Latin Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter and author of the New York Times bestseller Forgiveness returns with this nationally bestselling memoir that shares the triumphs, hardships, and lessons of life after her mother Jenni Rivera’s death.
Bringing her signature warmth, humor, and positivity to the page, Chiquis Rivera picks up where her memoir Forgiveness left off.
Reeling from her mother’s tragic death, Chiquis finds herself at a major crossroads. As a new parent to her younger brother and sister, she struggles to balance her family’s needs with her dreams of becoming a successful singer and entrepreneur.
Stepping out of the shadow of her mother’s legendary career and finding her own identity as a singer is challenging…but navigating unhealthy relationships proves to be even harder.
When she meets and marries the person she believes is the man of her dreams, it seems like life is finally falling into place. But a dark secret unravels their relationship, and Chiquis emerges stronger as a single woman.
In the end, nothing can keep Chiquis down. Her philosophy for life says it “Either I thrive, or I learn.” Filled with life-affirming revelations, Chiquis ultimately shares her greatest gift with her fans—the accessible lessons that have made her unstoppable.
This book repeated a few of the same stories already told in her first book. I appreciate Chiquis' vulnerability specially the stories she shared about her singing critics and marriage.
I love Chiquis and everything she represents to the Latino community. She’s a curvy girl with lots of passion and very proud of what her momma gave her in every sense of the word. She’s not a quitter and has always fought for what she wants and deserves. This book was a representation of how much she’s fought and achieved so many things in the span of 10 years or so. A little behind the scenes and the drama behind it. Although it mostly talks about her relationships, marriage, and a tad bit of the family drama I wish there would’ve been more.
The book itself is an easy read however was a bit disappointed in the way it was written. Sometimes it felt like a long essay and a lot of the times it had me thinking if someone proofread it or if she wrote it and published it on her own. Lots of times I had to re read a sentence because there was lack of punctuation. Although it had a very personal touch because it lacked that proof reading touch it really threw me off at times. It was easier to hear it rather than read it.
Her personal story is sad but you see how resilient she is and see her for the person she is behind the camera. However, I felt like she skipped alot of what people wanted to know. Her marriage check, her love interests check, her friendships (no). I would’ve liked to know what happened to all her friends from the past like Raqc, Gerald, and all the ones from the show. This book really focuses on her being a mother to her siblings and constantly reminds the reader she’s the “mom”. After the 20th “mom” reference Im sure I got the point. As much as I like her and her story this book annoyed me a bit because she focuses a lot on what others did to her rather than also seeing why others were the way they were to her. She says this is the new chiquis that doesn’t let herself but a lot of her friends don’t speak to her way before this “new” chiquis was even a thought. Her sister is constantly distanced from her, her family portrays her a certain way. I want her to take a little accountability and really reflect on dare I say her being part of the problem in many of her failed relationships whether it be with family and men. (Not the sexual abuse or Domestic abuse). I see a pattern in lots of her issues with people but she only focuses on what they did or their character and doesn’t focus as much on her issues. I guess I wanted her to take a more realistic approach rather than finger pointing. She left out a lot of situations that were reported on by the media like her black eye, or Lorenzo’s cheating scandal with his ex wife, or getting into specifics about that mysterious video that they say is hidden.
This book was alot of excuses and a lot of finger pointing. This person did this…so I reacted like this. I felt like this…so I did this. A few stories in between and done. I felt like the book needed something more to be an inspirational book. Basically it’s just a autobiography.
¡¡¡Libro fabuloso, merecedor no de 5 estrellas, sino de 10!!!
Siempre me han apasionado las mujeres líderes, guerreras grandes ejemplos a seguir y Chiquis, no es la excepción.
Un testimonio inspirador donde la verdad es retratada y manifestada de puño y letra de la gran Chiquis, con mucha valentía, decisión, realidad, honestidad y transparencia, en plena libertad y sin ataduras. Jamás sentí algo como: "Ah, no quiero decir esto y lo otro, mejor me guardo esto y no lo digo, por el qué dirán". No, Chiquis fue protagonista de un sendero donde la verdad, (con la que sanó en una especie de catarsis), fue su gran salvadora y aliciente, para salir adelante, como guerrera invencible, a pesar de las tormentas y tempestades que vivió y con las que se convirtió en una mejor mujer y ser humano.
A lo largo de su testimonio, nos detalla el alto impacto que representa ser hija de Jenni Rivera, situación que generó constantes prejuicios y comparaciones, del público y la industria, hacia ella. Nos lleva de la mano por los altos y bajos en su realización en el amor, así como del tormentoso matrimonio que vivió con Lorenzo y cómo a pesar de todo, logró salir airosa, victoriosa, e invencible, como siempre lo fue, es y será.
