"And don't ever get to the end of anything wishing you'd done more. Felt more."

4.25 I knew this was going to make me emotional, because the author's note already had me in tears, and I am happy to confirm that Villa really did deliver on vulnerability, pain, and hope.

There are some truly beautiful passages in this book, the writing hits deep into your soul. The way that the characters talk about love and family and belonging made me feel so much, it was such an amazing experience. I loved all the types of relationships that were highlighted in this, from passionate romance, to protective family ties, to unwaveringly reliable friendships. It just felt so good to put yourself in the main characters' shoes and feel surrounded by all the love they have in their life.

Of course, as beautiful and full of love as this book was, it was also filled with some very authentic, very distressing realities. And I think Villa did a great job of showcasing those realities, of getting the pain and the fear and the panic that the characters experience across to the reader. It was heartbreaking, and the last 80 pages or so had me sobbing my way through half a tissue box. And I appreciate that while the novel stayed true to the realities of our world and didn't perfectly resolve all our characters' issues in a miraculous flick of a magic wand, it did also create a sense of hope and possibility that I absolutely adored.

My one "issue" with this book was the pacing. And I put "issue" in quotes because I think some people may actually see this as a positive selling point for them. But there were definitely some chapters in the middle of the story that I found were kind of unnecessary. It was very slice-of-life for a moment, which isn't bad in and of itself, it just didn't do much for me. It didn't give me any new insight into our main character or their relationships or their future or any other part of the plot, message, or character development. (view spoiler) But there was definitely a moment while I was reading that I was considering rating this 3.5 stars or even DNFing it. The ending completely redeemed it for me, so I am confident in giving it 4.25 stars now, but the pacing did get in the way of my reading experience.

All that being said, I do absolutely recommend this novel and I am so happy that I had the chance to pick this up.

Ander has decided to wait a year before going to college to figure what their art should be like, and that year will change their entire life. Turns out Ander's family doesn't want them to work the family's restaurant anymore so that they truly focus on art. And that's when Santi enters. He is hired in their stead and the two begin a friendship that turns into something else but it's not just all sunshine and rainbows as the two have to fight against more than anyone ever should.

I absolutely loved this book. It was emotional and impactful and captivating. I fell for Ander immediately, they were smart and dumb and flawed in the best way. I laughed, I cried, I loved this from beginning to end. I enjoyed the setting and the family relationships and the romance between Ander and Santi as well as all the friendships we got to witness. I also had a great time following Ander's artistic choices and career choices.
A big part of this book is also about immigration and how ICE shouldn't exist and it was as powerful as it was enraging. It made me so angry and I cried some. To me, that's one of the many reasons everyone should read this book. Truly a must read.
I also truly enjoy Jonny Garza Villa's writing and this second book was just as amazing as their first. I cannot wait for more.

This book read how the Spanish language feels - lush, sensual, fun, and exciting, Between the writing style of Johnny Garza Villa and narrator Avi Roque this was just perfection. I will admit to struggling through the first 15% just because of my reading mood - it was good but nothing was happening. The first section is very character focused which is usually my jam so if you love that then it's consistency throughout this book will suck you right in. Some of the plot points hit hard and fast and then immediately got resolved so the pacing feels very off in the second half of the book and yet....this feels no less poignant and perfect as a whole. This would be pretty great for fans of All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir or even A Very Large Expanse of the Sea by Tahereh Mafi.. Go into this one with an open mind and an open heart and be prepared to get swept away.

I thought Ander & Santi Were Here was going to be a pretty heavy read because I knew it dealt with undocumented immigrants. I was pleasantly surprised to find that although Jonny Garza Villa handles the topic seriously and with care, this book is really a very adorable YA romance. It was refreshing to read a romance where the drama was coming from outside sources and the characters could just be in love without causing each other pain. No third act break ups or big miscommunication drama! I love that this book features a nonbinary artist as the main character as well. It was really nice to see Ander grappling with being both nonbinary and Mexican and how both of those identities affected their art and relationship with their Mexican heritage. I would absolutely recommend this one! It was just as beautiful as the cover.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ander & Santi Were Here is a wonderful contemporary romance, heart-warming while also dealing with being an undocumented immigrant in the US. I feel like the story deals with this issue compassionately. It personalizes something a lot of people may only see in the news.

The representation is great: Ander is nonbinary, the primary relationship is queer, and there are multiple queer side characters as well. They are all just allowed to be. There is queer joy here ❤️

Ander's artistic exploration and expression is one of my favourite elements in this story. Trying to balance outside expectations to make "Mexican" art and the desire to do the exact opposite to break away from stereotypes is fascinating and thought-provoking. Art feels important here. It's not just a hobby mentioned a couple of times as a personality trait with no impact on the story.

