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Loca
From Lambda Literary Award–winning author Alejandro Heredia comes a spellbinding debut about intersectionality, enduring friendship, and found family set at the turn of the millennium in 1999, following two Afro-Caribbean friends as they journey beyond the confined expectations of their home country in the Dominican Republic and begin new lives in New York City.
Sal and Charo, two best friends from Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic, arrive in New York City and dream of making the United States their new home—but for very different reasons. Charo left Santa Domingo to escape the life of domesticity that was all but guaranteed for women like her, but soon finds herself in the exact situation she tried to partnered to a controlling man, mother of a young child, and working long hours as a cashier. Sal on the other hand, fled Santa Domingo after an unspeakable tragedy, hoping that the distance would allow him a fresh start. But trauma keeps him in its grips, and he’s unable to move on.
With both friends feeling the same pressures in New York that forced them from their homes, a chance outing at a gay bar introduces Sal to Vance, an African American gay man whose romantic relationship with Sal challenges him to confront the trauma of his past. Through Vance, Charo befriends Ella, an African American trans woman, and Ella’s refusal to be who or what society dictates she should be inspires Charo to reckon with the role she’s grown comfortable in. Sal and Charo soon find themselves part of a queer intersectional community who disrupt the status quo of gender politics and conformity, allowing both to create the family and identities they’ve always longed for.
Sal and Charo, two best friends from Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic, arrive in New York City and dream of making the United States their new home—but for very different reasons. Charo left Santa Domingo to escape the life of domesticity that was all but guaranteed for women like her, but soon finds herself in the exact situation she tried to partnered to a controlling man, mother of a young child, and working long hours as a cashier. Sal on the other hand, fled Santa Domingo after an unspeakable tragedy, hoping that the distance would allow him a fresh start. But trauma keeps him in its grips, and he’s unable to move on.
With both friends feeling the same pressures in New York that forced them from their homes, a chance outing at a gay bar introduces Sal to Vance, an African American gay man whose romantic relationship with Sal challenges him to confront the trauma of his past. Through Vance, Charo befriends Ella, an African American trans woman, and Ella’s refusal to be who or what society dictates she should be inspires Charo to reckon with the role she’s grown comfortable in. Sal and Charo soon find themselves part of a queer intersectional community who disrupt the status quo of gender politics and conformity, allowing both to create the family and identities they’ve always longed for.
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 11, 2025
122 people are currently reading
10008 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
May 27, 2025
3.5 stars
A thoughtful and unapologetic novel centering the Latine diaspora. I appreciated how this novel was real and vivid in its depictions of queerness as well as women making difficult yet self-empowering choices. I found the novel at its strongest when it centered on our main characters Sal and Charo; their bond and the theme of chosen family was moving and well-integrated throughout the novel. Loca would sometimes travel back into the past or splinter into the perspectives of other characters which was more distracting and detracted from the flow and power of the narrative, in my opinion. An interesting debut novel and one that’s definitely different than a lot of what’s getting published nowadays.
A thoughtful and unapologetic novel centering the Latine diaspora. I appreciated how this novel was real and vivid in its depictions of queerness as well as women making difficult yet self-empowering choices. I found the novel at its strongest when it centered on our main characters Sal and Charo; their bond and the theme of chosen family was moving and well-integrated throughout the novel. Loca would sometimes travel back into the past or splinter into the perspectives of other characters which was more distracting and detracted from the flow and power of the narrative, in my opinion. An interesting debut novel and one that’s definitely different than a lot of what’s getting published nowadays.
February 14, 2025
I am a sucker for a great story set in NYC. Growing up as a Latina in the city at this time (I was in my 20s) in 1999, I am very familiar with the diaspora of Latinos at the time and in this place. Although, I am Puerto Rican, I am especially familiar with the Dominican diaspora having attended a high school where the primary Latino population is Dominican, and having Dominican family.
Reading this book was like returning home for me. Sal and Charo are reminders of the friends and family I grew up with and their story is truly representative of many I have know. The author accuracy with NYC atmosphere is amazingly accurate for the time.
Those who enjoyed books like How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water or Dominica by Angie Cruz and interested in the Urban Latino Diaspora, specifically diaspora I strongly recommend this book.
Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. My opinions are my own.
Reading this book was like returning home for me. Sal and Charo are reminders of the friends and family I grew up with and their story is truly representative of many I have know. The author accuracy with NYC atmosphere is amazingly accurate for the time.
Those who enjoyed books like How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water or Dominica by Angie Cruz and interested in the Urban Latino Diaspora, specifically diaspora I strongly recommend this book.
Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. My opinions are my own.
October 11, 2024
3 stars. A solid read, better than some of the other books on the Latinx diaspora experience that I've read this year (and before). The book arguably had one main character, Sal, for most of the first 2/3s of the story, but splintered off later on, which both added interest but sometimes also a bit of confusion. In fact, the character of Charo, originally more of a secondary character, became a more central person later on, and honestly, usually more interesting than Sal.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
May 13, 2025
Phenomenal, beautiful, moving. Expertly rendered queer friendship and New York in the 90s: I loved it. I saw myself in the characters living, thriving, and suffering in the city, and the scenes with the larger cast of the queer communities of the Bronx made me laugh out loud. Heredia contextualizes the weight of difficult decisions with tenderness and empathy— this is a masterpiece.
May 18, 2025
I really loved this! I don’t speak Spanish, so I did have to use a bit of Google Translate, but it was well worth it. The characters are so relatable and kind and the setting of late 90’s New York was perfect.
