Genre Fiction
![Xochitl Gonzalez - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B09485M9CF.jpg)
Olga Dies Dreaming
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK · WINNER OF THE BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY PRIZE • INTERNATIONAL LATINO BOOK AWARD FINALIST
A blazing talent debuts with the tale of a status-driven wedding planner grappling with her social ambitions, absent mother, and Puerto Rican roots―all in the wake of Hurricane Maria
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Kirkus, Washington Post, TIME, NPR, Vogue, Esquire, Book Riot, Goodreads, EW, Reader's Digest, and more!
"Don't underestimate this new novelist. She's jump-starting the year with a smart romantic comedy that lures us in with laughter and keeps us hooked with a fantastically engaging story." ―The Washington Post
It's 2017, and Olga and her brother, Pedro "Prieto" Acevedo, are boldfaced names in their hometown of New York. Prieto is a popular congressman representing their gentrifying Latinx neighborhood in Brooklyn, while Olga is the tony wedding planner for Manhattan's power brokers.
Despite their alluring public lives, behind closed doors things are far less rosy. Sure, Olga can orchestrate the love stories of the 1 percent but she can't seem to find her own. . . until she meets Matteo, who forces her to confront the effects of long-held family secrets.
Olga and Prieto's mother, Blanca, a Young Lord turned radical, abandoned her children to advance a militant political cause, leaving them to be raised by their grandmother. Now, with the winds of hurricane season, Blanca has come barreling back into their lives.
Set against the backdrop of New York City in the months surrounding the most devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico's history, Xochitl Gonzalez's Olga Dies Dreaming is a story that examines political corruption, familial strife, and the very notion of the American dream―all while asking what it really means to weather a storm.
A blazing talent debuts with the tale of a status-driven wedding planner grappling with her social ambitions, absent mother, and Puerto Rican roots―all in the wake of Hurricane Maria
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Kirkus, Washington Post, TIME, NPR, Vogue, Esquire, Book Riot, Goodreads, EW, Reader's Digest, and more!
"Don't underestimate this new novelist. She's jump-starting the year with a smart romantic comedy that lures us in with laughter and keeps us hooked with a fantastically engaging story." ―The Washington Post
It's 2017, and Olga and her brother, Pedro "Prieto" Acevedo, are boldfaced names in their hometown of New York. Prieto is a popular congressman representing their gentrifying Latinx neighborhood in Brooklyn, while Olga is the tony wedding planner for Manhattan's power brokers.
Despite their alluring public lives, behind closed doors things are far less rosy. Sure, Olga can orchestrate the love stories of the 1 percent but she can't seem to find her own. . . until she meets Matteo, who forces her to confront the effects of long-held family secrets.
Olga and Prieto's mother, Blanca, a Young Lord turned radical, abandoned her children to advance a militant political cause, leaving them to be raised by their grandmother. Now, with the winds of hurricane season, Blanca has come barreling back into their lives.
Set against the backdrop of New York City in the months surrounding the most devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico's history, Xochitl Gonzalez's Olga Dies Dreaming is a story that examines political corruption, familial strife, and the very notion of the American dream―all while asking what it really means to weather a storm.
Editorial Reviews
Indie Next Selection for January 2022
Book of the Month Club Selection
MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR: TIME, HipLatina, Parade, The Rumpus, Angela Lashbrook, Vogue.com, Goodreads, Boston Globe, Philadelphia Inquirer, Bustle, Kirkus, Book Riot, Popsugar, The Stacks, Russh, Boston Globe, and more!
