4.5 -“You deserve that. The happiness. And all the things you want, without the complicated parts. And you have me for as long as you want.”

Ander is a talented muralist in San Antonio, in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood. They’re planning to go to school in Chicago, but something is making them hesitate. Ander’s family fires them from their restaurant so they can focus on getting ready for school. But then they meet their replacement, Santiago. The pull between them is undeniable, and Ander starts to put the pieces of what they want together.

This is the type of book to squeeze your heart. Ander is such a great protagonist, and they’re incredible representation. They’re so talented as a muralist, and it’s so great to see their supportive family. I think with situations and books like this, it’s easy to have the family be unsupportive, but Ander has the support of their family and their friends. I love the way Ander is on this journey to discover what they truly want to do with their life and how they continue to explore their talent.

Their relationship with Santi is just beautiful. They both feel this pull toward the other and it’s really lovely how it all unfolds. Santi is so supportive of Ander and their art. When ICE comes for Santi, it felt like a weight was on my chest. You become attached to both Ander and Santi so the fear is real. Everything about both Ander and Santi is so beautifully written, and I love that Ander's family are willing to protect Santi. The ending is both heartbreaking and inspiring, and it felt like the perfect ending for them.

“I’m with you. Through happiness and destruction.”

My only issue was that part of this seemed to drag and there were filler moments that I ruin l could have been cut. Ander and Santi are so likable as characters that I didn’t think the extra filler was necessary. But overall, I would definitely recommend this beautiful story.

First and foremost, I have never in my life felt more ATTACKED than I did while listening to the Valentina hot sauce comment. Mx Garza Villa really came for my neck with that one.

In all honestly, it took me about a third of the way to fully get into this book. I liked the concept, the characters, and all the Mexican-ness that reminded me of home, but this was the first book I've read that made me feel like maybe I WAS too old to still be reading YA. Just some of the terminology (such as the unironic use of the word "unalive") and the super specific pop culture references that made me feel like I was ready for senior discounts and early-bird dinner specials. 😜😜😜

However, once I got the the heart of the novel, I was all in. What a beautiful story. What a beautiful, terrible, realistic story. A quote in particular that really took my breath away was "it's weird how, because we're brown, we start doubting everything," and ain't that the truth.

Also I clocked a reference each to Adam Silvera and Benjamin Alire Sáenz, and that made my heart sing. Faves supporting faves.

I didn't expect this book would make me cry, and certainly not as much as I did. Will absolutely be recommending this. Through happiness and destruction. 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽

This was the easiest 5 stars I’ve given in a while!! This will 100% be in my top 5 of the year! I have so much to say and I don’t even know where to start. Ander and Santi are so special and words aren’t enough to explain why. These two just wanted to be together, be happy, and be safe and even though everything was against them, they fought for each other and while it didn’t always work how they wanted it to, in the end what mattered the most was that they were together and happy and safe.

I can’t even begin to comprehend the things they were going through. Especially Santi just trying to survive in this country. The way America treats immigrants is deplorable and disgusting. It’s ridiculous that people are treated like they don’t deserve basic human rights. It’s heartbreaking and I hope our country will care about human beings enough to change in my lifetime 💔

I also just love queer stories that aren’t about coming out or struggling with their identity and don’t get me wrong, I also enjoy those stories as well but it’s such a breath of fresh air when that’s not the conflict! And both Ander & Santi were so secure in their identities (even if Santi didn’t know exactly where he fell) and the people around them were so accepting! It just made a story about struggling to be able to stay together so joyful!

I just love love love Ander & Santi and I will read any and everything that Jonny releases! 2 out of 2 books released so far that I absolutely fell in love with! Highly highly recommend this one!!