November 2, 2024
In LOCA, we follow protagonists Sal and Charo through time as they navigate relationships, abandonment, and a desire for belonging. Refreshingly non-linear and so deliberate at the sentence level!
Heredia writes each character with a rigorous degree of nuance, they are: resilient, flawed, brave, selfish, curious, fearful, funny, tragic, honest, and they feel as real as you and I. LOCA plays with time in a way that allows the reader to admire this nuance in each character. I found myself admiring the ways they grew, like Charo’s journey and arrival at the definition of the kind of woman she wanted to be. I was also frustrated (in the BEST way!) when characters would do the very human thing of contradicting their desires, like Sal calling Vance instead of the museum for a follow-up interview knowing that he’d love the job. This admiration-frustration combo is a sentiment I tend to hold for myself and the people I love most. For that reason, I recognize LOCA as a necessary mirror and I’m so grateful for having experienced it!
Heredia writes each character with a rigorous degree of nuance, they are: resilient, flawed, brave, selfish, curious, fearful, funny, tragic, honest, and they feel as real as you and I. LOCA plays with time in a way that allows the reader to admire this nuance in each character. I found myself admiring the ways they grew, like Charo’s journey and arrival at the definition of the kind of woman she wanted to be. I was also frustrated (in the BEST way!) when characters would do the very human thing of contradicting their desires, like Sal calling Vance instead of the museum for a follow-up interview knowing that he’d love the job. This admiration-frustration combo is a sentiment I tend to hold for myself and the people I love most. For that reason, I recognize LOCA as a necessary mirror and I’m so grateful for having experienced it!
June 16, 2025
Loca by Alejandro Heredia was bold and emotional, with powerful themes around homosexuality, identity, and survival as a Latino. I really appreciated the raw honesty and the way Heredia gave voice to a character rarely seen in fiction. That said, some parts felt a little disjointed for me, and I had trouble staying connected to the narrative at times. Still, it’s a meaningful read that leaves an impression.
July 1, 2025
I really wanted to like this, but I was honestly a little bored reading this. The sudden changes in perspective and time period made it quite confusing, and there were too many characters to keep track of who is who. The story didn't really go anywhere, it was just a description of a year in the life of a bunch of queer immigrant twenty-somethings.
May 25, 2025
There were parts of this book that really hooked me, but I finished it less than an hour ago and couldn’t tell you more than 3 main events that happened or more than 2 character names. (And there’s A LOT of characters)
February 18, 2025
In his spellbinding debut novel "Loca," Alejandro Heredia crafts an intricate narrative that weaves together themes of identity, migration, trauma, and the transformative power of friendship. Set against the backdrop of late 1990s New York City and Santo Domingo, the story follows two Afro-Caribbean friends, Sal and Charo, as they navigate the complexities of building new lives while carrying the weight of their past.
Plot and Narrative Structure
The novel unfolds through interweaving timelines, skillfully alternating between the present (1999) and pivotal moments from the characters' past in Santo Domingo. This non-linear structure serves to gradually reveal the layers of trauma and connection that bind the protagonists, particularly the tragic event that prompted Sal's departure from his homeland.
Heredia's narrative choices are deliberate and effective, though occasionally the transitions between timelines can feel abrupt, requiring careful attention from readers to maintain their bearings in the story. However, this minor criticism is overshadowed by the author's masterful handling of multiple perspectives and his ability to create authentic, fully realized characters.
Character Development and Relationships
The Central Friendship
At the heart of "Loca" is the profound friendship between Sal and Charo. Their relationship serves as an anchor throughout the novel, even as they pursue different paths and face unique challenges. Heredia excels at portraying the complexities of their bond - how they support each other while sometimes failing to fully understand one another's struggles.
Supporting Characters
The novel's supporting cast is equally well-drawn, particularly:
- Vance - Sal's African American boyfriend whose presence challenges Sal to confront his past
- Ella - A trans woman whose friendship helps Charo question her prescribed roles
- Don Julio - Sal's roommate whose own history of trauma and healing provides a powerful parallel narrative
- Robert - Charo's controlling partner, portrayed with nuance rather than as a simple antagonist
Themes and Social Commentary
Intersectionality and Identity
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its nuanced exploration of intersecting identities. Heredia thoughtfully examines how race, sexuality, gender, and immigrant status combine to shape his characters' experiences. The author avoids simplistic representations, instead showing how these identities create both challenges and opportunities for connection.
Trauma and Healing
The novel's treatment of trauma, particularly through Sal's character, is both sensitive and realistic. Heredia demonstrates deep understanding of how past wounds inform present relationships, while avoiding the trap of defining his characters solely by their traumas.
Found Family and Community
"Loca" presents a compelling portrait of chosen family within the LGBTQ+ community. The author skillfully depicts how marginalized individuals create support networks that transcend traditional familial bonds.
Writing Style and Technical Elements
Heredia's prose is both lyrical and precise, shifting seamlessly between poetic passages and sharp dialogue. His use of Spanish throughout the text feels natural and adds authenticity to the characters' voices, though some readers might occasionally struggle with untranslated phrases.
Strengths:
- Rich, evocative descriptions
- Authentic dialogue
- Skillful handling of multiple languages
- Strong sense of place
Areas for Improvement:
- Timeline transitions could be smoother
- Some secondary plot threads feel underdeveloped
- Occasional pacing issues in the middle section
- Cultural Context and Representation
The novel provides valuable insight into both Dominican and New York City LGBTQ+ cultures of the late 1990s. Heredia's representation of these communities feels authentic and lived-in, avoiding common stereotypes while acknowledging cultural specificities.
Impact and Significance
"Loca" makes a significant contribution to contemporary LGBTQ+ literature, particularly in its representation of Afro-Caribbean queer experiences. The novel's exploration of identity and belonging resonates beyond its specific cultural context, speaking to universal themes of self-discovery and connection.
Historical Context
Set against the backdrop of pre-millennium anxiety and changing social landscapes, the novel effectively captures a specific moment in time while exploring timeless themes. Heredia's attention to historical detail - from the impact of Hurricane Floyd to the emerging awareness of HIV/AIDS - grounds the narrative in its era while maintaining relevance for contemporary readers.
Final Verdict
"Loca" is a remarkable debut that announces Heredia as a significant new voice in contemporary literature. Despite some minor technical issues, the novel's emotional depth, complex characterization, and beautiful prose make it a compelling and important addition to the canon of LGBTQ+ and immigrant literature.
Recommendation
"Loca" is highly recommended for readers who appreciate complex character studies and nuanced explorations of identity. While some familiarity with Spanish may enhance the reading experience, the novel remains accessible to monolingual English readers. The book's themes and emotional resonance will stay with readers long after they've finished the final page.
Plot and Narrative Structure
The novel unfolds through interweaving timelines, skillfully alternating between the present (1999) and pivotal moments from the characters' past in Santo Domingo. This non-linear structure serves to gradually reveal the layers of trauma and connection that bind the protagonists, particularly the tragic event that prompted Sal's departure from his homeland.
Heredia's narrative choices are deliberate and effective, though occasionally the transitions between timelines can feel abrupt, requiring careful attention from readers to maintain their bearings in the story. However, this minor criticism is overshadowed by the author's masterful handling of multiple perspectives and his ability to create authentic, fully realized characters.
Character Development and Relationships
The Central Friendship
At the heart of "Loca" is the profound friendship between Sal and Charo. Their relationship serves as an anchor throughout the novel, even as they pursue different paths and face unique challenges. Heredia excels at portraying the complexities of their bond - how they support each other while sometimes failing to fully understand one another's struggles.
Supporting Characters
The novel's supporting cast is equally well-drawn, particularly:
- Vance - Sal's African American boyfriend whose presence challenges Sal to confront his past
- Ella - A trans woman whose friendship helps Charo question her prescribed roles
- Don Julio - Sal's roommate whose own history of trauma and healing provides a powerful parallel narrative
- Robert - Charo's controlling partner, portrayed with nuance rather than as a simple antagonist
Themes and Social Commentary
Intersectionality and Identity
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its nuanced exploration of intersecting identities. Heredia thoughtfully examines how race, sexuality, gender, and immigrant status combine to shape his characters' experiences. The author avoids simplistic representations, instead showing how these identities create both challenges and opportunities for connection.
Trauma and Healing
The novel's treatment of trauma, particularly through Sal's character, is both sensitive and realistic. Heredia demonstrates deep understanding of how past wounds inform present relationships, while avoiding the trap of defining his characters solely by their traumas.
Found Family and Community
"Loca" presents a compelling portrait of chosen family within the LGBTQ+ community. The author skillfully depicts how marginalized individuals create support networks that transcend traditional familial bonds.
Writing Style and Technical Elements
Heredia's prose is both lyrical and precise, shifting seamlessly between poetic passages and sharp dialogue. His use of Spanish throughout the text feels natural and adds authenticity to the characters' voices, though some readers might occasionally struggle with untranslated phrases.
Strengths:
- Rich, evocative descriptions
- Authentic dialogue
- Skillful handling of multiple languages
- Strong sense of place
Areas for Improvement:
- Timeline transitions could be smoother
- Some secondary plot threads feel underdeveloped
- Occasional pacing issues in the middle section
- Cultural Context and Representation
The novel provides valuable insight into both Dominican and New York City LGBTQ+ cultures of the late 1990s. Heredia's representation of these communities feels authentic and lived-in, avoiding common stereotypes while acknowledging cultural specificities.
Impact and Significance
"Loca" makes a significant contribution to contemporary LGBTQ+ literature, particularly in its representation of Afro-Caribbean queer experiences. The novel's exploration of identity and belonging resonates beyond its specific cultural context, speaking to universal themes of self-discovery and connection.
Historical Context
Set against the backdrop of pre-millennium anxiety and changing social landscapes, the novel effectively captures a specific moment in time while exploring timeless themes. Heredia's attention to historical detail - from the impact of Hurricane Floyd to the emerging awareness of HIV/AIDS - grounds the narrative in its era while maintaining relevance for contemporary readers.
Final Verdict
"Loca" is a remarkable debut that announces Heredia as a significant new voice in contemporary literature. Despite some minor technical issues, the novel's emotional depth, complex characterization, and beautiful prose make it a compelling and important addition to the canon of LGBTQ+ and immigrant literature.
Recommendation
"Loca" is highly recommended for readers who appreciate complex character studies and nuanced explorations of identity. While some familiarity with Spanish may enhance the reading experience, the novel remains accessible to monolingual English readers. The book's themes and emotional resonance will stay with readers long after they've finished the final page.
May 8, 2025
This novel is beautifully written. Alejandro has a gift with words. The imagery is vivid with beautiful metaphors inspired by nature that delicately situate readers in various eras of the Dominican Republic, late 90s/early 2000s New York City, and suburban Pennsylvania. His writing evokes a deep appreciation and nostalgia for the mundane of life in The Bronx, like pigeons landing on a windowsill, sitting on a fire escape and being assaulted by the sounds of ambulance and police sirens, the magic of a Dominican immigrant’s first time seeing snow en Nueva York.
