Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Luciana lovess her family, but they can be a little much sometimes. This book was very honest on its depiction of family life.

Oye, a bildungsroman told in three parts, offers all the secrets of a dysfunctional family. The novel opens with Luciana getting her confiscated phone returned from her teacher. She sees six missed calls from Mari, and her caustic language sets the tone for the tension that weaves throughout the book: “Wait, it’s Mari? This fucking bitch.” This routine pejorative unironically follows with hurt: “I hadn’t heard a peep out of you…I texted you being vulnerable.” Mogollon’s language sizzles between sibling rivalry, contempt, sarcastic humor, the pain of rejection, and longing for connection. A one sided dialogue between sisters unravels toxic dynamics and family secrets.

The structure of the novel hands all the storytelling power to Luciana. In these phone conversations, she guides the topics and sets the tone. If you want a politically correct “both sides” novel, this ain’t it. The audience must shift from passive to active reader with this author’s choice of form - a dialogue in which the reader has access to only one speaker - and use one’s own repertoire of family toxicity to know what Mari has said. For any reader with a sibling, we all have that grocery list of verbal slights that still haunt us. We’ve thrown down in those same verbal sparring matches, so we know what the older sibling says.

The inclusion of Hurricane Irma acts as a cleverly placed allusion taking the reader back to 2017, a not so distant memory of tremendous destruction. Like Irma, we think this novel will go one way, but it quickly veers in another direction. Throughout the duration of the novel, Luciana and Mari’s conversation rankles with teen snark, ending with a fall out. The reader may think this story will end with reunification, but when Luciana dives into family history, she moves the epicenter of this story over Emilia, the abuela. And like a tempest lifting roofs, so too does this story lift away all of the barriers that concealed all the family secrets.

Mogollon’s novel certainly explores the grandmother-mother-daughter-sibling relationships. But equally, she punches up against the national dilemma of homophobia metastasizing across America. This culture war occupies multiple fronts, and the most brutal one resides under the family roof. In quick verbal slices, Luciana lets slip the hurt she feels from her family’s indifference to homophobia. Mari will intern for the 2017 Whitehouse when TheOrangeMan is in office. Mari has already interned with Gov. Rick Scott of Florida - a man who seeks to limit the rights of gay people. Luciana, still a kid finding her political chops, employs sarcasm to convey the pain of Mari’s betrayal. Luciana also tells Mari that their mother belongs to an evangelical neighborhood group chat, and when Luciana sees the homophobic content, her mother quickly snatches the phone out of Luciana’s hands. As if one can unsee homophobia if the snatching happens quickly. Her mother doesn’t push back against the homophobia, rather she holds the neighborhood secret. Yes, the political battle looms large on America’s national stage, but Mogollon shows that within the home, a family’s complicity cuts the deepest in this culture war.

These political sidebars carve through the novel, quick paper cuts that nick away at both protagonist and reader. The reader, pulled out of the story and into the American zeitgeist, discovers nightmare and dystopia. Having to confront so much ugliness, the reader surely swings full support behind Luciana. Does the reader then forgive Luciana of her own ugly behaviors because this queer protagonist faces an onslaught of casual bigotry?

No easy answer exists because the reader doesn’t get an uncomplicated hero. Mogollon muddies Luciana’s heroism with her propensity for guilt tripping her sister, and her own childish and casual misogyny. Yes, calling one’s sister - or any woman for that matter - a slut, whore, ho, or a bitch are manifestations of misogyny. And yes, young girls learn this language, internalize it, and then reshape that language into malicious verbal sucker punches. The reader has to tease out how much of this ugly name calling is typical sister banter and how much of it is a retaliatory weapon when Luciana doesn’t get the sisterly love she seeks. But Mogollon doesn’t moralize here. She simply presents a flawed high school kid reluctantly moving towards young adulthood. Our hero isn’t always likable. To escape this negative spin, Luciana has to retreat from Mari.

In this pursuit of connection, Luciana draws closer to her brash grandmother. A tumor, a surgery, a recovery, a relapse, and a metastasizing absorb Luciana’s senior year of high school. Through the months of caring for Abue, Luciana becomes the recipient of the family secrets and histories. Mother, Abue, and Tía all provide variations on the same theme of historic family trauma.

