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Olga Dies Dreaming  By  cover art

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

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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  • Overall
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Fresh, unusual, compelling!

I really enjoyed this novel, which approaches social and political issues vary directly but also introduces a very likable protagonist and a narrative thrust that I was compelled to follow through to the end. It makes me want to know a lot more about the history of Puerto Rico and Puerto Rico politics, the independence movement, and related issues.

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Riveting story about a fascinating family


I truly enjoyed this book! Funny, irreverent, powerful, sad, and so many truths. So glad I spent those hours with Olga.

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  • Overall
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Phenomenal

Everything I have been waiting for my whole life. This inspired me to uncover the history that I have felt has been hidden from me my whole life. Thank you, as an aspiring writer I’ve always wanted someone who I could relate to as a Brooklyn Born Nuyorican I am so excited and truly in awe.

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  • Overall
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Fantastic narration!

The voices of the 3 narrators brought it to life for me.
The rollercoaster of a story kept me glued to my earbuds.

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  • Overall
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Memories

Xochitl told my story without ever meeting me. I connected with every character. They were people I knew all my life. It’s good to find fresh voices.

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I’m not a New Yorker nor Puerto Rican.

Just saying. Because many reviews were from those who could identify with the protagonists.
To everyone else: this was the best book I’ve listened to in a long time.
More than 5 stars across the board.

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Pretty good

Definitely brings to light some of the many ways that Puerto Rico is treated like the red headed step child of the US. It was an interesting story and I really enjoyed it

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Proud Puerto Rican

This book was amazingly executed by Gonzalez! The characters, family dynamics and history were, as a Boriqua from Jersey City, spot on! The blow from Hurricane Irma and Maria are still affecting our island! But our people are resilient. I most especially loved her look of where Puerto Rico will be in 2025! Patria y familia primero! Palante!

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Great listen and read

This book was amazing! The story speaks from so many angles and engages all types of readers. This author is very very good and the narrator did an excellent job.

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Evocative

If the only thing you know about Puerto Rican culture and history is West Side Story, this book is an education and deserves to be listed as one of the 10 best of 2022. Not to be missed.

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