Wanted to like this but ultimately I couldn't get into it. Thanks netgalley & the publisher for the opportunity to read this

For fans of Elif Batuman! I'm not this book's ideal reader, I'm really picky about autofiction. Ultimately, a quick and worthwhile read.

Wanted to like this, but about 100 pages in and I still couldn't get into it. I appreciate the opportunity to review!

I absolutely loved this novel and will continue to read anything that this author writes. Her writing style is beautiful and I was drawn to the portrayal of the characters in her novel. This was a short read and it did not disappoint!

I value the opportunity I was given to read this in advance, but I still haven't read this. With so many books ahead of me, I cannot return to this title.

Not sure who the audience for this is supposed to be...the blurb sounded interesting, but the main character was self-involved & unlikeable. Her story as an undocumented immigrant seemed like something she just pulled out when it was a convenient advantage for her and to hate on the white people she knew. Usually a combination of them. Entitled, despite not seeming to have much talent or success at the writing she was so proud of. I'm not sure if this was supposed to reflect an overall attitude of undergraduate students regardless of their background. Either way, not much to root for.

There were a lot of inconsistencies, like Catalina saying how she didn't care for her grandparents at all, then in another few chapters saying how much she loved them. Then being completely apathetic about the guy she was dating, followed by a very weird sequence imagining a detailed future together.

There was some good prose in there during some of the inner thought wanderings, but the overall tone of the rest of the book overshadowed them.

While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.

Catalina is a campus novel, narrated by the titular character, as she traverses her last year at Harvard. Catalina is undocumented, and is struggling with what that means as the DREAMer and DACA legislation is always on the docket for passing/changing/repealing, and regardless, when she graduates, she cannot get a paying job with her status anyways. Her high-achieving academic self is running out of ways to be successful with that (academia) as her primary means of “getting ahead,” the privileged boy she’s talking to doesn’t know about her status, and she’s about to find out that her grandfather (also undocumented) was caught up in an ICE raid at work. So, what options does she have?

This is an entirely internal novel, like reading someone’s diary entries, almost. As such, it is very personable, in tone. Comfortable and relatable in a very intelligent way (there are *many* literary references throughout – which I’m sure I didn’t catch all of – all told with a high key interweaving of Latin American sociopolitical and cultural history). There were also lots of flights of thought and imagination, in exactly the way that one’s mind flies between concepts and memories and speculations. So, it was super well written for the narrative style choice. And it both connected the narrative (there were lots of repeating motifs and references) and sort of pulled me out of it, in a disconcertingly obvious way. Just, a super unique style. I was impressed, and also, due to that style and the slower-pacing it led to, was glad to have the audiobook to help move me through. It worked for this shorter length, but might have been too much if the novel was any longer.

One other thing that struck me is that Catalina’s internal monologue told of her experiences and emotions and interactions with a sort of remove, a depersonalization. This came across in the ways she sometimes viewed her connections with others at a distance – like not being able to truly have feelings for them or full relationships with them – as well as in her need to change/mold herself based on objective choices on how to be, in order to project the “correct” image (the safest/rightest image), regardless of personal want/preference. In fact, I am not sure, after finishing, and spending that much time in her head, what it was she really did want or how she actually wanted to be. That’s how deep that disconnect went. It’s a fascinating sort of character development, of becoming/coming of age, because who knows who she actually is, if even she isn’t sure? And what a commentary on the mindset that is cultivated from the circumstances of uncertain documentation/citizenship/homeland/belonging.

This felt a little bit, to me, like The Bell Jar, for a new age – in all the right and complementary ways that that statement could be taken. It’s sort of a reframing of sad girl academia to a new and more inclusively representative American population: tragic and open ended and heartbreaking and a bit satirical.

Karla Cornelio Villavicencio is so hilarious! It comes through in this story that dares to twist the narratives we’ve heard of Undocumented Americans. Truly an exceptional book.

The story of Catalina, an undocumented immigrant from Ecuador who came to the U.S. as a child after her parents died. She lives with her undocumented grandparents and goes to Harvard. Before DACA, her biggest challenge is not being able to get a job after graduation.

The book explored the struggles and fears of undocumented people. It’s written in a stream-of-consciousness style with a lot of fantasizing, which made it hard for me to focus on the important topics. Some might enjoy this style, but it wasn’t my favorite.

I tried to read this three times and it was not for me. Very stream of consciousness and I could not see where it was going in the slightest. It seems that I am in the minority.

This book was a powerful and unforgettable read that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of family. I liked the characters and the writing

I have not stopped thinking about this book since reading it a few weeks ago. The female protagonist, having been raised by her undocumented grandparents, is trying to find her way as she gets ready to graduate from Harvard. But amidst her academic career is also the expectations of caring for and protecting her aging grandparents.

