Thank you to Ecco via NetGalley for providing me with this ARC! Admittedly since I am 1/2 Guatemalan I feel like this short story collection holds a special place in my heart for the representation it provides. The imagery was so vivid and the characters all felt so real and complex. I feel like this is a collection I will want to return to and read again later, as I feel like I may get something new with every reread.

A stellar short story collection, all hits, no skips. These stories follow Guatemalan characters grappling with what they owe to themselves, their neighbors, and their country. Jared Lemus's writing sparkles with wit and originality, and his characters are so fully realized that they pop off the page immediately from their first introductions. I can't wait to read his first novel!

I have been to many places around the world through the books that I’ve read - but never before to Guatemala. Never before until now, at least! That new literary experience alone was honestly a genuine treat by itself, but that ended up being just the topping on the cake thanks to the excellent writing. Each individual story was an engaging read in their own way thanks to Lemus’s distinct voice, one that I look forward to hearing more of in the future.

My son was adopted from Guatemala and I've been to the country a handful of times. I love to read anything having to do with the culture and people of the special spot. It was a pleasure to discover this book that had a gorgeous cover and a curious title. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I very much enjoyed Jared's storytelling and the variety of characters portrayed in this book. I will tell a lot of our Guatemalan Families Thru Adoption friends about it.