The characters are complicated, relatable, and imbued with such humanity that by the end of the book they feel like old friends. Alejandro weaves together the complex narratives of people that have historically been relegated to the margins of society: immigrants que no son ni de aqui ni de allá, trans and gay people, black folks, mothers that struggle with traditional expectations of motherhood, darker skinned Dominicans, among others. It is a story about the power of community and the necessity of returning home, physically, emotionally and spiritually. By the end of the book, the characters decide to face their demons, having arrived there not by brute force and sheer will but by slowly letting go. The book forces readers to reckon with the messiness of life. What are we unwilling to feel? To accept about ourselves and the choices we’ve made? What if it isn’t too late to live the life we’ve always wanted?
The characters are complicated, relatable, and imbued with such humanity that by the end of the book they feel like old friends. Alejandro weaves together the complex narratives of people that have historically been relegated to the margins of society: immigrants que no son ni de aqui ni de allá, trans and gay people, black folks, mothers that struggle with traditional expectations of motherhood, darker skinned Dominicans, among others. It is a story about the power of community and the necessity of returning home, physically, emotionally and spiritually. By the end of the book, the characters decide to face their demons, having arrived there not by brute force and sheer will but by slowly letting go. The book forces readers to reckon with the messiness of life. What are we unwilling to feel? To accept about ourselves and the choices we’ve made? What if it isn’t too late to live the life we’ve always wanted?
December 26, 2024
"Wasn’t that the point of leaving everything behind to come to this country? To live entirely unlike who they might have been on the island?”
These thoughts of Charo, one of the main characters of Alejandro Heredia's forthcoming book, Loca (Simon & Schuster, February 2025), encapsulate the novel’s narrative thread. In it, readers follow two young people, Charo and Sal, growing up in the Dominican Republic and struggling to be their authentic selves – Charo because she chafes against the limits of the traditional role of wife and mother, and Sal because he is eager to live as a gay man fully and without fear. They see a new life in the United States as a fresh start, where they can be the people they want to be. However, their pasts are not easily left behind and, ultimately, they learn that they won’t find themselves by running away, but by running back.
For me, Loca represents everything I love about literature: that I, a middle-aged white woman in the upper Midwest, can open a book and drop into a world I would otherwise never experience. Suddenly, I’m sitting in an apartment in the Bronx or walking in a park in the Dominican, in a body very different than my own. Heredia maintained this feeling of embodiment through the use of Spanish throughout. Sometimes I knew the words, sometimes looked them up, sometimes I gleaned meaning from context, and sometimes I left the Spanish phrases unknown and let myself sit with the reminder that I am from outside this community.
One of my favorite passages was when Sal and his friend, Yadiel, someone much more at ease with his queerness, are drinking coffee at La Cafetería Colonial. Though male, they refer to each other as loca: “They’ve been doing this new thing where they refer to each other in feminine pronouns, and it feels good. Simple. Like seeing each other better.” I loved the idea of them taking a language structured around the binary of male and female and carving out a space for themselves inside it.
There were times as I read, particularly in Sal’s point of view, where he didn’t seem emotionally connected to the events in the book, some extremely violent and terrifying, and so I didn’t either. Sal ruminates about them (the word “think(s)” is used 220 times in the book – thanks Kindle! – and usually associated with Sal.) There are benefits and disadvantages to Sal’s thoughtfulness – readers have direct access to the thoughts of a person they might not under other circumstance have access to, but because the events and experiences are screened through Sal’s thoughts, they remain distant.
To me, Charo was more present on the page, more actionable. While Sal was thinking, she was doing: working, cleaning, partying, writing, driving. She also tried to get other characters to do things: Sal to make phone calls; Ella to sing. I felt more connected to her and invested in her story as the book unfolded.
In the end, neither Sal nor Charo has left everything behind, and neither lives entirely unlike who they might have been in Santo Domingo. But they’ve learned that their identities are rooted within themselves rather than in the place where they live. I was glad to go on the journey with them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy. The cover art drew me in and the sentences made me stay.
These thoughts of Charo, one of the main characters of Alejandro Heredia's forthcoming book, Loca (Simon & Schuster, February 2025), encapsulate the novel’s narrative thread. In it, readers follow two young people, Charo and Sal, growing up in the Dominican Republic and struggling to be their authentic selves – Charo because she chafes against the limits of the traditional role of wife and mother, and Sal because he is eager to live as a gay man fully and without fear. They see a new life in the United States as a fresh start, where they can be the people they want to be. However, their pasts are not easily left behind and, ultimately, they learn that they won’t find themselves by running away, but by running back.
For me, Loca represents everything I love about literature: that I, a middle-aged white woman in the upper Midwest, can open a book and drop into a world I would otherwise never experience. Suddenly, I’m sitting in an apartment in the Bronx or walking in a park in the Dominican, in a body very different than my own. Heredia maintained this feeling of embodiment through the use of Spanish throughout. Sometimes I knew the words, sometimes looked them up, sometimes I gleaned meaning from context, and sometimes I left the Spanish phrases unknown and let myself sit with the reminder that I am from outside this community.
One of my favorite passages was when Sal and his friend, Yadiel, someone much more at ease with his queerness, are drinking coffee at La Cafetería Colonial. Though male, they refer to each other as loca: “They’ve been doing this new thing where they refer to each other in feminine pronouns, and it feels good. Simple. Like seeing each other better.” I loved the idea of them taking a language structured around the binary of male and female and carving out a space for themselves inside it.
