I was really excited to read this novel based on the description. This was both a heartwarming and heartbreaking. The relationship between the two main characters was lovely but did feel rushed. The conflict with ICE was well done and obviously well-researched. The book has well-developed characters and flows very nicely. I did find the ending a bit too pat and perfect but again, that's probably not an issue for most readers.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this arc

Ander & Santi We're Here by Jonny Garza Villa
ARC BOOK REVIEW

Queer love and social issues is something that I would say I hold very deeply to my heart especially being queer myself so seeing that play out in this story really made me emotional and I did cry a couple times while reading this. However, I do feel that the story moved to slow for me and I felt a little like "I could just stop reading right now" at some point, but really I wanted to finish their love story so I am glad I did. Overall, it was not a bad experience and I am glad I read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I cried until my eye were red and my shirt was soaked! This was such a good book, a sweet Ya/New adult book about queer love admist the tenous living situations of the undocumented. I just wept so much. I cant wait for more from Villa.

Wow. This is honestly one of the best books I’ve read this year. And I suspect it will continue to be in my top faves come December. It was colorful, heart aching, and wonderfully loud.

From the beginning, the writing was immersive. I felt sucked into Ander’s world, and I had no complaints about it. Reading through Ander’s eyes was a constant ride of highs and lows, cheering and laughing, sometimes even choking up. They were so unapologetically themselves, and it was consistent from page one. No matter the kind of scene happening—a happy scene that had me grinning or a devastating scene that saddened me—it was all depicted in a way that was true to Ander’s character.

Speaking about character, every single member of Ander’s family literally jumped off the page. They were all so unique. And it warmed my heart to see them be so loving toward their kids and one another. The love that radiated from them, even from everyone at the taquería, was special. Now Santi was the man of the hour, of course. I absolutely adored watching him come out of his shell after what I can only assume as a grueling journey as he made it to Lupe’s. And I loved that Ander was the one who showed him how to let down his walls and allow love in.

As for plot, I had a great time going from scene to scene. I was switching from happiness to anger to sadness within seconds. I was expecting to see more internal conflict between Ander and Santi that wasn’t just that part in the beginning where Santi was hoping to get Ander off his back because of his situation. And even that was resolved easily. I thought maybe that moment after the situation with Santi’s mom and his sister, but then…well, that happened. I guess I expected more on that front. However, I did like that their relationship was just simply wholesome. They fell into love and did not want to come out of it. They made each other better. I couldn’t help but root for them from the very beginning.

And my favorite part about this book was the world building. The way it felt like I was standing in between all of it was incredible. It all exploded in color. I think it was made even better because Ander is such an artist, so watching them go from mural to mural, focusing on the scenes before them in detail, and bringing it all to life was the cherry on top.

Truly an incredible read. This is definitely a book I will want to reread time and time again.

“What's worth fighting for? What's worth losing?”

From reading the synopsis, I knew that this book would hurt me but… wow it sure did creep up on me. My first impression of Ander and Santi was of a story that focuses on an incredibly hard and heavy subject, but still stays pretty lighthearted and surface level. As I got further in, I was definitely proved wrong. I was taken from a hot and heavy quickly blossoming young romance to an absolutely devastating and powerful fight to protect what you love. My absolute favorite, most impactful scene from this entire book was the shower scene. The powerful, gorgeous descriptions of queer intimacies, the small touches and holding of each other, the safe space that we make with each other. It brought me to tears and reminded me of how safe I feel in my own love’s arms despite all the chaos in the world around us. “And with every touch, I am reminded that we are powerful. That our existence is powerful… It's also him reminding me and me reminding him that we exist. Together. Right here and now, with each other. And no man or government or racist ideology can ruin this.”

(vague spoiler ahead) I didn’t expect this story to get a happy ending but god I’m so glad it did. Ander and Santi deserved one so badly. Throughout this book I felt like I was repeatedly getting the rug pulled out from under me, which I think is exactly how the characters felt; being given the promise of safety and having it taken away over and over again. The frustration. The anger. The hopelessness. The grief. I felt all of it. To see two brown, queer people find safety and joy and peace is so needed and so much more important than any other ending could’ve been.

“We loved here, and no one and no amount of hate can ever erase that.”

