Oye
by Melissa Mogollon
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A coming-of-age comedy. A telenovela-worthy drama. A moving family saga. All in a phone call you won't want to hang up on.
"A portrait of love, heartache, and hilarity that transcends its medium."--Elle (The Best Literary Fiction Books of 2024, So Far)
"Brilliant . . . Melissa Mogollon did not come to play."--Kiley Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Such a Fun Age
LONGLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL PRIZE
"Yes, hi, Mari. It's me. I'm over my tantrum now and calling you back . . . But first--you have to promise that you won't tell Mom or Abue any of this. Okay? They'll set the house on fire if they find out . . ."
Structured as a series of one-sided phone calls from our spunky, sarcastic narrator, Luciana, to her older sister, Mari, this wildly inventive debut "jump-starts your heart in the same way it piques your ear" (Xochitl Gonzalez). As the baby of her large Colombian American family, Luciana is usually relegated to the sidelines. But now she finds herself as the only voice of reason in the face of an unexpected crisis: A hurricane is heading straight for Miami, and her eccentric grandmother, Abue, is refusing to evacuate. Abue is so one-of-a-kind she's basically in her own universe, and while she often drives Luciana nuts, they're the only ones who truly understand each other. So when Abue, normally glamorous and full of life, receives a shocking medical diagnosis during the storm, Luciana's world is upended.
When Abue moves into Luciana's bedroom, their complicated bond intensifies. Luciana would rather be skating or sneaking out to meet girls, but Abue's wild demands and unpredictable antics are a welcome distraction for Luciana from her misguided mother, absent sister, and uncertain future. Forced to step into the role of caretaker, translator, and keeper of the devastating family secrets that Abue begins to share, Luciana suddenly finds herself center stage, facing down adulthood--and rising to the occasion.
As Luciana chronicles the events of her disrupted senior year of high school over the phone to Mari, Oye unfolds like the most fascinating and entertaining conversation you've ever eavesdropped on: a rollicking, heartfelt, and utterly unique novel that celebrates the beauty revealed and resilience required when rewriting your own story.
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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9780593594926
- Binding
- Paperback
- Authors
- Melissa Mogollon
- Publisher
- Hogarth Press
- Published Date
- May 6, 2025
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 352
- Physical Info
- 7.99 in L x 5.32 in W (0.55 lb)
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
