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A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens
A genre-bending debut with a fiercely political heart, A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens explores the weight of the devil’s bargain, following the lengths one man will go to for the promise of freedom.
Hugo Contreras’s world in Miami has shrunk. Since his wife died, Hugo’s debt from her medical bills has become insurmountable. He shuffles between his efficiency apartment, La Carreta (his favorite place for a cafecito), and a botanica in a strip mall where he works as the resident babaláwo.
One day, Hugo’s nemesis calls. Alexi Ramirez is a debt collector who has been hounding Hugo for years, and Hugo assumes this call is just more of the same. Except this time Alexi is calling because he needs spiritual help. His house is haunted. Alexi proposes a deal: If Hugo can successfully cleanse his home before Noche Buena, Alexi will forgive Hugo’s debt. Hugo reluctantly accepts, but there’s one issue: Despite being a babaláwo, he doesn’t believe in spirits.
Hugo plans to do what he’s done with dozens of clients before: use sleight of hand and amateur psychology to convince Alexi the spirits have departed. But when the job turns out to be more than Hugo bargained for, Hugo’s old tricks don’t work. Memories of his past—his childhood in the Bolivian silver mines and a fraught crossing into the United States as a boy—collide with Alexi’s demons in an explosive climax.
Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens explores questions of visibility, migration, and what we owe—to ourselves, our families, and our histories.
Hugo Contreras’s world in Miami has shrunk. Since his wife died, Hugo’s debt from her medical bills has become insurmountable. He shuffles between his efficiency apartment, La Carreta (his favorite place for a cafecito), and a botanica in a strip mall where he works as the resident babaláwo.
One day, Hugo’s nemesis calls. Alexi Ramirez is a debt collector who has been hounding Hugo for years, and Hugo assumes this call is just more of the same. Except this time Alexi is calling because he needs spiritual help. His house is haunted. Alexi proposes a deal: If Hugo can successfully cleanse his home before Noche Buena, Alexi will forgive Hugo’s debt. Hugo reluctantly accepts, but there’s one issue: Despite being a babaláwo, he doesn’t believe in spirits.
Hugo plans to do what he’s done with dozens of clients before: use sleight of hand and amateur psychology to convince Alexi the spirits have departed. But when the job turns out to be more than Hugo bargained for, Hugo’s old tricks don’t work. Memories of his past—his childhood in the Bolivian silver mines and a fraught crossing into the United States as a boy—collide with Alexi’s demons in an explosive climax.
Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens explores questions of visibility, migration, and what we owe—to ourselves, our families, and our histories.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2023
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March 5, 2024
3.5�
After the demise of his wife Meli, Hugo Contreras finds himself drowning in debt from her medical expenses. Hugo works at the Miami Botanica & Spa and though he doesn’t quite believe in the practice, has perfected the art of putting on an elaborate act of a Babaláwo ( priest of Ifá), decked in his tunic, his ceremonial orisha hat and his beaded amulets, learning much of what he knows from his employer Lourdes who is well-versed in spiritual practices and respected for her knowledge. When Alexi Ramirez, the debt collector who is pursuing Hugo’s case, offers to clear Hugo’s debt if he can cleanse his house of the spirit who is haunting his home, Hugo takes him up on his offer. Unbeknownst to him the spirit haunting Alexi and his family has a deep connection to Hugo and his past in Bolivia and it will take more than Hugo’s signature trickery to keep everyone safe and he will be compelled to embark on a very personal journey, take stock of his life and confront the traumatic memories that have haunted him throughout his life.
I found the premise of A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens by Raul Palma to be remarkably interesting. The novel is well-written., tight-knit and well-paced and I liked how Hugo’s backstory was incorporated into the narrative. The author touches upon several important themes, including colonialism, migration, discrimination, family trauma and how debt- both monetary and emotional - can wreak havoc on a person’s life. The author injects a healthy dose of humor to balance the depressing and traumatic events described in the novel. Hugo is an interesting protagonist and though I did not quite like him as a person, I did sympathize with his plight. Though I enjoyed the descriptions of the spiritual and supernatural aspects mentioned in the narrative, I feel that the author could have incorporated more information on the traditions and rituals referenced in the story. I was also more than a tad disappointed with the ending, which left me with several questions, which is why I could not give this novel a higher rating.
I did feel that footnotes and/or an index for the Spanish words/phrases used in the novel would have made the reading experience smoother for those not fluent in the language.
Many thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on October 3, 2023.
Connect with me! � � �
After the demise of his wife Meli, Hugo Contreras finds himself drowning in debt from her medical expenses. Hugo works at the Miami Botanica & Spa and though he doesn’t quite believe in the practice, has perfected the art of putting on an elaborate act of a Babaláwo ( priest of Ifá), decked in his tunic, his ceremonial orisha hat and his beaded amulets, learning much of what he knows from his employer Lourdes who is well-versed in spiritual practices and respected for her knowledge. When Alexi Ramirez, the debt collector who is pursuing Hugo’s case, offers to clear Hugo’s debt if he can cleanse his house of the spirit who is haunting his home, Hugo takes him up on his offer. Unbeknownst to him the spirit haunting Alexi and his family has a deep connection to Hugo and his past in Bolivia and it will take more than Hugo’s signature trickery to keep everyone safe and he will be compelled to embark on a very personal journey, take stock of his life and confront the traumatic memories that have haunted him throughout his life.
I found the premise of A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens by Raul Palma to be remarkably interesting. The novel is well-written., tight-knit and well-paced and I liked how Hugo’s backstory was incorporated into the narrative. The author touches upon several important themes, including colonialism, migration, discrimination, family trauma and how debt- both monetary and emotional - can wreak havoc on a person’s life. The author injects a healthy dose of humor to balance the depressing and traumatic events described in the novel. Hugo is an interesting protagonist and though I did not quite like him as a person, I did sympathize with his plight. Though I enjoyed the descriptions of the spiritual and supernatural aspects mentioned in the narrative, I feel that the author could have incorporated more information on the traditions and rituals referenced in the story. I was also more than a tad disappointed with the ending, which left me with several questions, which is why I could not give this novel a higher rating.