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review :)

Ander & Santi We're Here by Jonny Garza Villa
ARC BOOK REVIEW

"So I scream. To let it all out. To make sure that sound still exists. To let out everything that's been holding itself in. To remind myself that I'm still here. Until my throat hurts to remind myself that I can still feel."

This book tells the story of Ander, an 17 year old non-binary queer artist and their Latinx family living in a Texas border town. While aware of the struggles of their undocumented neighbors, Ander really kept themself naive until their new boyfriend, Santi, reveals he's undocumented. ICE becomes a personal threat as they both face the risks of being separated.

I absolutely loved Ander and the journey they went on to accept themself as an artist. They learned, with Santi's help, that art is most powerful when created from the heart. The flirty friends-to-lovers journey of Ander and Santi was sweet and genuine. In fact, all the relationships in the book felt genuine. Ander's relationship with their large, loud, Latinx family, their best friends, and their community, all felt solid and real. I appreciated that Ander's gender and sexuality, while important to the story, wasn't the catalyst for strife and conflict.

The only real challenge for me while reading was so crucial to the telling of the story, that I want to make sure this isn't read as a complaint. The amount of Spanish used in conversation was so important in the representation of Latinx families and neighborhoods and I could typically get the gist from the rest of the conversation. I found myself going from book to online translator, however, because I just had to know the endearing nicknames Santi and Ander were calling each other!

I received this ARC from Netgalley and St Martins Press. Ander & Santi Were Here will be released May 2, 2023.

DNF @20%
This book has great representation and I like that some of the dialogue is Spanish. I know some people might complain that ts not translated to English in the text, but I think it's easy to understand through context and if you want to know exactly what was said, you can use Google. I don't care about the plot and it felt like nothing was happening.

I appreciated the queer romance, as well as the addressing of timely social issues. But the rest of the plot was a bit dull. Not that this is a bad book, but it just ultimately wasn’t for me.

“I think, if this is my last day, the last day of life as I know it, the last few hours of happiness and having things and people who can take my mind away from the worries and mierda out there, then at least I know I’ve made the best out of it.”
ander and santi were here is, at it’s heart a story of figuring out your future when you’re in a foggy place. when you don’t know what’s the right move and when the fog will produce something that is meant to hurt you. it’s raw & terrifying, but most importantly it’s real. ander and santis stories have been told by many people just like them. this book was a good read, giving me moments where i knew what was happening next, and then throwing it out of the window.

I received an electronic ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

This book was...Something

Even though the book was a little slow for my taste and I have a short attention span (take that as you will), I did like the book, and the amount of diversity was fucking great and made every character fun and interesting to read about. But there were times where the dialogue annoyed me or sounded like something a person wouldn’t say in real life; it was sometimes written like how an alien thinks 20-ish-year-old humans talk. There were also many pop culture references that were amusing at first but quickly became annoying and cringey. I thought that the Spanish incorporated into the book was nice, but there is no translation for the Spanish. It would be nice to include the translations in footnotes or in parentheses. As someone who is bilingual, I understand that sometimes English can not really emphasize the urgency of some words and phrases, and being a minority is very important for the characters and the plot, but people still need to understand what the characters are saying. Given the subject matter of this book, some of the conflicts seemed to be resolved far too quickly. And this book definitely didn’t feel like a YA book considering how many times it references sex and that the main characters are literally adults as well.

At first, I thought everyone should read this book because of the political and cultural topics that are being discussed and challenged, but my view changed dramatically after chapter 40. It’s incredibly slow. I somehow finished the book, but it took me a long time to get there because I had to take breaks. To give you an idea of how long it took, I started this book on January 25th, and this book is only 336 pages. Normally I finish books like that within 1-2 weeks, depending on my personal life. But I do like the ending; I saw it as very fitting considering the trajectory of the book.

I would not read this book again, and I would only recommend it to people who like cheesy, romantic movies. I don’t even know if I like the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy!

I don’t often read contemporary or romance books, but when I saw the description for this book, it sounded really interesting and I just couldn’t resist when it was listed as ‘read now.’ This was an incredibly charming book with a wonderful blend of heart, zest, and wit, and I’m so glad I picked it up on a whim.