There were times as I read, particularly in Sal’s point of view, where he didn’t seem emotionally connected to the events in the book, some extremely violent and terrifying, and so I didn’t either. Sal ruminates about them (the word “think(s)” is used 220 times in the book – thanks Kindle! – and usually associated with Sal.) There are benefits and disadvantages to Sal’s thoughtfulness – readers have direct access to the thoughts of a person they might not under other circumstance have access to, but because the events and experiences are screened through Sal’s thoughts, they remain distant.
To me, Charo was more present on the page, more actionable. While Sal was thinking, she was doing: working, cleaning, partying, writing, driving. She also tried to get other characters to do things: Sal to make phone calls; Ella to sing. I felt more connected to her and invested in her story as the book unfolded.
In the end, neither Sal nor Charo has left everything behind, and neither lives entirely unlike who they might have been in Santo Domingo. But they’ve learned that their identities are rooted within themselves rather than in the place where they live. I was glad to go on the journey with them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy. The cover art drew me in and the sentences made me stay.
February 12, 2025
When I first saw Loca described as Drown by Junot Díaz meets Pose, I had to pause. That’s a bold claim—one that could easily set expectations too high. But let me tell you, Alejandro Heredia delivers.
This book makes homes out of characters, and one of the greatest characters in this novel is the raw, unfiltered energy of the Bronx. Reading this book makes you feel like you're sitting on the stoop, listening to someone you’ve known forever spill their truth.
Heredia’s characters are real—not just in their struggles but in the way they move, speak, love, and fight to be seen. If you don’t see yourself in Sal, the protagonist, you’ll see your tía, your prima, your papi, or that little hermanito you’d do anything for (Kiko is adorable and so full of heart). The relationships in this book aren’t just well-written—they’re lived-in, layered with all the contradictions that come with being Dominican, queer, and trying to survive in a world that wasn’t built with you in mind.
What makes Loca stand out in the Dominican American literary canon is its insistence on centering the voices that too often get pushed to the margins. It doesn’t just tell a story—it claims space. Heredia writes with a poet’s precision and a storyteller’s urgency, crafting a novel that’s as much about love and belonging as it is about grief and resilience.
This book makes homes out of characters, and one of the greatest characters in this novel is the raw, unfiltered energy of the Bronx. Reading this book makes you feel like you're sitting on the stoop, listening to someone you’ve known forever spill their truth.
Heredia’s characters are real—not just in their struggles but in the way they move, speak, love, and fight to be seen. If you don’t see yourself in Sal, the protagonist, you’ll see your tía, your prima, your papi, or that little hermanito you’d do anything for (Kiko is adorable and so full of heart). The relationships in this book aren’t just well-written—they’re lived-in, layered with all the contradictions that come with being Dominican, queer, and trying to survive in a world that wasn’t built with you in mind.
What makes Loca stand out in the Dominican American literary canon is its insistence on centering the voices that too often get pushed to the margins. It doesn’t just tell a story—it claims space. Heredia writes with a poet’s precision and a storyteller’s urgency, crafting a novel that’s as much about love and belonging as it is about grief and resilience.
May 25, 2025
Maybe I'm just not one for stories about the everyday minutia of living, but this one was just middle of the road for me. While it was interesting exploring a time period that you don't usually see portrayed in LGBT literature, the characters and story didn't really garb me until more than halfway through. Still an important story I think for people who connect with it, as some of the themes explored can be good, but not for me overall. Writing style wasn't terrible though so it's at least a 3/5.
January 13, 2025
Wow, this book feels like home. As someone who grew up and spent time in and near the areas covered during that time period, I'm so grateful this book was written. It captured what it was like to be part of the diaspora in the 90's. In this book I see myself, my parent's friends, my cousins, and others I crossed paths with.
Loca follows Sal and Charo's lives from childhood in the Dominican Republic to their adulthood in the Bronx and beyond. All of the characters are so well written, these feel like people from my past and present in so many ways. The writing drew me in right away. This book tackles big questions and tackles them well. What is it like to be queer? To love a queer person? To try to make a living in a world that isn't what you grew up with? What is it like to be a lover? A friend? A mother? To be oneself?
This really brings together the spirit of a Junot Diaz writing and the tv show Pose. This has been exactly what I have been needing, it was beautiful. I loved it not just because I relate to it, but because it was well written. I felt all the characters served their purpose well and the stories told were at a rhythm and organization that I liked. These are compelling human stories mirrored in book forms. Excellent and I can't wait for my loved ones to read this book.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC for review.
#SimonBooks @SimonBooks
Loca follows Sal and Charo's lives from childhood in the Dominican Republic to their adulthood in the Bronx and beyond. All of the characters are so well written, these feel like people from my past and present in so many ways. The writing drew me in right away. This book tackles big questions and tackles them well. What is it like to be queer? To love a queer person? To try to make a living in a world that isn't what you grew up with? What is it like to be a lover? A friend? A mother? To be oneself?
This really brings together the spirit of a Junot Diaz writing and the tv show Pose. This has been exactly what I have been needing, it was beautiful. I loved it not just because I relate to it, but because it was well written. I felt all the characters served their purpose well and the stories told were at a rhythm and organization that I liked. These are compelling human stories mirrored in book forms. Excellent and I can't wait for my loved ones to read this book.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC for review.