I did feel that footnotes and/or an index for the Spanish words/phrases used in the novel would have made the reading experience smoother for those not fluent in the language.
Many thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on October 3, 2023.
Connect with me! � � �
September 30, 2023
This story is very different from what I expected. The main character is a Bolivian man named Hugo Contreras who is living in Miami, working at a botanical and pretending to be a babaláwo, though he doesn't even really believe in spirits and ghosts. He is filled with guilt and rage for all the mistakes he has made in his life. And he is weighed down by indebtedness--credit card and medical bills incurred by his wife before her death. His boss approaches him with an offer: The home of the rich lawyer who holds Hugo's debt is being haunted. If Hugo can get rid the home of what plagues it, his debt will be forgiven. Since Hugo doesn't believe in these things, he figures it should be easy to fool the man and make him believe that all has been taken care of. But no! Instead, Hugo starts being plagued by visions himself. What is real and what is some form of bedevilment?
Critiques: I didn't really care for Hugo as a man, the way he treated people, his anger, his dishonesty. I thought the plot had too many crazy dreams and visions. And I found myself wishing that the Spanish phrases used throughout had been translated--I felt like I was missing out on something important and not fully understanding.
I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Critiques: I didn't really care for Hugo as a man, the way he treated people, his anger, his dishonesty. I thought the plot had too many crazy dreams and visions. And I found myself wishing that the Spanish phrases used throughout had been translated--I felt like I was missing out on something important and not fully understanding.
I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
December 1, 2023
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This was really good! Hugo works as a babaláwo even though he doesn’t believe in spirits. He recently lost his wife and is drowning in debt as a result of her medical care and is desperate to get ahead. When he gets a call for help from the same man who holds his debt, he can be rid of all of the debt if he just clears his home of spirits. Hugo may make a living doing this work but he doesn’t believe in any of it so what’s the harm if he makes his new client believe that his home is no longer haunted?
I liked Hugo. He was a flawed character with a lot of guilt over his wife’s death. He is not above using a few tricks to help his clients believe that he has rid their homes of spirits. Even though he did some things that I wouldn’t condone, I understood why he made some of the choices that he did. When it comes to his client, Alexi, it is really hard which one was the bad guy. I was completely drawn into this story and loved that there were quite a few surprises worked into the plot.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Emmanuel Chumacerio did a great job with the story. I believe that this was my first experience listening to this narrator’s work but I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to his narration again in the future. I thought that he added just the right amount of emotion to his reading to really bring the story to life. I am certain that his narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I was hooked by this story right away and couldn’t wait to see how things would work out for Hugo. I liked the way that the author wove Hugo’s past into the story and loved that I never knew which direction things would go. I would definitely read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Dutton Books and Penguin Random House Audio.
This was really good! Hugo works as a babaláwo even though he doesn’t believe in spirits. He recently lost his wife and is drowning in debt as a result of her medical care and is desperate to get ahead. When he gets a call for help from the same man who holds his debt, he can be rid of all of the debt if he just clears his home of spirits. Hugo may make a living doing this work but he doesn’t believe in any of it so what’s the harm if he makes his new client believe that his home is no longer haunted?
I liked Hugo. He was a flawed character with a lot of guilt over his wife’s death. He is not above using a few tricks to help his clients believe that he has rid their homes of spirits. Even though he did some things that I wouldn’t condone, I understood why he made some of the choices that he did. When it comes to his client, Alexi, it is really hard which one was the bad guy. I was completely drawn into this story and loved that there were quite a few surprises worked into the plot.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Emmanuel Chumacerio did a great job with the story. I believe that this was my first experience listening to this narrator’s work but I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to his narration again in the future. I thought that he added just the right amount of emotion to his reading to really bring the story to life. I am certain that his narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I was hooked by this story right away and couldn’t wait to see how things would work out for Hugo. I liked the way that the author wove Hugo’s past into the story and loved that I never knew which direction things would go. I would definitely read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Dutton Books and Penguin Random House Audio.
January 9, 2024
Hugo Contreras is a Bolivian man living in Miami and he’s a babaláwo (‘father of secrets,� some sort of oracle/priest/brujo, idk) who doesn’t believe in spirits. What Hugo believes in is money. His wife died and the medical bills and the credit card debt are biting his ass, his only luxury is getting a coffee outside once a week. That is until Alex calls. Alex is a debt collector, but he isn’t after Hugo’s debts today, he needs his house cleansed of whatever is haunting it and the debt will be forgiven. Just like that. But things aren’t as easy as they look.
I truly enjoyed this book. It was very refreshing and not what I expected. I thought it’d be something like The Conjuring and, to small degree, it was, but this isn’t a horror book. This is mostly the story about Hugo’s demons and what haunts him - memories, debt, things he did and he shouldn’t have, Bolivia�
I’m a sucker for character-driven stories and I do like horror, but I am pleased this was more of a character study than not the paranormal aspect (which is there, but I wouldn’t define this book as horror at all). This book is more about grief, regrets, and memories we wish we could leave behind. Some scenes that Palma put in this book were pretty sad, there’s a particular scene where Hugo makes chicken soup for his wife (and he can’t afford a chicken at the grocery store, so he has to actually kill one and all of that) and it was just so sad. I cannot say I empathized with him all the time, but I felt for him and I felt for his wife.
Something else that I really liked was the insertion of Spanish in this book. Big emphasis on Lourdes because she was just hilarious with some of her quips (�no seas un come mierda� or �metételo en el culo� were my favorites, like I’m 5 yes but I thought they were funny). But in general, this was 80% English and 20% Spanish without any translation and it was very natural for me, but I don’t know how easy of a read it would be for someone who doesn’t speak Spanish. I’ve seen a few reviews mentioning this and I guess it is a struggle, maybe it would’ve been good to add translations? I can’t say, but to me, it felt very natural and just nice to read.
My favorite thing here was how political it was. We have a migrant story, we have the US healthcare system, and we have a man troubled by his past and trying to cope with the economy. It’s brutal, it’s important, and it’s done with taste. Highly recommend it! (and the cover?? I’m obsessed).
