I was astronished by the way this book literally found a rightgeous voice for the voiceless. Full review to come, but everyone needs to get this one on their radar! Such a powerful work of literary fiction.

In 1980s New York City, Cuban American artist Anita de Monte is a rising star in the art world just as the art career of Jack, her arrogant husband, is fading from the spotlight. That is until she is found dead outside of her apartment. Although her untimely death made waves, her memory, her art, and her name were soon forgotten by most.

In 1998, Raquel is an art history student battling with the feeling that no matter how hard she works, she is still seen as an outsider in the pretentious art world that is still largely uninclusive. As she works on her final thesis, Raquel begins to notice parallels between her and Anita - in her own life and relationship.

The story is told by Anita, Raquel, and Jack in two different timelines. Xóchitl González does such a fantastic job of giving each of these characters their own unique voices through her writing style and the audiobook has fantastic narrators that bring the characters even more to life.

There were so many times I wanted to scream while reading this book and jump in the pages to shake some of the characters. If I had a physical copy of the book I probably would have thrown it a time or two (and please know I mean this as a high compliment!). I went through so many emotions reading this book and it will be sticking with me for a long time!

Rating: 4.5

This was a little weird, more on the quirky side, but really well written. I loved Xochitl Gonzalez's first book and this second novel was equally as well done. I enjoyed that the book makes a commentary on social issues but the book is still a novel with plot and characters.
This story is told from two time periods and two points of view. A artist Anita De Monte who dies in the prime of her career. The second is an art history student at Brown in the late 90s. I could have continued reading more about Raquel's storyline, the whole novel could have been about her and I would have loved that!

This was really enjoyable! Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for letting me listen to an advanced copy of the audiobook.

Anita de Monte Laughs Last took me on a journey.

This is my first read by author Xochitl Gonzalez and let's just say she did not disappoint. I am enamored with this book and with both Raquel and Anita.

Anita is a rising Cuban artist on the rise in New York city circa 1985. After her sudden and mysterious death she is soon forgotten in the art world,

Raquel is a Puerto Rican art history student studying at an elite university trying to carve her path forward. She begins to date an older art student who may not have her best interests at heart but Raquel is to enamored to see it. As Raquel struggles to find a semblance of authentic footing in this new world she learns about Anita and her now forgetting legacy.

I saw sooo much of myself in this book with both characters. Anita is passionate and full of energy. At times even a bit wild. I couldn't hold back the laughs during her chapters. The audiobook narrator did a FANTASTIC job capturing Anita's essence and explosiveness. I highly recommend picking up the audiobook for that alone.

Raquel captures the experience attending university as a Latina low income student for the first time. Of the struggles to assimilate and be liked. Of wanting to fit in and yet missing your family. Of wanting to make something for yourself and stand out but equally making yourself small in order to be palatable to a the white gaze. She also represents how we can make our own space on our own terms and how we can elevate each other.

I do not have the words to described how much I loved this book.. I am definitely going to continue picking up anything else Xochitl writes.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of Anita De Monte Laughs Last.

First off the narrator for Anita's perspective was one of the best narrators I've ever listened to! You could feel the rage (among other emotions).

Anita de Monte is a Cuban artist on the rise, much to the chagrin of her partner (later husband) Jack Martin. Jack is a white dude who doesn't think one's own identity has a place in the art one creates, probably cause he's the default (white, male).

His attempts to belittle her and her work result in a tumultuous relationship, culminating in a explosive fight that ends in Anita's death.

Years late, Raquel, a Latina student at Brown, is attempting to study Jack Martin as her advisor holds him in such revere, but she's uninspired. Until she discovers more about his relationship with Anita, his role in her death, and her impact on his art in the immediate aftermath.

While delving into this past, Raquel is also facing her own default trying to belittle her for the sake of his own ego.

It was really hard reading the bits where as an outsider you know a character is making a terrible choice, but you can't stop them, however it's all to familiar to any woman who's felt like they need to prop up a man's ego through the dimming of her own light.

Wow I went in with zero expectations on this audiobook and was blown away. The story itself is complex in a wonderful way. It touches on art, race, class, sex, jealousy and revenge. There is a bit of magical/haunting elements as well. The narrators did a fantastic job of especially Anita's voice - very dramatic! I dont know if this will be for everyone but i think those that like ambitious and envelope pushing novels will be rapt!

Who gets to leave a legacy?

