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Tell It to Me Singing
A Cuban American family is sent into a tailspin when the ailing matriarch confesses the first of several shocking secrets to her daughter before undergoing heart surgery in this tender and twisty debut novel.
Monica Campo is pregnant with her first child when, moments before being wheeled into emergency heart surgery, her mother confesses a long-held Monica’s father is not the man who raised her. But when her mother wakes up and begins having delusional episodes, Monica doesn’t know what to believe—whether the confession was real or just a channeling of the telenovela her mother watches nightly.
In her despair, Monica wants to speak with only one her ex-boyfriend of five years, Manny. She can’t help but worry, though, what this says about her relationship with her fiancé and father of her unborn child.
Monica’s search for the truth leads her to a new understanding of the the early eighties when her parents arrived from Cuba on the famous Mariel boatlift, and the tumultuous seventies, a decade after Castro’s takeover, when some people were still secretly fighting his regime—people like her mother and the man she claims is Monica’s real father. Tell It to Me Singing is a story that takes readers from Miami to Cuba to the jungles of Costa Rica and, along the way, explores the question of how and to whom we belong, how a life is built, and how we know when we’re home.
Monica Campo is pregnant with her first child when, moments before being wheeled into emergency heart surgery, her mother confesses a long-held Monica’s father is not the man who raised her. But when her mother wakes up and begins having delusional episodes, Monica doesn’t know what to believe—whether the confession was real or just a channeling of the telenovela her mother watches nightly.
In her despair, Monica wants to speak with only one her ex-boyfriend of five years, Manny. She can’t help but worry, though, what this says about her relationship with her fiancé and father of her unborn child.
Monica’s search for the truth leads her to a new understanding of the the early eighties when her parents arrived from Cuba on the famous Mariel boatlift, and the tumultuous seventies, a decade after Castro’s takeover, when some people were still secretly fighting his regime—people like her mother and the man she claims is Monica’s real father. Tell It to Me Singing is a story that takes readers from Miami to Cuba to the jungles of Costa Rica and, along the way, explores the question of how and to whom we belong, how a life is built, and how we know when we’re home.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published July 9, 2024
98 people are currently reading
26082 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
October 15, 2024
Tell It to Me Singing is a Cuban American family drama that contains quite a few soap opera/telenovela tropes. A quick and easy read but one that didn’t reach its full potential.
The main character, Monica, is pregnant and while she likes the father of her baby, she isn’t exactly head over heels in love with him yet. Monica’s mom is set to have heart surgery and right before the procedure she confesses a long held secret to her daughter.
Had the story stayed in one lane it might have worked better. It needed to either go full on, over the top with a crazy soap opera style plot or stick to a typical family drama that is rich with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. Instead it was a hodgepodge of things and it was hard to feel invested in the characters’ lives because they came across as self-involved most of the time. The writing in the final chapters is more of what I was hoping for throughout the story. I wish we got less of Monica’s love life and more of her mother’s life in Cuba.
Sounds like I have nothing but complaints but it was decent story just not one that’s very memorable.
Thank you to Marysue Rucci Books and Simon Element Marketing for providing a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
The main character, Monica, is pregnant and while she likes the father of her baby, she isn’t exactly head over heels in love with him yet. Monica’s mom is set to have heart surgery and right before the procedure she confesses a long held secret to her daughter.
Had the story stayed in one lane it might have worked better. It needed to either go full on, over the top with a crazy soap opera style plot or stick to a typical family drama that is rich with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. Instead it was a hodgepodge of things and it was hard to feel invested in the characters’ lives because they came across as self-involved most of the time. The writing in the final chapters is more of what I was hoping for throughout the story. I wish we got less of Monica’s love life and more of her mother’s life in Cuba.
Sounds like I have nothing but complaints but it was decent story just not one that’s very memorable.
Thank you to Marysue Rucci Books and Simon Element Marketing for providing a free copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
May 30, 2024
Pero Like: I LOVED it.
Bias: I’m a Cuban American veteran who grew up in Hialeah (IYKYK).
This book was everything Miami (shout out to La Vaquita). If you liked Jane the Virgin, you will love this book.
A mother daughter story set in Miami 2012 with secrets, affairs, Cuban counterrevolutionaries - which upend everything in Monica's life when her mother makes a confession before open heart surgery. Do we really know our parent's lives before us?? As the saying goes, “Lo que se hace en la oscuridad siempre sale a la luz!” (What’s done in the dark always comes to light)
Maybe it’s the heat that makes people in the 305 unhinged, but I can tell you that every insane thing that happened in this book is completely plausible to me.
For example, my mom ran away from home to get her grandfather from Cuba during El Mariel. My dad went to find her and did some trickery to get to the Red Cross to find her. I think we (Cubans) ALL have stories like these. It's the combination of obstinate stubbornness under patriarchal rule which leads to rebellion. I myself didn't tell my family I joined the Navy until after I signed all the papers.
Drama, telenovela, chisme it’s the sazón in our picadillo. It’s funny, turmoil, and action packed. I lost sleep to finish this book, which is the highest honor I can bestow.
Cover Art: STUNNING. I’m buying the hardcover just to look at it (and so my mom can read it).
Lastly, as a physician, I was IMPRESSED that all the medical aspects were accurate. Wepa!
🦎Mother daughter dynamics
🦎Family Secrets
🦎Love triangle
🦎Second chance love
🦎Veteran mental health
🦎Survivor guilt
🦎One Bed
🦎Spanglish
🦎Iguanas
Thank you @netgalley, @_simonelement and @marysueruccibooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. #bookmom #cubansbelike #latinasreadtoo #miami #bookstagrammer #305 #arcreader #netgalley
Bias: I’m a Cuban American veteran who grew up in Hialeah (IYKYK).
This book was everything Miami (shout out to La Vaquita). If you liked Jane the Virgin, you will love this book.
A mother daughter story set in Miami 2012 with secrets, affairs, Cuban counterrevolutionaries - which upend everything in Monica's life when her mother makes a confession before open heart surgery. Do we really know our parent's lives before us?? As the saying goes, “Lo que se hace en la oscuridad siempre sale a la luz!” (What’s done in the dark always comes to light)
Maybe it’s the heat that makes people in the 305 unhinged, but I can tell you that every insane thing that happened in this book is completely plausible to me.
For example, my mom ran away from home to get her grandfather from Cuba during El Mariel. My dad went to find her and did some trickery to get to the Red Cross to find her. I think we (Cubans) ALL have stories like these. It's the combination of obstinate stubbornness under patriarchal rule which leads to rebellion. I myself didn't tell my family I joined the Navy until after I signed all the papers.
Drama, telenovela, chisme it’s the sazón in our picadillo. It’s funny, turmoil, and action packed. I lost sleep to finish this book, which is the highest honor I can bestow.
Cover Art: STUNNING. I’m buying the hardcover just to look at it (and so my mom can read it).
Lastly, as a physician, I was IMPRESSED that all the medical aspects were accurate. Wepa!
🦎Mother daughter dynamics
🦎Family Secrets
🦎Love triangle
🦎Second chance love
🦎Veteran mental health
🦎Survivor guilt
🦎One Bed
🦎Spanglish
🦎Iguanas
Thank you @netgalley, @_simonelement and @marysueruccibooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. #bookmom #cubansbelike #latinasreadtoo #miami #bookstagrammer #305 #arcreader #netgalley
June 28, 2024
Why watch a telenovela when you can read one! A Cuban American family's shocking secrets start to become unraveled when the mother reveals a secret prior to surgery to her daughter. There is a clever devise of using telenovelas within the story to highlight the twists and emotions of the characters so that the story itself with it's continual layers resembles a telenovela! I appreciated being immersed in the American Cuban culture with the food, celebrations and beliefs. So well done, it's hard to believe it is a debut.
Thank you to Cindy Burnett from Thoughts From a Page and Simon and Schuster for an early copy of this book.
Thank you to Cindy Burnett from Thoughts From a Page and Simon and Schuster for an early copy of this book.
May 4, 2024
At times, reading Tell It to Me Singing, I felt as if Tita Ramirez had written the book just for me: like her protagonist, I am also Cuban-American, living in Miami, and expecting my first child (at this time, I'm as far along as Monica is at the novel's beginning). I recognized the references, geography, food, and culture that Ramierez depicts, which made it a particular joy to read this novel.
That said, though I do have quite a bit in common with Monica, I think this novel is going to be a delight for many readers. With telenovela twists that are still grounded in real emotion, Tell It to Me Singing is going to be a must-read for fans of Jane the Virgin. The romantic subplot can be frustrating at times—this isn't the glossy rom-com subplot—but it highlights the humanity of the characters involved, and I was impressed by the way that Ramirez resisted making any particular character the hero or villain. I also loved how truly bonkers this book could be; there were times when I asked myself, "wait, how is this happening?!" But I loved every minute of the wild ride.
There are a few issues with pacing, and the central revelation of Monica's parentage is resolved VERY quickly at the end, but overall Tell It to Me Singing was a very enjoyable read, and I can't wait for readers to discover Tita Ramirez's delicious debut novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Marysue Rucci Books for an early review copy of Tell It to Me Singing. All opinions are my own.
That said, though I do have quite a bit in common with Monica, I think this novel is going to be a delight for many readers. With telenovela twists that are still grounded in real emotion, Tell It to Me Singing is going to be a must-read for fans of Jane the Virgin. The romantic subplot can be frustrating at times—this isn't the glossy rom-com subplot—but it highlights the humanity of the characters involved, and I was impressed by the way that Ramirez resisted making any particular character the hero or villain. I also loved how truly bonkers this book could be; there were times when I asked myself, "wait, how is this happening?!" But I loved every minute of the wild ride.
There are a few issues with pacing, and the central revelation of Monica's parentage is resolved VERY quickly at the end, but overall Tell It to Me Singing was a very enjoyable read, and I can't wait for readers to discover Tita Ramirez's delicious debut novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Marysue Rucci Books for an early review copy of Tell It to Me Singing. All opinions are my own.
August 7, 2024
The promotion around this book prior to its release and it being like a telenovela, I kept thinking it would be more of a “drama-edy” (my only frame of reference to telenovelas would be from Jane the Virgin - so take everything I say with a complete grain of salt). This was my most anticipated summer read and I was greatly disappointed.
This book had no comedic relief to be found and its tone was not what I was expecting. Many of the characters seemed selfish and unlikable. It wasn’t an enjoyable reading experience for me for those reasons. I wonder if I would have realized it was going to be more of a family drama, with heavy tones, I may have enjoyed it more rather than heading in it expecting a light family drama with witty banter? 🤷🏼♀️
If I was rating just the author’s writing style it would be more of a 3.75 book. The cover is a 5 star cover - it’s absolutely STUNNING. I know this book will be for many readers and it just wasn’t for me. I would put this at a 2.1 for my reading tastes and reading experience.
This book had no comedic relief to be found and its tone was not what I was expecting. Many of the characters seemed selfish and unlikable. It wasn’t an enjoyable reading experience for me for those reasons. I wonder if I would have realized it was going to be more of a family drama, with heavy tones, I may have enjoyed it more rather than heading in it expecting a light family drama with witty banter? 🤷🏼♀️
If I was rating just the author’s writing style it would be more of a 3.75 book. The cover is a 5 star cover - it’s absolutely STUNNING. I know this book will be for many readers and it just wasn’t for me. I would put this at a 2.1 for my reading tastes and reading experience.
March 2, 2024
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. It was a long, slow read. Much repetition. The daughter's story almost exactly copied the mother's. That made it even more repetitious. I thought the mother and daughter were equally annoying. They both made bad decisions. Many sentences were in Spanish. I never took Spanish and I didn't want to interrupt to google all the time.
September 2, 2024
This was such a beautiful story of family and love. It has some twists, and a moment you'll be on the edge of your seat, but it also has deeply moving moments of family, love, and friends. I truly loved how the story tied back to Cuba and had a lot of Spanish terms (made me brush back up on my spanish). The main character (Monica) truly showed a massive character development throughout the story. It was beautiful and raw to watch her go through all of her deep emotions after what she found out while wrangling with her own life decisions she needed to make. This truly made me love Manny all the more; seeing who he became and how deeply he cared for Monica. I felt bad for Robert, but also I didn't. I loved the ending as well. Just a beautiful story all around!
I received ARC book from Simon and Schuster (Simon Element) to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I received ARC book from Simon and Schuster (Simon Element) to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
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August 14, 2024Full review on Tik Tok.
July 8, 2024
4.25🌟
This book makes the reader feel the right amount of unease as it explores the power of choices, the weight of outside opinions, and the necessity of alone time through a telenovela like tale. It’s captivating in the way that it made me feel seen when stuck between two choices, and when the seemingly correct choice isn’t always easy to make or right. This creates tension and it can feel impossible to explain to others involved in your life that don’t understand. Space is important to delve into what you really want/need. A decision cannot alway be made without hurting someone else, but your own sanity is important.
This book makes the reader feel the right amount of unease as it explores the power of choices, the weight of outside opinions, and the necessity of alone time through a telenovela like tale. It’s captivating in the way that it made me feel seen when stuck between two choices, and when the seemingly correct choice isn’t always easy to make or right. This creates tension and it can feel impossible to explain to others involved in your life that don’t understand. Space is important to delve into what you really want/need. A decision cannot alway be made without hurting someone else, but your own sanity is important.