I would like to sincerely thank St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off, this book cover art is stunning. It sets the tone for all the facets of artistry, which, as an artist, I enjoyed immensely. This was a sweet story that was emotional at times, full of colour and family, food and young love. Ander & Santi Were Here makes a great addition to the list of YA books exploring the challenges POC and the LGBTQIAP+ communities face in their lifetime. And so here's hoping that as awareness grows one book/piece of art/restaurant at a time, compassion and acceptance and peace will overcome the fear, hostility and violence communities face for their diversity. Fun and summery, with narrative sincerity, Ander & Santi Were Here brings art, community and culture to the forefront of a continuously evolving conversation we all need to be a part of!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ .5

🌺Latine Ya Romance
🌵Non-binary MC
🌺Queer joy
🌵Art
🌺Mexican food

This young queer love story is about a Mexican-American teen who falls in love with an undocumented Mexican immigrant. It follows their journey as they both search for a place where they can belong.

I got this ARC in Feb, but I read this book back in March for the #tranrightsreadathon and it was such a beautiful and emotional ride. I laughed and cried many times, the displays of love and support from this family were impeccable. This was such a hopeful story, full of acceptance from family and friends, and something I certainly wish we had more of in our current society.

I was especially fond of the bits that we got from the father, displays of emotion, full honesty, and support for their kid. The book also touched on some important global topics while not going super deep, I think it was just enough to get us curious, and I hope it encourages readers to educate themselves further.

I hadn't read a book that included this much Spanish and I loved it!
As a Spanish speaker myself, I appreciated the representation of non-binary language and how smoothly the conversations happened, especially for a language that is heavily rooted in assigning a gender to everything. It made me feel pretty confident to start integrating non-binary language when speaking in Spanish.

Jonny's writing style is amazing and I often forgot I was reading. The visuals and celebration of queer art were beautifully done, and they provided a special background to the emotional moments that had my heart.

Lastly, can we please take a moment to appreciate the stunning cover by @kerriresnick !!
Hope you check this book out it comes out May 2.
Thank you so much to Jonny Garza Villa, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Where do I even start? This was an absolutely beautiful and at times, heartbreaking, story. The way we treat people “not from this country” as if the United States would be what it is today if not for the original people (colonizers) that literally came from other countries! At the end of the day, we are all just people regardless of where we come from and I think we’d be better off to remember that.

This is an important story to tell and I think this book did an amazing job. I will never know the pain and fear that Ander and Santi felt and experienced. I’m sorry for anyone that has or ever will. I can only hope and fight for a better future for all. 💛

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A heartwarming and heartbreaking story.

Ander, a nonbinary Mexican-American muralist, that falls in love with Santi, who came from Mexico undocumented, and is hired by the family taqueria. It’s about culture, love, and finding home.

I also really enjoyed reading the gender-neutral Spanish.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Ander & Santi Were Here is a beautiful YA love story, simultaneously exploring the journey of a queer teen coming of age and falling in love, as well confronting the difficult realities undocumented immigrants live with every day.
Ander is such a wonderful character. I was drawn immediately by their relationships with their family, especially the vibes of love and acceptance for them being themself. I love how the family balances that love with setting realistic expectations as Ander prepares to tackle the next chapter of their life…even if Ander does chafe at some of the things their family does sometimes, like replacing them at their job at the family restaurant.
Ander and Santi’s relationship, especially early on, was so cute. It felt very modern and fresh, including the cute Instagrams and text convos. But it also transitions well into serious territory when Santi’s immigration status is an issue that could separate them. I was on the edge of my seat with anxiety, wondering how it would all work out (and it does…in a beautiful and satisfying way).
Just as with their debut, Jonny Garza Villa has written a beautiful story, one I’d recommend to anyone looking for queer YA contemporaries.

What an absolutely GORGEOUS & HEARTBREAKING read. Santi & Ander were brilliant. Their banter has me giggling. I absolutely loved the art, culture and diversity. I’m pretty sure I sobbed through the last 25% - and at the end my heart is so incredibly full, wow!

4.5⭐

This heartfelt, beautiful and achingly sad book. I loved it though not nearly as much as Ander loves Santi. Set in San Antonio, Ander is a queer nonbinary teen muralist getting ready for art school when they fall in love with Santi, an undocumented Mexican immigrant. There has never been a better time for this book as the country (and especially Texas) bans queer books, books about immigration and race and shows so much hatred toward these people.

