserved!! 😻 I think my favorite was lauren but I also predictably loved elizabeth and sara for being lesbian and jewish respectively 😎 this was a really quick and fun read but also decently serious uk. would definitely rec!

[Rosy Almendarez · Rating 2 out of 5]

me costó mucho este libro al principio por la cantidad de “chica” y “mija” pero si hubo un punto que I couldn’t put it down (no duró mucho pero me sorprendió que pasara). Definitivamente no lo volvería a leer pero si logró sorprenderme tantito.

[Kristy Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read with some interesting aspects of the Latin community.

[ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 but i rounded down

[Anna Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much I read it all in one sitting! The themes explored in this novel are grounded in real world observation and experience and it’s very apparent. The writing is phenomenal! Seriously a must read!!

[Molly Jackson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book ain’t it. I remember reading. It a while ago and I thought I liked it… but rereading it now was so hard! So many “yikes” moments that I truly do not believe were intentional. And way too many characters to fully know or understand any one of them. Just weird and odd and not good while trying to masquerade as “chica lit.” Nope.

[Katherine Marple · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Dirty Girls Social Club" is about six spanish women from different ethnic backgrounds who come together every year to recap their lives and support one another. We take each story chapter by chapter- Lauren, Usnavys, Rebecca, Sara, Elizabeth, Amber. Each woman gets her story told in a chapter, then they switch off and we see through another woman's eyes. We learn about being a career woman in her 20s, being powerful as a spanish woman, love as a spanish woman, drugs and therapy- interwoven relationships and the tie to family.

The first three pages of "The Dirty Girls Socail Club [DGSC:]" was "Heck yeah!" because Lauren was funny and interesting and it was well written. Then, the next 10-100 pages were... bleh. It kind of went off on tangents about what it's like being Latino / Mexican / Puerto Rican / Dominican, etc. And partway through, I was thinking "If Lauren was my friend, I'd tell her to shut the heck up right about now."

So... it was a bumpy ride through this book.

But, as the pages wore on, and just about when I thought I should just give up and move on (I'm terrible at giving up on stuff), I began to love a few of the lead characters.

I started to like Amber halfway through the book. She was "different" and demanding, strong and powerful. Her ties to her "roots" was a little dramatic, but... that's ok. She was driven.

I liked Elizabeth, who halfway through the story, was out-ed as a lesbian and had to struggle through being a news reporter, and now on the other end of the limelight.

There wasn't much these ladies had in common other than their being "spanish", but even what KIND of "Spanish" was different. And they each pointed out HOW different every other page. The story got bogged down a lot with stereotypes and the difference between races. I started to feel like I was being preached to after only a few pages... which is why I HATED Lauren's chapters. She was the worst of them... though Usnavys wasn't much better.

So... it was okay to get through. If you don't mind struggling to connect to charcters and don't mind fighting to feel something for the story- "splashing through the mud" so to speak- then it's worth the read.

If you've read a different book about girlfriends, relationships and spanish people... then bypass this one. It's nothing special.