Ander and Santi are very sweet and young without feeling cringey or ridiculous. Although the attraction is immediate, the relationship does have time to develop. The family and friends surrounding Ander, and by extension, Santi, are incredible and supportive as well. Even if they do not have their own deep storylines, the characters still feel real and distinct.

The author builds tension well and I felt genuinely nervous and afraid for the characters at times. I also like the untranslated Spanish as it feels quite realistic. My only critique is that a couple of the conflicts resolve rather quickly on the page, but that's quite minor.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet, queer contemporary love story with supportive family, important modern concerns, and the warm feeling of home.

as the grand child of immigrants, as someone who grew up in san antonio, and as someone who is both queer and non-binary, i have never felt more represented than i did whole reading this novel. it’s beautiful and heartbreaking and tragic all at once.

What a beautiful book! I loved Ander and Santi and their relationship. It’s such a tender and heartfelt story and I was so moved by it. Definitely a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC of #anderandsantiwerehere

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this eARC of <i>Ander & Santi Were Here</i>. All opinions are my own.

When a book makes me cry, I automatically give it five stars, but I honestly wouldn't even have to think twice about giving <i>Ander & Santi Were Here</i> by Jonny Garza Villa five stars even without the waterworks because it is just that beautiful.

The book is about Ander "AJ" Martinez, a nonbinary artist on a bit of sabbatical after deferring from a prestigious art school for a year to focus on what they're best at—painting murals in their South Texas border town community. Their Mexican-American family, who runs a popular local restaurant, is supportive of Ander in all the ways: of their career, their choice to take year off, of their nonbinary identity. I absolutely adore how Villa creates a supportive family for Ander, one who uses their pronouns with authority and figures out how to change the gendered language of Spanish to work. It was a joy to see this, and to see that yes, it is possible to be supportive of all identities in all languages.

The character of Santi was beautifully rendered as well. He's guarded yet open, curious about being with Ander, yet holding him at arm's length until he finally can't take it anymore. Santi's precarious position as an undocumented immigrant puts both him the entire Martinez family in danger and creates tense moments of suspense throughout the book. I felt like I couldn't feel the bottom of my stomach at some points. Villa has such a way of allowing us to feel empathy for Santi and everyone else who cares about him.

If you've never once thought about what a day in the life of an undocumented worker is like, please read this book. Not only is it a love story to beauty, through Ander's murals and art, but to loyalty, love, and devotion. <i>Ander & Santi Were Here</i> will make your heart swell, hurt, and smile at the same time.

This is a spectacular story of queer brown love. This book offers so much wonderful diversity of representation in its characters, highlighting the injustices of our modern immigrant policies and the rippling effect such policies have on communities like Ander and Santi’s. This books is such a beautiful ode to modern love and what love can overcome.

I want to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for allowing me access to an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Ander & Santi Were Here. This is a phenomenal love story. I usually prefer to review Sci-fi and fantasy, but I picked this up on a whim, and I am so happy that I did. Ander’s family operates a Taquería in San Antonio. Ander is a talented artist with big plans to paint the town in their own image. Santi is the new boy who turns up and turns their world on its ear.

There is so much to love about this book. Ander immediately swept me up as a main character as they struggled to cope with their place in society and trying to find a voice as an artist that feels genuine to them. They meet a new waiter who turns out to be their replacement as their parents try to give them some freedom to pursue their art full time. As the two begin the awkward initial rights of all young romances, they are also confronted daily with the racial tensions that come with being young brown people in modern America and especially in Texas.

As for my complaints, there aren’t very many. Ander is definitely the kind of person who wears their heart on their sleeve, so sometimes they swing towards the dramatic in situations that seem otherwise normal, but even that complaint is more an illustration of how Ander is uncompromising in being true to how they are.

If you are looking for a good romance story with a lot of art and an abundance of amazingly detailed food references, then you will fall in love with this book. As my final warning, some of the scenes get a little steamy, but overall not as graphic as a lot of the modern romance books out there. If you pick this one up, I hope you enjoy it a lot.

I started sobbing 70% of the way into this book while sitting on a plane, and I didn’t stop until the very last page. Absolutely everyone must read this book. Queer or not. Latine or not. Please, I’m begging you. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy and Jonny Garza Villa for writing this beautifully heartbreaking story.

This is a perfect book. Villa weaves an amazing story with amazing writing. I loved the Spanish inclusion.

I went into this book completely blind. I did not know what to expect when I first opened this book, but I found myself hooked from the very start. The characters in this book are so likeable, so passionate, and the story revolving around them is just beautifully heartbreaking. This book features Ander, a non-binary, gay individual, who is taking a gap year between high school and college to find themself in their art. They have this beautiful imagination and creativity, but their family is pushing them to go back to school as soon as possible, and not just any school, but a high-ranking art school in the nation. Ander lives in San Antonio with their family and the following August is planning to head to this art school in Chicago, or so they thought. That is until they meet Santi. Santi is a cis-male who is questioning but hinted at being bi-sexual. Santi was born in Mexico and is not in the United States the traditional way. He is a down-to-earth, full-of-heart boy. Ander's family helps Santi out of a tough situation and eventually are there for him in more ways than one could have imagined. Ander and Santi's relationship blossoms into something more and their love is put to the test of not only hardships for being a gay couple, but also by the immigration laws and systems in Texas and the United States.

