It's so difficult to aptly summarize just how powerful this book is, or the impact it had on me. Jonny Garza Villa has such a way with words, weaving an atmospheric, colorful story that leaves you crying and laughing and clutching your heart in equal measure. The way that they describe the settings, from the restaurant patio to the park to Ander's murals - you can see it all so vividly.

Reading Ander & Santi Were Here gives you that same feeling as that last summer before college; warm and slow and nostalgic for those last few moments of childhood, but with that lingering undercurrent of anxiety wrong wrong wrong creeping up on you. You can feel the bond that Ander has with their family, their friends, and their community in every page, and the love that Ander feels for all of them and the places around them in return. From the very moment Santi is introduced, you are rooting for him and Ander, falling in love as quickly and deeply and dramatically as only teenagers can. You want the two of them to succeed, and you believe that they will, no matter how dramatic the stakes get or suddenly that undercurrent of anxiety changes to a present and immediate threat. This is a couple - and a family - that you cheer for, and you feel safe to do so because the author themself has reassured you that you can, and that's a beautiful thing when balancing such a delicate, difficult, current topic.

And, to wrap the story up so beautifully with a cover and a title that are both so relevant to the overall plot - AMAZING. Literal chills. Flawless.

I just genuinely cannot say enough good things about this book, or these characters, or Jonny Garza Villa. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy next month, and I definitely can't wait to stick a copy on my classroom shelves.

4.3/5

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review

Ander & Santi Were Here is a beautiful book that depicts the story of the protagonist Ander and their partner Santi, as they navigate the challenges that come with being undocumented, or rather just brown, in the US. The author writes with so much compassion and their characters are so easy to fall in love with and be invested in. Although the book is about our titular couple, they bring up the issues that come with systemic racism, tokenism, gentrification, and of course immigration. Seeing Ander’s growth as they become more confident in their art and their priorities was extremely heartwarming and touching, and I loved how the author showed the progression of their art and murals as a vehicle to show Ander’s own growth.
This book absolutely destroyed me, it had me ugly crying for two days in public transportation¬– the romance is written with so much tenderness and passion that it’s difficult not to feel what the characters feel throughout the book. I enjoyed the writing style overall as I felt the voice of Ander suited their personality really well, however, there were definitely some clumsy sentences and awkward phrasing (seriously does anyone outside of TikTok use ‘unalive'?) that were distracting while reading. The book brings awareness to many issues that immigrants, specifically Mexican immigrants face and I appreciated the lens through which the author calls attention to these issues. Not all queer books need to have queerness as a source of trauma, however, I think that there could have been some more discussions about the intersections of queerness and immigrant status. I feel that a book about a queer couple navigating the complex migration landscape in this country was missing a critical intersectional lens about how queer couples often face unique challenges due to their migrant status and their identity. This book is not only phenomenal and touching but also highlights the challenges that come with being undocumented, I urge everyone to read this book.

4.5 stars

Working at their family's taqueria in their home in San Antonia, Texas is all Ander has ever known. In fact, their home is what inspired them to be a muralist, to follow their dreams to become an artist. However, in order to make sure they make the best of their gap year between high school and college, their family "fires" them. Now, they have the chance to focus on their art.

Until Santi enters the picture. Santi, Ander's replacement at the restaurant, inspires Ander to explore their identity as an artist. Makes them feel more like themselves. But the threat of ICE agents hang over both of their heads. And they'll realize how fragile their new home really is.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday books for an advanced copy of Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa! This is their second YA book, and it packs a punch. Just like Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun. Both of these books explore the idea of that transition period between high school and college, especially when you find someone you connect with. If you haven't read their other book, I highly recommend it!

This book focuses on Ander's gap year, meeting with a mentor before they go off to an art program. However, part of the story is about their artistic journey, learning that they maybe don't have to follow the conventional path. And that those college art programs can sometimes put you into a specific box. I loved the way that art was woven into this story, and how it related to Ander's own growth as a person.

Their chemistry with Santi is also well written. Being undocumented, Santi has seen a lot of difficulties, but you can just tell that he feels safe with Ander. There were so many cute moments between them, and they both have a wonderful, vibrant community around them. A community that would do anything to make sure that they both feel safe.

Villa's writing has also gotten stronger in this book, with descriptions written in a way that just makes the images leap off the page. I honestly wanted to go paint something when I was done reading this!

