Celebrating your cultura should be something that is year-round. These Latinx authors do just that with their honest and purposeful stories of what it means to de la comunidad. From trauma of living in a dictatorship to wrestling with the decisions your ancestors made, these authors are packing on the representation. They not only capture the mind, but also the soul of the Latinx experience in the United States and abroad. Below are ten authors who have written books you can totally lose yourself in.
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“For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts: A Love Letter To Women of Color”
By Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez
Mojica Rodriguez pens an ode to brown girls everywhere who struggle with the ofuscante forces of sexism, racism and classism. The Nicaragua-born author reminds women and femmes that they are not alone and shares tips on how they can tap into the inner strength.
“Corazón”
By Yesika Salgado
True to Salgado’s personality, Corazón is an unequivocally honest story of how love can help us grow. From heartache to healing, the book is a deep reminder of how love can be found anywhere — from something as simple as your favorite dish to your abuela’s hug to a conversation with a friend. In this novel, love is equal parts restorative and bittersweet.
“The Feast of the Goat”
By Mario Vargas Llosa (translated by Edith Grossman)
The Feast of the Goat offers readers view of what it was like living in the Trujillo-era Dominican Republic. El libro follows Urania Cabral as she travels back to her home country after being in a self-imposed exile. Travel through her childhood to see why she made the decisions she made as an adult.
“Of Women and Salt”
By Gabriela Garcia
Of Women And Salt is an ode to the mother-daughter relationship and how one decision can reverberate throughout time. The book depicts how betrayal, whether direct or indirect, can have a profound effect on those around us. From the shores of Cuba to Mexico, it dives into the power that women hold within their heart and soul.
“I am not your Perfect Mexican Daughter”
By Erika L Sánchez
Sánchez taps into the ideal of how daughters are held to a different standard within the Latinx family unit. Follow Julia as she navigates the impossible ideal of the perfectionism required of young girls after tragedy strikes her family.
“When We Make it”
By Elisabet Velasquez
With her debut novel, Velasquez beautifully articulates the story of first-generation Puerto Rican with prose much Clap Before You Land. This book is Velasquez’s ode to what it means to be of Puerto Rican descent in the United States. It also faces tackles the mounting pressures that society puts on Latinx people and finding your voice through it all.
“Speculative Fiction for Dreamers: A Latinx Anthology”
Edited by Alex Hernandez + Matthew David Goodwin + Sarah Rafael García
This book is a collection of works from over 30 contributors — all leading the new wave of Latinx writers. Each story dives into the nuances of what it means to navigate living in the United States.
“In the Time of Butterflies”
by Julia Alvarez
The story centers around the Mirabal sisters: the late Minerva, Patria, María Teresa, and their surviving sister Dedé. It is an honest portrayal of the women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the love of their country. It dives into how they helped free the Dominican Republic from dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo.
“The House of the Spirits”
By Isabel Allende
Reading anything from Allende is sure to be a winner. The House of The Spirits marks her debut and helped propel her to the renowned storyteller status she has today. The book dives into the trials and tribulations that occur throughout three generations of the Trueba family.
“Like Water for Chocolate: A Novel in Monthly Installments with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies”
By Laura Esquivel
Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate is a folksy, witty, and homey story about tradition and love. The novel follows the story of the all-female De La Garza family and how fate and duty intertwine with tragedy. Like Water for Chocolate is filled with bittersweet love, magic, and delicious recipes.
