Iveliz Explains It All

"I really wanted to enjoy Iveliz Explains It All, as it tackles important themes like identity, family pressure, and mental health. Unfortunately, the book didn’t quite work for me. One of the main reasons is the diary-style format. I personally prefer a more traditional novel structure, and the first-person, diary-like narration made it hard for me to feel fully immersed in the story. It felt more like a collection of scattered thoughts rather than a cohesive narrative, which kept me from connecting to the characters and the plot.<br/><br/>Another issue I had was the untranslated Spanish scattered throughout the book. While I understand the cultural importance of the language, I found it frustrating to constantly look up translations online. It interrupted the flow of the story and made it harder to stay engaged.<br/><br/>Lastly, while the book addresses some heavy topics, I never felt truly connected to any of the characters. I empathized with their struggles, but it didn’t go beyond surface-level sympathy. The lack of character development left me feeling distanced from the emotional journey, which made it harder to really care about what they were going through.<br/><br/>Overall, while I appreciate the book’s themes and the representation of Puerto Rican culture, the style and language choices made it difficult for me to fully engage with the story. It just wasn’t the right fit for me."

"A good illustration of grief, guilt and depression (which can be expressed as anger rather than sadness). I was frustrated on Iveliz's behalf that no one seemed to be interested in her side or listened when she had something to say, which caused her to lose her voice. And her interactions with her grandmother, heartbreaking. "