I’m a little torn by how to rate this. I’m not sure that I loved it, but at times it did pull on my heart and make me shed a few tears. The world setting for the story was the world I work in, so of course I’m a bit hyper critical about the realism there, and I don’t think it absolutely hit all the time. Ultimately I’m happy with where the story ended, but I had some trouble enjoying the story the whole way there.

This was a quick read, I understood Xiomara; she was dealing with grief and immense financial responsibilities for her and her mother.
We get to read about family, dreams, and identity. Wish the characters had more depth. This was a story about self-discovery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House/One World for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The first thing that I have to comment on about this book is how gorgeously Guerrero's lyrical writing that seamlessly connects with Xiomara as she chases her dreams of being a Broadway star following the loss of her beloved sister. Xiomara herself, an ambitious Afro-Latina woman, is an authentic character, which makes it easy to root for her success.

Grief is neither a light nor easy thing to tackle, but Guerrero does so with grace and depth. Her writing morphs from having more of a YA-feel to one that's more adult and mature, paralleling Xiomara's own journey. While the pacing occasionally felt slow, the emotional payout at the end makes it that much more worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to One World Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced ARC of Natalie Guerrero’s debut novel.

Grief and loss affects everyone in different ways. The first half of this book was tough to read because X acts so immature for her age, and makes many questionable choices. However, I am a sucker for flawed characters and their growth journeys. X was an easy character to root for, and the second half of the book had me cheering her on. Loved the ending.

*My Train Leaves at Three* by Natalie Guerrero is a beautifully written debut that hit me right in the heart. The story of Xiomara, an Afro-Latina actress and singer coping with the loss of her sister while chasing her dreams, felt so real and raw. Guerrero’s lyrical writing made it easy to connect with Xiomara’s journey, from her struggles with grief to her moments of joy and hope.

The themes of family, identity, and following your dreams resonated deeply with me, though I wished some of the side characters had more depth. There were moments when the pacing slowed, but the emotional payoff at the end was totally worth it.

Overall, this novel left me feeling inspired and moved. Highly recommend it for anyone who loves stories about resilience and self-discovery.

If you are dealing with healing through grief, or have at any point, you will appreciate the beautiful writing and emotions of My Train Leaves at Three. I first of all, am attracted to books set in NYC and have a Broadway connection! I most enjoyed the struggle of trying to achieve your dreams while overcoming loss and grief. It read a little YA in the beginning which I am not a fan of but I think it aged up as the chapters went on. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Learning how to move forward while grieving is different for everyone. The main character did come across as younger then 29, her choices and reasoning fit the age range of 20-24. Overall I appreciated the story and Xiomara’s growth.

I liked this quite a bit. A great coming of age tale that talks about identity and wanting to live a life that is different to what our ancestors had.

this book was a breath of fresh air, it felt like something new and that’s always refreshing. I’m rating this read 4/5

Grief is so weird and stifling and it makes no sense at times and I think the author does a great job of portraying that with Xiomara trying to navigate life after her sister’s death. There’s so much I want to talk about from this book but it’s all spoilers. I’ve stayed up late just to run through this book. Xiomara is a complex character but not in a bad sense, she’s just a girl that’s been through some things.

This was a really great debut, I look forward to more of her work in the future.

DNF'd at 45%. Couldn't get into the plot, setting, or main character at all. The main character, Xiomara, is pushing 30, but acts and thinks like she's barely out of high school. Unmotivated, irresponsible, lets her unemployed mother walk all over her when she's the one barely keeping them afloat. Then there were the cardboard male characters developing feelings for her for no discernable reason. Then the idea that she'd gotten good enough parts in musicals to contribute to her household, for I'm guessing 7-8 years, but was a terrible dancer? I couldn't read anymore; Xiomara wasn't likeable, her reasoning for her predicaments got old, and the opportunities coming her way were too far fetched.

My train leaves at three is a coming of age novel that follows our FMC, 30 year old Xiomara, as she navigates life after the death of her sister. One could describe her as hitting her lowest point after her sister passes away, as she is left working two jobs and is still failing to make ends meet in Washington Heights. An aspiring Broadway actress, a daughter to a woman who forbids her to keep singing, and an Afro Latina trying to fit into that Broadway world. The odds are stacked against her.
I loved that this story was point blank and did not attempt to romanticize Xiomara's struggle. Xiomara has some questionable decision making skills throughout the book but she is an easy character to root for. Her character development and the story arc as she navigates not only the death of her sister but dealing with losing her mom for a while to that grief was very well written.

My Train Leaves at Three is an honest and gripping exploration of grief, identity, and the pursuit of ambition. Xiomara’s story resonates deeply, portraying the unfiltered reality of navigating personal loss while chasing a dream that demands so much of her. The setting, rooted in the vibrant yet relentless world of Broadway, adds layers of complexity to her journey. The novel skillfully balances hope and hardship, capturing Xiomara’s struggle to reconcile her dreams with her sense of self. Her interactions—be it with her ultra-religious mother, the new love interest Santi, or the industry’s powerful players—feel raw and genuine. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from confronting uncomfortable truths, yet it leaves you with a sense of resilience and hope. This book feels like an anthem for anyone standing at the crossroads of ambition and self-acceptance, making it a compelling and inspiring read. It lingers with you, much like the ache of a hard-earned lesson.

