A New York Times Editors' Choice * One of The Washington Post's 50 Notable Works of Fiction of 2023 * One of Chicago Public Library's Favorite Books of the Year * A LitHub Best Book of 2023
From the author of Infinite Country-a New York Times bestseller and a Reese's Book Club pick-comes a "rich and compelling" (The Washington Post) collection of ten exquisite, award-winning short stories set across the Americas and linked by themes of migration, sacrifice, and moral compromise.
Two Colombian expats meet as strangers on the rainy streets of New York City, both burdened with traumatic pasts. In Cuba, a woman discovers her deceased brother's bones have been stolen, and the love of her life returns from Ecuador for a one-night visit. A cash-strapped couple hustles in Miami, to life-altering ends.
"If you're looking for a collection that will touch your heart and make you look at your fellow humans more generously, this one's a can't-miss" (Good Housekeeping). Author Patricia Engel is "a wonder" (Lauren Groff) and these intimate and panoramic stories bring to life the liminality of regret, the vibrancy of community, and the epic deeds and quiet moments of love. Patricia Engel is the author of Infinite Country, a New York Times bestseller and Reese's Book Club selection; The Veins of the Ocean, winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize; It's Not Love, It's Just Paris, winner of the International Latino Book Award; and Vida, a finalist for the Pen/Hemingway and Young Lions Fiction Awards, New York Times Notable Book, and winner of Colombia's national book award, the Premio Biblioteca de Narrativa Colombiana. She is a recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Her stories appear in The Best American Short Stories, The Best American Mystery Stories, The O. Henry Prize Stories, and elsewhere. Born to Colombian parents, and herself a dual citizen, Patricia is an associate professor of creative writing at the University of Miami. "The author and an all-star ensemble of narrators perform this dazzling short story collection from Colombian American writer Patricia Engel. Each piece is performed by a different narrator, providing a unique voice for every story. In "Aida," Inés del Castillo's narration evokes the grief of a family whose daughter goes missing. Aida Reluzco keeps listeners spellbound with her performance of "Guapa," in which a Colombian immigrant often flies home for plastic surgery. Alejandra Reynoso perfectly embodies the voice of the protagonist of "Fausto," in which a young woman must decide between a life of crime with her beloved or staying with her father, who has been her whole world. Every story is a stunning gem, each perfectly crafted and expertly performed."
