"Once, in my father's bookshop, I heard a regular customer say that few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds its way into his heart."

representation: all Spanish cast of characters (own voices), blind character, mention of gay characters, mental illness (PTSD perhaps?), side character with a stutter.

[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]

★★★★.5

This was absolutely stunning and so, so compelling! There are some things that I didn't personally agree with such as the use of slurs and such, but wow, what a story!

trigger warnings: loss of parents in the past (cholera and from war), stalking and harassment, mention of living in poverty (in the past), mention of past domestic and sexual abuse by a father and by non-family members, mention of suicide ideation, sex, violence, homelessness, various slurs, torture, PTSD episode, sexism, side character who's a gross pedophile, disgusting men who objectify women, rape, bullying, murder, mention of infertility, stillbirth, death from childbirth, war, fire, accidental incest.