I truly enjoyed this book. It was very refreshing and not what I expected. I thought it’d be something like The Conjuring and, to small degree, it was, but this isn’t a horror book. This is mostly the story about Hugo’s demons and what haunts him - memories, debt, things he did and he shouldn’t have, Bolivia�
I’m a sucker for character-driven stories and I do like horror, but I am pleased this was more of a character study than not the paranormal aspect (which is there, but I wouldn’t define this book as horror at all). This book is more about grief, regrets, and memories we wish we could leave behind. Some scenes that Palma put in this book were pretty sad, there’s a particular scene where Hugo makes chicken soup for his wife (and he can’t afford a chicken at the grocery store, so he has to actually kill one and all of that) and it was just so sad. I cannot say I empathized with him all the time, but I felt for him and I felt for his wife.
Something else that I really liked was the insertion of Spanish in this book. Big emphasis on Lourdes because she was just hilarious with some of her quips (�no seas un come mierda� or �metételo en el culo� were my favorites, like I’m 5 yes but I thought they were funny). But in general, this was 80% English and 20% Spanish without any translation and it was very natural for me, but I don’t know how easy of a read it would be for someone who doesn’t speak Spanish. I’ve seen a few reviews mentioning this and I guess it is a struggle, maybe it would’ve been good to add translations? I can’t say, but to me, it felt very natural and just nice to read.
My favorite thing here was how political it was. We have a migrant story, we have the US healthcare system, and we have a man troubled by his past and trying to cope with the economy. It’s brutal, it’s important, and it’s done with taste. Highly recommend it! (and the cover?? I’m obsessed).
September 22, 2023
If you're looking for a scary read, A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens isn't it. I was expecting a "keep you up all night" kind of novel. But there were barely enough smidges of horror to keep me going.
The pacing was very slow for me and I stumbled over the Spanish words that were not translated enough like Noche Buena, which I had to look up (Christmas Eve.) Since I am learning Latin American Spanish, I could translate some of the words. But I had to look up a bunch of others which just exacerbated the slow pace. I believe the pacing and lack of word translation were the primary reasons for me not enjoying the novel, and giving up at 46%
Supposedly, there was supposed to be some humor in the novel, but I just could not find anything humorous or snarky. Or maybe I just didn't get it.
Some of the content could be disturbing for some readers since the novel does depict slave/child labor as well as trafficking. This did bother me somewhat, but it's not the primary reason for the DNF.
Too bad I didn't enjoy the novel, But I'm sure there are those readers looking for an atmospheric read who would. An unfortunate one star DNF for me.
I received a DRC from Penguin Group Dutton through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The pacing was very slow for me and I stumbled over the Spanish words that were not translated enough like Noche Buena, which I had to look up (Christmas Eve.) Since I am learning Latin American Spanish, I could translate some of the words. But I had to look up a bunch of others which just exacerbated the slow pace. I believe the pacing and lack of word translation were the primary reasons for me not enjoying the novel, and giving up at 46%
Supposedly, there was supposed to be some humor in the novel, but I just could not find anything humorous or snarky. Or maybe I just didn't get it.
Some of the content could be disturbing for some readers since the novel does depict slave/child labor as well as trafficking. This did bother me somewhat, but it's not the primary reason for the DNF.
Too bad I didn't enjoy the novel, But I'm sure there are those readers looking for an atmospheric read who would. An unfortunate one star DNF for me.
I received a DRC from Penguin Group Dutton through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
October 25, 2023
There were some interesting ideas philosophically but those didn't get built into anything much more than vague thematic suggestions. The characters were pretty much all unlikable, and the really pivotal moments of the book were hard for me to follow.
I did like the writing style, and the way the timelines went back and forth. I also liked the exploration of Hugo's migration from Bolivia, although that too kind of fell short as he never has a reconciliation with the man who helped him get to the US. And it didn't really seem like Hugo learned any lesson from how he treated Santi.
This is probably one of the things that bothered me the most; characters were introduced, but the relationships were never really explored. For example, the owner of the botanica Hugo works at, Lourdes, seems to be the most supportive/positive person in Hugo's life, yet we only get very small snippets of their conversations or things she says. She isn't even an active agent in the book save for two scenes, one where she suggests Hugo take on a job for his debtor, and one where she joins Hugo in the climax of the book (though she literally just gets thrown onto the ground and contributes nothing). Or--even Alexi, the "bad guy," every opportunity Hugo has to learn to see the humanity in Alexi, he doesn't. Alexi is introduced as a two-dimensional villain, and he stays that way until the end of the book. Boring.
Even just in Hugo's own thinking about the other characters, there's very little development. Hugo has a Christmas Carol type of experience where he has visions of other people in his life and realizes that they, too, carry debt--which is one of the main things Hugo spends his time thinknig about. So--you'd think he might have a come-to-jesus, Scrooge McDuck type of spiritual awakening where he realizes his debt has (unfairly) made him treat everyone around him poorly and the real enemy is capitalism--but nope. He wakes up and goes around to try and do nice things for the people in his visions, only to find that all of his visions were completely imagined. No bearing on reality. And then he doesn't reflect on the visions again. So--what was the point there?
Overall I just found it kind of disappointing. The spiritual elements were only hinted at, not really explored; despite experiencing supernatural things, Hugo seems relatively unchanged in his ideas. The political elements were mentioned, but the slavery in Bolivian silver mines is exclusively ascribed to El Tio, not to the larger evils perpetuating the slavery, including the similarities to indentured servitude indebted people experience while their wages are garnished. The exploration of Hugo's honesty and integrity never added up to anything--his lies remained standing and his shitty attitude and treatment of others are never explicitly apologized for or remedied.
Ultimately it just all fell short for me. I left the book without feeling like I learned anything or felt anything, which is a shame because I did think it had all the elements to make a really interesting philosophical/political statement about spirituality in persecuted and abused populations. Instead, we listened to a shitty person complain about his life for 150 pages. :\
Maybe I was expecting too much, or expecting it to all be tied up in a neat little bow, but even so a different trajectory of the story could still challenge the "Happy Ending" cliche while making more of an impact on its reader.
