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Atria Books

My Mother Cursed My Name

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Three generations of fiercely strong and stubborn Mexican American women face grief head-on as they attempt to shed generational trauma and discover the true meaning of home in this "magical, haunting, and joyful" (Carolyn Huynh, author of The Fortunes of Jaded Women) novel that feels like "a grown-up Encanto with a Gilmore Girls twist" (Marissa Stapley, New York Times bestselling author).

For generations, the Olivares women have sought to control their daughters' destinies, starting with their names. In life, Olvido constantly clashed with her carefree daughter. Then teenage Angustias discovered she was pregnant and left her mother's home in search of her own. Ten years later, Felicitas finally meets her estranged grandmother and is terribly disappointed when Olvido is nothing like a grandmother should be. She is strict, cold, and...dead.

Now, Olvido is convinced the only way her spirit will cross over is if she resolves her unfinished business--to make sure Angustias is in a better place regarding family, job, husband, and God--and Felicitas is the only person who can see or hear her. Heartbroken about her mother's passing and desperate to put Olvido's tiny Texas home in her rearview mirror as quickly as possible, Angustias doesn't understand why suddenly everyone in town seems to be conspiring to set her up with every eligible bachelor in town, offer her jobs, and invite her and Felicitas to church every Sunday.

As Olvido attempts to puppeteer her granddaughter to "fix" Angustias's life from beyond the grave, Angustias tries desperately to find a better place for Felicitas, and Felicitas struggles to keep her ability to see the dead a secret from Angustias, all three Olivares girls are forced to learn how to actually listen to one another. "Incredibly written by Salgado Reyes, this is a spell-binding debut brimming with magic, secrets, and love that will stay with you long after the last page" (María Alejandra Barrios Vélez, author of The Waves Take You Home).

Book Details

ISBN: 

9781668038017

EAN: 

9781668038017

Binding: 

Paperback

Pages: 

336

Authors: 

Anamely Salgado Reyes

Publisher: 

Atria Books

Published Date: 2025-10-06

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Customer Reviews

Based on 18 reviews
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S
Sharon M.
Compelling

✨What it is about:Two sisters are found at the scene of their father’s murder, each claiming the other did it. Only one is telling the truth.✨💭My thoughts:This story totally hooked me from the start! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, constantly second-guessing what I thought I knew. Two sisters, total opposites, are both found at the scene of their dad’s murder, and they each call 911 blaming the other. How do you even begin to trust either one???The story unfolds with all kinds of twists, secrets, and shifting loyalties. It really keeps you guessing. Just when I thought I had it figured out, something else would throw me off. Both lawyers are determined to go all in to prove their client’s innocence. I really enjoyed seeing both sides of the case play out.It’s not just a mystery, it’s a huge psychological game, and it messes with your head in the best way. If you’re into twisty thrillers that keep you guessing until the end, you’ll get through this one pretty quickly. I really enjoyed it.4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Read if you like:🔪Fast paced psychological thrillers🔪Sister relationships🔪Unreliable narrators🔪Twists and turns🔪Legal dramas⚠️CW: Murder, violence, death, self harm, sexual harassment, sexual assault, drug abuse.

D
Derek Jay Garcia
Required reading for Latinas

I truly loved this book! As a Chicana, it really made me think about my relationship with my mother. This book dives into the complex personalities of the three generations of Mexican women. I really enjoyed this reading journey.

M
Moon Phoenix
Family drama but witty and heartwarming

My Mother Cursed My Name is a magical realism contemporary and multigenerational story that explores the themes of identity, family, and grief, but in a witty and light-hearted way, with a slightly heartwarming tone. In the Olivares family, the women have power, the power to name their daughters and with them to predetermine their lives, but the name works as an antonym and instead of attracting what they expected, it is just the opposite. It’s multiple POV: Olvido, Angustias and Felicitas. Olvido is the grandmother and has just passed to another life, or not, because her spirit is still here and Felicitas, her granddaughter, is the only one who can see her, she will try to help her to pass to the other side. Angustias (Olvido's daughter) has a tense relationship with her, she was a teen mom, and shortly after the birth of Felicitas, she left home; her only communication with Olvido is weekly phone calls. The relationship between Angustias and Felicitas is lighter, almost like friends. The story is not similar, but the relationship between the 3 reminds me of Gilmore Girls, strict grandmother, an extroverted mother, and a serious granddaughter. Angustias and Felicitas arrive in a town where Olvido lived his last years, the neighbors are a bit quirky and they met a different Olvido, they knew a friendlier old lady, not the strict woman of Angustias's childhood. Angustias wants to leave soon, but they cannot while the spirit of Olvido is still there, when the original plan does not work, Olvido comes up with the idea to “fix” the life of Angustias:  give stability, a job, and a boyfriend and bring it closer to God.  All the people will interfere and try to help, nosy but with good intentions.The three are strong and very different. They each have their flaws, and their personalities can clash. Olvido is strict, Angustias is more carefree, and Felicitas wants roots. It's a story about personal growth and how complicated family life can be. It's about filial love and having the best intentions for your daughter, although the way you convey it isn't always the best, and instead of getting closer, they drift apart.It's set in the USA, and it's a story that feels very Mexican, not only because Olvido wants to be buried there,  Angustias and Felicitas weren't born in Mexico, but they are Mexican; there's something in their character that makes them feel very Mexican.Despite the drama, it's an easy-to-read and fun story. It's a great debut. The characters, the Olivera girls, are very human and end up forgiving and healing.Read it if you like: • Family Drama • Quirky Small Town • Magical Realism

K
Kimberly morrow
Great informative read

I loved this cover!This book was a great read and just powerful! I am so thankful to have read this!You will remember this long after you read it.Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review

S
Sam B.
Book Club Approved

I could not put this book down! From the first sentence, this novel has captivated me and my book club. Following the Olivares women on their journey of reconciliation, love, and acceptance was not only heartwarming but also thought-provoking. The relationships between mother, daughter, and granddaughter made me reflect on my relationships. This novel was a joy to read, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading Latina literature.