A coming of age story about an undocumented young woman going off to college and trying to navigate life. I thoroughly enjoyed this, my biggest complaint was that it was so short haha. Catalina's voice is so strong and entertaining with her humor filled emotional monologues, I wanted way more of her than just over 200 pages.

I loved the fact that the story was both so eye opening, but also filled with humor, which you could tell was a coping mechanism at times, but it made the story that much more engaging.

I read this in a day, once I started, I couldn't stop. Every page just pulled me further and further into Catalina's story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

✨Catalina✨

I’m going to start with the cover and the title!! Absolutely love it!!

Catalina is my oldest daughter’s name so obviously I wanted to read this one! Cover is gorgeous, catching, and intriguing.

As a reader, you have to know that this book is a thought stream in the mind of a college student. The reader is just in her mind, and any random thing she thinks, we know about it. It takes a little bit to understand where Catalina (and the author) is going with it.

But here’s what I picked up when I let the words just flow and didn’t try to understand “the point”…

1. Catalina has reached a level of success that most US born young adults will never reach despite the abandonment she experienced…but she held onto her trauma very closely.

2. She has this good girl, bad girl, smart girl, dumb girl thing going lol She’s a dynamic Harvard student, but also throws herself out of a moving car … crazy girl!

3. Most details in this book are when she’s thinking sexually about something…lollipops, phone sex with strangers, an imaginary future with her boyfriend. This is in contrast with other major life events that (as a reader) I wanted to know more about. I guess she’s just a young girl with skewed priorities…

Once I realized these few things, I enjoyed the story so much more. I don’t think this book is meant to be “understood”, the book is meant to be “experienced”.

I got this through #netgalley as an ARC, but ended up getting it on Audible to listen instead 🎧

#catalina #karlacornejovillavicencio #readingreyna

Things I enjoyed about this book: (1) Catalina's voice and perspective shone through loud and clear. (2) The critiques of campus life seemed spot on, delving into the complexities and hypocrisies that exist at our country's colleges. (3) The magical realism that was sprinkled throughout the novel was well done and added layers to the story. (4) The descriptions of what it's like to be a first generation Latiné in the United States seemed really authentic. (5) The writing was nicely literary without being over-the-top.

Critiques: (1) There was some pacing issues due to the somewhat stream of consciousness storytelling. (2) The nonlinear narrative undercut some of the emotional heft of the story.

Overall, I found this to be a solid 4 star book that I would recommend to other readers.

This was quite the interesting read! I have to admit that I struggled with some of magical realism aspects because it seemed sort of misplaced. This story was a quick read and I appreciated that our main character is a brilliant example of a first-generation Latina navigating complicated family life and expectations while also figuring out what she wants for her own life. This story is necessary, fun, a little weird, but thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable.

I loved this book. Our protagonist, Catalina, is a smart and confident student at Harvard, but in the background of her whole life is the knowledge she and her grandparents are undocumented from Ecuador. This knowledge complicates the normal millennial hot mess narrative, but only a bit- she is still sort of a hot mess, but she is careful not to step a toe out of line and to constantly be aware of how to make her way in the world. The writing is wry and comedic, but still packs a huge punch. Catalina is unafraid to call out the fetishization of Latin America by the elites around her, and is constantly aware of the privileges they have that she doesn't. Clever and cutting in equal measure.

Some favorite lines:
"I don't really think American cuisine is about flavor, it's like a stand against communism."
"The rest of the world is plundered and bombed so rich white people can eat Caesar salad with each other and be inane."
"Unless it is read, a book is just an object. There are no holy texts without believers to read them."

Highly recommend this wonderful book.

Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio is a really powerful and raw book that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. It’s about a girl named Catalina who’s just trying to figure out her place in the world. She’s dealing with a lot of personal and family struggles, and the book dives deep into things like identity, culture, and mental health.

I loved how real and honest Catalina’s story felt. The writing is beautiful but still super easy to follow. It’s not always an easy read because some parts are tough to get through, but I think that’s what makes it so impactful. You really feel connected to Catalina’s journey and the way she’s trying to find hope and strength through everything.

The book is also really good at showing the complexities of family and relationships, and how people deal with pain in different ways. It’s definitely a book that makes you think, and it doesn’t give you all the answers, but that’s part of what I liked about it.

This book takes you deep into the thoughts and actions of a young woman who is undocumented and what happens to her in a year's timespan. I found this to be very interesting and eye-opening. It's definitely a roller coaster of emotions. I recommend to those who enjoy character-driven reads and books with immigration as a theme.