Hmmm. Has a bit of a YA feel, but midway through began to morph into more of a chick-lit vibe. Xiomara is an easy to root for protagonist, though a little rough around the edges, I easily and quickly slipped into the grooves of her life. She sings in a diner, one of those places where the staff breaks out in song every so often. Her dream is to make it big as a singer. Her sister is on board, however her mother is definitely not!

So when her big sister dies, grief takes hold of Xiomara and her dream of making it, grinds into a slow death. What’s impressive here, is the tender prose showing how grief can be disorienting and lead to some sketchy decisions. When a big time Broadway producer takes an interest in Xiomara, she feels like this is the break she has needed. But the writing is so good, it hints to the reader, that Xiomara be smart, go slow, I found myself giving her advice out loud.

Ultimately, this is a story of familial relations, grief and the timing of life. The title stands as metaphor of life moving on with or without you. If the train leaves at three, will one miss it? Can one then just get on the next one and everything stay in concert? Obviously grief is often devastating and sometimes debilitating, but it’s almost a rites of passage in life, yes?

The way Ms. Guerrero wraps an image of grief around Xiomara’s coming of age signals her talent with the pen and page. Can’t wait for her next work. Thanks to One World publishing and Netgalley for an advanced DRC. Book drops 07.15.25

Let me start by saying that I loved this book so much that I gave it 4 stars, which I rarely do. Xiomara, an Afro-Latina singer and actress is existing, more than living after the death of her sister. When she gets her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it seems like things are turning around for her. But life isn't always like that, is it?
With wonderful, melodious writing, terrific character development, and a plot that propels you forward, My Train Leaves at Three is one to put on your "must read" list. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a much-appreciated advance reading copy.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/220239037

This novel was a disappointment for me. I expected so much more from the description. Xiomara lives in Washington Heights with her mother. She works two jobs. One as a waitress and singer at a diner and the other as a print shop clerk. She has a wondaful singing voice that she hasn't used since the unexpected death of her sister. Her story was hard to believe and disjointed on so many levels.

"X" is a finalist for a Broadway musical, but gives in to couch casting and allows herself to be abused and almost strangled. She is skinny yet always seems to be eating. She meets this wonderful man who comes to work at the print shop, seemingly falls in love with this winner, and then ghosts him. She makes bad choices continuously, Then, miraculously, she lands a job as a musical theater teacher at a private school in Westchester through her cousin Maria, a hairdresser who knows the principal. Really? Without any experience or a college degree she is paid $85,000 a year. And she succeeds in this job putting on a musical based on West Side Story.

What was so disappointing was that the author was truly capable of better writing, as she showed in some scenes. Yet the book was filled with trite sayings and strange descriptive lines that made no sense. It began as a real and emotional story of the difficulties of being poor and a minority woman, plucking on your heartstrings and then went off the rails.

Thank you Net Galley and One World for an ARC copy to read.

I identified with this book, dealing and healing with grief and trying to achieve your dreams is something I know all too well. Books set in NYC always do well with me, ESPECIALLY if we have an added Broadway element. This book was honest and raw. Made me look at my own life and how grief has changed me. Recommending this book if you're also dealing with and healing through grief.

The first half of this book is a bit brutal about all the things Xiomara does & allows to be done to her. She is numb & wonders when she'll feel like her old self after her sister's death. She does get better & the story ends on a hopeful note for her. The book is an intimate look into an interracial young woman in NYC trying to make get discovered. The story was challenging at times but ultimately worth it.

I really enjoyed this book.

Xiomara is almost 30. She is living is a small apartment with her ultra catholic mother in Washington Heights. She works at a copy store and also as a waitress. Since she was a child she has dreamed of being on broadway. She was very very close to landing her breakout role when her sister suddenly died. For the past year she has barely been able to function in her grief. This novel is about her coming to terms with the fact that her sister would want her to keep living.

I thought Xiomara was an immature and deeply troubled character. She makes a lot of mistakes trying to land the lead part in a broadway play. It was really interesting to see her blossom and grow as a person. In the beginning of this book I kept thinking that this girl must be 21. She was working two minimum wage jobs barely scraping by and living with her mother. The story telling and character development of this book were superb. I was rooting for Xiomara and hoping that everything worked out for her and her mom.




Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.

This was a great read, with a narrative that was equally about growth and grief. Xiomara was a compelling protagonist trying to find her way in the world despite her sister's death and he rnother's disapproval. Some of the things that really worked for me were (1) Xiomara's character voice and the way she processed the world; (2) the scene setting, both in Washington Heights and in the "singing waitress" diner where she works; (3) Xiomara's feelings of imposter syndrome as she tries to get the lead role in a stage show despite having two left feet and needing to deal with the "casting couch" dilemma of its director; and (4) the ending as Xiomara turns a corner and finds something that stokes her passion and provides a creative outlet for her musical theater interests. On the weaker side, (1) I didn't feel like Xiomara's on-and-off relationship with her co-worker at the copy shop ever fully came together for me; and (2) I wanted a bit more character detail about Xiomara's coworker at the diner whom she's competing against for the role.

Overall, this was a great read, with Guerrero providing a lot of texture to the proceedings and writing/feelings that really popped off the page.

I really did love following Xiomara along her journey to follow her dreams to be on Broadway while dealing with the grief of losing her older sister unexpectedly. I just believe that there were too many storylines happening and we focused a lot on plot instead of characters. This read like a telenovela, coming of age, new adult story of a late 20s woman. That’s not a bad thing but it wasn’t what I expected. I did finish it in 5 days which is fast for me. I’m usually a slow reader so it did keep me coming back for me. It feels full of potential but ultimately incomplete.