All in all, another beautiful novel by Villa. Can't wait to see what they write next.

rating: 5/5 stars and billions of hearts

this book is so hard to write a review for. it’s so hard to put into words everything that this book is and gives the reader.

what a gut-punch of feels and emotions. i think i’m with everyone and their mother when i say this was a pure joy to experience. as a neurodivergent person who has done a lot of healing and reflective work, certain things about almost every romance i’ve ever read just Don’t Sit Right with me. there’s always something about the relationship or, more often, the way it’s written, that i don’t jive with. this was perfection. everything made sense and everything was meaningful.

the best parts: nonbinary mc. sensational dialogue. ADORED the exploration of identities here, especially in how it pertained to artistic expression and having a sense of community. THE RELATIONSHIPS. all of the side characters were developed with such fun and care. and the development of the relationship between our two main characters was *mwah*. the tension, tenderness, celebration, vulnerability, and power displayed in this novel gripped me by the shoulders and pulled me directly into the pages.

tbh, i think this is the best YA, the best romance, and the best contemporary i’ve ever read. granted, i spent a lot of time in my preteen/early teen years reading “award-winning” contemporary YA romance that was really just uninclusive, patriarchal bs that didn’t include any of my identities or those of the people i care about. either way, the writing style, plot, dialogue, character development, etc. were all so logical, balanced, and engaging to me. i don't often find all of those things in any book, let alone a contemporary YA romance. i haven't cried because of a book in so, so long. this was a masterpiece. objectively a tour de force that shed such sorely needed perspective on Mexican-American joy, identity, and how ICE impacts communities that belong in America just as much as anyone else does. stories like this are so necessary to be written and read today.

i am so deeply glad that teens and those who love YA have novels like this to read. i know the difference it would have made for me 15 years ago to have my introduction into YA include more books like this.

thank you to netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Wow, this is something else. I initially picked this book because of the gorgeous cover, it radiates young love - happy to say that the image has actual significance in the story!

This YA contemporary took a different direction than I expected and it paid off. This is NOT about 2 young people falling in love and discovering physical intimacy for the first time & coming of age (like many YA books).
This IS about Ander, non-binary Mexican-American aspiring artist falling for Santi, an undocumented Mexican boy. They are both mature young people and already have a good idea of what they want in life ... and what limitations they face.

The story is heartwarming and heartbreaking at once, I definitely shed some tears and rooted for Ander & Santi all the way!
While the focus is their growing feelings for each other, I absolutely appreciated Ander trying to find their voice as an artist and how their Mexican heritage influences their artistic decisions.
"There are these moments where I can't tell the difference between authenticity and trying to make a point. I don't know if I see heart in this."

My only negative is the pacing that seemed inconsistent in some chapters, as they were significantly slower than others.

A YA contemporary with incredibly important conversations, great LGBTQ+ rep and a love story for the ages!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a free ARC for an honest review.

I appreciate what the author was trying to achieve with this book but I felt the pacing was a bit off. I also felt like the books wanted to be all things to too many different demographics. I will still recommend it as it is one of the few books available that confront the immigration issue in an emotionally touching way that helps to show the reality with humanity.

This book is proof that you can know the endgame that a book will bring, but still be surprised, delighted, and emotional along the way.

It took me a bit to get into this story, but once I was hooked, there was no putting it down. There were so many layers: family, immigration, gender & sexuality, family separation, and more. Each chapter brought new discoveries and they were all woven into a beautiful love story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC!

Despite the outstanding representation, I couldn't connect with the writing style and abundance of pop culture references. Although, I will admit the Lorde and Shawn Hunter ones made me laugh. My final complaint is how quickly the romance developed because I am not a fan of that trope, I guess you could call it. The other thing I liked was the food descriptions, and while reading, I felt hungry.

I genuinely love this book. I thought the representation was incredible and the story was extremely impactful. I was invested in every character and loved the growth throughout.

The Texas/Mexico setting was one I have not read before and I thought it was very insightful and well done.

I loved that Ander was an artist who focused primarily on murals, it set a really beautiful picture that added a lot to the story.

The discussions around immigration are one of the most central parts of the story and I felt they were very well done and eye opening.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me an advance reader copy for an honest review!

This book was honestly very moving. The whole story was so very well executed, and I really loved the representation of the characters! Santi's story was by far my favorite, yet the most heart-wrenching. All of the characters were very well written; this book is just overall amazing.

My only issue was the pacing and some of the writing was a little repetitive. Again, this book was was great. I would definitely read the trigger warnings before reading though! I highly recommend this book to anyone, and should for sure be read by everyone.

5 stars

Yes. You *can* judge this book by its stunning cover. If you, like me, were drawn to this book because of this cover, author, and synopsis, I anticipate you'll also be thrilled by what you get from this meaningful read.

Ander, the m.c., works at their family's taqueria, loves hanging with family and friends, and finds some of their best moments in creating art. In this pivotal moment, Ander has some interesting decisions to make about who they are and who they'll become as they move toward a long-term goal of attending art school and further developing their passion away from their Texas hometown. All of this takes a backseat - or at least a sidecar - when Ander sets eyes on Santi, a new server at the taqueria. The two hit it off so fast, and readers can swoon and feel their hearts nearly burst from cuteness overload when these two share a scene. Their banter is good, and their relationship is so well drawn.

As is the case in life and in YA, no romance is all flowers and rainbows all the time, and while these two are everything together, there are some serious barriers that they must face.

This is a super charming romance, and while the struggles are real, it's the healthy and charming relationship, not the tortured souls, that shine from the heart of this book. I'm already recommending it to students: especially the fantastic audio version.

