Via Apia by Geovani Martins
Translated by Julia Sanches
Publication Date July 1, 2025


A compelling and immersive portrait of life in Rocinha, the largest favela in Rio de Janeiro. Martins masterfully interweaves the lives of five young men whose hopes, frustrations and friendships unfold against the backdrop of a community often misunderstood and maligned by outsiders. Here, Rocinha is more than a setting, it is a vibrant and living character.

Frequently disdained and pitied from the outside, Rocinha comes alive in the details: its music, culture, resilience and contradictions. Martins captures the profound pride residents feel for their community, while illuminating the daily challenges they face - the poverty, communal power and water outages, unfair rents, and scarce job opportunities. Yet amid the hardship, joy, humor, hope, and solidarity thrive. This is a story not just of struggle, but of belonging, brotherhood and the irrepressible spirit of community. It is a unique community with fun filled bailes, local hangouts and a plethora of drugs; where peace is granted by drug lords and taken away by the politicians, police and militia. Where the needs of the people take second place to how Rio appears to the outside world during the Olympics and World Cup.

A powerful story exploring the deep emotional terrain of young men trying to create an adult identity in a system designed to keep them in place. When choice, control and opportunities are out of reach, it is friendship and family that provide a lifeline and sustain dreams.

The depiction of the militia takeover of the favela is terrifyingly vivid, the chaos, fear, intrusion and powerlessness. Martins documents the devastating impact with precision: the intense fear, the oppression, the shuttering of small businesses, restricted movement, rising rents and costs, and the loss of public spaces that once buzzed with music and life.

The novel doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does offer empathy and truth. The MC’s reflect a generation trapped in a class system with no exits. Their intimacy, humour and loyalty feel deeply real, rendered with care, depth and unflinching honesty. You will become wholly invested in their lives.

This is a powerful, emotionally rich novel that immerses you in the complexity and humanity of Rocinha. It is a celebration of family, friendship, manhood, and survival. It is the adult literary equivalent of The Outsiders, tender, raw and unforgettable.

This one was unfortunately not for me. I couldn't connect with the story. It could've been a case of wrong book at the wrong time.

This was really good. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting because I read it "Via Appia" like the road in Rome but I still really liked this. It was funny and sometimes brutal and kept me turning each page wanting to know what happened next. A great debut novel.

This was a beautifully done novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this book. I was invested in what was happening with the characters and how the world was told. Geovani Martins has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

Via Ápia initiated me to the life in the Brazilian favelas and what it means to live there for the residents. We follow five friends struggling to make a living and surviving, yet also experiencing the strenght of their friendship, the principal theme of this book. It's also full of love for their home and the small moments of hapiness life can bring. We also get to understand what the UPP invasion means for the characters. It's touching and I enjoy learning from this part of the world through this fictional work. It's written in a style that is easy to read. Thank you Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Obrigado Netgalley por me dar a oportunidade de ler este livro!
Via Ápia foi uma leitura muito difícil, a crueldade, a violencia policial, as drogas, a vida tão difícil das pessoas e ao mesmo tempo a humanidade de tudo isto cai profundo na nossa mente. Foi duro mas gostei muito, acho muito importante que todos leiam e saibam a realidade da vida fora da sua própria bolha.
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