#SimonBooks @SimonBooks
February 11, 2025
4.5/5
Alejandro Heredia’s Loca is a stunning and deeply emotional novel that I know will stay with me for a long time. The characters, their relationships, and the emotions woven throughout the story made this a truly special read. While it took me a minute to fully grasp the shifting time periods, once I settled into the rhythm of the narrative, I found myself completely immersed in Loca’s world.
This book takes on a lot—identity, queerness, immigration, and the experience of being Hispanic in the U.S.—and yet it never feels overwhelmed by these themes. Instead, Heredia expertly threads them together in a way that feels natural and deeply personal. The pacing is slow at times, but I actually appreciated that; it gave me space to sit with the characters and their emotions, to feel the weight of their experiences. Not much happens in terms of plot, but that’s part of what makes Loca so powerful. Sometimes, life is about the small moments, the everyday struggles, and the quiet realizations.
I loved this book for its honesty, its tenderness, and the way it lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page. Loca isn’t just a story—it’s an experience, and one that I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a chance to read this stellar eARC.
Alejandro Heredia’s Loca is a stunning and deeply emotional novel that I know will stay with me for a long time. The characters, their relationships, and the emotions woven throughout the story made this a truly special read. While it took me a minute to fully grasp the shifting time periods, once I settled into the rhythm of the narrative, I found myself completely immersed in Loca’s world.
This book takes on a lot—identity, queerness, immigration, and the experience of being Hispanic in the U.S.—and yet it never feels overwhelmed by these themes. Instead, Heredia expertly threads them together in a way that feels natural and deeply personal. The pacing is slow at times, but I actually appreciated that; it gave me space to sit with the characters and their emotions, to feel the weight of their experiences. Not much happens in terms of plot, but that’s part of what makes Loca so powerful. Sometimes, life is about the small moments, the everyday struggles, and the quiet realizations.
I loved this book for its honesty, its tenderness, and the way it lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page. Loca isn’t just a story—it’s an experience, and one that I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a chance to read this stellar eARC.
February 8, 2025
I found this book randomly by Barnes and nobles and the cover made me want to buy the book. They put the book out early before the release.
We following 2 friends thru a year of their lives in New York 1999. You learn a lot about Spanish / DR culture.
It makes you think about life choices and their impact on you, your friends and you family and also… there’s no wrong choice anyway but yeah you will see.
I like how he including lgbtq topics into the book,
That were relevant in 1999.
It’s a truly great debut novel.
But don’t expect it to be an action thriller…
It’s honestly cosy 99% of the book.
We following 2 friends thru a year of their lives in New York 1999. You learn a lot about Spanish / DR culture.
It makes you think about life choices and their impact on you, your friends and you family and also… there’s no wrong choice anyway but yeah you will see.
I like how he including lgbtq topics into the book,
That were relevant in 1999.
It’s a truly great debut novel.
But don’t expect it to be an action thriller…
It’s honestly cosy 99% of the book.
July 11, 2025
This was a good book about two people finding their way in New York. I appreciated the queer characters, they felt realized and I grew a fondness for them. However, Sal became kind of annoying constantly getting in his own way, and I started to not enjoy his sections as much. Charo became a fav.
I would recommend this.
Thanks Simon Books for the finished copy!
I would recommend this.
Thanks Simon Books for the finished copy!
November 13, 2025
3.5 rounded down
Very interesting to have a book centered around two characters who are mostly opposites but share so much history and love. Two leads who feel pretty detached from themselves. Two people from the same place, in the same place, who cannot escape themselves. One expects too much, the other expects too little from those they love.
This book is all about reexamining the most important relationships in your life. Sal’s on a journey with his queer and Dominican identity. Charo is reexamining her own motherhood. But of course, this is really just reexamining their relationships with themselves.
Charo meets the moment and wants to enable everyone else to do the same, but they all disappoint her. Sal can’t meet the present because he cannot face the past. “Who are your people?”
In so many ways, this is like the opposite of my typical girls-who-feel-bad book while still containing all the main tenets of the genre. White female protagonists of the genre struggle with real issues, but have the space or safety net to destroy their lives/reputation in some aloof way in something that’s the opposite of a safe little cocoon, but they still emerge a triumphant butterfly who has healed in some way, or achieved something, and can now move forward.
Charo follows this format in many ways, but Sal…. He is trying so hard to just be himself, but it never feels safe. He’s trying so hard to show up that it paralyzes him and he suddenly can’t leave his apartment. Everyone wants him to succeed. Everyone is helping him. But he never feels safe, and his fear is constantly being affirmed by something going wrong or his sense of safety being jeopardized for how “his people” are treated by society even though he’s trying to do everything right. He feels bad, and he has every right!!!!
Does that mean I WANT to hang out with a protagonist who’s often hiding from the world in their apartment? Who takes weeks, if not months, to figure out their next move? No!!!!!!
Big decisions are finally made in the last ~100 pages, but I wish it was done in the first 100. But could this just be because I’m a sucker for transformation and drama? This book also explored American-ness in an interesting way, in a way that only broke immigrants can, that really made me check my own relationship with individualism. Don Julio’s history told in the voice of the collective bystander was a BRILLIANT underscore of this idea too.
Like all books, I wish this was a little funnier. So many characters are pretty perfect (Ella, Vance, Eve, Tia), so why not make them funny if they can’t be complex in any way beyond having some backstory of struggle?
The biggest thing I learned from this book is Galileo really is that bitch.
Very interesting to have a book centered around two characters who are mostly opposites but share so much history and love. Two leads who feel pretty detached from themselves. Two people from the same place, in the same place, who cannot escape themselves. One expects too much, the other expects too little from those they love.
