breaking cycles of generational trauma and violence! the body keeps the score! shaving your head as an act of defiance, as a little treat <3

A lot of really solid ideas that struggle not to fall apart in the execution. I think this author took a really big swing creatively in the way they decided to tell this story, through one-sided phone calls (but also there’s some random scene work in italics too??) and it didn’t quite pay off. It is a fun way to capture the voice of a character but yeah, it’s confusing. And with the whole italics thing, it’s almost like it’s not entirely committing to its own bit. I hated every time luciana would be setting up to drop some family lore and be like “well for this, we gotta throw it waaay back to….” Or like “I hope you’re sitting down for this…..” It was hokey. And if they’re talking on the phone, why is Luciana dropping “oh em gee” and “el oh el” like that? And if she’s not, why is it written to read like a text then?

I like Luciana as a character. She is a really raw and real depiction of a young person grappling with and wrapping her head around her dark family history and trauma. But I know I’m getting older because why did I find myself agreeing mostly with the mom in the first third of the book? Luciana is just soooo tightly wound, because she’s so young and everything at that age is the BIGGEST DEAL EVER. I get it. It’s just a lot to be in her head for so long.

Listening to this on audio was a time…the narrator did a good job but like as someone who grew up with sisters, a loud and inconsiderate ass family, and mommy issues it was a bit triggering with all the constant bickering that was happening lol.

Also this is not a good read for the health anxiety girlies.

I’m looking forward to seeing what this author writes next!

Thanks to Netgalley and Hogarth for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! Oye by Melissa Mogollon is out now.

Vibrant, hilarious, and full of heart. The voice in this book crackled with authenticity, pulling me right into a Cuban-American family saga like no other. Cultural references were layered with love and sharpness. I laughed and teared up—one of the most original reads this year.

This one sided novel just didn’t click with me. It was boring and not worth my time. The story is good, but the one sided format was not.

It's rare that a novel is so effectively written that you feel as though you are a part of the family. Such it was for me with Melissa Mogollon's Oye. Luciana is our protagonist; in fact, through her phone calls to her sister Mari, we are given access to her story, albeit Her side of the story. Luciana's voice is so convincing that I felt as though I was speaking to my sister, and boy, did I often find her annoying, moody, and melodramatic; mind you, Luciana is only 17 years old, so that's that. 
The story starts with Luciana informing her sister Mari (who is away at university and therefore not directly a part of the family drama)of the family's plans to evacuate due to Hurricane Erma. This life-threatening situation forces them to confront their relationships and responsibilities. Luciana is naturally stressed because she is left with her mother to convince her Abue to go with them. However, they notice that Abue is in desperate need of medical attention. Sure enough, Abue is diagnosed with a life-altering condition. Therefore, it is up to Luciana to manage the family trauma. Luciana's Abue is one of the most charismatic characters I have met…a 70 year old who views herself as a femme fatale, and you know what…she kinda is. 
Accompanying her Abue on her medical journey, Luciana learns about her family history, a history filled with heartache, trauma and unforgivable decisions.
Oye is a novel that beautifully captures the process of character development. Luciana's 'coming of age' is a gradual and gentle journey, which adds to her authenticity. The novel's prose is a testament to how diction, tone, and word choice can effectively shape a character, making it a perfect mentor text for teaching character development. 
The author also utilises some incredibly beautiful ( as well as humorous) metaphors. For example, "Starfish are reminders to heal yourself... to pause and regrow your own body parts first."
There is no huge quest, no dragons to slay, or princes to save, but this novel portrays an incredibly realistic way of how family relationships, responsibility, identity, and forgiveness are essential for peace and understanding of self and others.