This book is such an emotional ride. The culture, art, love, and passion this book possesses is insane. The book is also hilariously funny at times. I laughed, I cried, I smiled and felt all of the emotions the characters went through during this read. The book is so powerful because it stands up for people of both the LGBTQIA+ community as well as against Immigration injustices. It has been such a long time since I have read a book this powerful that makes you want to fight back, take a stand, and be better for this world we are living in. I highly, HIGHLY, recommend giving this one a read or a listen because it is just phenomenal.

Ander & Santi Were Here is a moving young adult romance by Jonny Garza Villa. First, we meet Ander Martínez, a nonbinary Mexican-American artist that is contemplating their future at a reputable art school while completing murals in their San Antonio, Texas neighborhood. Then they meet Santiago López Alvarado, a new waiter at their family's restaurant. As they get to know each other, Ander and Santi's blossoming love is threatened by ICE agents hunting Santi, and shakes Ander's world at its core.

Jonny has such a beautiful and captivating way of describing characters and environments. With such a complex issue of immigration in the US in general, but especially in Texas, there is a lot of care put into Santi's story. My heart broke many times for Santi and his family, and this is a stark reminder that there immigrants and people seeking asylum are complex human beings with histories and families that deserve to be treated with respect.

I loved all of the Spanish throughout the story and the fact that it wasn't translated. As someone who isn't a native Spanish speaker, it felt very authentic to the story and put the responsibility on the reader to translate or use context clues during conversations. Ander has such a great supportive circle of family and friends, especially their grandmother.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jonny Garza Villa has written a beautiful, heartfelt, romance that broke me and then gently put it all back together, and it is a powerful, soul-filled cultural masterpiece as well. Jonny's writing is captivating, their imagery and storytellling are inspiring, and their ability to depict young love and hope while focusing on societal struggles is deftly balanced and moving. Teens truly need this book and I'm so glad it exists in the world.

Ander & Santi Were Here is a harrowing love letter to that first love madness, the spirit of youth and rebellion, all set against the backdrop of the primary issue plaguing our age: who gets to be a citizen?

A question older than the 14th amendment, Ander & Santi Were Here creates a discourse regarding the heinous practice of deportation.

Ander & Santi is truly a very beautiful story of young love and finding your own path. I think it’s so important to showcase and represent queer relationships in YA, and Jonny Garza Villa does a wonderful job of that.

Ander is a mural artist who has taken a gap year to work with a local initiative to beautify local buildings and businesses. In his spare time he works at his family’s restaurant until his Tita (abuelita) fires him to force him to focus on his art. Santi replaces him at the restaurant and that’s where their love story begins.

It’s a little insta-love and a little all or nothing, but there is so much conversation around undocumented people, hopeless situations and familial obligations. The only thing I wish was that the epilogue didn’t exist. I loved the last chapter and the hopefulness of it without knowing exactly what was going to happen next. It would have been the perfect ending!

The writing was beautiful and evocative and I can’t wait to see what Jonny Garza Villa does next!

Read this if you like:
- Beautiful prose
- Descriptions of food that will make you very hungry
- Found family and wonderful family dynamics

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Out May 2, 2023.

Ander and Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa is a YA Fiction with a non-binary Latine MC that I absolutely adored! The amount of pride this book carries is amazing! I was so drawn and emotionally invested in all the characters through the good and bad moments they faced. The amount of representation in this book was *chef’s kiss* What really brought me to tears was how accepting and supportive Anders family was. Between supporting their art, their queerness and never questioning their love for Santi was so refreshing. This is a beautiful story about love, family and stopping at nothing to achieve happiness.

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to have a free copy of this book for an honest review.

This cover is gorgeous and distracted me from realizing who writes the story. I read the author’s first book and simply didn’t like it. It wasn’t my style, too cheesy, and didn’t feel realistic. This book is much of the same. Insta-love, which I hate. The pop culture references were cringey and eye-roll worthy. Santi felt extremely flat. Like the first, the representation is lovely and there are some great themes, but I ended up skimming through this. Glancing at the reviews, it’s clear many will find this book lovely and exactly what they need. It’s a pass for me.

2⭐️

Three stars still means it’s good and worth reading! My literal only complaint is how slow the story moves compared to how dynamic the characters are- there are parts of the book that go day by day and don’t necessarily need to.

Five stars for the characters. Five stars for the setting. Five stars for the representation. Big recommend. Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley!