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Mayra
Mayra | Nicky Gonzalez
1 post | 1 read | 2 to read
A twisty gothic debut about two former best friends reconnecting at a secluded house deep in the swamplands of Florida It's been years since Ingrid has heard from her childhood best friend, Mayra, a fearless rebel who fled their hometown of Hialeah, a Cuban neighborhood just west of Miami, for college in the Northeast. But when Mayra calls out of the blue to invite Ingrid to a weekend getaway at a house in the Everglades, she impulsively accepts. From the moment Ingrid sets out for the house, danger looms: The directions are difficult, she's out of reach of cell service, and as she drives deeper into the Everglades, the wet maw of the swamp threatens to swallow her whole. But once Ingrid arrives, Mayra is, in many ways, just as she remembers--with her sharp tongue and effortless, seductive beauty, still thumbing her nose at the world. Before they can fully settle into the familiar intimacy of each other's company, their reunion is spoiled by the reemergence of past disagreements and the unexpected presence of Mayra's new boyfriend, Benji. The trio spend their hours eating lavish meals and exploring the labyrinthine house, which holds as much mystery and danger as the swamp itself. Indoors and on the grounds, time itself seems to expand, and Ingrid begins to lose a sense of the outside world, and herself. Against this disquieting setting, where lizards dart in and out of porches and alligators peek up from dark waters, Gonzalez weaves a propulsive, unforgettable story about the dizzying power of early friendship and the lengths we'll go to earn love and acceptance--even at the risk of losing ourselves entirely.
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Nessavamusic
Mayra | Nicky Gonzalez
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I received this as an ARC on NetGalley for my unbiased review:
This is a strange novella. It has some beautiful writing, and paints very detailed pictures of the scenes and characters. It seems to take some inspiration from House of Leaves and Shirley Jackson. Very much a story that is more vibes than plot.⬇️

Nessavamusic My biggest criticism is the journal entries within the story seemed out of place and very much slowed down the reading experience. Perhaps on reread and additional analysis I would see the connections the author was trying to make. If you like stories that provide creepy vibes and feelings of unease and you do not mind less plot-this could be for you. I would definitely check out more by this author in the future, as she has beautiful writing. 1mo
Nessavamusic 4⭐️ This comes out in July! 1mo
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