July 9, 2024
This one went exactly where I expected it to go, but it took an entirely different path to get there. A great summer page turner with some depth.
January 9, 2025
Being of Cuban heritage I enjoyed the Spanish in the book ( could be annoying for some who doesn’t understand the language ) and the Telenovela The storyline was good and creative. The reason for the low review is I did not like the main character Monica. She was selfish and annoying and I was just not rooting for her
Would still recommend
Would still recommend
January 11, 2025
I really enjoyed the characters and I didn’t want to put it down! I loved the mother daughter dynamic and the stories told to the reader through Mirta. Definitely recommend, I finished it in 2 days
4⭐️
Thank you to publisher for the ARC
4⭐️
Thank you to publisher for the ARC
January 28, 2025
4.25 ✨
This book was fucking crazy from the first sentence to the very last. Honestly, the plot was wild and I don’t know entirely how I feel about it. I’m a bit lost for words. Which is crazy if you know me. I will say, the issues I have with this book are largely ethical and moral. A solid third of the book is propaganda for anti-communist and pro-cheating sentiment, neither of which I support, obviously. However, if we view it as a book about crazy families and healing generational trauma then it’s kinda a masterpiece. Honestly, I really liked this book. My main problem at the end of the day is that the Campos women are weak. Their stories are told in parallel. And both of them make the wrong choice. Somehow, even though they choose different endings, they still make the wrong choice. I can’t entirely explain why, but they just do. Yet, despite this, and in spite of all my moral and ethical issues with this book, I still found it deeply engrossing and entirely fascinating. I’m glad that April won this in a Goodreads giveaway so I got the chance to read it. It was definitely worth it. These bitches are crazy, but they are my crazy bitches 🫶
p.s. For my number one Goodreads fan, I did use that ASPCA sticker that we never put up for Pip as the bookmark as I read this. Felt poetic or something like that lol.
addendum: The attempt at using real medicine in this book literally made me laugh harder than any other book I’ve read recently. I literally spent five minutes, cackling and dissecting how wrong the author was about aortic aneurysms and aortic aneurysm repair. The best quote in the book is when the psychiatrist says that they’re already treating her psychosis because they gave her benzodiazepine which they also say is a tranquilizer. Neither of those statements are true.
This book was fucking crazy from the first sentence to the very last. Honestly, the plot was wild and I don’t know entirely how I feel about it. I’m a bit lost for words. Which is crazy if you know me. I will say, the issues I have with this book are largely ethical and moral. A solid third of the book is propaganda for anti-communist and pro-cheating sentiment, neither of which I support, obviously. However, if we view it as a book about crazy families and healing generational trauma then it’s kinda a masterpiece. Honestly, I really liked this book. My main problem at the end of the day is that the Campos women are weak. Their stories are told in parallel. And both of them make the wrong choice. Somehow, even though they choose different endings, they still make the wrong choice. I can’t entirely explain why, but they just do. Yet, despite this, and in spite of all my moral and ethical issues with this book, I still found it deeply engrossing and entirely fascinating. I’m glad that April won this in a Goodreads giveaway so I got the chance to read it. It was definitely worth it. These bitches are crazy, but they are my crazy bitches 🫶
p.s. For my number one Goodreads fan, I did use that ASPCA sticker that we never put up for Pip as the bookmark as I read this. Felt poetic or something like that lol.
addendum: The attempt at using real medicine in this book literally made me laugh harder than any other book I’ve read recently. I literally spent five minutes, cackling and dissecting how wrong the author was about aortic aneurysms and aortic aneurysm repair. The best quote in the book is when the psychiatrist says that they’re already treating her psychosis because they gave her benzodiazepine which they also say is a tranquilizer. Neither of those statements are true.
July 25, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
The Set Up: Monica is six months pregnant with her fiancée’s baby, when her mother is wheeled into emergency heart surgery. Monica’s mother Mirta, while under anesthesia, confesses that her father is not the man who raised her. Monica isn’t sure what to make of her mother’s admission, especially since it closely mirrors the storyline of the telenovela they routinely watch together every Friday night. Even without this latest complication, Monica’s life is already a bit of a soap opera. Engaged to Robert, after only knowing each other less than a year, she finds she can’t stop thinking about Manny. He is the ex-boyfriend who she broke up with after he re-enlisted for yet another deployment to Afghanistan. Monica needs a break to figure out her own life, on her own terms. Love is complicated, families are messy, sacrifices are made, and sometimes well intended decisions will reverberate in unexpected ways.