Because at the end of the day, that is what is important about this book. Jonny shows us that Santi and Ander are people with feelings, hopes and dreams that deserve to be realized just as much as a white cisgender person whose family came over hundreds of years ago. I love how this book is Jonny's ode to Mexican culture, San Antonio, the queer community and art in this beautiful way.

This was truly an amazing debut and must read this year. It is a bit slow at times, but I think this leaves room for Jonny's books to become even more incredible. Ander and Santi Were Here will be on my mind for a long time and I hope you'll let them into your heart too.

Astounding and powerful and NECESSARY. Jonny Garza Villa delivers a heartbreakingly beautiful story that intertwines culture, sexuality, and the things that make us human. I will be recommending this to every person I've ever met!

This book was beautiful but also very disappointing. It was much needed representation and the relationship and depictions of family and community were lovely….but that felt like that was the only thing that the book was about. The plot felt very barebones — like it was just thrown in to frame the relationship. The part that really disappointed me was the complete lack of character development. Both Ander and Santi are extremely static characters; we don’t see them grow and change at all. I understand the choice to tell the whole story from Ander’s pov, but if that was the choice I needed to be getting something a little bit **more** from them. Their conflict over deferring college with their parents was very shallow; their argument with Zeke was underdeveloped to the point that it felt petty; for the most part they don’t seem terribly emotionally affected by the perpetual danger Santi is facing. The most character development Ander goes through is realizing that their residency advisor/mentor is racist and forcing them into the confines of the stereotypical “Mexican muralist” box — but even that is like are you serious? It took you that long??

Wow. Wow wow wow. This is an incredible and important book.

Ander & Santi Were Here follows Ander, a nonbinary gay Latine 19-year-old, through several seasons of self-discovery and love. Ander is an artist who mainly paints murals, and is on a gap year after deferring from a prestigious art school. Their family runs a taquería in San Antonio, and hires Santi. Ander and Santi are immediately attracted to one another. And here we begin a really sweet love story.

But the love story isn't what makes this book stand out. Instead, what makes this book so incredible and unique is its commitment to centering queer joy, its seamless incorporation of inclusive (de-gendered) Spanish, and its direct confrontation and examination of the countless flaws in US immigration policy.

Ander & Santi Were Here is exceptional. It's rich and raw and beautiful and textured. And I think it has the potential to help readers see the beauty of queerness, the ease of gender fluidity, and the horrors of USian immigration policy.

E-ARC generously provided by St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

4 stars. Both a deft rendering of the realities of undocumented immigrants and a heartwarming romance, Ander & Santi Were Here is the kind of story that both breaks your heart and pieces it back together.

This book is so cute. The romance is perfect and the characters are so relatable. The author seamlessly blends English and Spanish throughout the book which helps deepen the experience. I will be reading this again once my Rainbowcrate copy arrives. This is my first 5 star read of 2023. I am so happy to have been able to read this early.

Ander & Santi Were Here is a lovely YA romance between two teen. The slow burn romance is told from Ander's point of view. While the story pacing was a bit slow, I enjoyed the wholesome story. While there are many heavy themes being covered, the author is able to balance it with lightness as well. I especially liked that the author gave a loving family to Ander and that wasn't part of the conflict.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced reader copy.

Wow, this book stole and promptly destroyed my heart. Ander & Santi Were Here is one of my favorite books of 2023! Ander and Santi have a relationship filled with longing, so much love, and many real-life obstacles. It’s devastatingly romantic and filled with very real grief and pain. Ander & Santi Were Here is brimming with heart and beautiful writing that includes lots of Spanish (which is easy to understand based on context). This is a book that promises to make you cry, grin, and end up wanting to reread the whole thing over again.

Ander & Santi Were Here is simply beautiful from the cover to the story inside. Once you read the story, you will have even more appreciation for the stunning cover. This is a book that is so moving, deeply romantic, and yet also incorporates real-life problems. I don’t see how anyone could read this story and not come away with a deeper understanding about how immigration laws in the US are horrifyingly cruel and tear families apart.

