Oye

Oye by Melissa Mogollon is a gem of a debut that delivers something bold, heartfelt, and refreshingly original. Told entirely through one-sided voicemail messages from a Colombian-American teen named Luciana, the novel’s storytelling format is immersive and conversational, which is perfect for capturing Luciana’s raw, urgent voice.It’s the kind of book that dares to try something new, and I love that. As a reader, I’m always here for authors who experiment with form, and Mogollon’s innovation pays off in a big way. The one-sided voicemail structure is endearing and intimate, like you’re eavesdropping on a cousin leaving you voice notes in the middle of her chaos. At times, it’s funny and full of heart. Other times, it’s jarring in a way that mirrors real life, especially for those of us raised in homes where grief and humor often shared a dinner table. Because in so many Latino families, it’s better to laugh than cry, right? This book gets that.What makes Oye so powerful is how effortlessly it weaves humor and heartbreak. Luciana’s voice is unfiltered and deeply relatable. She’s dealing with loss, navigating family expectations, and trying to make sense of her world, but she does it with a voice that’s sharp, flawed, loving, and hilarious. There were moments I laughed out loud, moments I had to pause because of the anger building in my chest, and moments I blinked back tears. This book took me through it all.Every time I read a book where I see myself, my family, and my community reflected, it feels like a warm hug from my favorite Tía. Oye gave me that feeling. It's joyful, messy, deeply Latinx, and never afraid to hold truth and absurdity in the same breath.I highly recommend Oye to anyone who needs that hug, and to anyone who wants to know what that hug feels like. Whether you’ve lived this experience or are stepping into it for the first time, this novel invites you to listen closely to a voice that feels achingly real and beautifully familiar.

Wonderful read, narrated from a unique perspective!

This is a creative way to tell a messy family history. The main character, Luciana keeps her sister away at college informed of the family happenings. The reader is privy to the conversations but never really gets the sister’s responses. One of the major family events is the grandmother’s illness and how the family dynamics play out from the illness.Luciana is in high school so the reader gets to see her thoughts about high school, family, and sexuality. This is a multi-layered book.I simultaneously read and listened to the book. Elena Ray narrates the audiobook skillfully.I was sent an advanced copy of this book from the publisher, Penguin Random House.

This debut novel is filled with humor, chisme, family drama, & touching moments. I love the idea of presenting a whole story through a phone conversation, & I highly recommend listening to this as an audiobook if you can! It really helps bring the dialogue more to life with the narrator’s accents & voices & interpretation of the words. An incredible debut book. I hope to read more by her x

There is nothing like reading Christmas books this time of year and this one did not disappoint it is fun holiday read with all the cozy romance holifay feelings. If you love Hallmark movies, you'll love this book.The book tajes place in a small-town Silver Bells about Sylvie's trying to save the local Christmas cafe that means the world to her. It's a good Christmas read