I LOVED Xochitl Gonzalez's first book and was so excited to see she wrote another. It was fun to listen to the audio version of this book and think others will really enjoy. This author is so great at weaving stories from different perspectives, and focusing the spotlight on those that dont typically get the spotlight.

This story is told through multiple viewpoints and timelines, and eventually they all come together. The audiobook is very well read, with a different actor for each of the three main characters, who all have a unique voice and perspective in the story. I particularly loved Anita, whose portions are filled with rage and vibrancy. Raquel's story is more of a coming of age story, a college student figuring out where she fits in, and learning some things that Anita learned long ago. Jack is extremely unlikeable, but his portions did give extra context, and endeared Anita to me even more. Themes of power dynamics, sexism, feminism, race, and love, with a satisfying ending!

“𝘈𝘮 𝘐 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦? 𝘛𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥? 𝘐’𝘮 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥, 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥? 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴? 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴? 𝘖𝘳 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴?”

Thanks Netgalley Macmillan Audio and Flatiron Books for the advanced listener’s copy!
Pub date 3/5/24

If you want a story about a fiesty Latina scorned by the one she had loved and the elitists of artisan society then look no further! There were moments I laughed out loud, moments I thought “eeep! That’s more than I bargained for”, and moments of deep reflection. I’ve struggled with finding Latinx literature that has an enticing premise but this one caught me, probably because I enjoy the creative arts. And actually, this is deeply inspired by real life artist Ana Mendieta.

It is fast paced with nonlinear timelines, full of discussion material (perfect for a book club), and the audio is done by a full cast (listening at 1.5x was ideal and the narrator for Anita was so vivacious). At times I found Anita unlikeable (though I hated what all happened to her and her art) and connected more with Raquel (omg what Nick ends up doing to her - I died, and was rooting for her to come out on top). Content and trigger warnings include a LOT of harsh profanity, racial and gender discrimination, marital discord and infidelity, some domestic abuse and a murder, talk of sexual encounters and a character’s inner thoughts regarding, supernatural hauntings and the afterlife.

This story is powerful and I’m giving it 3.5 (rounded to 4) out of 5 simply because the language was too much. But it asks important questions and provides plenty of food for thought about race and identity, talent and ownership, privilege and power, and personal value.

Thank you Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for my free ARC of Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González — available Mar 5!

Read this if you:
🎧 are a sucker for excellent audiobook narration
💃 love stories about strong, courageous women
🥂 enjoy when fiction meets history and teaches your something new

In 1985, rising-star Cuban artist Anita de Monte is found dead, having fallen out the window of her high-rise apartment. At the time, it's all anyone can talk about, but then, it isn't. And by 1998, her story is all but forgotten by young art students in the same city. Until Raquel stumbles upon Anita, more or less a footnote in someone else's biography, and starts wondering about the mysterious vibrant woman that was written out of history. Especially when their stories are eerily similar.

Okay first things first, you HAVE to get the audio of this version. I rarely insist, but the narration of Anita's POV is especially incredibly well-performed. Please!

Next, this book is worth your time no matter what format you choose. It's sad and tragic, but also hilarious and uplifting, AND it's based on a true story that is just as juicy as the fiction. "Anita de Monte" is a near-perfect anagram of "Ana Mendieta," a real-life Cuban artist who also fell 34 stories to her death. It's not specifically discussed in the book (at least, not in my early copy), but it's clear that this is a fictional account based on the story of Ana and her short life. This book's characters are larger than life (especially Anita), and I love Raquel's journey of self-discovery. Just read it, it's great!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finally! I found a five-star fiction in February.
Thank you to @NetGalley and @Macmillan.Audio for giving me the opportunity to read this novel before its release date.

This book combined two of my favorite genres: dark academia and art history. Toss in coming of age, family dynamics, and cultural commentary with dual-timelines and two fiery female protagonists and this book was near perfect for me.

The narrators of the audiobook were phenomenal. I especially enjoyed the actor who read for Anita’s character. She was passionate and authentic (with some Ricky Ricardo latino flare). My only slight subjective criticism is that I could have done without the chapters from Anita’s husband Jack’s point of view. He was very unlikable, but I think we could have understood his torment better from Anita’s vibrant viewpoint.