I did like the writing style, and the way the timelines went back and forth. I also liked the exploration of Hugo's migration from Bolivia, although that too kind of fell short as he never has a reconciliation with the man who helped him get to the US. And it didn't really seem like Hugo learned any lesson from how he treated Santi.
This is probably one of the things that bothered me the most; characters were introduced, but the relationships were never really explored. For example, the owner of the botanica Hugo works at, Lourdes, seems to be the most supportive/positive person in Hugo's life, yet we only get very small snippets of their conversations or things she says. She isn't even an active agent in the book save for two scenes, one where she suggests Hugo take on a job for his debtor, and one where she joins Hugo in the climax of the book (though she literally just gets thrown onto the ground and contributes nothing). Or--even Alexi, the "bad guy," every opportunity Hugo has to learn to see the humanity in Alexi, he doesn't. Alexi is introduced as a two-dimensional villain, and he stays that way until the end of the book. Boring.
Even just in Hugo's own thinking about the other characters, there's very little development. Hugo has a Christmas Carol type of experience where he has visions of other people in his life and realizes that they, too, carry debt--which is one of the main things Hugo spends his time thinknig about. So--you'd think he might have a come-to-jesus, Scrooge McDuck type of spiritual awakening where he realizes his debt has (unfairly) made him treat everyone around him poorly and the real enemy is capitalism--but nope. He wakes up and goes around to try and do nice things for the people in his visions, only to find that all of his visions were completely imagined. No bearing on reality. And then he doesn't reflect on the visions again. So--what was the point there?
Overall I just found it kind of disappointing. The spiritual elements were only hinted at, not really explored; despite experiencing supernatural things, Hugo seems relatively unchanged in his ideas. The political elements were mentioned, but the slavery in Bolivian silver mines is exclusively ascribed to El Tio, not to the larger evils perpetuating the slavery, including the similarities to indentured servitude indebted people experience while their wages are garnished. The exploration of Hugo's honesty and integrity never added up to anything--his lies remained standing and his shitty attitude and treatment of others are never explicitly apologized for or remedied.
Ultimately it just all fell short for me. I left the book without feeling like I learned anything or felt anything, which is a shame because I did think it had all the elements to make a really interesting philosophical/political statement about spirituality in persecuted and abused populations. Instead, we listened to a shitty person complain about his life for 150 pages. :\
Maybe I was expecting too much, or expecting it to all be tied up in a neat little bow, but even so a different trajectory of the story could still challenge the "Happy Ending" cliche while making more of an impact on its reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2023
an interesting take on the ghost story! it explores mostly the concept of being ‘indebted� to someone else whether that be financially, emotionally, or culturally. What does being in debt look like? How do we repay our debts?
July 6, 2023
This is not my typical narrative to read. I tend to pour metaphoric holy water on my soul to repel any narrative involving hauntings, spiritualism, and the unknown hellish dimension that we irrationally fear (if raised in the Protestant faith like myself). And I don't believe in any such things, even in fiction.
And yet I couldn't stop reading about Hugo and his indebtedness. This narrative can speak to those who feel suffocated by this capitalistic society, in heavy debt due to one's ills and poor choices, or simply due to being systematically in the worst luck. I enjoyed Palma's use of language and descriptions and how he describes this indebtedness as a creature haunting the narrator and those around him. I appreciate how the author incorporates the Cuban culture within the context of a Florida landscape after a specific character, Alexi, escapes some perceived hell to create hells for others.
There are many layers within this modern-a Christmas-Carol-kind-of narrative. Not a read for everyone, but a fascinating and captivating tale for me.
And yet I couldn't stop reading about Hugo and his indebtedness. This narrative can speak to those who feel suffocated by this capitalistic society, in heavy debt due to one's ills and poor choices, or simply due to being systematically in the worst luck. I enjoyed Palma's use of language and descriptions and how he describes this indebtedness as a creature haunting the narrator and those around him. I appreciate how the author incorporates the Cuban culture within the context of a Florida landscape after a specific character, Alexi, escapes some perceived hell to create hells for others.
There are many layers within this modern-a Christmas-Carol-kind-of narrative. Not a read for everyone, but a fascinating and captivating tale for me.
October 22, 2023
I think if you go into this story with the right expectations, you may enjoy it. Unfortunately, I thought this would be a book with ghost, ghouls and things that go bump in the night. I thought Hugo and those he helped would be a bit haunted and he'd need to help them
But Hugo's haunting is of the regrets kind. He has regrets and a lot of guilt around the recent loss of his wife. He's angry over a debt and an attorney debt collector, and finds a way to get revenge and also be debt-free. He ruminates over his life and choices a lot, and the chapters flash back often to his wife and their previous life together as well as some flashbacks with his brother. If I'd known this was a haunting of regrets type of read, I would have gone with with a different expectation. As it stood, I was hoping for a spooky October read and I didn't find that here.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
But Hugo's haunting is of the regrets kind. He has regrets and a lot of guilt around the recent loss of his wife. He's angry over a debt and an attorney debt collector, and finds a way to get revenge and also be debt-free. He ruminates over his life and choices a lot, and the chapters flash back often to his wife and their previous life together as well as some flashbacks with his brother. If I'd known this was a haunting of regrets type of read, I would have gone with with a different expectation. As it stood, I was hoping for a spooky October read and I didn't find that here.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
January 2, 2024
This book follows the story of a man who has lived deeply in debt for most of his life. He is a babalawo, which is a spiritual healer but he does not believe in it. He does not believe in hauntings. He is indebted to a man who ends up seeking his services since he is being haunted himself and in exchange he promises to clear his debt. As the story progresses he finally starts to believe in the haunting and sees things for himself but he also loathes the man he is helping.
This story has good bones, but for some reason it didn't really grip me. It was entertaining but I never became invested in any of the characters.
This story has good bones, but for some reason it didn't really grip me. It was entertaining but I never became invested in any of the characters.
July 16, 2023
What a blast! A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens takes readers on a perfectly paced journey with a main character we can't help but root for, even through all of his flaws and mistakes. The story digs into an issue we should all be paying more attention to, and I can't wait to discuss it with other readers. This one will stick with me for its unique perspective, wild unfolding of events, and an ending that provides a haunting of its own.
