THE PLOT: ‘How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water’ by Angie Cruz is literary fiction about a Dominican immigrant in New York after the 2008 financial crash. In her mid-fifties Cara Romero thought she would work at the factory until she retired. But when she loses her job in the recession, she is forced back into job hunting. Set up with a career counsellor via a government benefits programme, she narrates the story of her life over twelve sessions. From lamenting how her son Fernando abandoned her, to arguments with her sister Angela, and struggles with debt, gentrification and loss, the novel slowly paints a picture of a life fully lived. Write this down: Cara Romero may have regrets, but she has a whole lot of heart.

SUMMARY: What a stunning novel. I am absolutely blown away by the author’s skill in writing this story. In less than 200 pages, this book takes you on an emotional journey with fully rounded characters that will stay in my heart for years to come. I am literally crying as I write the review because I feel so much for this book! Firstly, the voice of the main character is so strong. If you’re an aspiring author, purchase this book as a masterclass in voice. Secondly, the structure is extremely clever. In addition to the job counsellor sessions, there are interview preparation quizzes, job listings and benefits papers to punctuate the narrative. And, lastly, the writing is so sharp. The simplicity of the words creates so much beauty. The metaphor of undrowning yourself (desahogarme) will be something I take into my life forevermore.

GOOD BITS:  This book is perfection but the stand-out element has to be character voice. Utilising vernacular and Spanish, the author encapsulates the Cara’s way of speaking and pulls you into her world. It’s everything from the rhythm of the language to the way our main character clearly omits details. Like the silent job counsellor in the book, you cannot help but warm to her. Yes, Cara’s very flawed and could easily be the villain if this story was told from another perspective. But it’s her humanness that I love. Every second-generation child with immigrant parents will be able to relate to this novel.

NOT SO GOOD BITS: N/A

OVERALL: I’d recommend this book to fans of ‘How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents’ by Julia Alvarez, ‘Convenience Store Woman’ by Sayuka Murata, ‘Of Women and Salt’ by Gabriela Garcia, and ‘Girl Meets Boy’ by Ali Smith. These all very immersive, layered books that have strong narrative styles which allow the main character to speak directly to the reader.

You can purchase this novel with a discount and support @aminasbookshelf via my bookshop.org account. A percentage of the proceeds goes to independent bookshops.