TW: mention of rape, suicidal ideation

Fiction

Published September 7, 2021 by Flatiron Books

`319 Pages

While I say this about a lot of books (I just love stories!), this book had me hooked by the second page. The tragedy that strikes this family in the very beginning tugs at your heart strings and has you desperate to find out what happens. Plus, the drama continues throughout the whole book!

TITLE & AUTHOR: L.A. Weather by Maria Amparo Escandon

PLOT: The Alvarado Family is a wealthy Mexican American family residing in California. The patriarch and matriarch of the family, Oscar and Keila, are experiencing relational turmoil after 39 years of marriage, causing Keila to consider divorce. At the request of their three grown daughters, Claudia, Olivia, and Patricia, Oscar and Keila agree to stay together for the year to attempt to save their marriage.

In the meantime, the family is plagued with numerous other struggles, including  a near-drowning incident, a life-threatening medical diagnosis, multiple divorces/separations, the looming loss of the family income, and the raging fires burning across California. Additionally, every family member seems to be keeping a secret and it is up to the rest of the family to continuously love one another through it all. By December of 2016, the Alvarados realize that the love in their family is stronger than any challenge that could try to tear them apart.

THOUGHTS: This story truly captivated me from the beginning. I loved how the author incorporated so many different kinds of problems that families face, including relational issues, life-altering medical diagnoses, surrogacy, and financial stress, just to name a few. The story also includes gender exploration, culture, and family values. Basically, this book has it all.

I also loved how each character is unique and the author depicts each of them in a way that builds empathy and compassion from the reader. I found that I felt frustrated by the actions of a character one moment, but then felt empathy towards them the next as I learned more about their background and who they are as a person. My journey as a reader as I was reading this story is often a lot like real life; we tend to judge others based on one decision they make, when in reality we rarely know the entire story.

This novel is filled with twists and turns that I didn't see coming and had me hooked from beginning to end. The author also does something at the end that I usually HATE, which was to throw in a cliff hanger on the last page (insert eyeroll). However, one of the primary lessons of the story is that the love of family is stronger than any challenge that can arise, which left me feeling hopeful as the story came to an end (but still a bit annoyed by the cliffhanger)

All in all, I will be recommending this book to my fellow book-lovers.

RATING: 5/5 Stars