A truly phenomenal essay collection on how our love of fantasy shapes our reality, Latine identity, and searching for ourselves in pop culture. I absolutely loved every page of this book and how beautifully Vanessa Angélica Villarreal tied her own life and family history into her analysis of media and cultural shifts. I will read anything she writes.

This book is very good. The first half where she relies more on memoir was less good to me than the second half where she really digs into the cultural criticism. The criticism is there in the early parts too, but it really works in the end. So razor sharp and thought through. Pop culture treated as high art (thank god) and it really works.

Absolutely necessary read. Learned SO much from this book about craft but also the authors experiences in an accessible way despite its deep and heavy content. Highly recommend

An essay collection on a wide array of topics. As sometimes happens with collections (essays, but also short stories), some hit and some didn’t making the over all impression just middling.

Loved this book! A great mix of essays on both intriguing and/or timely matters and current events. Received a finish copy in the post also and couldn't wait to discuss it with others!

Magical/Realism by Vanessa Angelica Villarreal was an interesting and unique read. I enjoyed it and will recommend it!

I loved this book. I will definitely be referencing and recommending this one for a long time.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to the ARC.

This book is exactly what it says it is, which is essays on a broad verse of topics. I throughly enjoyed some of the essays involving fantasy, memory, and music. The book was written very well and was easy to digest, yet still provided new or fun/ interesting information. I even had a few laughs. It is both factual and personal experience. Let me leave you with one of my highlighted quotes:

“What is memory but a battleground, a bordered terrain between two versions of the truth?”

I do recommend this book, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for the opportunity to read it early!