What readers learn from these variations is the power of narrative perspective. Here, Mogollon hits a master stroke. Storytelling from the perspective of those complicit with the oppressor minimizes damage and absolves themselves for their part in the damage. Emilia, the family matriarch and survivor of horror, reveals a history that vibrates with pain. Her history resonates as nothing but the closest one can get to truth. Mogollon’s structural choice, narrating only through Luciana’s perspective, serves a purpose. Emilia’s story, told through Luciana’s lens, moves the reader to empathy, a perspective that most closely approximates the truth the reader will get about this dysfunctional family unit.

This novel is not just the story of a girl coming of age, it’s a look back at a history of women who employ personal strength to survive catastrophe. And personal strength doesn’t always come across as likable to the reader. Abue’s strength requires setting boundaries. What first appears to Luciana as her grandmother’s irrational stubbornness now functions as a template for the protagonist’s own path to young womanhood. Family does not have to be embraced, especially when members of the family are complicit with the oppressor. The Ernestos and Marcos of the world, predators and abusers, should never be tolerated, in particular by Luciana’s mother.

This novel answers America’s current dilemma - our bent towards the destruction of the other. Luciana’s answer is a resounding “I will not forgive your complicity.” Like her grandmother before her, Luciana also sets firm and clear boundaries, and does not waiver. This is how the reader knows that Luciana has moved from childish things to young womanhood.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

I love coming of age movies and Oye truly felt like one! However I must say that it took me a bit of time to get used to the style of writing. It had me confused for a bit until I got more comfortable. Its only towards the end that I realized that I couldn't imagine this story and the voice of Luciana without this unique writing style.

Also Abue was definitely the star of the story she made me laugh and also tugged at my heartstrings! Just her character alone should be a reason to read this book!

The format of this book is so unique - a little weird - and it absolutely does not work for me. Had I known the format ahead of time, I would not have requested this book on NetGalley or added it to my TBR shelf. I was excited to read about a Latinx family and learn more about Latinx culture, but after about 5% of my best efforts, I cannot continue in this format. Thanks anyway for the ARC.

This is adorable, and I really loved the premise. Also the title/cover art are both absolute perfection.

Thank you to Hogarth (Random House) publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was initially drawn to this book because of the early positive reviews. The synopsis and beautiful cover further sold me. That being said, I really struggled with this one. The story is written from the perspective of the main character, Luciana, but we only read her POV. It feels like you’re eavesdropping on a conversation.

Outside of the writing style, the story was enjoyable. Although it wasn’t my cup of tea, I would still encourage readers to give this book a chance.

I wanted to like this book….I especially like reading debut novels but this book just did not work for me. I lived in Miami for 20+ years so I do understand and appreciate the culture but….I found the format distracting and annoying. The format could have been effective but I found all the characters unlikeable and annoying.

I think the author made a bold choice in format but it missed the mark for me.

What a wild ride and so enjoyable! I’m so happy I was given this digital copy early. Coming from a Latin family, so I was able to relate to some of the family drama. The format for me took me back a little and trying to get use to it. Once I did though, it was so enjoyable. The first half is slightly slow, but the second half I couldn’t put it down. Abue is my favorite character ever and I love her so much. Such a great coming of age story! Thank you so much NetGalley, Melissa Mogollon and Hogarth for this digital copy.

I found it hard initially to get into the writing style, only because it wasn't anything like I was used to. It took about two chapters in until I got into the rythm of reading it, though I kept feeling like I had to pause to make sure I understood the plot. Still I thought it was a unique book and readers looking for something in a different style than they're used to will probably enjoy this book.

thank you to netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Hogarth for allowing me to read this book. I wanted to enjoy this book however i just couldnt get into the story

Unique storytelling style that is at times hard to follow. Funny and entertaining insight into family drama. It showcases compelling characters and what it means to grow up amongst it all.

