This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed this and I can't wait to read more from this author. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did so that was a lovely surprise.

There is a wide range of stories in this collection that evoke myriad of emotions. The collection explores variety of ideas, folklore, fable, everyday stories from Latinx culture. The overarching theme is the culture in itself and Olivas delivers in a somewhat witty tone.

<i>Thank you to Netgalley and University of Nevada Press for providing me with a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This was an interesting read, not sure what I was expecting from this book but happy with the time spent reading it all the same. I definitely cannot wait for the day where more books like this are available, especially by BIPOC authors!

Quite a whimsy and magical collection of stories filled with Mexican culture and references. these stories and vignettes were captivating and compelling.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I enjoyed reading these stories! The writing was solid and the various plots were intriguing. I look forward to the author’s next book!

I received this as ARC in exchange for a review. Thank you University of Nevada Press for the opportunity to read How to Date a Flying Mexican.

This is a collection of previously published short stories by Daniel A. Olivas. I was not familiar with the author or his works but the description of the short stories, especially his heritage as a Mexican American, caught my interest. I was not disappointed! Each story is haunting, mysterious, supernatural and thought provoking.

Without any spoilers: Who killed the goat? What did the girl say? What happened to the boy? Read this book and reach out to me so that we can discuss.

2.5 stars

This was a pretty solid collection short stories, which were comprised of fables, fairy tales, lists, etc. I feel like I can’t rate this one any higher because while a few stories really struck something in me many others just fell a bit flat and had me struggling to get to the next page. I think the pieces in the middle of the book were what made it drag on which is unfortunate since this had so much promise.

It's so difficult to rate short story collections, especially when I have differing opinions about each short story. For the most part, though, I'd say most of this collection grabbed and held my attention. Some of them were a little bit wackier than I would've expected going into it or didn't provide as clear a conclusion as I would've like, but this was a fun read overall.

Fascinating collection of fables and short stories on Latinx culture and folklore. Most of the stories were emotional and other stories humorous. The stories take place mainly in Cailfornia and Mexico. Olivas has an interesting writing style that pull readers into the stories and meeting different characters along the way. Recommend this book to anyone who love Latinx Stories and or Magical Realism.

Such a fun dive into Mexican culture and experience. This is my first book from this author and he definitely got my attention. I’m looking forward to reading more book from him.

How to Date a Flying Mexican is a collection of short stories that is filled with Mexican culture, myths and folklores. Some of these stories are very entertaining and engaging while some are sad and frustrating. There were some that ended abruptly leaving you to guess the ending. A few of the stories touch on politics which I were my favourite. The stories are all quite different and there is definitely a story for everyone.

Like all short stories, there are bound to be hits and misses and I find that the stories in the middle are a little boring. I find the stories in the beginning and end are the best ones. I don’t have any particular favourites simply because there were so many stories to choose from but I definitely enjoyed reading this overall.

Thank you Netgalley and University of Nevada Press for the arc.

LOVED IT


I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I got an advance digital galley copy from NetGalley. Loved the collection of stories in this book. The collection of stories was not only a collection of good short stories but you can also see the different kinds of stories, some of them leaving you to guess the ending your self.

Overall, I really liked this collection and i would strongly recommend reading the book.

This was funnier than I expected. I had a good time reading the short stories. As someone who is Mexican-American, I enjoyed the Spanglish and references to very Mexican-American/ Chicane experiences. I do not usually read intros/ forwards but I think in this book it was really important and added another level (another level of what, I'm not sure, but another level of something).

I had fun reading this book and I will definitely be ordering this book to have a hard copy of because I loved the cover and I can see myself going back to certain stories.

DNF 25%

Listen it's not that I did not enjoy this book, but at the end of the day, I just could not get into it after trying to do that for months. I did enjoy bits and pieces of it but I've rarely ever enjoyed a collection of short stories and this just did not work for me.

Overall a reading with evaluation that more sufficient. He started very well with the first story - weird, funny and magical - while the following ones were just ... Ok.
Tw: as already mentioned by other readers, violence against women and rape (no graphic) are mentioned and it made a lot of effect on me especially because they are not essential to the development of the plot. In some stories it seems there has not been an editor's revision, because the passages are very long and superfluous, which could be if not cut, at least refined. I really liked the choice of using both English and Spanish (South American) terms because it gave warmth and "heart" to the narration. The latest stories in the collection are the most emblematic as well as the most recent (chronologically speaking) and are among the best. I liked the elements of magical realism and the inclusion of "mythical" figures in the narrative such as Death (La Muerte) and the Devil. Reading is overall recommended, but it is not a collection of short stories impacting enough in its overall message.

While I generally did enjoy this collection of short stories. I do think there are some serious issues that make me not want to publicly recommend this on my account. While I do think this book does a phenomenal job encapsulating both the Chicano and Mexican experience that really speaks to the author's own relationship with that identity, I think it also encapsulates some of the worst of that experience including misogyny and anti-indigenous sentiments. The way Mexica, not as the book incorrectly refers to Aztec, culture and storytelling is questionable bordering on disrespectful. In general, the depiction of indigenous Latinos, but particularly indigenous latinas, is not great from making their exploitation and the violence a central focus in the stories they appear in almost a gratuitous manner to small things like the use of Indian instead of Indigenous or native or even better yet specifically referring to their specific ethnic group. I am however more concerned with the fact the presence of indigenous women in this story is always tied to either violence or hypersexualization. I would seriously reconsider reworking or just not including The Plumed Serpent of Los Angeles, Don de la Cruz and the Devil of Malibu, and The Fox in future editions of this book.

Otherwise, I adored the vast majority of the other stories in this collection particularly the titular story, The Fabricator, and The Chicano in you. I love how magical realism was blended into each of the stories and I love the wide variety of stories we get to read in this collection that very clearly covers the span of many years. If the weird misogynistic and anti-indigenous elements were removed this easily would have been a 4 or 5 star read,

This was my first collection of short stories and I was enchanted by them! They were such a beautiful insight into Mexican culture and folklore, and there were definitely several that I think I'll find myself returning to. Overall, I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would, and I'm looking forward to reading more by the author!

I came for the title and stayed for the stories. So many great stories, mostly set in Mexico or Southern California. Magical realism and folklore, with short to long stories, I loved it. It made me think of my own abuela, who died over 20 years ago, a healer and beautiful soul.
It is hard to summarize with so many stories, but my favorites are probably the longer stories: The Fabricator, After the Revolution, La Queenie. The collection ends strong with the last two stories Los Otros Coyotes (about immigration and family separation) and The Chicano in You, where Javier Zambrano is able to occupy the body of animals and humans.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc of this book.

This is a collection of short stories, and like all of these, there are hits and misses. There was definitely a lull in the middle, with many of the best stories at the beginning and end of the collection. The lull isnt because the stories are bad, but they are less stories and more vignettes. The still life of writing as it were.

But there were many where I made my partner read specific stories because they were so good. This happened a lot more than most any short story collection Ive read in the past year or so.

If you need plots and completion, this collection is not for you. If you are a Trumpster, you may not appreciate some of the stories, but need them more than anyone. Overall, a strong book that Id recommend to a pretty wide group.

Thank you to Daniel Olivas, University of Nevada Press, and Netgalley for an advanced copy