This book is all about reexamining the most important relationships in your life. Sal’s on a journey with his queer and Dominican identity. Charo is reexamining her own motherhood. But of course, this is really just reexamining their relationships with themselves.
Charo meets the moment and wants to enable everyone else to do the same, but they all disappoint her. Sal can’t meet the present because he cannot face the past. “Who are your people?”
In so many ways, this is like the opposite of my typical girls-who-feel-bad book while still containing all the main tenets of the genre. White female protagonists of the genre struggle with real issues, but have the space or safety net to destroy their lives/reputation in some aloof way in something that’s the opposite of a safe little cocoon, but they still emerge a triumphant butterfly who has healed in some way, or achieved something, and can now move forward.
Charo follows this format in many ways, but Sal…. He is trying so hard to just be himself, but it never feels safe. He’s trying so hard to show up that it paralyzes him and he suddenly can’t leave his apartment. Everyone wants him to succeed. Everyone is helping him. But he never feels safe, and his fear is constantly being affirmed by something going wrong or his sense of safety being jeopardized for how “his people” are treated by society even though he’s trying to do everything right. He feels bad, and he has every right!!!!
Does that mean I WANT to hang out with a protagonist who’s often hiding from the world in their apartment? Who takes weeks, if not months, to figure out their next move? No!!!!!!
Big decisions are finally made in the last ~100 pages, but I wish it was done in the first 100. But could this just be because I’m a sucker for transformation and drama? This book also explored American-ness in an interesting way, in a way that only broke immigrants can, that really made me check my own relationship with individualism. Don Julio’s history told in the voice of the collective bystander was a BRILLIANT underscore of this idea too.
Like all books, I wish this was a little funnier. So many characters are pretty perfect (Ella, Vance, Eve, Tia), so why not make them funny if they can’t be complex in any way beyond having some backstory of struggle?
The biggest thing I learned from this book is Galileo really is that bitch.
June 1, 2025
4.25/5.
August 19, 2025
I thought a lot about how we long for certain things in our lives, yet our upbringing and our traumas can push us elsewhere— what better place to dream than New York City??
April 6, 2025
I’ve read quite a few books about the diasporic immigrant experience and would say this falls about in the middle. It didn’t wow me but I did enjoy the complicated characters and the author’s focus on the intersection of multiple identities (queer, Black, Spanish, etc). I did not enjoy how the writing would jump between time periods on the fly, which confused me in multiple instances.
We follow best friends Sal and Charo in NYC in the ‘90s, both just trying to hold their lives together. Sal is Dominican and works at a restaurant but is haunted by the murder of his childhood best friend who was trans. Charo is a new mom who is uncertain in her identity after motherhood. Both join a new group of friends and start to question different aspects about themselves and their relationships.
Sal’s story was more compelling than Charo’s in my opinion because there was more centering around grief and how trauma lingers and the ways in which people can’t continue to run from their past. Heredia does a great job discussing the nuances of identity politics. For example, a scene with Charo resonated with me when she mentions how isolated she feels in Pennsylvania because people think she’s Black until she starts talking with a Spanish accent and people no longer know how to place her. There are multiple vignettes like this that really make the reader think, especially white readers that have never had to experience this before.
The ending felt incomplete and the story unfinished, which is why I took off a star. I also wish there was more linear storytelling, especially related to Sal’s past and friendship with Yadiel. Overall I’m really glad I gave this a shot and of course the cover is stunning. Worth picking up at the library!
We follow best friends Sal and Charo in NYC in the ‘90s, both just trying to hold their lives together. Sal is Dominican and works at a restaurant but is haunted by the murder of his childhood best friend who was trans. Charo is a new mom who is uncertain in her identity after motherhood. Both join a new group of friends and start to question different aspects about themselves and their relationships.
Sal’s story was more compelling than Charo’s in my opinion because there was more centering around grief and how trauma lingers and the ways in which people can’t continue to run from their past. Heredia does a great job discussing the nuances of identity politics. For example, a scene with Charo resonated with me when she mentions how isolated she feels in Pennsylvania because people think she’s Black until she starts talking with a Spanish accent and people no longer know how to place her. There are multiple vignettes like this that really make the reader think, especially white readers that have never had to experience this before.
The ending felt incomplete and the story unfinished, which is why I took off a star. I also wish there was more linear storytelling, especially related to Sal’s past and friendship with Yadiel. Overall I’m really glad I gave this a shot and of course the cover is stunning. Worth picking up at the library!
Read
October 21, 2025Reading Loca is like getting to know a new friend - the nonlinear narrative (may not work for some readers, but I found it compelling) unveils our characters slowly, which is akin to how bits of history, pain, fondness, and understanding come through as you learn more about someone over time, feeling into that relationship as it deepens and grows. There is a striking transparency and honesty in this book that caught me off guard (in a good way!) in the most unexpected moments. We are all running away from something, and towards something, even if we don’t know what it is quite yet. Reading this (as a young 20 something) was like spending time with a friend and being on that uncertain and beautiful journey together. I hope this book continues to find those it is meant to find and move deeply <3 (esp young qtbipoc ppl !! Guys tap in!!!!)
February 11, 2025
This is my first review on Goodreads because of the impression this book left on me. In an era of banned books, it’s important for stories like these to get publicity and for book lovers across the world to enjoy them. Books like this is why I fell in love with reading. Because it gives insight into other people’s lives and it builds empathy and compassion. We need to understand and appreciate the full scope of the human experience in order for us to coexist freely.