The novel is told in alternating chapters from Monica’s contemporary point of view, and Mirta's historical perspective. Monica’s and Mirta’s stories move from contemporary Miami, to Cuba in the ‘70s and 80’s during the Mariel boatlift and anti-Castro resistance, to the jungles of Costa Rica. Ramirez gives us a genre mash-up that presents a realistic representation of Cuban-American culture with all its quirks and warmth. The title, Tell It To Me Singing, refers to a Cuban greeting (“dímelo cantando”) that translates into - tell me everything! And as the title suggests, by the end, we will have untangled every twist and turn until we know the whole story.
Tell It To Me Singing is a fun entertaining summer read, with just enough serious heft to keep you turning the page.
Many thanks to the author @TitaRamirezWriter, @_SimonElement and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this digital book in exchange for an honest review.
The Set Up: Monica is six months pregnant with her fiancée’s baby, when her mother is wheeled into emergency heart surgery. Monica’s mother Mirta, while under anesthesia, confesses that her father is not the man who raised her. Monica isn’t sure what to make of her mother’s admission, especially since it closely mirrors the storyline of the telenovela they routinely watch together every Friday night. Even without this latest complication, Monica’s life is already a bit of a soap opera. Engaged to Robert, after only knowing each other less than a year, she finds she can’t stop thinking about Manny. He is the ex-boyfriend who she broke up with after he re-enlisted for yet another deployment to Afghanistan. Monica needs a break to figure out her own life, on her own terms. Love is complicated, families are messy, sacrifices are made, and sometimes well intended decisions will reverberate in unexpected ways.
The novel is told in alternating chapters from Monica’s contemporary point of view, and Mirta's historical perspective. Monica’s and Mirta’s stories move from contemporary Miami, to Cuba in the ‘70s and 80’s during the Mariel boatlift and anti-Castro resistance, to the jungles of Costa Rica. Ramirez gives us a genre mash-up that presents a realistic representation of Cuban-American culture with all its quirks and warmth. The title, Tell It To Me Singing, refers to a Cuban greeting (“dímelo cantando”) that translates into - tell me everything! And as the title suggests, by the end, we will have untangled every twist and turn until we know the whole story.
Tell It To Me Singing is a fun entertaining summer read, with just enough serious heft to keep you turning the page.
Many thanks to the author @TitaRamirezWriter, @_SimonElement and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this digital book in exchange for an honest review.
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September 5, 2024See full review in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
“Tell It to Me Singing” is North Carolina author Tita Ramírez’s riveting debut novel about a family whose foundation is rocked when their matriarch reveals an explosive secret moments before she is rushed into surgery. The daughter searches for the truth in present-day Florida and is blindsided by her conservative mother’s salacious past as a Cuban counterrevolutionary. As the story unfurls, “Tell It to Me Singing” develops into a deeply heartfelt, frequently humorous and historically germane exploration of how one family uses the combination of truth and love to heal from generational pain..."
https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/tele...
“Tell It to Me Singing” is North Carolina author Tita Ramírez’s riveting debut novel about a family whose foundation is rocked when their matriarch reveals an explosive secret moments before she is rushed into surgery. The daughter searches for the truth in present-day Florida and is blindsided by her conservative mother’s salacious past as a Cuban counterrevolutionary. As the story unfurls, “Tell It to Me Singing” develops into a deeply heartfelt, frequently humorous and historically germane exploration of how one family uses the combination of truth and love to heal from generational pain..."
https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/tele...
June 22, 2025
This book follows a Cuban American family and I LOVE these types of stories (basically a telenovela). We go between English and Spanish, really inviting us into the lives of Monica and her mom.
Monica is 6 months pregnant with her fiancés baby, who she likes, but doesn’t really love. Her ex-boyfriend of 5 years comes back into her life. Her mom undergoes heart surgery and drops a major bombshell on her right before she is wheeled away. Monica’s whole life comes to a halt as she takes in the news, trying to understand and accept it.
I loved the story! Cuban American families are just so welcoming, close, and loving it was an easy read.
Monica is 6 months pregnant with her fiancés baby, who she likes, but doesn’t really love. Her ex-boyfriend of 5 years comes back into her life. Her mom undergoes heart surgery and drops a major bombshell on her right before she is wheeled away. Monica’s whole life comes to a halt as she takes in the news, trying to understand and accept it.
I loved the story! Cuban American families are just so welcoming, close, and loving it was an easy read.