I really loved the storyline of the college student, Raquel, who is becoming her true self, while working in an art gallery and doing research for her thesis project. She discovers some yet to be discovered facts about Anita’s art that her husband, Jack, had attempted to bury.

This book would appeal to fans of “Self-Portrait with Boy” by Rachel Lyon, or anyone who appreciates the exploration of the artistic process.

4.75 What an interesting story. Told through dual timelines of two women going through very similar experiences as Latina women in the art industry and the parallels in their stories and struggles are so intriguing and both stories are so interesting I couldn't put it down. I listen to this through audio and the narrators did such an amazing job but the narrator for Anita was absolutely amazing in giving us the emotions of Anita's anger and complex feelings. Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to listen to this audiobook for an honest review.
PS. As a Buffalonian I have to say SUNY Buffalo was not in the SUNY system until 2023 so Raquel mentioning her friend going to “SUNY Buffalo” in the 90s Is incorrect it would be “Buffalo State College”

Anita de Monte Laughs Last is the sophomore novel by Xochitl Gonzalez. Her first novel, Olga Dies Dreaming, was one of my top reads of 2022. Anita de Monte Laughs Last is similar in themes but very different in mood and style. This book is a good fit if you like stories that explore gendered power dynamics and classism and racism in the art world, especially towards women of color.

Told in two timelines that seem unconnected for much of the story, the reader learns about Anita de Monte's untimely death and about Raquel, a first generation Ivy League college student. Anita de Monte was a rising star in the art world married to a famous white male artist, but she tragically died in 1986. Anita was frustrated with the controlling nature of her husband and was sick of his behavior. Later in 1998, Raquel starts dating an old art student from a wealthy family and she finds herself in new social circles. As she experiences the nuanced discrimination of these circles discovers a story relevant to art history that has been swept under the rug and she starts to explore it.

I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing about the plot and I loved it, but I did find the major style differences from Gonzalez's last book surprising. Overall, I found this wickedly smart and unhinged in a way that was fun and horrible at the same time. This book tackles tough topics and there was one particular scene that made me feel almost sick- but it was important and well written. If you want a book that is entertaining and cuts to the quick of how society treats women of color, pick this up!

4.5 rounded to 5 for Goodreads

A book filled with female rage and rightfully so. It gave just enough catharsis for the main characters while allowing for great character development.

After being blown away by González's debut, Olga Dies Dreaming, I found Anita de Monte Laughs Last above average, but not stunning.

The feminist themes especially shone. The sexism, racism, and misogyny endured by both Anita and Raquel is so incredibly present to this day, decades later. I appreciated Anita's persistence and Raquel's growth into standing up for herself and demanding appropriate treatment of herself and Anita, in memoriam. Raquel eventually finds her power . . . and wields it.

The audiobook is narrated by Jessica Pimentel, Jonathan Gregg, and Stacy Gonzalez. Whomever voiced Anita was particularly brash—it's in keeping with personality and context, but quite jarring.

3.33⭐

This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Macmillan Audio. Publication is expected March 5.

4.5 stars

Cuban artist, Anita de Monte is an up-and-coming star in the NYC art scene. She dies a mysterious death in 1985. Her husband Jack Martin, also an artist, is suspected of causing her death. However, he is found not guilty in a trial by judge. He goes to great lengths to make sure her work is hidden from the art world after her passing.

Fast forward to 1998, Raquel Toro is a Puerto Rican art student who is doing her thesis on Jack Martin. In all her studies of Martin (and there were many) she never knew he was accused of murdering his wife.

Raquel shifts her thesis and digs more into the death and influence Anita de Monte had on Jack Martin and his art.

There are so many significant similarities between Anita and Raquel. Although I am not typically a fan of magical realism themes in books- the way Anita reaches beyond the grave was so cleverly written, it did not seem unlikely or “off base” at all. Anita had a big, passionate personality in life and in death.