Me conmovió de manera especial la relación tan profunda que guarda con Dios. Se puede sentir el abrazo, su clamor, su fe y cómo ese ser supremo es el autor principal de su libro de vida.
Resulta impactante también el amor inconmensurable que siente por sus hermanos. Cómo después del deceso de Jenni, Chiquis fungió como hermana, mentora, pero por sobre todas las cosas, como una fabulosa mamá. Un nuevo rol, que la pérdida le regalaba, para conquistar y ser triunfante, a pesar de las tribulaciones y adversidades que haya que sortear, a lo largo del camino.
Aunque muchos han puesto y seguirán poniendo en tela de juicio su profesión como artista, yo sé que nació para cantar y que un largo camino de éxitos, para conquistar lo más profundo de las almas de sus fans y más fieles seguidores, espera por ella.
Nos lleva de la mano, por el difícil camino de la industria musical, la invasión de la privacidad y todos los retos que implica ser una figura pública ante los medios y el mundo. Es terrible lo implacable que puede ser una industria y los medios de comunicación, con respecto a que se rifan la vida por obtener la nota y primicia, no importando que tengan que pasar por encima del artista y su integridad física y familiar.
Me encanta ver su madurez de: "Perdón" a Invencible ", ser testigo a través de las páginas de su libro, cómo del papel de pedir "Perdón", ahora, es una guerrera Invencible, resulta de tremenda inspiración, no solo para los jóvenes, sino para las familias, donde los problemas siempre estarán a la orden del día, pero que con humildad y disposición, se puede llegar a un consenso y por ende una solución, que te beneficie a ti y a los que te rodean. Se siente el que nos encontramos con una mujer renovada después de pedir perdón y de recibirlo, también, alguien que supera y que va para adelante, sin que la sombra del pasado, se interponga en su camino.
Disfruté y me pareció muy profundo el tema de diferenciar entre "Janney", "Chiquis" y "Valentina" (la mujer, la artista y la guerrera) y cómo las tres han jugado un papel preponderante en su desarrollo. En definitiva las tres son punto de equilibrio y balance.
No hubiese querido que tan excepcional libro terminase jamás. Su brillantez, humildad y la consciencia de que es una mujer imperfecta y en constante desarrollo y aprendizaje, fueron como un bálsamo muy especial, para mi corazón y esencia lectora.
Llore, reí, me conmoví y te disfruté a más no poder. Gracias por tu grandeza, sencillez, humildad y por esa esencia Invencible, con la que te llevas una parte de mi corazón.
This was an okay memoir overall. A lot of the chapters go on repetitive tangents and some info from the first book or scenes from the reality show are mentioned. Not a lot of chismes in this book but Chiquis was very open about her marital problems, divorce, and her rocky path to success.
"Don't wish for things to be easy. Pray for them to be WORTH it."
Chiquis has been through a lot in her life. From having a fall out with her famous mother and getting written out of her will, to having her mom pass away in a tragic accident without ever having the opportunity to make up with her... to the sexual abuse she faced from her own father that is now jailed for life, to having betrayals in relationships and family... and raising her younger siblings all by herself... but Chiquis is still standing strong.
Although I've never heard of Chiquis before reading this book, I admire her strength and her ability to lean on God when times gets tough. It did seem to ramble a bit at some parts and could be organized better, hence the 4 stars. She has gone through far more than what the average human has to go through, but it is evident that God is using her to touch the lives of many through her light. She shares how to brave through life when the times get tough.
Thank you for sharing your story Chiquis and congrats on your Latin Grammy award, you are truly an inspiration.
2.5 Stars, which I will round down to 2 Stars overall
I really wish I liked this book more than I did. I read the first book from this author and I thought this one would be a continuation of that one. While it kind of is that, I don’t feel like it served its purpose.
Like other people have mentioned, I found many of the stories shared here to be repetitive from the first book. I feel like, if you did not read the first one, that is okay because you get the stories anyway. I started skipping parts because of those stories.
The other part of this that I didn’t love was how it was written. Run on sentences, lack of editing. I’m not sure if this was rushed to print but more care was needed in editing this book.
What I did like, and the reason for the 2.5 star review, is the update on the writers life since the last book. I think it was good for her readers to hear her do well moving forward.
Once I started hearing the audiobook, I couldn’t stop. Her life journey in so many ways is my own story - with family, sibling, father abandonment, partners, and journey of self-love are ones that allow me to relate but more than that to respect, appreciate her of speaking truth of sadness, being totally depleted. This or any book of her story, her life, even if they include prior stories already told - I will ready/listen to. I look forward to seeing her journey continue on and watching her become that motivational speaker -she sees, desires but also one to give Glory to God.
