Big Chicas Don't Cry

My first read with Amazon Prime First Reads and I’m glad I picked it. I read it in 2 days and I’m giving 5 stars - 1)because of the connection to my own Mexican American culture and primas 2)I love supporting Latinx authors and hello, I read it in 2 days! It’s what I deem a “fluff” book where it’s not too complicated, not dramatic, not too emotional, not overly detailed but just the right amount of distraction to hold your attention and immerse you in someone else’s life! Four cousins that have a close bond when young and 3 of the 4 maintain their closeness into adulthood. Each chapter revolves around a different prima (cousin) and what’s occurring in her own personal life. You have the news reporter, Erica, the Catholic school teacher, Gracie, the beautiful ambitious Selena and Marisol, the one who distanced herself and married a rich guy. What I loved. Their unique personalities. How they have boldness but also insecurities (to their own detriment!). There is a LOVE story for each of these but it’s just not simple for any of them. They’re scared of being hurt, worried about taking chances, and intimidated when pursuing their dreams. Each of them with the help of their Welita (their beloved great grandmother) come into their own and seek out their own happiness. Welita is the glue that holds the family together - she reminds them how much they love each other and how not to give up on each other or their dreams. It’s her voice and words that push them forward when they get stuck. Not every story ends with a perfect predictable outcome but it’s okay because they’re all doing what’s best for themselves. And spoiler, Mari does reconnect with the family. Side note: some of the men in this story are just disappointing. My favorite line in the book: “Who’s spreading the masa on the wrong side of the leaves again?”

I knew from the blurb that this book would likely have me emotional but it was on my TBR for 3 years and I was finally ready to read it. I’m glad I did. Mari and Selena were my faves but Erica and Gracie are also great characters. The character development was good and the writing kept me hooked. It’s about 3am now but I was determined to finish. Highly recommend this one for inspiring and lovely read.

I love this book! I even bought it for my sister in laws . Great story. Definitely reminds me of our family , and growing up.

I need a second part. I loved it. I cried, I laughed. I felt like I was read in about my family. This was beautiful

2.5 stars, maybe? "She’d always told us that people who hurt us don’t deserve our tears." My Synopsis: This is a contemporary fiction story about four cousins who were very close as children, but one of them has drifted apart through the years. Mari is married to a rich husband, Erica has lost hope for Mari to rejoin the family, Selena is considering taking a new job, while Gracie is harboring an intense crush on a fellow teacher. My thoughts: The concept is nice and sweet: Four cousins navigating different challenges in their lives while not forgetting the importance of family. But the writing style was just not for me. It felt a little shallow, or too plot-focused when I wanted more insight from the characters. There were also some characters that seemed like caricatures instead of real people, like they didn’t have that much depth. The idea and topic of the book are really good, I just wasn’t wowed by the execution.

I am not going to lie it took me a while to actually enjoy reading this book. The beginning of it was not that interesting and there wasn’t much to motivate me to keep reading it. I only kept reading it because I had to finish it for a book club. However, once I got to a certain point of the story, I just couldn’t put down the book. The story takes a turn and there’s so much to uncover.

This was a great read! So relatable. I cried when reading parts that reminded me of my sisters and cousins.

I love this story it’s one I won’t forget and will share with my family and friends. I love the cousins and their relationships with each other was so special and they touched my heart . I cried with them all. And I love them all I love the whole family and the making of the tamales is my favorite tradition not to mention my favorite food to eat all year round. My favorite ones are the one that have love in them and there is difference believe me you can taste it! I truly love this book and I only keep books that love and this one is staying on my bookshelf. I look forward to reading more of your books. God Bless you Your newest fan Kellie Fer

I loved the way this story was written around a large Mexican American family. It follows four cousins and their relationships with each other, their wider family and various love interests. It deals with the ups and downs of family life, challenging situations, fun and laughter as well as the tears. Worth a read if that's your sort of book!

I absolutely loved the journey of 4 cousins who experienced the best and worst phases of their life but never gave up on each other! Loved knowing about so many traditions Spanish people follow and what it's like to have a big family who are really close! Whenever welita part came it felt like a warm hug to my soul 💖..It was a great read 😃

For sure one of my top favourite for easy reads. Super relatable to your latinas, I laughed and cried! Enjoyed so much I finished it in a week, was not able to put it down! The drama! The cultural! I LOVED!

I love a story revolving around family, and it was great to read about this Latino American group of cousins, their life and relationship with each other, as well as what is going on in their own lives. I thought it would get a little confusing with the different POVs, but it was easy to keep a track of what was happening, and generally an enjoyable read.

Family close, loud, loving, and fun. Individual stories of 4 cousins lives and interactions.