July 27, 2024
Started strong, then I struggled with some of it.
July 6, 2024
I won this ARC in a giveaway. Thank you for the copy!
I thought this was pretty good. I don’t watch telenovelas or soap operas, but this book is what I imagine those are like; dramatic and eventful, with some over-the-top plotlines and twists (not a complaint).
Also included: love triangles, affairs, family secrets, lots of emphasis on the importance of familial relationships, and complicated characters who made some frustrating decisions at times but still managed to be likable and interesting.
It was well-paced for the most part, but the end was a bit rushed. It just felt like the entire book was leading up to something huge, but then it didn’t exactly stick the landing. A lot was shoved into the last couple of chapters, and some plotlines were just quickly addressed, if at all. And then it kind of ended abruptly. I’m not saying I was expecting this dramatic finale, but I was still hoping it would be wrapped up a little better than it was.
There were also some parts that were in Spanish that weren’t translated, but they were understandable enough – even for a non-Spanish speaker – given the context.
Overall, a well-written and enjoyable book, with some pacing issues near the very end.
4/5
I thought this was pretty good. I don’t watch telenovelas or soap operas, but this book is what I imagine those are like; dramatic and eventful, with some over-the-top plotlines and twists (not a complaint).
Also included: love triangles, affairs, family secrets, lots of emphasis on the importance of familial relationships, and complicated characters who made some frustrating decisions at times but still managed to be likable and interesting.
It was well-paced for the most part, but the end was a bit rushed. It just felt like the entire book was leading up to something huge, but then it didn’t exactly stick the landing. A lot was shoved into the last couple of chapters, and some plotlines were just quickly addressed, if at all. And then it kind of ended abruptly. I’m not saying I was expecting this dramatic finale, but I was still hoping it would be wrapped up a little better than it was.
There were also some parts that were in Spanish that weren’t translated, but they were understandable enough – even for a non-Spanish speaker – given the context.
Overall, a well-written and enjoyable book, with some pacing issues near the very end.
4/5
July 18, 2024
A little biased going into this one as Tita was my favorite professor throughout my undergrad years, and I always knew she’d put out one hell of a novel. As I’ve patiently and quietly waited for it, I couldn’t be more proud of the work she put out for the world to read in “Tell It To Me Singing”. Monica’s character is one that immediately resonates with readers. As she is struggling with where she’s at in life, torn between the love of her life and a guy who on all accounts should be the one, her feelings are raw, clearly on the page and propel much of the book. It’s hard to not immediately feel connected and supportive of her.
From iguanas to Cuban cultural references and traditions, to understanding that life is messy but filled with such love and meaning, this one makes you laugh, cry, rage and dream about how you would handle learning your Dad isn’t truly your Dad. I loved it, just as I always knew I would, and I cannot wait to see the amazing things Tita continues to gift us. Highly recommend picking this one up and enjoying the adventure for yourself!
From iguanas to Cuban cultural references and traditions, to understanding that life is messy but filled with such love and meaning, this one makes you laugh, cry, rage and dream about how you would handle learning your Dad isn’t truly your Dad. I loved it, just as I always knew I would, and I cannot wait to see the amazing things Tita continues to gift us. Highly recommend picking this one up and enjoying the adventure for yourself!
March 6, 2024
Three stories tied together so wonderfully, with so many similarities yet their own unique stories. Loved reading the story unfold, the relationships form and dissolve, the inner torment of Mònica and the bewildering thoughts of Mirta. Loved how the Spanish was understandable but not directly translated. Also was thankful for a clean ending, all of the ends cleanly completed. Lovely book, really lovely.
December 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this Cuban American family saga. It’s fast paced, relatable on so many levels, and was overall hard to put down. With the short chapters and back and forth perspectives of Monica and her mom, I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.
July 30, 2024
Great story line but I think I may have worked it up in anticipation.
July 14, 2024
Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster/Simon Element/Mary Sue Rucci Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful debut book by Tita Ramirez. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!
Monica is pregnant with her first child when her mom, moments before having emergency heart surgery, confesses that Monica's father is not the man who raised her. When her mom wakes up, her mother begins having delusions and Monica isn't sure if the confession is real or not. It sounds more like the plot of the telenovela they watch together. But Monica's life is sort of like a soap opera as well. The first person she wanted to talk to about her mom's confession was her ex-boyfriend, Manny, and not her fiancé and father of her child.