I had so much fun reading this! Right from the first paragraph, the reader gets a fantastic sense of Ander and how they view the world around them. I don’t think I’ve ever read a character with such a distinct, vibrant narrative voice. I absolutely adored the seamless fusion of the English and Spanish language as well as queer terminology. The fact that Ander’s family so comfortably used -e endings made my heart full. I also really enjoyed all of the character relationships: Ander and Santi are tooth-achingly sweet together, Ander’s family and their interactions are delightfully hectic and honest, and multiple times I laughed aloud at Ander and Zeke’s banter.

As fun as this book was, it also approached the topics of gender, sexuality, race, culture, immigration politics, and the intersection of all of these with a great deal of tenderness, grace, and respect. I really appreciate that the author explored the difficulties and fear, the beauty and hope, and everywhere in between with these issues to create a nuanced glimpse into the everyday lives of strangers who could just as easily be friends.

Despite all of the good with this book, I think it could have been taken to the next level if we got a little more about Santi. Because everything is from Ander’s point of view, sometimes the romance feels a little unbalanced or under-developed. A relationship is built on two people, but so much of Ander and Santi’s relationship felt like it was focused on Ander. I wanted to know more about how Santi felt about certain events since he is probably the most reserved character in the story and doesn’t always verbally express what he’s feeling or thinking.

I would definitely recommend this book!

First of all let me say that the cover is breathtaking. Immediately, I knew I had to read this book. The writing is beautiful and realistic. The whole time I read it I felt as if I was standing right there with them. I appreciate that they take time to flesh out the characters and backstory but I think it took too long and affected the pace of the story. By the time things start moving in the story it feels like Ander and Santi have barely been together at all. This book touches on an important issue and I believe it was addressed well. I wish the ending was a little longer and delved a little deeper but it was a great story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞: ★★★★

Thank you for allowing me to read this novel. I was ecstatic when I received the email that I would be able to read my first arc! I love the cover art and I enjoyed the story.

Jonny Garza Villa does a great job at showing heartbreak in difficult situations while also adding romance. I thought it was refreshing to read from a nonbinary artist struggling with finding her voice in San Antonio. These two main characters struggle to face the adult world while also encountering the cruelty of America, as society tries to mold them into a box.

This novel raises a lot of difficult topics and expresses culture, family, love, and friendship.

DNF @ 20%.

I lost it at the part where the main character describes warm weather in winter as spring "putting the tip in" "before pulling out and letting winter keep rearranging our guts for a few more weeks."

The writing is long, tedious, and not that funny, and nothing has happened yet. I'm not intrigued.

This was such a beautiful and heartbreaking love story. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it at the beginning because it started rather slowly. However, I think this touches on themes that are important and meaningful. It’s heartbreaking that stories like this exist in the real world but it’s important to talk about these matters and give them a voice. Ander and Santi are great examples of realistic characters.

One thing I absolutely loved is the voice this was written in. This book uses Spanish mixed into the English. While I don’t speak Spanish, I was able to understand what was happening. I adore that the integrity of the characters and writing was kept and not forced to change things to make it more accessible. A wonderful example of realistic literature.

*4.5/5

Okay, I’m going to try to get through this review without crying. Again. This book was a rollercoaster of emotions. In a beautiful way.

The way these characters’ emotions are written make them feel so real. I could feel the love these characters had for each other, their sadness was palpable, their happiness made me glow. And yes, I cried. But that’s not a surprise.

I loved the realness of the topics in the book. They’re so current and important to talk about. The anger the characters were feeling is deeply ingrained in the immigration system in the US. And the representation in the book was great, having multiple sexualities and genders and pronouns and races and backgrounds. Love it!!

The ROMANCE! Oh man, the love was so real. At first I thought it was a little insta-love-y, but as I read on, the feelings between these characters felt so realistic and developed and all-consuming.

One complaint I have about this book- really the only one- is that there were no translations for the Spanish parts. I loved the realistic-ness of having the characters speak Spanish to each other and it really added depth to the story, but since this is a book published in English, I struggled understanding like 1/6 of the book because there were no translations for full sentences/paragraphs in Spanish. Again, I have no problem with books incorporating other languages, I think it’s important, but definitely either translate or have clear context clues so the (English) reader knows what is being said.