"The sharpest and best written social comedy in a while." ―The Los Angeles Times
"Liberation is at the heart of Olga Dies Dreaming. The story's driving tension derives from questions of how to break free...The book's title is an allusion to the poem "Puerto Rican Obituary," by Pedro Pietri, which contains the lines "Olga / dies dreaming of a five dollar raise." But Gonzalez's Olga will not go meekly to such a fate. Sometimes we must free ourselves ― even from dreams." ― New York Times Book Review
"Atmospheric, intelligent, and well informed: an impressive debut." ―Kirkus, starred review
"Olga Dies Dreaming is a beautiful force ― completely unique in its intricacies yet universal in the characters' desires to be loved and understood." ―Associated Press
"A fantastically engaging story...Rarely does a novel, particularly a debut novel, contend so powerfully and so delightfully with such a vast web of personal, cultural, political and even international imperatives." ―The Washington Post
"[An] edifying debut... Gonzalez elevates this family drama with a great deal of insight on the characters' diaspora and politics." ―Publishers Weekly
"A wonderful and thought-provoking story..." ―BookRiot
"Olga Dies Dreaming intricately presents its flawed characters working through the meaning of cultural identity, family secrets, grief, and self-preservation. Their stories capture the ways in which we sometimes define ourselves by how others see us ― to often painful ends." ―Book of the Month
"Xochitl Gonzalez delivers a healthy dose of tough love with her buzzy debut
Book of the Month Club Selection
MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR: TIME, HipLatina, Parade, The Rumpus, Angela Lashbrook, Vogue.com, Goodreads, Boston Globe, Philadelphia Inquirer, Bustle, Kirkus, Book Riot, Popsugar, The Stacks, Russh, Boston Globe, and more!
"The sharpest and best written social comedy in a while." ―The Los Angeles Times
"Liberation is at the heart of Olga Dies Dreaming. The story's driving tension derives from questions of how to break free...The book's title is an allusion to the poem "Puerto Rican Obituary," by Pedro Pietri, which contains the lines "Olga / dies dreaming of a five dollar raise." But Gonzalez's Olga will not go meekly to such a fate. Sometimes we must free ourselves ― even from dreams." ― New York Times Book Review
"Atmospheric, intelligent, and well informed: an impressive debut." ―Kirkus, starred review
"Olga Dies Dreaming is a beautiful force ― completely unique in its intricacies yet universal in the characters' desires to be loved and understood." ―Associated Press
"A fantastically engaging story...Rarely does a novel, particularly a debut novel, contend so powerfully and so delightfully with such a vast web of personal, cultural, political and even international imperatives." ―The Washington Post
"[An] edifying debut... Gonzalez elevates this family drama with a great deal of insight on the characters' diaspora and politics." ―Publishers Weekly
"A wonderful and thought-provoking story..." ―BookRiot
"Olga Dies Dreaming intricately presents its flawed characters working through the meaning of cultural identity, family secrets, grief, and self-preservation. Their stories capture the ways in which we sometimes define ourselves by how others see us ― to often painful ends." ―Book of the Month
"Xochitl Gonzalez delivers a healthy dose of tough love with her buzzy debut
Readers Top Reviews
Juju L.Valerie Ca
I was blown away by this book. It’s a riveting story with amazing characters which also tells a tale of Puerto Rico and US neocolonialism. I just adored Olga. I found her mother to be monstrous, and I did not find it totally credible that Olga and her brother, after being abandoned and periodically manipulated by their mother, did not have an epiphany earlier. Instead they kept trying to gain her approval and love. I appreciate that the mother’s letters to them filled in the historical and political backstory of Puerto Rico but I found the letters too pedantic and preachy. Although I did love the book I had to take several long breaks from reading it. Anyway, in conclusion I do highly recommend this book.
ShoeholicJuju L.V
The depiction of gentrification and the breakdown of Puerto Rico's economic plight is realistically portrayed. The novel broke it down so everyone can witness destruction and hope. Mixing in cultural and familial conflicts to earmark how everyone has a choice is nicely executed.
JewelShoeholicJuj
This has been one of my favorite books in a long time- touching, funny, introspective, both unique and universal. I loved the points of view and getting to see into the lives of these complex, interesting and relatable characters. An excellent read.
Kathleen O'haraJe
I liked writing style of this book and thought the character had a lot of depth. It was like a political thriller/ romance with generational trauma all roped in. I took off a star because the ending had me wanting more. I’ll be watching for this author in the future though.
Kathleen O'har
Gonzalez out into words the frustrations and experiences of this Puerto Rican American. Now the only question is what is best for PR decolonization or statehood?? Pa’ lante mi gente!
