The Ladies of Managua

This book had me from the start. The story of Isabel and her daughters, seemingly opposite personalities come together for their father's funeral. But the part I enjoyed the most was Isabel's descriptions of her childhood and then as a young adult. All of the places, from boarding school in New Orleans to the Nicaragua of her youth and of today, give the reader a real sense of belonging. So very descriptive and inviting. I would highly recommend this and think it will make a good book club selection, probably when it is out in paperback. thank you netgalley for letting me review this galley.

Eleni Gage’s The Ladies of Managua is multigenerational novel that follows the lives of grandmother, Isabela; her daughter, Ninexin; and granddaughter, Maria. Isa reflects on lost love, Ninexin on her husband’s death, and Maria on her rocky relationship with her mother. Each woman carries a secret which comes to light when they come together for Isa’s husband’s funeral in Nicaragua. The Ladies of Managua is an enjoyable read that focuses on love, loss, and the rocky relationship between mothers and daughters.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. A lovely, multigenerational family saga, set in Nicaragua.

Secrets. Love. Loss. Passion. This richly-drawn novel weaves the life stories of three generations Nicaraguan women -- Isabella, a grandmother mourning the loss of her husband; her daughter Ninexin, the revolutionary turned stoic government official; and her grand-daughter Maria, an artist living in New York City trying to navigate her own complicated life. Each chapter is told in the first person from an alternating point of view, unfolding the story of the complex family dynamics between these three women. (Note: I found this alternating first person a bit confusing at first and it took me awhile to figure out who was who. I finally stopped at Chapter 3, and wrote out everyone's name, multiple nicknames and relationship to each other. Once I'd done this reading the story became much easier.)

Overall the characters were well developed, especially Isabella and Maria. I found it harder to relate to Ninexin as she seemed stilted and some of her behaviors incongruent. While all the men in the book take supporting roles, they present an interesting character study as they are vastly different from each other.

If you enjoy a good family drama, you will like this book and won't be disappointed.

I received this as a galley from the publisher. I loved this book. This is a passionate and vibrate story of three incredible woman. I was engrossed from page one. I loved the Nicaraguan landscape. This is delightful and will stick with you for a while after reading. Highly recommend.