A powerful and moving debut. This novel follows Colombian sisters Maria and Sofia as they adjust to a new life in Queens after their father's deportation. It beautifully portrays their struggles with culture shock, poverty, and the discovery of deep family secrets, highlighting themes of displacement and resilience.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Oye by Melissa Mogollon in exchange for my honest review and feedback. The cover made me request this book as it's very intriguing. I found the book to be very well written and I enjoyed the characters. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

This was like eavesdropping on a really long phone conversation. The story is told through a series of mostly one-sided phone calls between Luciana and her older sister Mari. While I enjoyed it, I can see where some readers would be put off by the format. There are some parts that are hilarious - the family saga is like a telenovella, entertaining if somewhat confusing at times. The audiobook was well done. Recommended for readers who enjoy quirky heartwarming stories.

Melissa Mogollon’s Oye is a vibrant, emotionally layered debut that pulses with energy, heart, and cultural depth. Written in a fresh, intimate voice, the novel captures the complexities of family, identity, and communication—particularly within the space between generations and languages.

What makes Oye stand out is its bold narrative style. Told through one-sided phone calls, the structure is inventive but never gimmicky—it brings humor, honesty, and immediacy to the story, immersing the reader in a rich emotional landscape. Mogollon’s language is rhythmic, alive with personality, and effortlessly switches between English and Spanish, adding a sense of authenticity and intimacy.

Beyond its clever form, Oye is a meditation on the ways we are shaped by our roots and relationships. It’s funny, heartfelt, and deeply human, capturing the messiness of love, the weight of unspoken truths, and the resilience it takes to carve out your own voice.

Mogollon’s debut is confident, moving, and refreshingly original—a joyful, complicated, and ultimately powerful read.

This vibrant story pulses with voice and family drama as it explores Colombian-American identity through the lens of a spirited, multilingual teenager. Told in a series of voicemails (so inventive, love a new storytelling angle), Oye is both deeply personal and stylistically fresh. A celebration of language, culture, and the messy beauty of growing up—who could ask for anything more?

2.5 rounding up to 3

what I liked
- Different narration format: the story is told as a one-sided phone conversation with the MCs older sister
- I liked the discussion of generational trauma and I think it's important from young audiences to hear it from the POV of a senior in high school.

But this book wasn't for me
- I the whole time reading this I was wondering if I would have enjoyed this more if I was the age of the MC and I think I would have. While I liked that the narration format was new and different for me, I think listening to it was frustrating/ annoying because of how dramatic the MC is. And again, I think she's being so dramatic because she's a senior in HS so everything feels like the end of the world or like a personal attack but it felt like I was just listening to her whine.

A very clever book that was a little long for my liking. However, it was full of details, they just got a little monotonous at times. I liked the way the story was told primarily through phone calls. Very original!

Luciana's grandmother is in danger as a hurricane heads for Miami, and she refuses to leave her home. So starts the story of the cementing of Luciana's relationship with her Abue, who was already one of the central forces in her life, when she moves in with her family. Through a series of phone calls to her older sister Mari who's away at college, she regales her sister of all that's happening on the homefront during her senior year of high school in Oye by Melissa Mogollon.

While the story feels fresh and original, I wasn't won over. I didn't like the one-sided phone calls with Luciana's sister and the occasional conversations interspersed that were also happening behind the scenes or with other members of the family. It wasn't even the colloquial nature of the calls. It just didn't flow naturally for me.

The main character grated on my nerves as well. Luciana has a lot to say and, sometimes, I didn't want to hear it. I understand she feels abandoned by her older sister, but I felt there could have been more understanding. I didn't like that I couldn't gauge what her sister Mari was like. Abue was pretty funny at times, and I thought it was hilarious that Luciana was crushing on Abue's doctor who resembled Sandra Bullock. Otherwise, I couldn't connect with this girl. Was it the age difference or maybe she was too abrasive?

Many of the stories that Abue reveals about her life were very tragic but necessary to move the story along. I could empathize with her and was horrified that she had to go through all the things that she did. I still didn't feel connected to any of the characters even after all this time and was disappointed.

Maybe this story simply wasn't for me. I could see how some readers would adore Luciana and Abue and like the clever way it's written. Even though I didn't love this, and even thought about giving this a two, it's not a bad book. It just wasn't gelling with me despite the colorful cover.