Thank you to Reverie Books for offering me an ARC of this hilarious and devastating book.
Thank you to Reverie Books for offering me an ARC of this hilarious and devastating book.
September 17, 2023
Hugo has many debts, but no way to repay them. There’s the monetary one owed to a collection agency run by Alexi Ramirez; a debt accrued mainly through the medical care of his dying wife. Then, there are the personal ones: to his madrina (godmother) who took care of Hugo and his brother when they were children; to his brother Victor, whose death opened the door for Hugo to leave Bolivia; to Santiago, a stranger, who smuggled him into the United States; to Lourdes who believes in him, seeing his special gifts; and to his dead wife. And then there is the one to the devil who has followed him all of his life: has this debt caused all that followed?
Maybe because of his nature, experiences, or a combination of both, Hugo doesn’t believe in anything. Which is interesting since he works for Lourdes as a babalawo (a diviner, healer; one who communicates and follows the advice of his ancestors). He approaches his spiritual ministrations as fact finding missions; a way of getting to know how best he can manipulate the suckers who seek his guidance. He uses the rituals, prayers, and items of the Yoriba adding pyrotechnic sleights-of-hands to ramp up the spectacle.
Alexi hires Hugo to rid his home of demons. If the babalawo is successful, the money lender will expunge his debt. Hugo now finds he has an opportunity to humiliate Alexi as he feels he has been. Will this opportunity be more than Hugo can deal with? Will he become a believer?
The only thing that I can say disappointed me is the continual disbelief that Hugo has in the rituals and religion of Yoriba that he exploits. He repeatedly disavows the existence of the paranormal even though he encounters it often.
“Hugo was not convinced that he’d done anything, or that anything
supernatural had occurred...The guilt had been in Wilfredo all along�
Most hauntings worked that way. Someone felt bad about something,
and the negativity manifested as a ghost.�
Otherwise, this is a very well-written and scary horror book. The characters are believable and multidimensional, and the dialogue flows smoothly. I highly recommend this multi-layered novel.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Dutton fort the opportunity to read and review this book.
Maybe because of his nature, experiences, or a combination of both, Hugo doesn’t believe in anything. Which is interesting since he works for Lourdes as a babalawo (a diviner, healer; one who communicates and follows the advice of his ancestors). He approaches his spiritual ministrations as fact finding missions; a way of getting to know how best he can manipulate the suckers who seek his guidance. He uses the rituals, prayers, and items of the Yoriba adding pyrotechnic sleights-of-hands to ramp up the spectacle.
Alexi hires Hugo to rid his home of demons. If the babalawo is successful, the money lender will expunge his debt. Hugo now finds he has an opportunity to humiliate Alexi as he feels he has been. Will this opportunity be more than Hugo can deal with? Will he become a believer?
The only thing that I can say disappointed me is the continual disbelief that Hugo has in the rituals and religion of Yoriba that he exploits. He repeatedly disavows the existence of the paranormal even though he encounters it often.
“Hugo was not convinced that he’d done anything, or that anything
supernatural had occurred...The guilt had been in Wilfredo all along�
Most hauntings worked that way. Someone felt bad about something,
and the negativity manifested as a ghost.�
Otherwise, this is a very well-written and scary horror book. The characters are believable and multidimensional, and the dialogue flows smoothly. I highly recommend this multi-layered novel.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Dutton fort the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 8, 2023
Poor Hugo. Not only is he dealing with the death of his wife following a bout of cancer, but the resulting medical bills have left him with crippling debt, and heavily garnished wages.
Hugo focuses all his hate on one man, Alexi, a prolific debt collector and generally entitled ass. So when Alexi reaches out to Hugo to make use of his specialist skills, Hugo sees an opportunity to not only erase his debt, but get some revenge. You see, Hugo is a babaláwo, and he can help banish the evil spirits currently plaguing Alexi’s family.
A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens was a genuine surprise. I was instantly drawn in by bumbling Hugo. As the novel progresses, we learn more about Hugo’s devastating life, and his escape to the US. Hugo is such a well-rounded, wonderfully flawed character, who carries so much weight on his shoulders. His relationship with ailing wife is so raw and real; I’m sure anyone who has had to deal with a sick loved one will recognize some of these scenes.
But the supernatural elements of the book are what really interested me. The sections about Hugo’s childhood in the Bolvian mines, and the demon El Tio, were fantastic. And the ending is just out of this world. Palma creates some really terrifying images within these pages.
A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens is a thoughtful, intelligent horror novel, with some truly touching, human moments. An absolute pleasure to read.
Hugo focuses all his hate on one man, Alexi, a prolific debt collector and generally entitled ass. So when Alexi reaches out to Hugo to make use of his specialist skills, Hugo sees an opportunity to not only erase his debt, but get some revenge. You see, Hugo is a babaláwo, and he can help banish the evil spirits currently plaguing Alexi’s family.
A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens was a genuine surprise. I was instantly drawn in by bumbling Hugo. As the novel progresses, we learn more about Hugo’s devastating life, and his escape to the US. Hugo is such a well-rounded, wonderfully flawed character, who carries so much weight on his shoulders. His relationship with ailing wife is so raw and real; I’m sure anyone who has had to deal with a sick loved one will recognize some of these scenes.
But the supernatural elements of the book are what really interested me. The sections about Hugo’s childhood in the Bolvian mines, and the demon El Tio, were fantastic. And the ending is just out of this world. Palma creates some really terrifying images within these pages.
A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens is a thoughtful, intelligent horror novel, with some truly touching, human moments. An absolute pleasure to read.
October 4, 2023
CW: death, blood, medical content, infidelity, animal death, abuse of an animal's corpse, kidnapping, child death, parental abandonment
I received an eARC of this book for free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Some elements may have changed in final publication.
What if your exorcist didn't believe in demons, in the supernatural, or even in God?
Hugo's wife is dead and he is deeply in debt. He works in Miami as a babaláwo - loosely, a spiritual man in West African religions who performs ceremonies and gives spiritual advice. Despite his non-belief, he makes the job work. When Alexi Ramirez, the man to whom Hugo owns the bulk of his debts, calls him, in desperate need of someone to cure his haunted home, Hugo sees a chance. Will his actions free him from debt or leave him owing something more than money?
