This was the right book at the right time for this woman of a certain age. I love this author’s YA horror books like Breakup From Hell and Five Midnights, but this was something entirely unexpected. I feel in love with the setting and connected so much with the character. I felt seen!

We Need No Wings by Ann Dávila Cardinal is a tender, mystical, and moving novel that follows Tere, a grieving woman who begins to levitate after her husband's death—an awakening that leads her to Spain, her ancestral roots, and the possibility of healing.

With gorgeous writing, emotional depth, and just the right touch of magical realism, this book is about what happens when we finally allow ourselves to let go. It’s reflective, heartwarming, and quietly powerful—a perfect pick for fans of literary fiction with soul.

This laugh-out-loud, uplifting, and magical travel adventure features a relatable 60-year-old woman exploring her connections to Saint Teresa of Avila Spain. They share more than family heritage. Tere is amazed to discover the saint's journals reveal she frequently levitated: Tere wants to understand why she's also experiencing levitation -- all while facing mid-life, grieving her husband's death, and visiting Avila Spain. Bonus for this semi-autobiographical own-voices author and a story of age positivity!!

I was not a huge fan of this, I just felt like I couldn’t ever really get into the book unfortunately. I wish I had enjoyed it more!

A beautifully written story that explores grief, identity, and healing. I loved the introspection and the supernatural twist of Tere’s journey.
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

2.5🌟 rounded up to 3

Teresa "Tere" Sanchez is on leave from her university job, nearly a year after unexpectedly losing her husband. Then suddenly, she starts randomly levitating. After finding familial connection to Saint Teresa of Avila in Spain, who also supposedly levitated, Tere decides to go to Avila, Spain to reconnect with her roots and hopefully find some answers.

I was captivated by this book's first 25 percent or so. Then it got a bit repetitive, and I felt like all she did in Spain was visit churches. The religious aspects were a bit heavy-handed and boring. Tere also read kind of unrealistically—she's supposed to be a 60-year-old woman nearing retirement but seems more like someone in their 30s. I didn't buy it. It was okay overall, but I can't say I recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

Teresa Sanchez has started to levitate. Weird, right? This sets off her journey to Spain to discover the truth about her family ancestry and figure out why this is happening. I expected more humor and heart, but this was more a story about grief and getting back to life after the death of her husband, than it was about her levitating. It was good, just not what I was expecting. :) I would read this author again as I loved her other book, "The Storyteller's Death."

Thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for providing a free copy for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of We Need No Wings by Ann Davila Cardinal!

We Need No Wings is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that tackles big questions about identity and belonging. Cardinal’s writing pulls you in with its depth and rawness, making it a memorable read.

This novel was wonderfully written and quite unique! I loved the quirks of the main character. It is a whimsical and yet poignantly emotional read, and even though it took a few pages for me to get invested in it, it was well worth a read!

This was such an interesting read! Definitely unlike anything I’ve read before. I loved the main character and felt that we were similar with our love of tattoos and books! I know I’m going to still be getting tattoos at the age of 60! (As long as I still have skin left to tattoo at that point lol!) But us having something in common, made me absolutely love her and want to continue reading. I absolutely devoured this one and would for sure recommend!!

This one was NOT for me and a DNF. I couldn't get into it no matter how hard i tried.

Thanks for the copy of this one in exchange for an honest review.

What makes this novel stand out is how it balances whimsy and emotional depth. The idea of levitating might sound fantastical, but it’s woven into the story in a way that feels symbolic and deeply human. Dávila Cardinal’s writing is full of warmth, humor, and vivid imagery, making the mystical elements feel grounded in real emotion. If you enjoy stories that mix a little magic with a lot of heart, We Need No Wings is a charming, thoughtful read about finding lightness after loss.

. I’d give We Need No Wings 3.5 to 4 stars. It’s a thoughtful and whimsical story with beautifully crafted magical realism, though its pacing might feel a bit slow for some readers. If you appreciate emotional journeys with symbolic fantasy elements, this one is worth checking out.

Loved this magical realism book! This story had a great premise and I loved the main character Teresa! I loved the way the setting was written it felt very realistic! I wish we had delved deeper into the characters backstory and roots, but overall a great read that I definitely recommend reading!

I gave this a chance but the social commentary that came right away ultimately turned me off from reading the rest.

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. It didn't manage to keep my attention and I struggled to pick it up. However, I see why other people would like it

I liked this story. There is a strong voice and character in Teresa, our main character. I almost wish the book was written in her first-person voice. But still really enjoyed and would recommend!

This is a moving story about coping with loss and finding strength to move forward.

Tere Sanchez has spent a year grieving her husband. While watering the peonies he planted, she begins to levitate and decides to travel to Ávila, Spain, to find answers, hoping to understand herself and her next steps.

I loved Ann Dávila Cardinal’s The Storyteller's Death, and this book didn’t disappoint. The vivid descriptions of Ávila made the setting come alive. The magical realism added a mystical touch, enhancing the story of self-discovery. The book also explores themes like the role of literature for marginalized people and the contrast between the church’s wealth and the simple lives of devout followers.

A lovely, poignant book that explores grief through magical realism. A year after the death of her husband, Tere is still feeling untethered from her life — and then she finds herself untethered from the ground. When she starts levitating uncontrollably, Tere learns she's descended from Saint Teresa of Avila, known for levitation. Tere travels to Spain to learn more about her ancestor and, along the way, finds meaningful new relationships and a path forward through her grief. I loved the fantastical elements, the travel, the found family, and the historical explorations.

As a puertorrican myself I always loook forward to read fellow authors. Breaking down this one, I can only say that the magical aspect had so much potential and it worked well. My only little problem is that I wish the aspect of being puertorrican was more well put into the actual plot. Sometimes I actually forgot that I was reading a character of puertorrican descent because it was mentioned barely.