A review by nuhafariha
Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Thank you to One World and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Available now.

Bouyed by zingy one liners, Karla Cornejo Villavicencio's Catalina is a raucous coming of age. As she navigates class, immigration status, pop culture, and more - Catalina must find her place in the increasingly confusing world of the wealthy and powerful at Harvard. The whole story reads as one monologue and I found myself laughing out loud at parts of Catalina's experiences. I loved the family dynamics in this book, the balance of tender devotion and guilt many immigrants navigate. Sometimes, I would get thrown off by Catalina's meandering thoughts, but as a whole it was a bemusing read.