What a stunner! Anita De Monte is a rising star in the art world in the mid -80's. She has married the infamous XXX who overshadows her light. When she is found dead her legacy is all but forgotten. Several years later, Raquel finds mention of her in her studies as an art history grad student. She resonates to the story of a minority artist of color working under the shadow of a misogyny and institutionalized racism. As she uncovers more of her life she begins to take a hard look at herself and her own choices.

What a story!! The voices were absolutely stellar! This production is something to be proud of an I hope you take a listen! Xochitl Gonzalez has created a beguiling story of two women and the choices they make. The narrartors : Jessica Pimentel; Jonathan Gregg; Stacy Gonzalez will make you feel like you are part of the art in-crowd!
#XochitlGonzalez #Anitademontelaughslast
#JessicaPimentel #JonathanGregg #StacyGonzalez #Macmillanaudio

I was not a huge fan of Gaonzalez's first novel, but I was really impressed by this one! The story follows the life of Anita de Monte, a Cuban woman who had been brought to the rural US under Operation Peter Pan, and who blossomed into a talented New York visual artist. In a parallel story that occurs approximately 15 years later, the novel centers on Raquel Toro, a New York Puerto Rican who is on an art scholarship at Brown University.

It is hard to describe the plot(s), but what is significant is the parallel nature of the women's lives. Both are taken advantage of by white men -- and in the case of Anita, her white husband, Jack, kills her by throwing her out of a window. (In reality, Anita was the artistic genius of the relationship and was insanely envious of her talent; after her death, he tries to hide her work from the world). Raquel, on the other hand, is humiliated by those around her who try to make her feel like a charity case who has no business at Brown. Her white boyfriend tokenizes her as well, and tries (often successfully) to control her.

When Raquel finds out about Anita's story and decides to pursue what really happened as her honors thesis, she becomes enlightened and experiences a rebirth of sorts, one that leaves her fully confident and empowered.

This is a creative story that contains some elements of fantasy (for instance, posthumously, Anita becomes a bat who is able to revisit those she knew previously). The characters are interesting and relatable. I read the audio version, which is fantastic, narrated by three different individuals (Anita, Jack and Raquel), adding a theatrical quality to the novel.


#netgalley

This book has 2 storylines, one in the 1980s and another just before 2000. A young passionate female Cuban artist marries a well established white artist. It relationship requires that she takes a backseat to her husband. The second storyline is about a young Hispanic, female college student who begins dating a white student born into wealth. The book has an interesting plot, and I was engage. This is a review of the audio version of the book, which I found to be offputting because it was overly dramatic. The extent of the drama got old. The characters are one dimensional. The part was interesting enough for me to finish the book, but I really have very little interest in any of the characters. I have very high hopes for this book. Perhaps it’s best with a younger audience.

Many thanks, NetGalley and McMillan audio for the advance copy.

Thank you to Xochitl Gonzalez, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy of Anita de Monte Laughs Last!

4 out of 5 stars

I want start off this review by saying the narrators are PHENOMENAL. They all put so much emotion into the narration that it really drove home how the characters were feeling in a given moment. I found myself truly feeling the emotions of the characters because of the narration.

Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a very character driven novel. We find that the plot of the book mostly follows the characters lives without one large overarching goal. Normally, I am not a huge fan of character driven novels since there is not necessarily something the characters are striving towards. Instead, there are many little moments that shape how the character evolves from the beginning of the book to the end. With that being said, I found the stories of Anita, Raquel, and Jack to be very intriguing and was shocked that I enjoyed this novel as much as I did.

Anita and Jack's relationship is so unhealthy. and abusive. The constant cycle of happiness, betrayal, abandonment, and reconciliation felt tiresome until the reader realizes why Anita keeps going back. She never truly finds her home - not being American enough for the USA, but being too American for Cuba. Each time she re-enters her relationship with Jack, she feels a short period of belonging until things start to go south again.

This story is paralleled with Raquel and Nick's story, but is a bit more frustrating to the reader because Raquel DOES have family and friends nearby she can lean on. Raquel just still feels the need to make her own way and being with Nick someone helps her to feel more accepted at Brown.

While I am not a person of color, I do think that many people can relate to the need to be accepted by their peers and this is what makes this book so powerful. It really drives home the struggle people of color can feel to belong in a world that emphasizes the "astonishing contributions" mediocre white men while minimizing the significant accomplishments of people of color. And all of this is done by showing the inner thought processes of the characters, making them more relatable to anyone reading the book.

I did really enjoy Anita de Monte Laughs Last and definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Gonzalez's last book, Olga Dies Dreaming.

Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a clever, sparkling novel. I was equally excited about both timelines, which is hard to accomplish, but the characters were all very well-developed and interesting to read about. The audiobook narrators did a nice job.

Anita de Monte laughs last is as near to a perfect book as any I have read. I thrilled at aspiring and raging with Anita.
For me, the book broght to mind Addie LaRue and The City We Became-- but this book is about anger, identity, and stifled dreams. I will be recommending it often.

This one was not for me. The storyline didn’t flow well and I could not connect with the characters.
****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

3.5 rounded up.

This is an energetic, triumphant feminist rant against cycles of privilege and oppression, love and suppression. I had to knock off a bit in my estimation due to the iffy way some things are handled here, but overall it's a very engaging read that leaves you feeling a little hopeful, and that's a good thing.

Premise - a Cuban artist on the rise, Anita de Monte, is murdered by her wealthy white husband, Jack, an insecure artist with the system on his side, but not necessarily talent. Years later, an art student at Brown, Raquel, is set to repeat the pattern of choosing a man, Nick, and his delicate ego over herself and her art. As she learns about Anita de Monte, she begins to notice the parallels between their lives and question whether making herself small so a man can feel big is the right choice (it's not, duh, but that's harder to see when you're young and in love).

The story is told in multiple POVs. Anita's voice is brash, in your face, aggressive and unashamed. Jack's voice is the easy-to-hate white man - think Juniper Song with more testosterone. Raquel's voice is a realistic 20-something scholarship kid surrounded by wealth for the first time at university, and ashamed of herself for not fitting in.

The characters are well developed, but one of the things that bothered me was how it feels like there's some fatphobia/ableism woven into the story. I'm not overly sensitive to that sort of thing usually, but we all know Disney pictures used to be pretty bad about making the evil character express that through an unattractive exterior and I feel like this novel did the same. Jack is heavy-set and that's stressed more as we realize how awful he is - his body becomes something disgusting in its size, through the description, and Anita's ghost leers at him for eating too much and exercising too little, becoming too slow. When he has a stroke and other health issues, those are also described almost as moral failings. It was a bit yikes.

The other thing that bothered me was how, towards the end, one of the art history girls casually outs her other two friends as lesbian to her friends group. The girls being outed are pretty awful, but still it felt like a very mean-spirited, not okay thing to do and wasn't questioned.

Those two instances left a bad taste in my mouth, but overall the book was so good that it's still a 3.5 (rounded up to 4).

Thanks, NetGalley and Flatiron, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

I came to this book for the same reason many readers will: die hard fandom of _Olga Dies Dreaming_. Though I'm always apprehensive about reading a follow up to an excellent standalone novel, there was no need for concern here. This is also exceptional.

Like _Olga_, this novel features a multigenerational perspective and fantastic, evolved central women characters. From there, the novels depart dramatically.

_Anita_ runs in two timelines: the mid-'80s, when Anita is alive, exploring her artistry (or lack thereof), and her relationship with a certified creep show, and the late '90s, when Raquel goes to RISD, explores her artistry and feeling of disconnection in her new environment, oh...and her relationship with a different certified creep show. This isn't exactly a same story different day situation, but the pervasive commonalities between these women do make them well matched complements, and seeing how that all comes together is where a lot of the fun can be found in this piece.

I love Gonzalez's writing style, character development, and creativity, and in this most recent effort, readers are treated to some fabulous magical realism, too. Anita is a real vibe, and the added possibilities for her character bring levity to situations that can otherwise be real downers (like how you torture people who murder and/or otherwise oppress you...from beyond).

Like Gonzalez's previous effort, this is a meaty read, and it is worth every second. I was fortunate to receive the audiobook, and I can't say enough about the narration. Anita, especially, really could have gone wrong without an especially astute narrator, and listeners get exactly that here. When and where available and accessible, I'll be recommending the audio version for maximum impact and enjoyment.

I can't get enough of Xochitl Gonzalez's writing, and I look forward to recommending this one widely.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Anita de Monte laughs last is a powerful story about sexism, racism, and art. Told from three very different points of view, we learn of the legacy the world has worked hard to deny Anita while also seeing how social politics have not changed all that much when it comes to race since then mid eighties. I expect this to be on a lot of Best of lists in 2024.

I am so thankful to Flatiron Books, Xochitl Gonzalez, Netgalley, and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook. I do have to apologize though... I just wasn't able to get into this one.