This is one of those reading experiences that are all about the journey. The plot and character relationships certainly move you along, but what I enjoyed most about this book was succumbing to the vibes of the story and not questioning the titular Catalina too much. 

It’s not your typical campus novel, but it’s a worthy entry to the subgenre. The chaos that is her life at Harvard and her life in Queens with her grandparents kept me simultaneously invested and stressed out. I was equally rooting for her and shaking my head, yet grinning at the choices being made. If there was a second book, that picked up Catalina’s story after Harvard, I would pick it up in a heartbeat. She’s definitely a character that will stick with me for a while. 

I have been eagerly awaiting another book from Villavicencio since devouring and loving The Undocumented Americans. I think this foray into fiction was fantastic and I’ll continue to recommend their work widely. 

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!