This book omg! Had me in my feelings, I was sobbing , angry and felt like I was left with so many unanswered questions! But this book was amazing and so important to read. Pls watch my book review linked below!

In Sons of El Rey, Espinoza looks unflinchingly into the complexities of masculinity through three generations. The book starts with such a sense of legacy, and that drives the narrative for a lot of the book. I appreciated that each character had a piece of the story, and none were perfect. I was a bit confused by the inclusion of some narrators whose stories seemed more incomplete than others, like Elena. Julian working to create a space for himself as a young g gay man in this legacy is one reason to tune into this novel.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer, if you’re looking for a “clean” or wholesome read, this isn’t it.

I enjoyed the storyline of the wrestling family and the different eras within the family. I thought the characters were well developed, even those with just “bit” parts in the story.

That being said, I really didn’t expect the amount of graphic sex in the book. I really could have done without it. Plus, the COVID this is so fresh, that I don’t really like reading about it yet.

My thanks to Net Galley for the digital ARC.

I'm so glad this book was written. As with many family sagas, this one is polyphonic, jumping from different voices and time periods, and sometimes even showing the same scene from different perspectives. How rich! How varied!

It takes place primarily in a few different areas in Mexico and LA. Amid everything that is happening right now--fear mongering and threats of mass deportations, the ravaging fires in LA brought on by climate crisis, people of color and artists priced out of their homes by gentrification--these stories are even more needed as we continue to fight colonial legacies and heal together.

This is a love story. There is so much love in this book, and so many different kinds. Love and power dynamics across generations of sons and fathers, lovers, husbands and wives, johns and sex workers. Different people grappling with the many sides of themselves against the backdrop of luncha libre. And masked fighting--what a perfect metaphor with parallels to the masks the characters wear out of fear, or for fantasy, or even in the days of the pandemic.

I was also so happy to read and learn a bunch of new Mexican slang and even more, all the times when I understood interjections of Spanish words and phrases without having to look them up.

One thing I'd love to see someday is a short story or hidden chapter of Mercy, the daughter of El Rey whose story is not contained here. Narratively speaking, I can understand why she wan't included--after all, one book can only contain so much and the focus relates more to exploring specifically Latino sexualities and masculinities. From the small bits we get of her though, I'm interested to hear more.

Review also posted on Goodreads.

The Sons of El Rey was one of my favorite reads of 2024! This story of inter-generational trauma and legacy really resonated with me. Something Espinoza does really well is to make each character seem real and familiar, whether it be the way the elder Vega reminded me of my own grandfather, the way Freddy deals with being caught in between generations, or the way Julian navigates being a queer Latino dating outside of his culture. All of these men handle societal expectations while figuring out who they are and how to accept that. There's a lot going on for each Vega man, and there's always more than meets the eye. Espinoza has given us a tale that may be a different sort of read for some, and for those I suggest reading this with curiosity. For others the tale offers a kind of recognition that our stories can be unique but not entirely unheard of. Family secrets, family legacies, and the ties that bind us are all under examination in this amazing story.

The Sons of El Rey is an intergenerational tale of the Vega family, tracing their journey from 1960s Mexico City to modern-day Los Angeles. Through the lives of Ernesto, a famous luchador, Freddy, his struggling son, and Julian, his openly gay grandson, the story explores identity, legacy, and the complexities of family. While the characters are vividly drawn, the narrative occasionally feels disjointed, with some perspectives more deeply explored than others. Despite minor flaws, Alex Espinoza delivers a compelling and unique look at the intersection of culture, masculinity, and sexuality.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have tried to read this book a few time now and have sadly dnf'ed it each time. While I was very intrigued by the premise of this novel I struggled to connect with the characters of this book. The pacing of this was also a bit slow for me.

I will say that each character has a distinct enough voice so the alternating POVs work well for this.

This one was my first read from Espinoza and now I’m curious to check out his backlog. I really loved parts of this story, especially the parts that focused on the past with Espinoza’s evocative writing. I was very curious to find out how the story would unfold and I finished it quickly. I am looking forward to reading some interviews from the author, as I’m not sure if some of the ways the story went was intentional or not.

A beautiful and heartbreaking story following three generations of a Mexican American family and their lives revolving Lucha Libre. It deals with generational trauma and has incredible character development. This is a truly beautiful book.

I enjoyed this book very much. Being Mexican, I didn't know much about lucha libre simply because I was very little when it was popular, but I remember my dad being a big fan. This book tells the story of the Vega family who have been professional wrestlers, also known as luchadores. I loved reading the context of this rising sport during the 60's through the 90's, both in Mexico and Los Angeles. I liked the queer twist even when it was very taboo in Mexico at the time (I acknowledge Mexico is not the most open minded country). Narrated by several POV's, I found each of them very interesting. I did see coming the plot twist at the end of the book, I just wish it was a bit more detailed. Overall a great reading experience.

Excellent book! I didn’t like that Elena had a POV and Mercedes didn’t. I understand the book is about the sons of El Rey but then why was Elena’s POV in there? Granted, I loved her chapters the most — I felt like they were kinda thrown in their to further the reveal of all that went down in El Rey’s day without El Rey ever having to confront it and acknowledge it himself. Almost like entitling his emotional unawareness. It’s the women who see all and know all and then eventually tell all; it’s all on them. And the men just have their hot messes to sit in. I wish that just like how we hear from grandson Julian (3rd gen) and how things pan out for him, I wish Mercedes (2nd gen) could have had her voice in here. But as for the overall story and plot-building, this book was captivating and drew me into the drama.

