✨ Review ✨ The Border Between Us by Rudy Ruiz

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

{I'm so mad at myself for not reviewing this one while it was fresh in my mind}

Ruiz is a master storyteller of borderlands stories. I loved Valley of Shadows and so I was quick to pick this one up, but it was so incredibly different, and yet just as good!

This one follows Ramón Lopez throughout his teen years (and maybe a bit beyond). The child of immigrants and the older brother to a boy with some significant disabilities, Ramón always feels like he's not quite supported by his family. As they straddle the border and his dad straddles a range of economic opportunities, their family is frequently in economic distress, and he ends up moving in with his grandma.

The book tackles the complexity of the American Dream -- is it something to aspire to? Is it even possible? Is it even desirable? As Ramón seeks to pursue his interests in art, he faces down troubles and grief of all varieties, and we are left with the question, is it worth it?

The book is a story of aspiration, of borderlands travails, of economic struggles, of family drama and so much more. The writing is complex and beautiful and thought-provoking. I'm so glad I picked this one up!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: contemporary fiction, literary fiction
Setting: Texas-Mexico borderlands, NYC
Pub Date: Aug 27 2024

Rudy Ruiz's The Border Between Us is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the immigrant experience, narrated with exceptional skill by Eddie Lopez. This audiobook delves into the complex emotions, cultural clashes, and societal pressures faced by those who cross borders in search of a better life.

Lopez's narration is both empathetic and powerful, capturing the nuances of the characters' emotions and the raw intensity of their struggles. His performance brings the story to life, making it a truly immersive listening experience.

Ruiz's writing is both sensitive and unflinching, as he tackles sensitive topics such as family, love, and the American Dream. The characters are well-developed and relatable, drawing the listener in and making them care deeply about their fates.

Whether you're familiar with the immigrant experience or not, The Border Between Us is a powerful and moving story that will stay with you long after you've finished listening.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!!!

Overall, I enjoyed this book and Ramon's story. At times I felt like I would have enjoyed it more as a series of standalone short stories, which I now feel even more after listening to the acknowledgments at the end of the book. However, the overarching narrative was a good one and I understand the creative choices Ruiz made turning a series of his life experiences into a work of fiction like this. I also appreciated how seen this book made me feel at many points -- special shoutout to the tidbit of there not being any jobs titled "emerging Latino artist" lol

I loved this audiobook! This story really touched my heart ❤️ the narrator was perfect and it made the story feel put together beautifully. I was left absolutely devastated in some parts of this story and tears were shed. I knew I was gonna resonate with this story which exactly why I requested without a doubt. Idk if I would consider this as HEA but it I wasn’t disappointed either.

I definitely recommend this book to everyone especially for my Latinos and Latinas.

Thank you to Rudy Ruiz, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for this audiobook.

If you read the print version I'd advise reading the author's acknowledgements first. It explains so much about the origins of this novel ie it being the culmination of manypreviously published short stories written by the author about his upbringing on the border between the US and Mexico. It might, as it did me, make me feel less irritated by the protagonist who has a tendency to mope and feel sorry for himself far longer than is actually necessary.

I listened to the audio version, which was excellently narrated by Eddie Lopez. No histrionics, no melodrama (despite the sometimes harrowing stories), just a good clear voice with enough inflection to easily distinguish between characters.

The novel itself describes the story of Ramón López, a boy whose family live a precarious existence just over the US border in Brownsville, mainly due to Ramon's father's schemes, which invariably end with him losing rather than making money. Ramon wants to be an entrepreneur like his father but seems to be as successful. However he is also a talented artist and his travels take him to New York to further his career.

This book did not go as I expected and, as I said previously, there are times when Ramon drove me crazy with his self-doubt and self-pity. It does have strong Mexican characters and the women are the most memorable.

This book feels like a love letter to those people who made us, who guide us and who support us throughout our lives. Apart from the odd page or two I found it extremely interesting and engaging and I'd definitely recommend it. The audio version is a delight to listen to.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing- Audiobooks for the audio advance review copy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Eddie Lopez does a fantastic job narrating this story! I highly recommend the audiobook!

This is a well written novel that explores what it means to be a Mexican-American living on the border between the USA and Mexico. There is so much going on in the book which I would classify as a coming of age story. The author explores familial relationships, social perceptions, success, failure, and the glaring disparity in socio-economic conditions between the USA and Mexico. The writing pulls you in so adeptly that you can hear, smell and see the story. Excellent!