I really enjoy political horror and A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens was exactly what I was hoping for! It was strange, it was fantastical. and it was current. Through the lens of the paranormal, Palma tours us through the emotional struggles of immigration, debt, marriage and infidelity, and the class system of America.
I found the writing to be engaging throughout and I really found myself to be enjoying the way the narrative wove back and forth through time, which is not always something I look for in a book. I found Hugo to be a very real and very flawed man, evoking emotional reactions throughout the story. I enjoyed very much being able to both root for and feel disappointed by him.
This is a perfect read for October - the frights of the paranormal and real life while still easing the nostalgia for summer with its Miami setting - or December - everyone loves a good Christmas horror story, right? I would highly recommend and I look forward extremely to reading more by Palma!
I received an eARC of this book for free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Some elements may have changed in final publication.
What if your exorcist didn't believe in demons, in the supernatural, or even in God?
Hugo's wife is dead and he is deeply in debt. He works in Miami as a babaláwo - loosely, a spiritual man in West African religions who performs ceremonies and gives spiritual advice. Despite his non-belief, he makes the job work. When Alexi Ramirez, the man to whom Hugo owns the bulk of his debts, calls him, in desperate need of someone to cure his haunted home, Hugo sees a chance. Will his actions free him from debt or leave him owing something more than money?
I really enjoy political horror and A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens was exactly what I was hoping for! It was strange, it was fantastical. and it was current. Through the lens of the paranormal, Palma tours us through the emotional struggles of immigration, debt, marriage and infidelity, and the class system of America.
I found the writing to be engaging throughout and I really found myself to be enjoying the way the narrative wove back and forth through time, which is not always something I look for in a book. I found Hugo to be a very real and very flawed man, evoking emotional reactions throughout the story. I enjoyed very much being able to both root for and feel disappointed by him.
This is a perfect read for October - the frights of the paranormal and real life while still easing the nostalgia for summer with its Miami setting - or December - everyone loves a good Christmas horror story, right? I would highly recommend and I look forward extremely to reading more by Palma!
April 21, 2024
We find our main character, Hugo, dealing with overwhelming losses, such as the death of his wife, the separation from his Bolivian origins, and the loss of his financial independence as a result of his debt.
Hugo feels the weight of it all, and we find ourselves wondering over and over again which aspect is the most eerie. For starters, I was drawn to this novel because of its horror components and how otherworldly horrors could plays a role in the terrors we experience on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, I believe that the horror elements, such as the details surrounding Alexi being haunted, fell short. Several times throughout the novel, I wished that the stories of some of the deceased debtors would be continued in order to heighten the eerie atmosphere, but they ended just as abruptly as they had begun. For me, Hugo was a really unlikeable and dull character, which made the silly parts about him not at all interesting. Lastly, the relationship he had with his wife was less than ideal, and I don’t think it added much to the story, which made it hard to connect to the ending of the novel.
Thank you Penguin Random House and Raul Palma for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Hugo feels the weight of it all, and we find ourselves wondering over and over again which aspect is the most eerie. For starters, I was drawn to this novel because of its horror components and how otherworldly horrors could plays a role in the terrors we experience on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, I believe that the horror elements, such as the details surrounding Alexi being haunted, fell short. Several times throughout the novel, I wished that the stories of some of the deceased debtors would be continued in order to heighten the eerie atmosphere, but they ended just as abruptly as they had begun. For me, Hugo was a really unlikeable and dull character, which made the silly parts about him not at all interesting. Lastly, the relationship he had with his wife was less than ideal, and I don’t think it added much to the story, which made it hard to connect to the ending of the novel.
Thank you Penguin Random House and Raul Palma for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2023
Palma's debut is all at once beguiling, complex, immersive, and alluring.
It's refreshing to savor a story with full abandon to simply see what Hugo will do next, this derisive character captures your attention from the start and doesn't let go.
With bright cultural influences and unapologetic humanality, this captivating narrative pulls you in many righteous, emotional directions.
It shares vibrant tones with Mohsin Hamid's Exit West, but where Hamid opens metaphysical doors to alternative landscapes, Palma doubles down by eventually exposing the reality of our choices, instead of perpetuating illusions.
Galley borrowed from the publisher.
It's refreshing to savor a story with full abandon to simply see what Hugo will do next, this derisive character captures your attention from the start and doesn't let go.
With bright cultural influences and unapologetic humanality, this captivating narrative pulls you in many righteous, emotional directions.
It shares vibrant tones with Mohsin Hamid's Exit West, but where Hamid opens metaphysical doors to alternative landscapes, Palma doubles down by eventually exposing the reality of our choices, instead of perpetuating illusions.
Galley borrowed from the publisher.
October 9, 2023
I wanted to love this book since it sounded so good and dealt with such an interesting topic. Just the fact that Hugo didn’t believe while working in the spiritual field sounded pretty intriguing since he had to work with an enemy to stop a haunting.
But the more the story went on, the more I loathed Hugo and didn’t necessarily want things to work out for him. He was an awful person and everything that happened to him and the people around him seemed like karma.. I don’t think we were supposed to hate him and we’re instead supposed to see the flaws that make him human, but I just didn’t care what happened to him.
But the more the story went on, the more I loathed Hugo and didn’t necessarily want things to work out for him. He was an awful person and everything that happened to him and the people around him seemed like karma.. I don’t think we were supposed to hate him and we’re instead supposed to see the flaws that make him human, but I just didn’t care what happened to him.
July 27, 2023
I’ll start out by saying I don’t think I got this book. I think there was a more complex meaning to this book and it flew over my head. Which I think caused me to not love this story. I was constantly confused about timeline and even more confused about the point. I don’t want to take anything away from the author, so I think people need to give it a try. Just wasn’t for me.
Thanks to Penguin Random House, Raul Palma, and NetGalley for providing me an advanced reading copy.
Thanks to Penguin Random House, Raul Palma, and NetGalley for providing me an advanced reading copy.
