Summer is officially here! Which means it’s time to break out that summer 2021 beach-side reading list, right? If you’re struggling to find your next read, check out some of the latest and most anticipated 2021 books by Latinx authors below! Whether you’re looking for a fun piece of fiction to escape into, a poignant memoir, or self help and empowerment, there’s surely to be a book for you on this list of vibrant and diverse novels.
10 books by Latinx authors to read beach-side this summer
Fiction
- Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia
Cuban-Mexican author Gabriela Garcia’s debut Of Women and Salt takes place in present-day Miami, where Jeanette, who is battling addiction, seeks to learn more about her family history from her Cuban mother, Carmen, who is still wrestling with her own trauma of displacement. Eager to learn more about her family’s history and repair her relationship with her mother, Jeanette travels to Cuba seeking answers from her grandmother. Following five generations and taking place in several countries, Of Women and Salt examines the relationships between mothers and daughters.
- What’s Mine and Yours by Naima Coster
Naima Coster, the Afro-Dominican author of Halsey Street, delivers another stunning novel delving into issues of race, identity, family and legacy. Told through multiple points of view, What’s Mine and Yours centers on two families, one Black and one white, and how their lives become integrated and messy when a county initiative draws students from a largely Black town into predominantly white high schools. The story spans 20 years and centers on identity, family, and race, exploring the ways families break apart and come back together in a thought-provoking read.
- The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a sweeping fantasy of manners set in a world inspired by the belle époque. In a world of etiquette and polite masks, no one is who they seem to be. Part historical fiction, part fantasy and romance, this novel will surely sweep you off your feet and cast you off into a dizzying world of scandal, romance and fairytale. The Beautiful Ones is a charming tale of love and betrayal, and the struggle between conformity and passion, set in a world where scandal is a razor-sharp weapon.
- One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
The highly anticipated novel One of the Good Ones, by Hatian-American sisters Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite, tackles issues such as police violence, racism, prejudice, and the impact of allyship, social justice, and sisterhood. Following the death of Kezi Smith, a teen social activist, who is killed after attending a rally, her sisters Happi and Genny set out to honor her. But as Kezi is remembered as “one of the good ones,” Happi begins to question why only some people are worthy of sympathy. The book is a powerful exploration of the lasting impact of prejudice and what it truly means to be an ally in our current age.
- Thirty Talks Weird Love by Alessandra Narváez Varela
Alessandra Narváez Varela’s debut book follows a 13-year-old girl in Mexico meeting her 30-year-old future self. Reminiscent of the film 13 Going on 30, and novels such as The House on Mango Street and The House of Spirits, Alessandra Narváez Varela takes us back in time to ‘90s Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, where young Anamaria battles what seems like depression and the mystery of stolen girls in her city. The novel teaches the importance of self-care and loving those around us in a beautifully written coming of age novel.
Non-fiction
- The Soul of a Woman by Isabel Allende
From literary household name and New York Times bestselling author, Isabel Allende, comes a new book that has been described as “a bold exploration of womanhood, feminism, parenting, aging, love and more” (Associated Press).
The Soul of a Woman is reflection on feminism, power and family rooted in the Chilean writer’s upbringing and experiences. The autobiographical work seeks to answer the question: What feeds the soul of feminists – and all women – today? For her, it’s safety, value, peace, resources, connection, autonomy and love, but these battles haven’t all yet been won. The inspirational read aims to ignite a fire in younger generations to continue to carry the work of feminism forward.
- My Broken Language by Quiara Alegría Hude
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes is well known for writing the book for the musical In The Heights, and now she’s sharing her story with My Broken Language. This memoir tells a coming of age story against the backdrop of a Philadelphia barrio and shares with us the beauty of her Puerto Rican family. Weaving together Hudes’s love of books with the stories of her family, this is an inspired exploration of home, memory, and belonging–narrated by an obsessed girl who fought to become an artist so she could capture the world she loved in all its wild and delicate beauty
- Healing Leadership by Dr. Ginny Baro
Author of the #1 Bestseller, Fearless Women at Work, Dr. Ginny A. Baro delivers her second book, exploring the secrets of healing leadership and recommends high-performance habits for improving self-leadership and developing a growth mindset and resilience.
Healing Leadership will transform the way you view your role as a leader, how you lead yourself and contribute to others. In this valuable guide based on in-depth experience, heartfelt stories and interviews with distinguished industry experts, Dr. Ginny A. Baro takes you on a delightful, thought-provoking journey to discover the critical leadership skills leaders must possess to overcome any challenges and thrive in a shifting world.
You might be interested: Dr. Ginny Baro shares mindfulness practices for coping with Covid-19 stress
- Latinx Photography in the United States: A Visual History by Elizabeth Ferrer
Pieced together through more than 80 interviews, Elizabeth Ferrer introduces readers to Latinx portraitists, photojournalists, and documentarians and their legacies. She traces the rise of a Latinx consciousness in photography in the 1960s and ’70s and the growth of identity-based approaches in the 1980s and ’90s. Latinx Photography in the United States is the first book to offer a parallel history of photography, one that no longer lies at the margins but rather plays a crucial role in imagining and creating a broader, more inclusive American visual history.
- We Are Here: Visionaries of Color Transforming the Art World by Jasmin Hernandez
Confidently curated by Jasmin Hernandez, the dynamic founder of Gallery Gurls, We Are Here presents the bold and nuanced work of Black and Brown visionaries transforming the art world. Centering BIPOC, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ visibility featuring queer, trans, nonbinary, and BIWOC, this collection features fifty of the most influential voices in New York, Los Angeles, and beyond. Striking photography of art, creative spaces, materials, and the subjects themselves is paired with intimate interviews that engage with each artist and influencer, delving into their creative process and unpacking how each subject actively works to create a more radically inclusive world across the entire art ecosystem.
What are some of your current favorite books by Latinx authors? Share your recommendations in the comments below or on social media! Follow Latinas in Business on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