CHIQUIS 🐝 if you ever read this: Que Dios te bendiga ahora y siempre para que nos sigas dando el animo y apoyo que al igual que tu jamas he tenido, o son de personas muy contadas. THANK YOU for sharing your story as hard as it was to put it to paper 💝
Not having ever heard of Rivera, I passed many times on reading her memoir. Honestly, I more than once wanted to quit reading it. It is such a depressing read, with her failed family and personal relationships. I could have been generous and gave it 2 stars, but that would be saying its OK when actually for me it was not OK.
Plus there is the profanity. There are no photos. Rivera is so introspective it is tiring. She also uses Spanish which of course made no sense to me. This book can be said to be more inspirational than memoir, but she does have memories.
Not to be read again, I was glad when it ended. After about half of the book the painful memories grew tiresome.
This book had me in tears some of joy and some of sadness. Some of Janney ~ Chiquis life I can relate to so reading this book was so inspiring to me. I lost my daughter in 2019 and am now raising my two grandaughters so I know exactly how both difficult and rewarding it is to raise other people's children if it is blood. Not difficult in a way that is negative but difficult in a way that brings doubts. I'm sure Chiquis knows what I mean. You are AMAZING girl. More Power To You In All That You Do.
Overall it was a decent memoir, but a little repetitive on topics. I felt like this book was more-so focused on the drama of her marriage more than anything else, which makes sense because it was a big factor in her life… but it became a little hard to stay engaged with the book with it was the main focal point. I did enjoy her self-revelations because things she said did resonate with me to a degree!
3.5 stars I enjoyed plucky Chiquis and her story of hustle, successes and failures, and self-discovery. She seems like a determined young person who took her whole family's well-being on her shoulders hen her mom tragically died. I'm surprised I liked the book so much, as I don't like banda, never knew really anything about her mom, and wouldn't probably Falk in the typical demographic of her fans. Yet it was entertaining and light reading, so it was worth it.
This is a completely biased comment but I absolutely love this book!! I loved getting a firsthand look into the trials and tribulations Chiquis has faced while also being so empowered by her words! After reading this book I feel like we’re best friends LOL but I will always support and love Chiquis ❤️ I cannot wait for book #3, maybe dive into a spiritual healing book?
After reading this book a lot of things make sense the behavior of her "loved ones, Family" made her be who she is I can relate in a lot of things and this book made me realize that I currently am going thru those struggles or been thru them and that in the end she's f#$%en human and so am I. Chiquis I honestly respect her now!
As a fan , it was really nice to hear her story to know her life and know the real story. I know many people have opinions of her. And maybe about this book, but honestly I'm so happy and so glad that she's doing better. All of us have things we go through. All of us have things that we have to conquer and she's doing a great job at conquering it.
Loved it! Her raw emotions and vulnerability she transcribed in this book was different than her first one. Her strength is admirable - if you know, you know.
Her practice of Faith is very inspiring. Having to always stay in role of "older sister" "first born" and pretty much her mom's right hand in life - seeing her describe it in such detail breaks my heart. She's a fighter.
she’s completely open about her intimate relationships. From beginning to end, we read her truths about her marriage, her struggles with her husband from addiction to her brother disliking him, down to her divorce and the drama from the media that came from it all. Regardless of her struggles, she never stopped working for her future, especially after being removed from her mothers will and trust before her death. Chiquis proved to herself and the world that she is unstoppable. Anything she sets her mind too, she’ll make sure she gets herself through. Nothing will stop her from becoming the tough, beautiful, and courageous woman she’s destined to become.
The book was ok. It was really repetitive. “My kids my kids, I’m a chingona, I did this myself, my mom didn’t leave me anything of hers.” Was looking for more insight on her relationship with her dad and the chisme with Juan and Rosie.
Love her and love the book I’ve never read forgiveness so this book was fantastic lol anyway she did good she might of not add a lot of the drama with her husband but I’m pretty sure he suede her so she wouldn’t write about that.
I wish Chiquis would've narrated the audiobook version of this book herself. The book was a repeat of a lot of what was in her first book, and also what was shown on the reality show she had with her family. She has definitely overcome a lot, and is an inspiration to many.
I expected a little more chisme. But she really went in on her marital problems, divorce, addiction.. forgiveness I believe has all the spills this book is more leaving all the bull shit in the past and never look back I do love that about the book. She was very vulnerable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I love this girl! We have share the same passion for family and I can relate with being my mom’s right hand growing up. I took off a star because the narrator on Audible didn’t know how to say her name and was honestly very monotone which at times ruined the emotion behind her words.
Again another great read from chiquis! Very detailed and goes more in depth than the reality shows she was in. I related to the dysfunction in the family structure!
Her story resonates with me so much and I loved her transparency. She has been through so much and is still positive and inspiring. I absolutely love her!
Oh my Chiquis has been through a lot. Through the grace of God. She shows that no matter what life throws at her. She gets backs up and proves them wrong.