I really loved this book. Like Lulu, I was a teenager in the 90's with a music-loving Texan dad, and Fuentes nailed the vibe of the time period. But it's also just a great story of trans-generational trauma and forgiveness and navigating a multicultural life while coming of age. Would strongly recommend.

I loved this book!! Malas is about two women through two different timelines and eventually they meet each other. It's situated in a small Texas town by the border with Mexico, so chicano culture is very prominent. Pilar's story is mainly set in the 50s and it's heartbreaking. Lulu's story is set in the 90s during her teenage years, especifically on that transition year where a girl becomes a woman (yes, she's about to be a quinceañera). I loved reading about that time period, especially the scene where she attends a Selena Quintanilla concert. So fun! I felt very seen because I'm a Mexican norteña who was very influenced by American culture growing up. The spanglish wasn't annoying at all on this book which made me appreciate it more. Perfect read for Hispanic Heritage Month!

Wonderful book about two women from the same small town Texas border community, but from different generations. Told in their alternating voices, Fuentes does a wonderful job with the setting, making it a character in its own right and evoking the love and conflict that exist in the Mexican American culture., especially the music.

I absolutely loved this book! A bit of a creepy vibe wondering if the curse was real or not. But I loved getting to know Pilar and Lulu and am so glad their stories crossed (and the connection that we later learn was the perfect addition). I appreciated the Latinx representation and felt it was true to the culture. Lastly, THANK YOU for all the Spanish intermixed throughout the novel. It was a writing style I didn't realize I needed and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was superb. The writing, the characters, everything about it was excellent. I was completely immersed in the culture of the book - in both eras. I loved Lulu, she was ferocious and bright and knew exactly what she wanted. As for Pilar, I felt for her and questioned her actions and motives at all times. Phenomenal.

Beautiful writing! MALAS is rich with generational storytelling, Tejano culture and feminism, and hell yes, punk band! I appreciate the depth of this novel, the rich layers and weaving of family, how the opening telescoped through time. Marcela Fuentes is an exciting writer to watch! Thanks for the ARC.

A multigenerational story dealing with grief and the unexpected. Lulu struggles to understand why her father drinks so much and why he is so focused on Lulu preparing for her quinceañera. After her grandma dies, Lulu meets a mysterious woman, Pilar, who seems related to their family in some way. Pilar allows Lulu's band to practice in her garage and also helps plan the quinceañera but she's hiding how she knows Lulu's family. Meanwhile Lulu is just trying to figure out what she wants to do and takes it a day at a time. Overall, a coming of age story that delves into Tejano culture and community, all while dealing with the events of the past that reverberate into the present.

Malas by Marcela Fuentes was a well written story about a complicated family and decisions that have multigenerational consequences. There was a lot to this book but I was invested in it and I wanted to see how everything played out. Malas is a very unique story and I don't think I've read anything like it before. I thought the character development was well done and I am very curious to read what Marcela Fuentes writes next.

Fourteen-year old Lulu is a stellar student involved in many school clubs and activities. She is being raised by her widowed father and grandmother, who are planning a quinceañera Lulu does not want. One night, upset that her dog is murdered by a man angry at her father, she goes swimming in the cold river with her friend and she almost drowns. Her grandmother dies the same night and Lulu believes her grandmother bartered her life for Lulu’s safety and reckless behavior. At her grandmother Romi’s funeral, a mysterious, elegant woman from the family’s past shows up to pay her respects. Family members ask the woman to leave and tell her she is not welcome there. As the family returns to their routines, Lulu starts dropping some of her school activities and joins a punk band. She hides her after school activities from her father by practicing with her band at the home of the mysterious woman. Many family secrets are revealed as the story progresses. This fast-paced story is engaging from beginning to end. Set in South Texas, Latinx music history is a central part of the book, as is the region’s past history of racism and the fight for civil rights. Lulu is a typical teenager; however, her wisdom, maturity, and behavior are more fitting for a 17 or 18 year-old rather than a 14 year-old.

A complicated story of family, loss, and the repercussions of decisions cascading through generations. The story is from the point of view of Pilar (in the past) and Lucha, or Lulu, (in the present). There is a lot of grief throughout the book but also a lot of love and support where needed, whether it's from family or friends. I thought the story was well told but kind of sped through the ending, as if the author suddenly realized that the book needed to end and tried to wrap it up as quickly as possible. But I loved the references to Mexican/Chicano culture, going in depth into things that would only be relevant to people within that culture, like calling rich Mexicans "Fresa". It was a beautiful book, I wish that we could have gotten a little more out of the ending.

This was a lot but in the best way. It had a lot of twist and turns. This kept me hooked the entire time.

Alternating back through time we follow a woman and her curse. The family's downfalls and happy moments are all skewed by the curse that will never leave! This is very different than most books I've read!