I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Many thanks to the Publishers for this opportunity.

This read reveals the harsh reality of those on the fringe of society from a country that now doesn't see them and who fall into the hands of those who give false protection all the while grooming them for the drug trade. The story is of two girls who have experienced neglect and addiction, two inseparable cousins Carmen and Grace who are taken in by an underground drug dealer Doña Durka. Their situation becomes difficult when Doña dies leaving Grace exposed to those wanting to take over the helm when the plan had been for her to do so. The brutality of this type of life is well exposed, all the women are pretty tough, language tough but with their leader gone it all begins to unravel.

Carmen who relates the story becomes pregnant to her lover and amongst all that is going on they marry. She is imprisoned just after the birth of her daughter and during this time she learns of Grace's death. After her release she is able to reconnect with her daughter, now a young adult. There is good news for her revealed at the end, an unexpected surprise and of enlightenment.

Following the death of Dona Durka, her ‘adopted’ daughter Grace attempts to take over the family drug business, alongside a team of 8 other women, including Carmen. Carmen and Grace have been inseparable since childhood, but both have been groomed into the illegal drug trade from a young age. Now Carmen is pregnant and wants to escape, but finds herself at odds with Grace, who increasingly seeks to coax the women back into her new empire.

This book is about so much more than drugs and gangs. It’s an immersive tale of female friendship, strength, relationships, hope, and the family that you make for yourself. Initially the plot seems disorientating as you’re thrown into this underground world, but as the time periods criss-cross, the reader slowly builds a picture of these women, and the bonds that tie them together. Dona Durka, the original matriarch, has built a drug empire in which men are the foot soldiers, but the women are the special forces. And these 9 women are absolute powerhouses.

At first I wanted to join their badass all girl club, and be part of this dysfunctional family, rolling in money and opportunities. Raising their children together with trips to Disney World, and hope for the future. But as the book progresses you realise that all this wealth and power, has been built on vulnerabilities, poverty and fear. And it soon all comes crumbling down. Five brutal murders litter this book, and you start to fear which one of the 9 women will be next.

All of these women joined the business as children or young adults, when they were “perfectly invisible. Useless, unwanted and unprotected.” A life of crime offers them some hope, and a method of survival. Ultimately, they are all victims; invisible children, become invisible adults. This book will simultaneously fill your heart with joy, and shatter it into tiny pieces. This book is unlike anything I’ve read before. An immersive and powerful read.

This book was well written and developed, i will 100 recommend this to everyone the characters and the story stays with you

I appreciated this book, it really gives the feel of what it is to encounter struggles as a female. To be in positions that are beyond your control but become life. The opening was really tense and helped set the scene for the rest of the book.

A female Latinx drama. Carmen and Grace is the story of two cousins who are raised as sisters. Their bond is true and tight. With dreams of being better than their own mothers.

That is until Grace meets Doña Durka’s son. Grace then begins to live in the Durka home, she has a mother she never really had and she continues to benefit from the silent respect everyone shows to Doña Durka. Even though she doesn’t fully know what Doña Durka does for a living, she has an idea. Doña Durka is an inspiration to Grace. She sees Doña Durka and how everyone knows of her, respects her, goes to her for help, and more. One could say Doña Durka takes Grace under her own wings, seeing a daughter in Grace.

Keeping their bond even when life circumstances have changed, Carmen and Grace now begin to enter the drug trade by doing small jobs for Doña Durka. Grace always with a plan, continues to follow Doña Durka’s plan and expands to a group of females based on loyalty, trust, respect, and friendship.
That is until the unexpected death of Doña Durka. That also comes with news of Carmen’s pregnancy. As Grace is now put in a position of power, taking over Doña Durka, she sees an opportunity to expand. Whilst dealing with Doña Durka’s two sons, one of which is also in the drug trade while the other is the complete opposite with his military career. Carmen is struggling with the distancing of her cousin and sister and keeps the pregnancy a secret. Wanting out but knowing she can never be fully out, she struggles until it becomes almost impossible.

Not going to spoil this for anyone. Carmen and Grace go through it, and the sisterhood they formed with the other women is invigorating, no longer “lost girls”. The idea of making them learn anything and everything for their betterment and that of the business shows how important friendship is. So much goes on in this book, and it’s hard to realize how much you feel for these two characters until the part in the lawyer’s office bathroom.
When I reached that part of the book, it was like I had been holding my breath all the while. The flow of tears that streamed down my face felt like I was literally right there as a part of the book. The feelings that Carmen and Grace stirred up in me I didn’t even know I had. Melissa Coss Aquino wrote a very special book about female friendship, perseverance, and bonds. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

As a reader I like to broaden my horizons and read book from all over the world in varying genres; you never know if you’ll find a new favourite or at least get to read a different perspective from one’s usual literature.

“Carmen and Grace” by Melissa Coss Aquino took my interest because of the synopsis about female friendship in a world very foreign to me; that is a criminal world. It sounded interesting! But, unfortunately for me this book did not keep my interest. I don’t like to leave books unfinished, especially not if I’ve been granted them as an ARC so I struggled through the book.

I had a hard time finding the female friendship I was promised from the synopsis, and it just dragged on. Not the story for me.

A fantastic, engaging book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

OMG this book was GOOOOD. Well written with an interesting and compelling storyline and well developed characters. It was so immersive and emotive and had me reaching for tissues obn multiple occasions but it was also brutally raw and fragile at times. I really liked it,