I loved meeting Yesica, Ana, and Mama Melda in "When We Were Widows." Their storylines and relationships were palpable and authentic. It's notable that plenty of thought was put into each of these characters as their stories developed and progressed throughout the book.

This book gives great insight into grief, generational trauma, family secrets, rekindled friendships, romance, mother-daughter relationships, and the pressures faced by first-born daughters. I really resonated with the eldest/first daughter scenarios and appreciated that a book addressed them at different stages of life. I also appreciated the various stages of grief and the benefits of group therapy covered throughout the book. I am glad to see more Latine authors including the use of therapy to address mental health concerns in their storylines.

Including the historical piece of the Chavez Ravine was the perfect touch for this book. It really added to the depth of the characters and it tied with the ending so well. I, like the author, learned about this part of LA history as an adult, and I continue to be saddened by it. Annette definitely did this particular storyline justice and hopefully more readers take something away from it.

If you have read anything else by Annette Chavez Macias before, you know there will be some focus or mention on food and this was no different. I felt as if I was cooking/eating right along with Yesica, Ana, and Mama Melda. I appreciated the recipes at the end, too.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. It is a beautifully written work.

Thank you to NetGalley, Annette Chavez Macias, and Montlake for providing me with an ARC copy of this book!

Decent fast paced read. First read by this author, I actually never heard of her before. Good work and decent writing.