I was privileged to get an advanced readers copy but after finishing it decided to buy a copy for my collection. This book is beautifully written, with characters that stay with you and vignettes of words that linger well after you stop reading.
Being Puerto Rican with parents from NY, I saw myself and family members reflected in this book. Alejandro’s imagination intersects with creativity and authenticity to lead us on a journey with a Queer, Dominican main character and all of those that support him in this coming of age story. It touches on a number of real life and heartbreaking topics but the delivery allows for space to digest and internalize the story while also giving hope and joy.
Put this on your TBR. You will not be disappointed. And spread the word!
I was privileged to get an advanced readers copy but after finishing it decided to buy a copy for my collection. This book is beautifully written, with characters that stay with you and vignettes of words that linger well after you stop reading.
Being Puerto Rican with parents from NY, I saw myself and family members reflected in this book. Alejandro’s imagination intersects with creativity and authenticity to lead us on a journey with a Queer, Dominican main character and all of those that support him in this coming of age story. It touches on a number of real life and heartbreaking topics but the delivery allows for space to digest and internalize the story while also giving hope and joy.
Put this on your TBR. You will not be disappointed. And spread the word!
March 4, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Loca follows best friends Sal and Charo as they pursue their dreams in New York City.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I struggled at first with the way the book struck such an odd balance between Sal and Charo, with the narrative more Sal-focused to start and Charo coming in closer to the end, but ultimately I think this choice allowed me greater investment in each character individually than if they had been evened out throughout the story. I love a nonlinear narrative, too, and Heredia used that nonlinear structure to really highlight the thematic richness and nuance of the narrative in a way I'm sure I'll be thinking about long into the future. The story is intricate, careful, and heartfelt, and Heredia's writing is just spectacular. As a reading experience, this definitely required continuous, conscious engagement with the text -- it was not a book I sunk into so much as a book I pored over -- but it was spectacular nonetheless.
Loca follows best friends Sal and Charo as they pursue their dreams in New York City.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I struggled at first with the way the book struck such an odd balance between Sal and Charo, with the narrative more Sal-focused to start and Charo coming in closer to the end, but ultimately I think this choice allowed me greater investment in each character individually than if they had been evened out throughout the story. I love a nonlinear narrative, too, and Heredia used that nonlinear structure to really highlight the thematic richness and nuance of the narrative in a way I'm sure I'll be thinking about long into the future. The story is intricate, careful, and heartfelt, and Heredia's writing is just spectacular. As a reading experience, this definitely required continuous, conscious engagement with the text -- it was not a book I sunk into so much as a book I pored over -- but it was spectacular nonetheless.
March 9, 2025
Such a refreshing unpretentious voice that grabs you and makes you care for these characters right away, for all of them.
The friendship between the two main characters is a love story. Alejandro Heredia tells the story of a woman finding herself and pushing back the definition of Latina good mother and a the one of a gay man finding peace as he confronts the trauma caused by a society that condones the abuse to people like him. But this story is so much more than that. It portraits so naturally what it is to be black and Latino, what it means to be an immigrant in a big urban setting and in small town America. It portraits family and the families we build with our friends. It portraits the rejection, abuse and violence to some of us, but most importantly the embrace, care and love that we can find and built in response. Such a great debut!
The friendship between the two main characters is a love story. Alejandro Heredia tells the story of a woman finding herself and pushing back the definition of Latina good mother and a the one of a gay man finding peace as he confronts the trauma caused by a society that condones the abuse to people like him. But this story is so much more than that. It portraits so naturally what it is to be black and Latino, what it means to be an immigrant in a big urban setting and in small town America. It portraits family and the families we build with our friends. It portraits the rejection, abuse and violence to some of us, but most importantly the embrace, care and love that we can find and built in response. Such a great debut!
January 26, 2025
"Loca" by Alejandro Heredia is such a tender and beautifully written novel. The dialogue feels authentic, bold, and honest—so much so that I found myself smiling and feeling a sense of home while reading it. Heredia managed to create characters I rooted for, even when they made questionable decisions in their pursuit of belonging and making peace with their past.
Heredia's novel teaches a wonderful lesson on how to show up for yourself and others, even through obstacles and misunderstandings, which we could use more of in this world.
Heredia's novel teaches a wonderful lesson on how to show up for yourself and others, even through obstacles and misunderstandings, which we could use more of in this world.
March 22, 2025
Beautifully written, detailed and nuanced with aspects of life within the diaspora and you’re fighting for a dream while heartbroken about what you left behind.
The book explores Sals identity within two countries, new realities and social structures that seem to be intertwined but play by a different set of rules. It explores friendship, heartbreak, hardship and the rebuilding of oneself.
Alex Heredia does a beautiful job of creating a sense of nostalgia but of hope as well.
Beautiful book.
The book explores Sals identity within two countries, new realities and social structures that seem to be intertwined but play by a different set of rules. It explores friendship, heartbreak, hardship and the rebuilding of oneself.
Alex Heredia does a beautiful job of creating a sense of nostalgia but of hope as well.
Beautiful book.
February 13, 2025
LOCA is one of the most beautifully crafted novels I’ve ever read. It will simultaneously break your heart and comfort you like an embrace when reuniting with a long distance friend. Alejandro Heredia’s writing is elegant and vividly descriptive; his characters painstakingly human. In my opinion, LOCA should easily top the charts for 2025 literary fiction, but at the very least will be a beloved book I treasure and return to in years to come.
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