I loved this book and was enthralled with the writing. I loved the character study. Would read more from the author!

*Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of "The Sons of El Rey" by Alex Espinoza.

For me, Alex Espinoza's novel, "The Sons of El Rey," was a new look into Latinx culture — a side of it I had not yet explored. I am bilingual and lived abroad for 8 years, but in Spain, not Mexico/Central America/South America. I loved hearing and learning all about the queerness that was part of lucha libre for many men, and truly, the more I think about it, the more I realize this was and is a form of drag.

Much like another reviewer said, the book has "excellent character depth and heartbreaking, yet in ways hopeful, themes." I thought the vast majority of the book was incredibly well-written and engaging; the only part I found to drag on (and ended up skimming) was the explanation of the legend from which "lucha libre" was born or came to be.

✨ Review ✨ The Sons of El Rey by Alex Espinoza

Thanks to Simon and Schuster and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This book is a brilliantly-layered multigenerational family story that reflects on the luchador identity, family dynamics, immigration, and so much more.

The book alternates between three men - Ernesto, a man who's gone from "pig farmer to construction worker to famed luchador El Rey Coyote," his son Freddy, who's struggling to save his dad's gym in East L.A., and Freddy's son Julian, who's struggling with juggling adjunct teaching, his romantic interests, and making ends meet.

The scenes we see along the way are so richly described that you are transported there. The story takes us from the ranches of Michoacán to the makeshift colonias of Mexico City to East Los Angeles. And the story unpeels layers of the characters, just as it shows us new places and moments in the lives of these three men. From lucha libre trainers in Mexico to burlesque lucha shows of East L.A., the book traverses time and space alongside the Vega family.

The symbolism is rich around masks and fighting, and it delves deeply into topics of queer identity, families, dating and love, etc. It questions what it truly means to accept yourself and what sacrifices you might choose to make or not make for that acceptance to grow.

This was a beautiful book, and I'm excited to see what Espinoza writes next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: queer fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction
Setting: Michoacán, Mexico City, East Los Angeles
Pub Date: June 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ lucha libre
⭕️ stories of queer and/or immigrant identity
⭕️ multigenerational family stories

3.5 stars. The intriguing premise and vibrant cover design (one of the best this year) found me eager to explore subject matter I'd never considered before. All I knew of lucha libre was from the awful Jack Black film "Nacho Libre," so there was nowhere to go but up. The splintered narrative device kept me on my toes, and I was immediately captivated by these three generations of proud, headstrong Vega men grappling with legacy, duty, masculinity, sexuality, and family. Ernesto's origins felt expansive in 60s/70s-era Mexico City, forging his luchador persona and fame; Alfredo struggling with early grief and keeping the family business afloat amidst a global pandemic in 2020s L.A.; and Julian negotiating career and personhood as a promiscuous, Mexican-American gay man living in the modern era. There were other voices present, including a foreboding, spectral figure that radiated menace, knowledge, and sarcasm. The female voices weren't given the same level of attention, particularly with the character I wanted to know the most about, Elena. It would have also been nice to get a few chapters from the daughter's perspective, Mercedes, but the story didn't allow for that. Some pesky tropes soon followed, including the tired "bury your gays" chestnut, which I'd hoped that a queer author would be above doing. The major plot twist was obvious early on. Rampant promiscuity. A pet peeve of mine: the constant intermingling of Spanish text with English that's immediately distancing for a nonspeaker. Sometimes I could gather meaning in context, and other times, I couldn't. That's fully on me, given my rudimentary Spanish, but I had to have Google Translate constantly open while reading the novel, and that annoyed me. An informative and entertaining read regardless that was a constant page-turner.

Many thanks to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster for the eARC.

This story gives us a first-hand, multigenerational look at the impact of La Lucha lifestyle and the effects it has on a family. With multiple POVs and a historical recount weaving itself together throughout, the reader is building the timeline of a Mexican family whose life revolves around La Lucha Libre.

I loved the storytelling and felt like I was getting to know each family member intricately. I especially appreciated the son's POV. The ending threw me off and felt like it was unattached in some ways to the rest of the story.

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

This is a 2.5 star read for me but I rounded up because the book itself is not bad I just don’t love the Covid parts. Which I fully realize is my own personal preference, and why I rounded up. The story was good but. Yeah.

2024 Pride Month Read #4: 3.5 stars. An inter-generational story of a Mexican-American family. I originally rounded up to 4 stars, but coming back to write a review a few days after finishing the book, I feel that the author wrote a very good story, one I recommend to a variety of readers, but just not a book that will stand out among my other 4- and 5-star reads, maybe. I'll have to think about this more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Yesss loved this unique story that has multiple points of view and so much heart. We can see how families experience each other differently, and the backstory of Mexican wrestling was so refreshing. (Plus great queer rep!) Highly recommend

Sons of El Rey captures a generational story of queerness, masculinity, and family set against the backdrop of Mexican lucha libre. Initially, the wrestling and queer drew me to this book, but it’s so much more. It’s immigration, resiliency, making a new life from nothing, and finding what truly matters.