4 stars

After reading and LOVING _Dominicana_, I was thrilled to be able to read this next work from Angie Cruz. This book, while also a fantastic read, operates in a totally different structural and character-centered realm than its predecessor, and Cruz's versatility is utterly unbeatable here.

Cara, the m.c., is a riveting individual, and she's the kind of person that every reader can relate to and find both frustration in and blistering empathy for over the course of the novel. Throughout the work, Cara participates in 12 sessions with a job counselor whose central task is to determine whether Cara should continue receiving unemployment benefits and/or what Cara is best suited to do next. What readers - and her counselor - learn instantly is that Cara is not a drone. She's a complex human with a rich story that humanizes her and continues to unfold not just in constant revelations from the past but also through up to the moment developments. Cara discusses her marriage, her relationships with friends and her son, her career path, and so much more, and through this evolved exploration, Cara endears herself to both readers and her counselor.

The structure, organization, timing of informational release, and character development are all so intriguing here, and my only complaint is that there wasn't even a bit more of the story coming through. I just wanted more time with this character.

This is, in some foundational ways, an experimental novel that I expect more traditional and less adventurous/advanced readers may find confusing or even a bit disjointed, but readers who are interested in a play with structure and form featuring a fantastic character at the center will leave this piece incredibly pleased. I'm already excited to read what Cruz produces next.

I loved Dominicana so I was really looking forward to this one. The structure is unusual, consisting of one-sided interviews of an unemployed woman attending job counseling sessions, interspersed with her paperwork. This format provides unique insights into her life in a chatty confessional style that is both humorous and poignant, but I did find it to be rambling and unfocused at times.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

The recession of 2008, upended the life of Dominican immigrant Cara Romero. "This country is like a fisherman with fast hands...who shows you the big fat fish, but when he cooks, he says it shrink(s)."

Cara Romero, age 56, worked in a factory of little lamps from 1980-2006, performing "whatever job needed doing" until the factory relocated to Costa Rica. After one year, "...my belts, my blazers, my dresses-lost in the closet." Current unemployment benefits would soon run out. In 2009, Cara qualified for the twelve session Senior Workforce Program which would provide pre-vocational training to prepare seniors to reenter the work force.

"So much can happen in the life...I never imagined...sitting here...in New York. With a husband that almost killed me, and a son that will not return home...we can't always plan what is going to happen." It is clear, however, that Cara wanted to work. "What is a person without an occupation? During the course of the twelve sessions, she shared her outlook on life, deepest secrets and regrets.

Cara lived in a rent-stabilized building in Washington Heights, New York. The building manager frequently inspected the apartments "to find reasons to throw us out." Gentrification tactics would ultimately raise rents significantly. Cara's rent was in arrears. Her recent surgery bill was being paid in dribs and drabs, health insurance terminated, when the lamp factory closed its doors.

Character Traits: The Positives
*Cara is strong.
*Cara wants to make the world a better place.
*Cara is a fast worker. In the lamp factory, her quota was filled in half the time.

Character Traits: The Challenges
*Cara prefers not to talk, because "if you don't talk, it is more easy to forget the things in life."
*"Cara cries until (she) undrowns from the inside."

Will Cara secure a job after oral interviews, career skills matching and free psychic readings from Alicia? Tune in to find out! Cara's life experiences unfold through first person narration. A deep and compassionate understanding of our protagonist is masterfully penned by author Angie Cruz. Highly recommended.

Thank you Flatiron Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After the factory she worked at for two decades shut down, Cara Romero, a Dominican woman in her fifties, wasn't sure how to reenter the job market. Through a series of interviews with a job counselor, Cara shares bits and pieces of her life story, from love affairs to building a community to her long lost son.

This book masterfully plays with form, using the stories from Cara's counseling sessions, job applications, rent statements, and more to create a multifaceted picture of her life. Cara's narrative voice is so full of life, and I was drawn into the story immediately. Angie Cruz has such incredible range!