This is a wonderful generational saga, with alternating chapters of her mother's life as a younger Cuban American. The story is very atmospheric, taking place in Miami, Cuba, and Costa Rico, and full of that cultural experience. The writing is rich and beautiful and while the subject matter felt like a telenovela, it explored such topics as what constitutes family, those hard decisions we must face, and family secrets. But it's joyful too, and the characters feel completely fleshed out. What I loved is that I didn't hate any of the characters; they all had good and bad parts, just like we all do. This did not feel like a debut book and I'm anxiously awaiting more from this author!
Monica is pregnant with her first child when her mom, moments before having emergency heart surgery, confesses that Monica's father is not the man who raised her. When her mom wakes up, her mother begins having delusions and Monica isn't sure if the confession is real or not. It sounds more like the plot of the telenovela they watch together. But Monica's life is sort of like a soap opera as well. The first person she wanted to talk to about her mom's confession was her ex-boyfriend, Manny, and not her fiancé and father of her child.
This is a wonderful generational saga, with alternating chapters of her mother's life as a younger Cuban American. The story is very atmospheric, taking place in Miami, Cuba, and Costa Rico, and full of that cultural experience. The writing is rich and beautiful and while the subject matter felt like a telenovela, it explored such topics as what constitutes family, those hard decisions we must face, and family secrets. But it's joyful too, and the characters feel completely fleshed out. What I loved is that I didn't hate any of the characters; they all had good and bad parts, just like we all do. This did not feel like a debut book and I'm anxiously awaiting more from this author!
November 29, 2024
"Tell it to Me Singing" is a novel about a Cuban-American family living in Miami. It centers around 29 year old Monica, who finds herself pregnant by a new boyfriend. She still has feelings for Manny, her longtime boyfriend who is now her ex. Compounding this is Monica's worry for her mother, Mirta. Mirta needs open heart surgery. The books' chapters alternate between Monica's narrative and her mother Mirta's experiences, dating back to when she was a young woman in Cuba.
Mirta and Monica enjoy watching telenovelas together. At times, their own lives seem to mimic the telenovelas they so enjoy - full of drama. Sometimes, this made it seem as if Mirta and her mother were not 100% real.
The book did hold my interest and was entertaining. I liked being exposed to a Cuban-American family of fiction.
Mirta and Monica enjoy watching telenovelas together. At times, their own lives seem to mimic the telenovelas they so enjoy - full of drama. Sometimes, this made it seem as if Mirta and her mother were not 100% real.
The book did hold my interest and was entertaining. I liked being exposed to a Cuban-American family of fiction.
November 30, 2024
Did it keep my interest? 4. I was tricked by the rom com looking cover. It took me a bit to figure out that the themes were more serious than my cozy romances. That said, I enjoyed it.
Did I enjoy the topic? 4 Yes, but … I don’t like cheating in my stories. There was cheating. And there was soul mate love and gun play, so that was fun.
Was the dialogue realistic? 3. The Cuban food was realistic. And there wasn’t the hyper coincidences that most rom coms are centered around.
Would I recommend to Jen (smart, discerning reader)? 3. Jennie has no time for these kinds of books, what with working and her half dozen book clubs, challenges, etc.
Would I have recommended to my Mom (read for entertainment)? 3. It DID have gun play.
Quality of narrator? 4 Yareli Arizmendi is known for playing the mean sister in Like Water For Chocolate. She was also on NYPD Blue, because of course she was. Those procedurals, NCIS, et al, must be responsible for 87% of the income for all Hollywood actors.
Frankie Corzo read the daughter. She’s an Audie Award winner. Frankie was great, so no harm meant when I ask, how many awards does the Audie group give out? Everyone has one.
Did I enjoy the topic? 4 Yes, but … I don’t like cheating in my stories. There was cheating. And there was soul mate love and gun play, so that was fun.
Was the dialogue realistic? 3. The Cuban food was realistic. And there wasn’t the hyper coincidences that most rom coms are centered around.
Would I recommend to Jen (smart, discerning reader)? 3. Jennie has no time for these kinds of books, what with working and her half dozen book clubs, challenges, etc.
Would I have recommended to my Mom (read for entertainment)? 3. It DID have gun play.
Quality of narrator? 4 Yareli Arizmendi is known for playing the mean sister in Like Water For Chocolate. She was also on NYPD Blue, because of course she was. Those procedurals, NCIS, et al, must be responsible for 87% of the income for all Hollywood actors.
Frankie Corzo read the daughter. She’s an Audie Award winner. Frankie was great, so no harm meant when I ask, how many awards does the Audie group give out? Everyone has one.
November 19, 2024
The messy apple didn’t fall far from the messy tree.
MY THOUGHTS💭: I was happy to have the opportunity to read this book courtesy of MarySue Rucci Books & Simon Element. Now let me tell you, it took me on a ride I wasn’t ready for. When it first came out, I was intrigued but cautious—I tend to be critical of generational tales and mother-daughter stories. However, I’m so glad I gave it a chance because this book was messy in all the best ways.
Imagine this: your mom thinks she’s dying and casually drops the bombshell that your dad isn’t your real dad. Then she ups the stakes by confessing that her real soulmate—and your biological father—was her partner-in-crime. Literally. Oh, and let’s add that you’re pregnant, tolerating your baby’s father at best, and now you’re staying in the same hotel where your mom conceived you. It doesn’t stop there. There’s a hunt for your bio dad, a missing mom, two love triangles, animal smuggling, and even an international twist. I mean, what didn’t this book have?
The story follows Monica, whose chaotic life feels like chatting with that one friend who always has wild tea to spill but also makes you want to shake her and say, “Girl, what are you doing?!” Let’s be honest, Monica knew Robert wasn’t the one, and then she and her mom kept secrets from her dad—the man who raised her—even though he’s clearly got his own flaws.
What I loved most was the operatic, telenovela vibe the author nailed. It’s dramatic, layered, and filled with twists, yet it never feels bogged down despite touching on heavy themes like motherhood, second chances, and identity. The dual timelines worked well, but I found myself craving more of the mom’s backstory. She lived a life, and I need every messy detail. Hopefully, we’ll get a prequel because I’m dying to know more.
Tell It to Me Singing is a fun, dramatic, and easy read, perfect if you’re in the mood for some chaotic storytelling with heart. One of those reads you sit back and enjoy where it takes you.
MY THOUGHTS💭: I was happy to have the opportunity to read this book courtesy of MarySue Rucci Books & Simon Element. Now let me tell you, it took me on a ride I wasn’t ready for. When it first came out, I was intrigued but cautious—I tend to be critical of generational tales and mother-daughter stories. However, I’m so glad I gave it a chance because this book was messy in all the best ways.
Imagine this: your mom thinks she’s dying and casually drops the bombshell that your dad isn’t your real dad. Then she ups the stakes by confessing that her real soulmate—and your biological father—was her partner-in-crime. Literally. Oh, and let’s add that you’re pregnant, tolerating your baby’s father at best, and now you’re staying in the same hotel where your mom conceived you. It doesn’t stop there. There’s a hunt for your bio dad, a missing mom, two love triangles, animal smuggling, and even an international twist. I mean, what didn’t this book have?
The story follows Monica, whose chaotic life feels like chatting with that one friend who always has wild tea to spill but also makes you want to shake her and say, “Girl, what are you doing?!” Let’s be honest, Monica knew Robert wasn’t the one, and then she and her mom kept secrets from her dad—the man who raised her—even though he’s clearly got his own flaws.
What I loved most was the operatic, telenovela vibe the author nailed. It’s dramatic, layered, and filled with twists, yet it never feels bogged down despite touching on heavy themes like motherhood, second chances, and identity. The dual timelines worked well, but I found myself craving more of the mom’s backstory. She lived a life, and I need every messy detail. Hopefully, we’ll get a prequel because I’m dying to know more.
Tell It to Me Singing is a fun, dramatic, and easy read, perfect if you’re in the mood for some chaotic storytelling with heart. One of those reads you sit back and enjoy where it takes you.
July 11, 2025
The rating is actually a 3.5 stars. It wasn’t a bad book by any means! It was well written, the plot was good, and I think it was a great representation of a realistic telenovela plot. However, I think the plot the whole time was at a plateau. There wasn’t much of a climax, the characters were alright (except for Manny and the neighbor at the hotel). But I don’t know… it wasn’t super rememberable? But I did like it in between two heavy reads. Very relaxing.
September 2, 2024
A debut novel for Tita Ramirez who grew up in Miami but whose roots are in Cuba. An engaging book that made me think about bloodlines, making the right choices for yourself for the right reasons , how we love (d) our mothers (although can be equally aggravated with them) and provided perspective on being a Cuban living in American.
A pretty quick read with some minor twists and turns.
A pretty quick read with some minor twists and turns.
October 4, 2024
Light fun reading. I enjoyed it at first but the over the top telenovela genre is tiring to me. I used to watch Spanish telenovelas when I was a child but I outgrew them when better TV was available to me. Nonetheless, this was a light fun read overall.
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