This was a good story, told in a slightly unusual format. It was mostly a win for me, but I'm knocking a star off because I wish we could have gotten both sides of many of these conversations, instead of just one. But all in all I enjoyed it and will read more from the author! 4 stars.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

Melissa Mogollon’s debut, Oye, is a quirky, coming-of-age story full of humor, drama, and family dynamics. Luciana, the youngest member of her vibrant Colombian-American family, finds herself unexpectedly stepping into the role of caretaker for her eccentric grandmother, Abue, during a hurricane evacuation. Told entirely through one-sided phone calls to her older sister, Mari, the novel is an inventive attempt to capture Luciana’s complicated family life and her own coming-of-age journey.

The humor and family dynamics are the book’s strongest aspects. Luciana’s voice is engaging, filled with wit and relatable frustration as she navigates her unexpected responsibilities. The dramatic nature of her family and their quirks add an almost telenovela-like energy to the plot, making for an entertaining and often heartwarming experience.

However, the novel’s format of only having Luciana’s side of the phone calls left me struggling to keep track of the larger story. The absence of dialogue from the other characters, especially Mari, made it difficult to fully connect with or understand their perspectives, which hindered the emotional depth of certain moments. The unique format, though inventive, ultimately made the plot feel disjointed and harder to follow. While Oye is undoubtedly a fun and original read with sharp humor, the format and pacing left me wanting more clarity and cohesion. It’s a promising debut, but some elements felt underdeveloped.

Oye was an engaging story about the generational relationships of the women in Luciana's family. I found the storytelling through Luciana's perspective, along with the introduction of the characters. This coming of age story will be one that I recommend frequently.

Nana (Luciana when she’s in trouble) is in her senior year of high school, and it’s promising to be an eventful one. This is the year she needs to buckle down to get into college, but a tense relationship with her mother and the antics of her grandmother, Abue, are already a hurdle. When an evacuation order comes to Miami due to an impending hurricane, Abue refuses to leave with Nana and her mother. The hurricane’s path may have missed Miami, but there’s more trouble ahead: Abue, Nana’s favorite person in the world, is sick. As the family in all its moderately dysfunctional glory takes care of Abue Luciana is confronted with her family’s secrets.

The entire novel is Luciana’s side of phone calls with her older sister Mari, a sophomore in college. It may take a minute to adjust and adapt to the rhythm of the story, but it’s worth it. Luciana is a completely believable 17 year old girl, and you’ll find yourself thinking “just one more conversation” until you’re done reading. She’s dramatic, occasionally self-centered, and overwhelmed. But she’s also fiercely protective of her family, funny, and good-hearted.

I really enjoyed this book. Recommended for anyone who’s ever been just a little too interested in someone else’s phone call, and readers with a sibling who helps them get through life.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

Luciana, the youngest in her Colombian-American family, usually avoids the spotlight. But when her sister Mari goes off to college, Luciana has to take charge during a hurricane evacuation. Things get more complicated when their grandmother, Abue, is diagnosed with a serious illness, and Luciana begins uncovering family secrets.

I struggled with this book at first in e-book format, but the audiobook really brought it to life with a great narrator. The story is told through Luciana’s one-sided phone calls to Mari, which felt unique but sometimes repetitive and info-heavy.

The book felt more plot-driven than character-driven, with Luciana seeming flat and not growing much. The standout character was definitely Abue, who brought humor and energy to the story. Overall, the family themes were strong, but the format made it harder to connect emotionally.

This book is written as a series of phone calls. From one sister to the other. The pressure on Luciana being the youngest sister and still at home in school. SHe s rreplaying everything going on in the house to her older sister. who is away in college. Much against her mothers wishes.


This was a fun book. I loved it so much I listened to the audio book as well which was even better. I

This was so much fun! A coming of age telenovela and I absolutely devoured it!

It's heartwarming and it was about family, identity and intergenerational relationships. Highly recommend this one!