Ander (they/them) has a pretty good deal going on. They're working at their family's restaurant, and they'll be going to art school in Chicago in the fall. But Ander's world is upended when they meet Santi, the new guy at the restaurant. The two are soon swept up into a whirlwind romance. However, Santi has been keeping the truth from Ander that he was not born in the United States and lives in constant fear of being picked up by ICE agents.

Oh Jonny Garza Villa, I loved this book so much! Ander is an amazingly beautiful and very real character. I can't remember the last time I laughed and I cried and I rooted for a couple as much as I did Ander and Santi. Don't even get me started on this GORGEOUS cover art, I cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. LOVE LOVE LOVE Ander & Santi Were Here!

"Through happiness and destruction."

P H E W, this book!!!!

Like, I *knew* Jonny Garza Villa was going to write a stunner, because FIFTEEN HUNDRED MILES FROM THE SUN was one of my top favorites of 2021, but they still blew me away with this story.

This YA contemporary is a heart-wrenching love story about a Mexican-American teen who falls in love with an undocumented Mexican boy. It's emotional, it's incredibly rich, it's heartbreaking AND heartbreakingly tender, and so funny it had me cackling. Jonny expertly weaves heart, humor, and meaning into a tale full of real-world challenge and unrestrained joy in its midst. It's rich in its conversation of culture, immigration, and gender & sexuality, and Jonny handles them with knowledge and respect.

Simply beautiful, thought-provoking, and life-changing.

A big thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

First off: I’m really glad that this book exists. I’m glad that teens will be able to read and see themselves in Ander and Santi, and I’m glad that they can hopefully find strength in their story. This is a book that discusses some really heavy topics, and I think it does so in a way that many people of all ages will be able to connect with them.

While I hesitate to call it “instalove,” I will say that Ander and Santi definitely developed an interest in each other very quickly. It’s purely a personal critique, but I found it difficult to really understand their “instant connection” since it’s something I haven’t really experienced myself; as a result, some of the basis of their relationship was a little hard for me to believe. Even so, I loved reading as they began to get closer and fall in love. There were lots of sweet moments of intimacy between the protagonists, as well as a strong sense of community with the other characters.

The pacing was a little inconsistent, though: the first three quarters of this book felt pretty fast as Ander and Santi’s relationship quickly bloomed, then the last quarter slowed down as the tension ramped up. This change in pace is understandable, but I found myself really savoring the last portion—in spite of how heavy the tone shift was—because of its pace. The last section of the book also feels like it’s where so many of the main themes around identity, community, and activism are fully realized. There’s a sense that Ander, our narrator, has really grown and changed over the course of the novel—and that we have, hopefully, changed with them.

This is a book about flawed characters trying to find love and community in a flawed world. It’s heavy and hopeful and a resounding message that messy queer Latines deserve love and justice. I hope lots of readers can find a home in this novel and its story.

Ander's strong personality along with wits and talents will pull you in. I loved the art and joy Ander and Santi brought to each other. Hearing how the community and Ander's parents were always there. You can feel and see the paintings and the battles of going back and forth with what to do through Ander's words. Nothing was stopping the chance to love, the chance to create and be as artistic as one's heart will allow. It wasn't about race it was about the passion the joy.

This is the story of Ander Lopez, a young muralist from San Antonio, Texas. Ander is working at his family’s restaurant, Lupe’s, when he meets Santi, an undocumented Mexican immigrant. Through Ander’s eyes, we are able to see the unfortunate reality that many people face daily in the United States through Santi’s encounters with ICE. It is truly impossible not to love Ander, Santi, the whole Lopez family, and Lupe’s staff which only makes their traumas even more heartbreaking and their triumphs even more heartwarming. Releasing May 2nd, this is a must read for everyone. Many of us have the privilege of never facing this current reality first hand but through Ander’s eyes I think we all could stand to gain a little more empathy.

A really moving queer YA romance between a nonbinary muralist in Texas and the undocumented Mexican immigrant they fall for the summer before they're supposed to go off to college. A tender romance between two queer teens of color who just want the freedom to love who they want and have to fight against ICE. Highly recommended for fans of Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe or Somewhere between bitter and sweet. Great on audio too. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital copies in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this book and at times it had me emotional. This is a very important read. I loved the characters and how the author described the different places in the book. Ander and Santi's relationship did not feel rushed and I loved how it evolved through the book.

DNF 50%

Slow pacing that I found hard to keep interested in
Didn’t feel any chemistry between the main character, and could’t get invested into their story.
Alot of unrealistic dialogue, and second hand embarrassment humor which is my Least favorite as a reader. I alos can’t stand when writers try to throw in a ton of pop culture and social media refs into YA to try to sound like a teen.

I’m glad this story exists and is being told, but it did not work for me

Ander & Santi Were Here was one of my anticipated reads of the year and it didn't disappoint. This book was so good that I forgot I was even reading, I wanted more, I needed more.