"Oye" by Melissa Mogollon took me on a wild ride through the highs and lows of a young queer Colombian American teen's last year of high school. The unique narrative presentation, structured as one-sided phone conversations, initially had me questioning its approach, but as I delved deeper, I found it to be a compelling and refreshing storytelling device.

The novel follows Luciana Domínguez as she confronts a hurricane and navigates a family health crisis, all through phone conversations with her sister, Mari, who is away at college. The book kicks off with layers of family drama – from a mother using a national disaster as an excuse to travel to a grandmother locked in her apartment with health issues.

Despite initial challenges with the writing style, particularly the lack of differentiation between characters in the dialogue, the book's second half really took off. The vibrant voice of Luciana, the protagonist, made the emotions palpable, and the layers of family dynamics were peeled back gradually, revealing a coming-of-age story that resonates across generations and cultures.

I appreciated the author's innovative approach. It demanded attention, but once I settled into Luciana's voice, the story unfolded beautifully. The relationship between Luciana and her Abue added a heartwarming layer, mirroring the beginning and ending of their stories in unique ways.

"Oye" is not without its hurdles, and some might need a bit of patience to adjust to its distinctive style. However, for those who persevere, the book offers a rich and emotionally charged journey, capturing the complexity, drama, and joy of a Latinx family. Mogollon's narrative prowess shines, making "Oye" a worthwhile read for those seeking a unique coming-of-age novel that transcends traditional storytelling boundaries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for my eARC. All thoughts were my own.

The description of the book seemed interesting, so I wanted to check the story out. Unfortunately, I have since lost my initial interest in the story. I may try and find a physical copy to add the my library when it is released, though, because I think my readers could like it!

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and my review is voluntary. Some notes:

-Abue (short for Abuela-Grandmother) is hilarious
-Coming of age story in a hispanic household
-Story structure is unique, although confusing at times
-Typical overdramatic hispanic mother/grandmother
-Loved the messages about living your own authentic life to the fullest
-Main character complained and whined too much, especially about her sister
-I was kept entertained throughout the book, fun read

It took a bit to get used to the writing style with this book, however I really liked the originality and the similarities to my experiences and the drama in my spouse's family through the years. The communication is from a sister that is still living the day to day events of the family with her sister that is away at college. There is animosity, humor, descriptions of the antics of her mother, and the blaming for her not being there. The last half of this book really took off. I felt that this was a definitely a good read. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Thank. you for the opportunity to read Oye. Although I could not get into it, I know coming of age novels are very popular and I will keep it in mind for readers' advisory.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read Oye! as an ARC book. Unfortunately the dialog had no differentiation between the characters talking and after trying for about 15 pages, I couldn't read it! I was looking forward to the story, but it was so confusing I had no idea what was going on. I do hope to pick it up once it's been published though, it sounded like a great premise.

I wish this was written more like a traditional novel, because I probably would have enjoyed it more and gotten into the flow of the story better.

It was a good read overall.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oye follows a young queer Columbian American teen through her last year of high school. She confronts a hurricane and contend with a family heath crisis told through phone conversations with her older sister who’s away at college. I did sometimes find it difficult to determine who was speaking but once I got the hang of it, it became a fun read. I found the family dynamics incredibly relatable and the whole story is told with care and humor.

Oye but Melissa Mogollon is a very interesting viewpoint of a coming of age story. It took me a couple of chapters to get the rhythm of the writing and understanding that it was voicemails being left. The writing is a very interesting style and does take the reader paying attention to understand who the main character is retelling side conversations to but once it takes off, it starts to make more sense. I liked this writing device as it is very different.

We start running from a hurricane at the beginning only to be tossed into family drama, and more family drama, from a sister who is absent at college, to a mother who wants to use the national disaster to travel and explore the United States, to a grandmother who gets locked into her apartment with health issues. As we travel with our main character though her voice mails to her missing sister who is away at college, we learn more and more. The layers are peeled back as this 17 year old explains things like getting lost on a Florida highway and stopped after returning from a gay bar to be held up by an alligator.

A delightful read, and a different approach, this book is one I would suggest to anyone who likes coming of age novels.

This is my unbiased review of an ARC, thank you NetGalley