BOOK REVIEW: I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER BY ERIKA L. SANCHEZ

RATING

***

REVIEW

This is one of the most disappointing reads so far. Not because it was bad - I did give it 3 stars after all - but disappointing in the sense that I had such high expectations and ended up with an OK book instead. I really thought this would be one of my top reads this year, and was looking forward to reading it so much, so this really kills me right now. 

There are many factors that I had an issue with while reading this book. Mainly to do with the protagonist, Julia. She was very difficult to like. She's hostile, rude, judgmental, and super annoying. She wants to be independent and rebellious, but independence is not synonymous with being a judgmental prick. I understand that this story is trying to show an imperfect side to humans, that you can be a good person riddled with imperfections, but it just made it hard for me to empathize with her and what she was going through. 

Her Ama was extremely frustrating as well, but I felt for her, even at her most annoying, I felt for her. She lost her daughter, and is trying to control her other daughter in the only ways she can. I didn't agree with her methods, but I did empathize with her. 

The writing was another issue I had, because it wasn't as great as I'd hoped it would be. It didn't make me want to continue reading and it was VERY repetitive that if I had to read how Julia should have kept her mouth shut one more time I would have tossed the book against the wall. Oh wait. I did. Then there's all the Spanish stuff, I mean...some things I kind of got the gist of, but when full sentences are written in Spanish and then not translated or at least somehow through the conversation explained, it gets annoying. 

I felt like the book focused a little too much on portraying the Mexican culture in a negative light, and I really didn't like that. Although I did also appreciate some more realistic aspects, such as when Connor hugs Julia and tells her she smells of food. We've ALL been there at one point. 

Speaking of which...Connor. Who is he? What is that? He is part of the synopsis making him sound like he is an integral part of the story when he barely plays a part. And they fell in love instantly? That was the lamest love storyline ever. There was nothing believable about that, I did not feel their chemistry at all, and it all felt off. He was a completely unnecessary part of Julia's growth or development, and having him written into the synopsis made me wait the entire story for him to show up, which was annoying.

Finally, Olga and the mystery behind her death. Underwhelming, and dragged for far too long. Again, I don't know that Olga's mystery added any value to the storyline. It was unnecessary to have the older sister's image tarnished for Julia to grow or develop as a character. 

I guess I went into this expecting one thing and getting something totally different.