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4.5 Stars

Lydia: My Heart Breaks for You and Your Strength Amazes Me.

Lydia’s life changes in an instant. A bookstore owner, who cherishes her husband, Sebastian and her son Luca and the rest of her family. Everyday she goes into her store, pouring over beloved novels, spending time with customers and one in particular who, like she, loves to read. Little does she know, he is not who he seems.

Then it happens. An attack. A bloodbath. Her entire family is gone, save herself and her son. Hot on her heels is the cartel. Lydia is then forced to flee from Acapulco, afraid for her life and that of her son’s. Her destination: America.

Pulse pounding, terrifying, heart-wrenching, stunning and beautiful. An exploration of grief, friendship, family, survival and most of all love.

“American Dirt�� is, in my opinion, character driven literary fiction and it broke me. How could it not?! Though this is fiction (and should not be controversial as authors draw on real life to write fiction all of the time), it is based on events that happen each and every day to real people. While reading it, it felt as though my heart was ripping out of my chest. Luca: Brave, sweet, smart, kind Luca. Be still my heart. You brought such soul to this novel. My eyes fill with tears just thinking of you. Lydia: you are one heck of a mamma bear! All I have to say is you go! Soledad and Rebeca, you brought kindness to this book and you made my heart soar. Jeanine Cummins, this novel was beautifully written and brilliantly plotted and it will stay with me for a long time.

To those of you who are considering reading this and have not, please disregard whatever you have heard and ignore the controversy and read it because you want to. Simply put, “American Dirt�� is an incredible character driven novel about an important topic and that should be why you add it to your tbr and read it. Controversy should not stop anyone from reading (or writing) anything, EVER.

Thank you to Jeanine Cummins for writing this stellar novel. I apologize for the controversy you have encountered regarding this book. You deserve awards, praise, kudos, champagne and so much more.

Published on ŷ������ on 4.12.20.