Book 27 of 2024 - ☑️! Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Hogarth and Melissa Mogollon for an ARC of Oye, by Melissa Mogollo, in exchange for my honest review.

Oye by Melissa Mogollon had been on my list for a minute. Our protagonist, Luciana Domínguez, is a Colombian-American teenager living in Florida. The reader learns of her and her family’s story through listening to her side of phone conversations with her sister, Mari.

While I enjoyed the concept at the beginning and the end, and you could definitely track Luciana’s growth and maturity as one can in good coming-of-age stories, the middle could have been pared down a bit in my opinion. I think most people remember being teenagers, and the big feelings that come with going through puberty. While things are sometimes dark, there’s also the flip side - things and events that are great, and I would have liked it if that had sprinkled in a bit more throughout the book, for Luciana.

As a Latina, I love reading books written by Latinas with Latina leads. Representation is strong here: this might be the first book I’ve read with a Colombian-American protagonist, who’s also a Lesbian.

3/5 ⭐️ - I’d love to read more of Mogollon’s books - especially as she uses different methods to tell stories. 🇨🇴 📞👵🏼 #NetGalley #Oye

Thank you Hogarth for a copy of Oye!

“Yes, hi, Mari. It’s me. I’m over my tantrum now and calling you back . . . But first—you have to promise that you won’t tell Mom or Abue any of this. Okay? They’ll set the house on fire if they find out . . .”

Oye is unique - structured as one-sided phone calls! Unfortunately, my brain had a hard time adapting to the unique format, so I had to DNF at about 30%. I hope to pick this up again one day, but on audio!

I wanted to give this five stars. I just felt it was missing conversations in context. A lot of the conversations that are one-sided. As a Latina, I do feel seen and heard. The story was very relatable. Can’t wait to read more by this author.

A young woman reckons with her unpredictable family. It was perfect on audio, given that the entoire story takes place in one-way phone calls. This is a family story, one of a large Columbian-American clan and one of natural disasters and aging and loss. It's a coming of age and a coming out story as well.

I'm not sure how to describe the format for this. This entire book consists of our FMC Luisa having one sided phone calls with her older sister who is away at college.

It starts with the evacuation for Hurricane Irma and goes from there. Through these phone calls Lusia cycles through her emotions and fills her big sister on the declining health of their grandma, the arrival of visitors, the frustration of being left alone to deal with their mom, her hesitance of being openly gay, and so much more.

Readers will be taken through generations of strength, struggle, and dreams of the women in their family.
From the orphaned Great Grandmother born in Columbia, to abuse their grandmother suffered as a young child that helped shape her into the dramatic, beauty obsessed, fiesty woman she is today, to the immigration of their mother and eventually we see the sisters who have opportunities unlike the former generations.

Big sister is an overachiever living the American Dream. And then we have Luisa. Who as a high school senior has finally decided that maybe she should try to graduate.

This read like a Telenovela. The mix of Spanish and English instantly had me in a choke hold and thinking of my own Grandmother and Aunt and the different interactions I had with them growing up.

The family secrets are scandalous, dark, and sad. But the women in this family are resilient.

I empathized with Luisa's frustration of being a translator and mediator. How at only 17 she had to accept the fact that her grandmother was drying and refusing treatment. I understood how scared she was and the anger she felt of having to endure this alone.

But as a mother and a woman who came from generations of reliant woman who have taught me not to cry over what I can't control; I understood the big sister's choices.

I really liked this story. It gave me all the feels and made me wish I could hear the voice of my grandma and aunt one last time.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND, ESPECIALLY ON AUDIO

3.5 stars

The cover is breathtaking! I love it. The format of this book took me a minute to get into, as it is a one-sided convo between sisters. I alternated between audio and print for this book, and the audio helped me understand who was talking and when. The print version often used italics when others were speaking, though also when MC Luciana "Nana" was speaking. So it was all a little confusing. Once I understood the voices, I found them very compelling and grew to love Abue.

At its core, this was a really touching story about knowing you are about to lose a loved one. But it also incorporated teenage angst, sibling rivalry and difficult families. It also had a good dose of humor. I enjoyed the snippets of Spanish throughout. This was an enjoyable read/listen, though hard to follow at times.