The queer representation was excellent; Ander is nonbinary and uses they/them/elle pronouns. Ander and Santi have an instant attraction, surrounded by Ander’s family. I loved how Ander’s family was so wonderful and involved in protecting Ander and especially Santi. Ander’s parents were so loving and accepting, while also calling them out when needed and trying to help them no matter what. Since a good portion of this book takes place at Ander’s family taquería, you absolutely cannot read this book without snacks because the descriptions of Mexican food are incredible.

I would recommend this for readers who enjoy Edward Underhill (Always the Almost), Gabe Cole Novoa (The Wicked Bargain), and Sonora Reyes (The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School). I would truly recommend this to anyone, especially those who enjoy queer love stories that will take you on an emotional journey. I already can’t wait to read Jonny Garza Villa’s next book!

Ander & Santi Were Here releases May 2, 2023. Thank you so much to Jonny Garza Villa, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

ANDER & SANTI WERE HERE by Jonny Garza Villa left me in tears. The writing is gorgeous, the characters are so well developed, and the reality the novel depicts is devastating.

There's so much to love in ANDER & SANTI WERE HERE. The mix of English and Spanish without explanation, the chaotic Friday night family dinner, the combination of found family and blood family, and Ander's search for their identity as an artist all made me feel "at home" in a way most books do not. The adult characters were also multi-dimensional and distinct. I loved Tita! What an amazing--and believable--character; she felt very familiar. She's also a character I haven't read before.

Ander's experience with art school and the way they are pigeoned-holed based on race is infuriating, yet sadly believable. I really appreciate the author's frank depiction of this, especially as Ander wrestles with his decision and with the repeated microagressions of his advisor.

Ander and Santi are a couple to root for, too. The intensity of their romance was appropriate given their ages and situation. Because the couple is so lovable, it makes the depiction of ICE and its horrible treatment of people even more visceral. It really hits.

I hope this book opens up discussions about ICE and expectations of artists of color and what family means. I will be recommending to my students as an excellent read and will also be adding it to my long-form, advanced fiction workshops this summer.

4.25 ⭐️
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pub Date: 5/2/23
POV: First person, single pov
Cw: deportation, racism, kidnapping

Summary: Ander is a non-binary artist trying to figure out their future. Santi is the new hot waiter Ander falls in love with. As the two grow together, they’re forced to examine how long and how much their love can last.

While this is a romance, it’s a heavy one. This novel was beautifully written and the story of Ander & Santi was stuck in my head long after finishing it.

I would describe the pacing of this novel as slow. It took me about 15% in to really become invested, as a lot of the scenes up to that point were casual flirting or art descriptions. Sadly, pacing is a big aspect in my enjoyment of books. If the pacing feels off, I struggle to feel connected to the book.

The other thing that felt off: While I expected the end of the book and I was glad the characters got a happy ending, it just felt really unrealistic. I can’t go into detail without spoiling.

The rest of these points didn’t bother me, but I do feel that I should point them out:

If you don’t know Spanish and don’t have google translate readily accessible, you may feel like you’re missing out. While the story would still be enjoyable, there’s a lot of sentences/ terms of endearment that I had to search up and didn’t have many context clues to help.

This novel also had a lot of mature content for a YA book. It’s all closed door while leaving as little to the imagination as possible. While this didn’t bother me, I know a lot of people wouldn’t be expecting it so it might be off putting.

In conclusion, if you like romance or contemporary of any kind, I think you should give this book a try. It’s incredibly written and a beautiful love story despite being heavy. While it won’t be for everyone, I think many will enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Jonny Garza Villa for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up.

oh this book--i want to read it again already. new adult queer romance, so much about immigration and justice, family and work and art and futures. i was swept up in everyone and everything. all of them deserved better from the world. i listened to this and it was really well narrated.

i don't know if school libraries will allow this bc drugs and sex are pretty explicit but they should.