December 29, 2023
1.5/5
Horror is a genre I find myself slipping back to in bits and pieces, ultra selectively compared to my intake as a youth and always with a healthy dose of something else (literature, political allegory, self-transformation) to both ground the text and uplift my engagement. So when this piece came along and networked itself well enough to land in my automated collection development duties, I was practically obliged to check it out once it reached my workplace's shelves and ensure that it would survive at least two years without being weeded. Unfortunately, this didn't hang well enough together to carry me through, from the overarching plot to the overriding theme. And with no sufficiently fleshed out characters to tide me over or pretty pretty prose to lead me along, I found myself adrift in the kind of writing that reminded me of why I tend to stick to older, more vetted pieces. In terms of the horror story itself, it's certainly there and does some unique things when it comes to combining the old/canonical with the new/margin, but it stumbled too much at the beginning to really be redeemed by a rather bombastic end. All in all, a tale that could have been great had it not been trapped in a real dullard of a main character.
Horror is a genre I find myself slipping back to in bits and pieces, ultra selectively compared to my intake as a youth and always with a healthy dose of something else (literature, political allegory, self-transformation) to both ground the text and uplift my engagement. So when this piece came along and networked itself well enough to land in my automated collection development duties, I was practically obliged to check it out once it reached my workplace's shelves and ensure that it would survive at least two years without being weeded. Unfortunately, this didn't hang well enough together to carry me through, from the overarching plot to the overriding theme. And with no sufficiently fleshed out characters to tide me over or pretty pretty prose to lead me along, I found myself adrift in the kind of writing that reminded me of why I tend to stick to older, more vetted pieces. In terms of the horror story itself, it's certainly there and does some unique things when it comes to combining the old/canonical with the new/margin, but it stumbled too much at the beginning to really be redeemed by a rather bombastic end. All in all, a tale that could have been great had it not been trapped in a real dullard of a main character.
April 18, 2025
<< Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review >>
I quite enjoyed this one. I love a good literary horror, and the concept of devil's being debtors and the social and political commentary was all done very well. I wouldn't say Hugo is a character to root for, but I could understand his humanness. He definitely has his flaws but I would argue it's because of the debt that continues to haunt him. I wasn't expecting the ending, but I think it was fitting.
Overall, this was pretty good, and I think it would resonate with a certain type of reader. If you're more a fan of literary fiction rather than horror, this is the book for you.
I quite enjoyed this one. I love a good literary horror, and the concept of devil's being debtors and the social and political commentary was all done very well. I wouldn't say Hugo is a character to root for, but I could understand his humanness. He definitely has his flaws but I would argue it's because of the debt that continues to haunt him. I wasn't expecting the ending, but I think it was fitting.
Overall, this was pretty good, and I think it would resonate with a certain type of reader. If you're more a fan of literary fiction rather than horror, this is the book for you.
January 7, 2024
This is definitely a 3.5, but I'm rounding up because it's a debut novel. The premise is good (a man is seemingly being literally haunted by his late wife's medical debts, but discovers his debt collector has demons of his own), but the way the story unfolds was not my favorite.
November 17, 2023
Sad and funny at the same time. If you’re not familiar with the subject matter then this likely won’t appeal to you, fun ride either way through some cultural cameos.
December 29, 2023
Damn that ending though.
February 10, 2024
The narrator rules. La Carreta.
November 28, 2024
3.5 stars
October 13, 2023
I wanted to love it.
October 2, 2023
Hugo works at a local bodega in Miami selling religious artifacts in thanks to his boss everyone thinks he is a series Just like her but he hasn’t he’s a fraud. She’s told him everything he needs to know when it comes to religious cantations quotes in removing The evil are bad mojo evil spirits ET see he also has recently lost the love of his life Millie while she was alive she would always dream of living in a beautiful home with nice furniture but Hugo could never deliver it he built up that could never pay it off now but she has passed away but added her hospital bills to his debt to make it even worse but win the lawyer handling his debt account tells him if he uses his Bonobo skills to get rid of the evil ghost in his home he will wipe his debt clean put in getting rid of a Lexuses ghost it brings up things from Hugo‘s past because it never forget it doesn’t matter if you believe in ghosts it’s whether the ghost believe in you! This book is way more than just a funny story about a man without skills trying to get rid of ghost it is funny and I do mean really funny but it is also a very detailed story about a man and his past demons in the ghosts that come back to haunt him. This was a superb story and one I absolutely loved a definite five star read. I want to thank the publisher Annette Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
October 2, 2023
This was a very interesting horror book. I liked the descriptions a lot and some parts were genuinely shocking. I will say, the more you read, the more unlikeable the main character, Hugo, becomes. At first he just seems kind of down on his luck, but the more I learned about him, the more I felt like maybe HE was the problem. I will also say that I did not appreciate the use of the r word in the year 2023 even if it does come out of the mouth of the "bad guy". Uncalled for and unnecessary. I am also a little uncertain about the Bolivian/Cuban dynamics in Miami... Our main character comes from Bolivia in a very like Indigenous/religious coded town where they provide gifts to El Tio who is their version of a kind of devil god that provides protection by stealing souls. Hugo later shuns this belief and now will frequently laugh behind the backs of his clients that believe in magic and religion seemingly in an attempt to be taken more seriously by people though it may also be connected to what happens with his brother or a combination of both. Hugo also seems to encounter a lot of lowkey shunning from the Cuban people in his area because he is Bolivian, but this could also have just been in his head based on some of the other scenes in the book. Though Hugo also displays some kind of superiority and disdain for some of the Cuban traditions. It was a kind of weird dynamic I didn't quite understand and never felt like there was a resolution for in the story; though I guess that's not entirely necessary. Maybe if I reread this one day I will understand more. Overall, this was a very interesting horror novel centering around guilt in many different ways, the guilt over losing a spouse after illness, guilt over being distant from family, guilt from not being able to keep your head above water financially, the unacknowledged guilt one should feel for being the reason people are struggling while you are thriving off of them. I would have loved some more creepy ghost stuff happening and less of Hugo. I also for some reason thought this was some kind of period piece, like set in the 60s/70s or something (maybe because of the cover?) but it is set in the mid 2010s which took some adjusting of my expectations. I think this is a good horror novel for people who don't mind close character work and less overall horror in the way you would expect, though there are some very creepy scenes.
