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Olga Dies Dreaming

By: Xochitl Gonzalez
Narrated by: Almarie Guerra, Inés del Castillo, Armando Riesco
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Publisher's summary

"All three narrators are Puerto-Rican born and deliver the Spanish passages with musical grace, thereby enhancing an already fine novel." (The Washington Post)

“The narrators’ accents and code-shifting create a vibrant auditory experience. In particular, Guerra’s luscious voice conveys Olga’s transformation from fighter to a compassionate woman as she overcomes dualities and finds wholeness within herself.”–BookPage

A blazing new talent debuts with the story of a status-driven wedding planner grappling with her absent mother, her glittering career amongst New York’s elite, and her Puerto Rican roots in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

It’s 2017, and Olga and her brother, Pedro “Prieto” Acevedo” are bold-faced names in their hometown of New York. Prieto is a popular Congressman representing their gentrifying Latinx neighborhood in Brooklyn while Olga is the tony wedding planner for Manhattan’s powerbrokers.

Despite their alluring public lives, behind closed doors things are far less rosy. Sure, Olga can orchestrate the love stories of the one percent, but she can’t seem to find her own...until she meets Matteo, who forces her to confront the effects of long-held family secrets....

Twenty-seven years ago, their mother, Blanca, a Young Lord-turned-radical, abandoned her children to advance a militant political cause, leaving them to be raised by their grandmother. Now, with the winds of hurricane season, Blanca has come barreling back into their lives.

Set against the backdrop of New York City in the months surrounding the most devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico’s history, Olga Dies Dreaming is a story that examines political corruption, familial strife, and the very notion of the American dream—all while asking what it really means to weather a storm.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books

©2022 Xochitl Gonzalez (P)2022 Macmillan Audio
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Critic reviews

Indie Next Selection for January 2022
Book of the Month Club Selection

“The audiobook is read by three Puerto Rican-born narrators Almarie Guerra, Inés del Castillo, and Armando Riesco, who showcase PR accents and code-switching dynamics to heighten the authenticity and storytelling experience of the book.”—HipLatina

"A fantastically engaging story...Rarely does a novel, particularly a debut novel, contend so powerfully and so delightfully with such a vast web of personal, cultural, political and even international imperatives." —The Washington Post

“Hilarious… A sprawling dramedy of love, politics, blackmail and real estate featuring a Puerto Rican family in Brooklyn." —People

Interview: In 'Olga Dies Dreaming,' A Latina Wedding Planner Is Pitted Against the Wishes of Her Absent Mother

'How did we lose sight of the soul of the work that had given us access to some of these places...?'
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  • Olga Dies Dreaming
  • 'How did we lose sight of the soul of the work that had given us access to some of these places...?'

Editor's Pick

An impressive debut and a much-needed voice!
Olga Dies Dreaming starts out as any run-of-the-mill rom-com would: a successful and self-made Puerto Rican wedding planner to the New York elite is looking for love. Feeling unfulfilled after her latest fling, she meets the intrusive Mateo, whom she finds rude but sexy. The rom-com tropes end quickly, and Xochitl Gonzalez's character-driven story kicks into high gear, unspooling a rich tapestry of topics such as Puerto Rican culture, class, wealth, race, and misogyny. At the heart is Olga’s long-absent activist mother, Blanca, who interrupts the narrative with letters that castigate her children: Olga for her profession, and Olga’s brother for representing their Brooklyn neighborhood catering to the ''capitalist pigs'' as a congressman. Blanca has her reasons for having her left her children to fight for Puerto Rican independence. The audiocast trio offers an irresistibly authentic sabor that will please bilingual listeners. This is an irresistibly warm yet uncompromising listen. —Edwin D., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Olga Dies Dreaming

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🇵🇷👍

great book about PR, NYC and it's politics. I would highly recommend this book. Olga pa late

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a fascinating story

though I doubted at the opening that I would enjoy this book. I was happy to have finished reading it.

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Que Orgullo

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Thank you for narrating the historical account of our Islands people !!!

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Just wow!

I laughed, I cried…I‘ve been thinking about Olga all day! I wonder what her life will be like with Mateo. I freaking loved this novel. I recommend, the ending left me hungry for more!

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I learned so much

I loved this book, the author educated me on Puerto Rico's history and culture. Her love of music and listed songs she introduces throughout led me to feel like I was so familiar with her. Abuelas love for Olga and Prieto was amazing and so relatable. I listened to this book the weekend I scattered my mama's ashes. Saring this book on the road with my daughter we cried, laughed, and felt we could totally understand Olga's abuelas role in her life. Abuelas are so important - thank you Xochitl

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Eye opening

There are many take aways from this book. You can focus on keeping toxic people away from you no matter what their rank in your life is. Or how it is always better to be true to yourself... and so many other self help examples to identify with. But the highlight of Puerto Rico’s history was my favorite. I had so many PR friends and never knew their struggle .

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all emotions

I recognized characters as real and flawed and wonderful as my friends and
family

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Stunning Ride

This is such a beautiful and powerful story, take the ride, you wont regret it!

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Good book

The first time you were able to see a person with the right mindset was in a relationship with someone you knew who had been dating before

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Best

One of the best books I've read in the past years Avoid stereotypical characters and it has a universal meaning that applies to most people regardless of their ethnic background

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