Underneath it All

by Margo Candela

In a traditional family, the last thing you can be is who you really are, but it's time for Jacqueline Sanchez to find the woman underneath it all . . . Everyone has their role. My mother is the martyr, my father the distant unapproachable figure, and Noel, with a few brief stints in jail, is considered misunderstood, not a handsome loser. Yolie is just outspoken, not a miserable bitter shrew, which would be her clinical diagnosis in the "real" world. And the rest of my brothers and sisters have problems that my parents consider normal, like bad marriages, unruly children, and too many bills. So is it a surprise that I'm considered the troublemaker of the family? Not happy at home? Move away for college. Hate your job? Find another one. Fallen out of lust, er, love with your husband? Divorce him. I, so far, am the anomaly-or flake-in the family because I'm vocal about how unnecessary it is to be unhappy, and how important it is to do something about it to change your circumstances (thank you, Zoloft) If I had it my way, my whole family would be comparing dosages at the dinner table the way some families talk about sports or politics . . . Since graduating from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism with an emphasis in magazine writing, Margo Candela has been enjoying getting her feet wet in the world of writing. She has written for Estylo Magazine, ComputerLife Magazine, BayInsider.com, Beyond.com, and ZuluSports.com. She has also written two screenplays, as well as mainstream fiction, a young adult series, and literary fiction which feature strong, complex Latina characters. Underneath It All is her first novel. She is currently finishing her second. Prolific, savvy, and speaking to the heart of modern day Latinas, Margo Candela is an author to watch.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Margo Candela is an award-winning author born and raised in Los Angeles and began her writing career when she joined her community college's student newspaper. She transferred to a state university as a journalism major, and upon graduation began writing for websites and magazines before switching to fiction. She wrote and published four novels between 2007 and 2010 :Underneath It All and Life Over Easy Good-bye to All That and More Than This. The Neapolitan Sisters, a 2023 International Latino Book Award winner, is her fifth novel and her first after a decade-long hiatus from writing.

Reviews

[Zulmara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Underneath It All
By Margo Candela
http://www.margocandela.com/blogspot/...

Reviewed by Zulmara Cline

In her debut novel, Margo Candela captivates us with her storytelling abilities as we enter the life of Jaqueline Sanchez, a Latina with all the drama of a large familia Latina, who love a smother all at the same time. As Jaqs tries to break away and find her identity and be the "different" one, we are drawn into a life that is often unpredictable, based on circumstances, and filled with uncertainty. The only certainty in Jacqs life is that she is searching and looking for meaning and purpose in her life and is not willing to setting for much less. She wants it all, and she will settle for nothing.

Although she loves her family and will defend them to the end, she is not willing to "settle" into the life of good wife and mother to a boring husband. She wants more…even though, she herself does not understand what that "more" is or what she is looking for.

In this universal story of questioning life and the choices and decisions we have made, we follow Jacqs as she defies family expectations, societal norms, and cultural values to find the true meaning and purpose of her own life.

As she to find herself, we follow from her high powered job as the Mayor's wife personal assistant, to unemployment, to divorce, to her caring family. Jacqs is a lovable and believable persona. Anyone who has woken up one morning and said, "what am I doing with my life?" What was I thinking?" will quickly and easily relate to Jacqs and her journey into the unknown.

About the Author
Margo Candela is a Latina author who writes with a strong Latina voice, mixing bits and pieces of the culture into her universal stories and plot themes. No stereotypes in her novels, just strong Latinos/as who give us glimpse into the culture that gives us wings to fly and roots to stay grounded. Margo passionately weaves the best of la comunidad Latina with wit, wisdom, talent, and humor.

Questions
1. Have you ever been in a job that you knew you had to leave, but were not sure where to go and what to do?
2. When life hands you lemons, how are you able to make lemonade?
3. If given a second chance at life, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
4. Have you ever gone in search of you life's purpose and mission? What did you do? What did you find?
5. Have you learned from past mistakes or do you find yourself repeating the same mistakes over and over again?
6. Do you have the courage it takes to start all over again? or would you stay in an untenable situation?

Quote:
I'm not unhappy and isn't that almost the same thing? (191)

Opening line:
I'm not looking forward to this, but it has to be done.

[L V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Celia

Well written. Full of wit. Enjoyed the characters. Jacq was clever and funny.

My favorite part was when she found the used condoms in her apartment. Hilarious!

But I felt like I was waiting for something to happen as I was reading the book. She didn't come close to sleeping with her boss. She didn't throw a pan at her ex-husband. I wanted something to happen.

Overall, I felt the whole thing was uneventful. When I reached the end of the book, I thought, "That's it?"

[Yolibear · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that the character came from humble beginnings and was a bit of a snob about her money. I also liked that she was in therapy (which is very frowned upon in latino families). I thought this character could have been me or one of my relatives. I like that she had money and was ashamed that her family did not. I think this character was realistic and I enjoyed the read.

[Anastasia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author's nueva latina chick lit is disappointing. The characters are almost there in terms of being well developed people you can care about--- but ultimately the superficiality comes through too strongly (obsession with Tiffany rings, Gucci bags, etc.) and there's no real movement toward any specific growth or resolution at the end.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is Margo Candela's first book, I read it last. I really didn't think it could possibly compare to her third, More Than This, which I absolutely loved, but I was pleasantly surprised. I have to say, I think this is my favorite now. Write another one, Margo!

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I've read by Ms. Margo Candela, and it debuts her effervescent and humorous style. The reader finds a good character in Jacq--fun, smart, and relatable--but I never found the woman "underneath it all." I thought it kind of ended with a cliffhanger.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wash Post recommended Latina chick lit...yet not good.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

a friend said this was good

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funnneeeeee!

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

laugh out loud funny for anyone who has a latina mother ;)

[Jeepster · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to "get into" this book. Loved the author's sense of humor and style of writing. Funny story line but the cheating theme is a bit redundant.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sassy!

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Fresh, fun, and unpredicatable.