I definitely predicted the end of this book from like halfway through, but that didn’t make it any less impactful and BEAUTIFUL. Such a well written ending that wrapped up the book so well and stayed true to the nature of the story.

Finally, aside from the narrative, the COVER!!! Alone this cover is stunning, but reading the book and having that visual for the end was invaluable. So beautiful, one of the best book covers I’ve ever seen.

Overall I HIGHLY recommend this book. I know I’ve said this already but it’s such a beautiful and tragic story that deserves more attention.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book!

This was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful novels I've ever had the pleasure to read. I got the arc a while ago and sat on it for months. Mostly because I was afraid. I knew it was going to make me <i>feel</i> and that it might make me <i>cry</i> and neither of those things are high up on my list of experiences lol. But ... today was the day and I'm so glad.

I've been reading YA novels for a really long time. I started out reading Dessen novels in the early aughts. I'm not new to YA or New Adult novels. But when I tell you that this is among my top five YA novels, I am very serious. I have a very long list and the moment I finished reading this... I ached. I still ache. I'm not going to tell you the plot or give you a summary, I am going to tell you how this book made me feel.

Ander and Santi were so much FUN. They made me laugh nonstop. Ander's observance of life was hilarious and his interactions with his family brought a needed lightness to a very serious and timely novel. This family was understanding and sweet and his parents loved one another and their children so much. It was so evident in how they expressed their love for Ander. There is a scene where Ander and their mother are talking and Ander's mother explains WHY she does not want Ander to see Santi anymore and as a mother myself... it made my heart actually hurt. It was so real and genuine, her love palpable.

The yearning and pining through the first half of this novel is so beautiful. It's young. It reminded me of the first time I fell in love. Life is so daunting and vast at that age. So much left for you to discover. And yet, the curveball Ander is thrown by falling in love with Santi.. and them deciding to give in and actually pursue one another... they had to grow up so fast. No longer at the end of their teens but fully blown adults. The romance in this was so beautiful. They were both so tender with one another, understanding, and unabashed with their feelings for one another. And there were so many moments I held my breath out of genuine fear for them. I cried when Ander cried. I cried when Santi cried. But my god, I grinned when they were happy. Because they deserved it so badly. And I was so afraid because I got to 90% and thought... how will this end happily? But... oh it did. I will be thinking about them for a very long time.

Johnny wrote a very timely and moving novel. And I am a better person for having read it. I will be purchasing a copy and adding it to my ever expanding book collection and cannot wait for the day that my daughter will be able to read it. That is the kind of book Johnny has written. Thank you. I simultaneously feel like I've said too much but not enough. Just know that you won't regret reading this book.

I received an arc from Wednesday Books and Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for a free review copy. All opinions my own.

Ander and Santi Were Here has a good story. I really enjoyed the dynamics of the family, the total acceptance of Ander being queer and nonbinary without any hesitations, and Santi being who he is.

Their summer romance is adorable, and I'm glad I read 65% of the story, but I did end up DNFing anyways.

I requested this book without knowing that there would be lots of Spanish sentences through the book. Another language is completely fine - but the problem is that we don't have any sort of translation guide, for those people who don't speak Spanish. One word here or there is okay without any translation, but there is easily one sentence on each page of the 221 pages I read.

With this being published to a general audience, it needs to be accessible for those people who don't speak the language. I also found without the context, I was missing a good portion of the story itself, and it kept kicking me out of the story because I had to guess what they were saying which is frustrating.

Sadly due to that reason, I did not finish the book.

I'm incredibly happy young people get to grow up with stories like this, stories about belonging, and love, and community, and family, and bravery, and identity and what all those things mean wrapped up together. This book made me emotional in so many ways and I'm so grateful I got to read it.

I will say the description of it made me nervous but I went in with eyes, mind and most of all heart.

This book is so devastatingly beautiful. There are parts where you are reading about two people falling in love and then you realize there is something so much bigger happening and the story itself evolves into so much more.

The ending I didn’t see coming but that was because I was both broken snd put back together so many times throughout this beautiful story.

I have learned so much and my favorite chapter is an early chapter because it is filled with hope.

Thank you for sharing Ander and Santi.
Thank you for sharing their story.