Both of these strong and creative women dealt with trying to stand out in a man’s world. Both being minority Latina women, they each fell in love with toxic men who wanted to “change” them, they faced similar challenges of racism and classism as they climbed higher and higher into the art world.

This was an excellent book about powerful women, their characters are both so well developed. The story is funny, heartbreaking, energetic and totally captivating. I really liked this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audio copy of this book.

This book felt like a love letter to Ana Mendieta and all Cuban Americans and all artists of color trying to make it in a still very white space. Anita del Monte Laughs Last will start conversations. I didn’t see the parallels until they discussed her work and death and I had to stop. It intrigues me in such a way that I needed to stop and remember who this person really was. I remembered the stories, the struggles, and the reality that this is still a very big part of creative industries. This book has feminism, passion, love for self, hate for self, finding one self. The audiobook version was probably best, as I felt my heart ache and eyes water, and reading would have been an impossible task. I was reminded of the struggle, ni de aqui, ni de alla, and how Rachel must have felt during her key moments of the story. Fitting in is only part of the problem, making space is the larger part.
Of course, the narrator was incredible, and I could feel the passion in the characters and writing. Rachel’s story reminded me of a few other stories, where the main character loses her identity, but has an incomplete redemption arc, because that’s what real life is like. She was a work in progress, and it felt real to see that. Anita has a sort of redemption arc, but in the sense that she gets closure. The minor characters are well developed and I enjoyed their contributions but I could have done without the twist of the art history girls. I suppose it’s to make us feel better about how miserable they really are, but it felt a bit out of place, and I felt it did not contribute to the overall narrative. A fantastic book overall, I do wish I had read this and shared it with my friends when I was younger, so that we could still make a difference. This book breaks you down and empowers you with the same breath.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Anita de Monte is a young, beautiful Cuban American artists living in 1980s NYC and her career is set to take off—just as that of her modern art titan husband’s seems to be cooling. 1985. A rising artist, Anita de Monte, is found dead in New York City under suspicious circumstances. By 1998, her name has been largely forgotten. When Raquel, a third-year art history student preparing for her thesis, stumbles upon Anita's story, she questions the dynamics of her relationship that eerily mirrors the late artist's. The level of psychopathic behavior, narcissism and gaslighting is disturbing but something that needs to be discussed and identified so that people are aware of the behaviors that can be very dangerous. This brings together some of the Latino/a culture and beliefs mixing with women's perspective of being agreeable. This is a solid follow up to Gonzalez’s debut, and it has cemented her place as an author I really enjoy. Looking forward to the next book from this author. Definitely recommend adding this author to your reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity.

I loved OLGA, but after reading ANITA, Xochitl Gonzalez is an automatic purchase for me. Anita de Monte is an up-and-coming Cuban artist that marries Jack, an American artist, in the 80s. She dies in New York and is soon forgotten...until a young art history student, Raquel comes across her work. She herself is a first gen, student of color that faces the typical challenges of navigating that elite environment. She begins a relationship with an older, socially well-connected artist from which she alao benefits professionally. As she attempts to navigate both worlds, she learns more about Anita’s story, which mirror the dynamics of her own relationship. Highly recommend. Books comes out March 5th, 2024.

A fantastic novel! And the audiobook narrators we’re just incredible—especially the one reading Anita’s chapters.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the advanced copy. There are 2 storylines with Anita in the past and Raquel in the present. Anita was an artist married to an artist with a tumultuous relationship. Raquel is an art history major working on her thesis. The story seemed to move slowly at first with Anita and Her husband, Jack being really unlikeable characters who fought constantly. Raquel becomes involved with Nick who is an artist from an affluent family who is controlling and all around crappy boyfriend that makes you scream “Wake up, Raquel!” However the last 20-30% of the book it finally clicked for me and the 2 stories meshed and I gained a new understanding and appreciation for Anita. Without giving spoilers, I’m so glad I kept listening. I loved everything about the ending!,

So it took me a while to understand/become interested in the drama. Mainly because I did not understand Anita/John/Professor John and Raquel. Slowly around the 30% I got really into it. There is a small mystery in the novel that kept me engaged. Raquel is a young adult studying art history and dating a white male who is a wealthy artist. Raquel like Anita are latinas. Raquel's boyfriend Nick and Anita husband John are white men. You begin to see the parallel's between the relationships. I loved the ending so much.