3.5 stars. I'd be interested to read more from this author in the future.
*Thank you to Dutton Books/Penguin for the eARC! All thoughts are my own :) *
3.5 stars. I'd be interested to read more from this author in the future.
*Thank you to Dutton Books/Penguin for the eARC! All thoughts are my own :) *
September 30, 2024
I really loved the first 80% or 85% of this book but the ending just did not deliver for me. I think Raul Palma could have done more with what he had set up.
The resolution of the plot felt really disconnected from the anti-capitalist and anti-colonial themes running through the rest of the novel and I was left a little unsure of what the author was trying to say � especially once the theme of financial exploitation became entangled with the theme of betrayal and emotional indebtedness. The different forms of indebtedness that Hugo experiences do not seem (to me) to speak to each other and the book does not do enough to clarify the connection it obviously believes exists there. Put colloquially, the math just ain’t mathing as I try to work my way through the equation presented by this novel. The comparisons seem sloppy and laden with unfortunate implications that I don’t think are the author’s ultimate intention. I think either a story just about Hugo’s guilt over variously betraying his brother, his wife, and Santiago or otherwise just a story about the exploitation of indigenous and immigrant communities would have been better, but trying to do both and tying them together just left the story overburdened, like a waiter trying to clear a table and having to carry too many plates at once and having to combine the various leftovers of things that don’t really go together just to be able to hold it all simultaneously.
And that’s all beside the point from the horribly boring and uninspiring climax.
Maybe I was just too sleep-deprived while reading the ending of this, maybe a reread in the future will clarify things for me, but I’m so so disappointed in the mess that were the last two chapters of this book. I had been really enjoying it up until the last forty pages or so. There is a lot of good stuff here! I really could talk forever about the separate lines of narrative here and how much I enjoyed each, separately. Like I said, I’m hopeful for Palma’s future for me as a reader � either that the next effort will be stronger or that my next attempt at this book will allow me to crack the calculus here (if there indeed is a neat sum that it’s possible to arrive at).
The resolution of the plot felt really disconnected from the anti-capitalist and anti-colonial themes running through the rest of the novel and I was left a little unsure of what the author was trying to say � especially once the theme of financial exploitation became entangled with the theme of betrayal and emotional indebtedness. The different forms of indebtedness that Hugo experiences do not seem (to me) to speak to each other and the book does not do enough to clarify the connection it obviously believes exists there. Put colloquially, the math just ain’t mathing as I try to work my way through the equation presented by this novel. The comparisons seem sloppy and laden with unfortunate implications that I don’t think are the author’s ultimate intention. I think either a story just about Hugo’s guilt over variously betraying his brother, his wife, and Santiago or otherwise just a story about the exploitation of indigenous and immigrant communities would have been better, but trying to do both and tying them together just left the story overburdened, like a waiter trying to clear a table and having to carry too many plates at once and having to combine the various leftovers of things that don’t really go together just to be able to hold it all simultaneously.
And that’s all beside the point from the horribly boring and uninspiring climax.
Maybe I was just too sleep-deprived while reading the ending of this, maybe a reread in the future will clarify things for me, but I’m so so disappointed in the mess that were the last two chapters of this book. I had been really enjoying it up until the last forty pages or so. There is a lot of good stuff here! I really could talk forever about the separate lines of narrative here and how much I enjoyed each, separately. Like I said, I’m hopeful for Palma’s future for me as a reader � either that the next effort will be stronger or that my next attempt at this book will allow me to crack the calculus here (if there indeed is a neat sum that it’s possible to arrive at).
August 31, 2023
This was a really unique take on a ghost story and an engaging read.
Our main character, Hugo, works as a babalawo where he pretends to have powers that allow him to cleanse people of their hauntings. He owes significant amounts of money to a debt collector, Alexi, who comes to Hugo for help with a haunting. Alexi promises Hugo that if Hugo can make the ghosts go away, then he'll forgive Hugo's debts. Hugo struggles with guilt over the death of his wife, whose hospital bills contributed to the debt. He feels the indebtedness as a presence that is constantly with him.
The book explores themes of hauntings by things other than ghosts (guilt, debt, etc). It's very believable as Hugo the skeptic encounters the supernatural but tries to explain it away. I really enjoyed the resolution of the book; I was worried about how it was going to end, since nothing ruins a good book faster than a bad ending, but it was a very satisfying ending and not what I was expecting.
The book jumps back and forth between the present and past as we learn more about Hugo. It was done well, but it's not my favorite style of telling a story, and it started to feel like we were being teased with the details of what happened to his wife and then -boom- back in the present. There's some Spanish in the book, but it wasn't always clear what the Spanish meant. Other books will have a sentence in Spanish and then the answer in English formatted in a way that explains what the Spanish was asking. This didn't have that so that was a little frustrating. It wasn't a ton, but enough with me needing to Google or just not know what was said to be irritating.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.
Our main character, Hugo, works as a babalawo where he pretends to have powers that allow him to cleanse people of their hauntings. He owes significant amounts of money to a debt collector, Alexi, who comes to Hugo for help with a haunting. Alexi promises Hugo that if Hugo can make the ghosts go away, then he'll forgive Hugo's debts. Hugo struggles with guilt over the death of his wife, whose hospital bills contributed to the debt. He feels the indebtedness as a presence that is constantly with him.
The book explores themes of hauntings by things other than ghosts (guilt, debt, etc). It's very believable as Hugo the skeptic encounters the supernatural but tries to explain it away. I really enjoyed the resolution of the book; I was worried about how it was going to end, since nothing ruins a good book faster than a bad ending, but it was a very satisfying ending and not what I was expecting.
The book jumps back and forth between the present and past as we learn more about Hugo. It was done well, but it's not my favorite style of telling a story, and it started to feel like we were being teased with the details of what happened to his wife and then -boom- back in the present. There's some Spanish in the book, but it wasn't always clear what the Spanish meant. Other books will have a sentence in Spanish and then the answer in English formatted in a way that explains what the Spanish was asking. This didn't have that so that was a little frustrating. It wasn't a ton, but enough with me needing to Google or just not know what was said to be irritating.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.
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