The writing style of this book is so unique and unlikely any other book that I have read. Luciana is an 18yo girl who tells a story through talking to her sister on the phone. We only hear her side of the conversation. It covers topics like hurricanes, Rick Scott, cancer. It is a coming of age tale told in a really creative way.

What a unique book! This book is told through one way phone calls between sisters as their grandmother goes through cancer treatments. I thought the characters were very believable and the writing was touching! Definitely recommend!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was hard to get into it's a different format but once you get used to it it's very good - love having books about a Columbian family! - it's a sweet coming of age story I love grandma most of all- pick it up for a good wholesome read!

I’ve tried picking this up a few times now, but each attempt has ended with me setting it down unfinished. I really wanted to love this book—the premise sounded like exactly my kind of story, but for some reason, it just hasn’t been clicking with me. Maybe it’s a pacing issue, or I’m just not connecting with the characters the way I’d hoped. It’s possible I’m not in the right headspace to fully appreciate it, so I’m planning to give it another shot down the road when I’m in a different mood.

I DNF’d this twice. From the description, this is a “my type of book.” I really don’t know what it was that couldn’t get me into it. But maybe I’ll try again sometime.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

Conceptually a great idea but unfortunately the format took away from the plot to the point it was just dragging out the story. I think the concept was great. I wish the execution was better.

Oye offers an intriguing look into the complexities of identity and cultural heritage, weaving together a tapestry of experiences that reflect the diverse lives of its characters. The narrative captures the vibrant nuances of the community it portrays, filled with moments of humor and heart. The author's keen observations and descriptive prose create a rich setting that invites readers to immerse themselves in the story, highlighting both the beauty and challenges of navigating cultural expectations.

However, the pacing can feel uneven, with some sections dragging while others rush through important developments. Certain characters, while relatable, occasionally lack depth, leaving their arcs feeling incomplete. Despite its strong premise and engaging moments, Oye ultimately falls short of fully realizing its potential, making it an enjoyable but somewhat uneven read that leaves readers wishing for a deeper exploration of its themes.

"Oye" is a captivating exploration of identity, culture, and the immigrant experience. Melissa Mogollón’s writing is both lyrical and poignant, weaving personal narratives with broader social themes. The prose is rich with vivid imagery and emotional depth, drawing readers into the complexities of her characters' lives. Particularly the use of a phone call is different and innovative. Mogollón's storytelling shines through her ability to balance humor with heart-wrenching moments. The dialogue is sharp and engaging, reflecting the intricacies of language and communication within diverse communities. The themes of belonging and self-discovery resonate powerfully, making "Oye" not just a personal story but a universal one.

I read this as audio book as well, and this has to be a top read of the year. It is hilarious, entertaining, emotional, and remind everyone what it's like to feel the pressure of filling in adult roles in your family when you're still a child.

As the younger sister, Luciana is navigating her sister leaving to college and filling that role at home while they discover their grandmother is sick. The entire novel is narrated through calls Luciana makes to her sister Mari. Melissa Mogollon did an amazing job at not only unfolding the story but also have every call feel so real.

I HIGHLY recommend this one!

This novel gets tops marks for its refreshingly unique narrative style, and for its ability to flesh out the complexity of the book’s characters through this format. I always appreciate it when a book surprises me, and Oye surprised me throughout. I am also excited to read more from this author in the future!

OYE was such an interesting format for a novel! It took me a bit to get acclimated to the one-sided phone call, but I ended up adoring the relationship between Luciana and her stubborn grandmother. Luciana's antics did grate on me at the beginning of the story but I really appreciated her character growth as the story progressed. I respect that debut author Melissa Mogollon took a chance on a unique premise and look forward to reading more from her in the future.

RATING: 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4 stars)
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this one-of-a-kind book with a protagonist you can't help but love! A Colombian American family in Miami is rocked by an impending hurricane, and then by a concerning diagnosis for their matriarch. Told through youngest child Luciana's one-sided phone conversations with her older sister, it's laugh-out-loud funny, dramatic, and tender.

The format of one sided conversations was creative and original, although the bouncing back and forth between phone calls and conversations the protagonist had irl was confusing at times. This was a very strong debut that starts lighthearted but builds depth in a profound way. I would be interested in future publications by this author.