An absolute triumph.

Thank you to @MacmillanAudio and @NetGalley for the ARC!

The story.
Anita de Monte was a self-made artist, rising high through the world of art in the 1980's when she suddenly died. Her husband, a fellow well-known artist, denied all accusations that he was responsible.

Ten years later, Raquel Toro, an undergraduate at Brown University, tries to navigate her own way through the cutthroat politics of academia and art. One of few minority students on campus, she already feels displaced until she catches the attention of rising star Nick. Could he be the key to her success?

Only Anita knows best.

This story is told through three points of view, all so incredibly distinct and powerful. I felt every moment of triumph, disappointment, and rage as it was written. Gonzalez has created an incredibly immersive experience in this novel that I think was only enhanced by the narrators.

The audio.
The narrators chosen for this audiobook are absolutely incredible. Jessica Pimentel (Orange is the New Black) is stunning in her expression of Anita. While, yes, she gets vehement and expressive, there is no other way to depict Anita de Monte. Her passion and rage are amplified through Pimentel's voice and absolutely affected me. I felt burning rage towards Anita's husband Jack, despair at her fate, and elation when she spoke of her home and life in Cuba.

Stacy Gonzalez also shone as the voice for Raquel, creating a beautiful cadence for Raquel's inner thoughts and turmoil as she navigated a disasterous relationship. And I loved how Jonathan Gregg understood the assignment that was given to him, making Jack wholly unlikable through his own narration. A stellar cast that blended seamlessly together.

I want everyone to read this book. It did everything I thought The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo would, and so much more. It is thoughtful, poignant, and an experience no matter what your background is.

Please read this.

Loved! Loved! Loved this book! Loved the narrators! Each character was their own. Story was fascinating and amazing.

In Anita de Monte Laughs Last, Xochitl weaves together the story of Raquel, a young woman of Latin heritage who, while trying to fit into the WASP world of Brown University in the late 1990s, cedes her values and her actions to those of her WASP boyfriend with the story of Anita de Monte, a talented volatile artist who was born in Cuba, raised in a foster home in Iowa, and married Jack Martin, a renowned sculptor who tries to subjugate Anita to his every wish. The stories move along well, although the manner in which Anita returned after her untimely death (was it murder?) made me uncomfortable. But thanks to support from other strong women and her own inner strength, Raquel's path is quite different than Anita's. The audiobook version held my interest throughout the entire book. I'm not sure that the print version would have been so gripping, as the narrators did a terrific job of bringing the characters to life. Anita de Monte will appeal to readers with interests in the worlds of art, academic, racial and class differences, and the role of the feminine movement with regard to minority artists.

If you loved Olga Dies Dreaming, be aware, this is super different, but you'll probably love this too.
In Anita de Monte Laughs Last, we immediately meet Anita de Monte and quickly learn of her demise. Anita de Monte, a rising art star, a Cuban-American women married to THE Jack Martin will, we learn be pushed, or jump? from a building. (If this story sounds familiar it's because it's based on a true story)
Then we meet Raquel, a young latine art history student at an ivy league PWI. She's part of the "third world" as she and her friends are called. She meets and starts dating a senior, a white, rich dude who's art is only OK. They bond because he's ripping of Jack Martin's artist's statement and Raquel is writing her thesis on him.
As she careens through his world, where she is the recipient of many a back-handed compliment and many a "helping hand" and continues to work on her thesis, she discovers Jack Martin's wife, Anita de Monte.
Going back and forth between Raquel, Anita and Jack's POVs we learn about Anita's influence on Jack and their influence on Raquel.
Jessica Pimentel voices a luxurious, dramatic and gut-wrenching Anita. This performance is outstanding.
Anita's story is based on the true story of Cuban-American Earth Body artists Ana Mendieta.