Reviews

Dominicana by Angie Cruz

thechanelmuse's review

2.0

I purposely went into this book blindly. It was just okay.

sncarter's review

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

bootcatcher's review

adventurous challenging emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

kat_bookworm's review

4.0

Set in the 1960s, Dominicana follows the story of 15 year old Ana, who has grown up in the Dominican Republic countryside. Her family agrees for her to marry Juan, who is living in NYC. Ana moves to be with him and alone, unable to speak English, and having no family or friends- she must endure a life she had never imagined. 

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This is such an incredible coming of age story, and about the immigrate experience. I fell in love with Ana and her innocence- backing her to make choices and find her way in the new world she had found herself in. Definitely a powerful story and a must read if you enjoy literary fiction.

sahelwig's review

challenging tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

elineleest's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

emmarose111's review

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

spinstah's review against another edition

4.0

This was really compelling, but really hard to read at times. Especially when I remembered that the protagonist, Ana, was only 15, and she was married to a man in his 30s. This was essentially a business relationship for their families - a daughter to marry in exchange for land - and you can feel it throughout the novel. Ana manages to persevere, and there's a lot to like about this story, including the writing. But it's a tough one because I knew that, while it's fiction, it's based in a reality that many women endure.

januaryghosts's review

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Very well-written narrative, though it’s often difficult to read about a 15 year-old marrying a 32 year-old man she barely knows just for the chance to leave the Dominican Republic for New York City in the 1960s. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Pregnancy

Moderate: Rape, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, and Sexual violence

Minor: War and Gun violence

mollyss's review

4.0

Liked this way more than the other angie Cruz book I’ve read.

Quite sad at points but really felt like I knew and understood and connected with the main character.