This was a great read, with a narrative that was equally about growth and grief. Xiomara was a compelling protagonist trying to find her way in the world despite her sister's death and he rnother's disapproval. Some of the things that really worked for me were (1) Xiomara's character voice and the way she processed the world; (2) the scene setting, both in Washington Heights and in the "singing waitress" diner where she works; (3) Xiomara's feelings of imposter syndrome as she tries to get the lead role in a stage show despite having two left feet and needing to deal with the "casting couch" dilemma of its director; and (4) the ending as Xiomara turns a corner and finds something that stokes her passion and provides a creative outlet for her musical theater interests. On the weaker side, (1) I didn't feel like Xiomara's on-and-off relationship with her co-worker at the copy shop ever fully came together for me; and (2) I wanted a bit more character detail about Xiomara's coworker at the diner whom she's competing against for the role.

Overall, this was a great read, with Guerrero providing a lot of texture to the proceedings and writing/feelings that really popped off the page.

I really did love following Xiomara along her journey to follow her dreams to be on Broadway while dealing with the grief of losing her older sister unexpectedly. I just believe that there were too many storylines happening and we focused a lot on plot instead of characters. This read like a telenovela, coming of age, new adult story of a late 20s woman. That’s not a bad thing but it wasn’t what I expected. I did finish it in 5 days which is fast for me. I’m usually a slow reader so it did keep me coming back for me. It feels full of potential but ultimately incomplete.

This was a quick read but the story didn’t really speak to me. 29-year-old Xiomara Sanchez is reeling from the death of her sister and has hopes of making it on Broadway while she waits tables at Ellen’s Stardust Diner and works a side job at a printer to make ends meet for her and her mother. I felt for Xiomara; she was dealing with grief and immense financial responsibilities for her and her mother. But while she’s scrappy, I also was annoyed by a lot of her behavior and choices — I thought she was really immature. I also enjoyed the aspiring Broadway performer premise, but I wanted to see even more of Broadway and musicals.

I was so moved by this wonderful debut about a young woman who once tried to make it to Broadway and is now trying to survive while spinning out of control in a harsh and complicated world after the sudden death of her sister.

This book walks though like with Xiomara after her sister’s unexpected passing. Parts of the book felt heavy as she navigated her new normal, but this was still an enjoyable read. Natalie Guerrero did an excellent job with displaying the many waves one can ride while grieving. The rough ups and downs of Xiomara’s life felt so realistic as I read each page. A true tragedy to triumph story! I’d love to read a sequel to continue to see where life takes Xiomara. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to read this ARC. #netgalley #mytrainleavesatthree

Are you in the mood for a new read? Check out My Train Leaves at Three by Natalie Guerrero. This was one I had a hard time putting down.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Poignant and Beautifully Written Debut

My Train Leaves at Three by Natalie Guerrero is a deeply moving novel that explores grief, ambition, and self-discovery through the lens of Xiomara, an Afro-Latina actress and singer struggling to find her place in the world after the loss of her sister. The book beautifully captures the emotional weight of loss while balancing it with moments of joy, romance, and hope.

Guerrero’s writing is lyrical and immersive, making it easy to connect with Xiomara’s journey. The themes of chasing dreams in an industry full of rejection felt raw and authentic, and I appreciated how the novel tackled issues of identity and family with nuance. The romance subplot added warmth to the story, though at times, I wished for a bit more depth in the development of certain side characters.

While the pacing was steady, there were moments that felt slightly drawn out, making me eager for more action or resolution. However, the emotional payoff in the end was worth it.

Overall, My Train Leaves at Three is a heartfelt and beautifully written debut that will resonate with readers who enjoy stories about resilience, self-discovery, and the power of following one’s dreams. Highly recommend!

Reviewed for NetGalley:

I appreciated Guerrero's honest and realistic language and style of writing, demonstrating Xiomara's honest nature of her character.

I would have been disappointed with any flowery portrayal of the circumstances and characters otherwise.

After Xiomara's sister died unexpectedly, everything seems to fall apart. She loses focus on her singing and acting career, and she feels stuck in her grief. When she hears about a new Broadway musical that is holding open auditions, she grabs onto the opportunity, albeit reluctantly. The process of auditioning and practicing brings Xiomara slowly out of her grief. She realizes that her sister would not want her to stop living, but Xiomara also learns that her life may not look the way she thought it would, but new opportunities have given her a renewed hope in herself. This is ultimately a hopeful novel, but Xiomara must work through a lot of trauma, some of which happens on the page.

What a gift to read this novel. It's a coming of age exploration unlike anything I've read before. The culture and setting work so well with the plot and story of a young woman's life. I feel like the book captured this time in a woman's life so well. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is one of those books that I know will stick with me long after I've finished it.

Natalie Guerrero does a wonderful job at inserting her reader right into the action. I felt as if I was an extra in Xiomara's story, watching from the sidelines and rooting her on the whole way through. This novel does a wonderful job at tackling grief and heartache and wants and desires and everything in-between. I found myself highlighting a plethora of lines and passages that I know I'll keep coming back to.

I can't wait to continue reading more from Guerrero for hopefully a long, long time.

This is a great book. I loved reading about NYC and its effect on its residents. I was moved by Xiomara’s journey and related to a lot of her experiences, particularly with men. Highly recommended!

this was a good story! It covers deep themes of grief, love, coming of age, relationships, and lgbtq+ and more. I do think it was overall very well written and it kept me entertained while reading this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I love/hate books that give you an emotional hangover. Love because the story is so good; hate because it leaves me gutted when it's over. That was this book.

Guerrero's writing was tight, and her characters wonderfully developed.

We dive into the life of Xiomara Sanchez, fresh off the death of her sister and floundering in her jobs, her relationships, and her dreams. But slowly and beautifully, we get to see her pick up the pieces and with the help of her friends, family, and foes she cobbles herself back together.

This story is going to stick with me for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved all of the sensory details in this novel - Guerrero really makes New York (and Washington Heights in particular) come alive. Xiomara is prickly at times but also funny and fascinating, and I never stopped rooting for her. I am excited to read whatever Guerrero writes next - this is a great debut.