Captivating and trenchant ... With fascinating characters, rapid-fire dialogue, poignant backstories, sexy and dangerous relationships, excruciating and sardonically funny situations, sharp psychological and social insights, vibrant descriptions, abrupt shifts, showdowns, and revelations, this is an all-the-way-live novel of dreams, anguish, vengeance, and liberation.
Gonzalez is a writer whose straightforward prose downplays its subtlety and brilliance. Her characters are arresting, and she is Whartonesque when it comes to describing the folkways of a particular group of people at a particular time.
In this tale inspired by The Great Gatsby, Gonzalez once again artfully delivers insightful, nuanced commentary of place, race, and class in a rapidly gentrifying Brooklyn.
The idea of the 'American Dream' is a theme as old as time, and Gonzalez gives the concept a fresh revisit in this novel ... With a practiced storytelling reminiscent of her previous novels, Gonzalez explores personal identity, Latinidad, class, capitalism, relationships, and nostalgia in her latest work ... Leaves a strong sense of longing and appreciation for what once was. The novel is essentially an 'if you know, you know' ode to Brooklyn that makes a special sentiment clear – you had to have been there.
As in her previous two novels, Gonzalez trains a razor-sharp eye on class and racial distinctions ... Brilliant party scenes, tart dialogue, and dramatic plot developments further enrich this gripping work, another step forward for the talented Gonzalez ... Smart, tough-minded, and passionate: a pleasure from start to finish.
