Latinx Heritage Month is near and dear to my heart: My husband is Latino (Peruvian, specifically), and I love getting to know his culture through books. Though I’ve read some Peruvian authors and characters, I’m always on the hunt for more! However, I also love reading about other Latinx cultures across South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and into North America.
Latinx Heritage Month just started on Wednesday, and will continue through October 15th. Celebrating a range of cultures throughout the Americas, this month is a great time to highlight Latinx experiences through the books you choose to read. From fiction to memoirs to investigative nonfiction, here is an extensive list of reading recommendations. It starts with several books I’ve read and loved, and then moves on to books I’ve heard great things about and am planning to read. These books range in genres, intended reading age, and specific culture. For the books I haven’t yet read, I’ve limited recommendations to books published in the past year or so.
Let me know what you’ll be reading this month and if there are any great books this list is missing!
Books I’ve read that are by and about Latinx people (click to check out my reviews!):
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina
I was thrilled when Zoraida Córdova’s new book, The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, was selected as one of Book of the Month’s main August picks. Her adult debut, this novel doesn’t publish more widely until September 7th, so I was excited to read it early. In fact, I’ve been on a bit of a Zoraida…
Cantoras
Last summer is when I first heard about Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis. The paperback had just been published, though the hardcover had come out in September 2019. I was immediately interested in reading it. Not only am I constantly on the hunt for books set in South America (partially because my husband is from…
Hades, Argentina
One book I was looking forward to in January was the debut novel by Daniel Loedel, called Hades, Argentina. I’ve been drawn to books set in South America lately (partially because my husband is Peruvian), and the title of this novel instantly piqued my interest. I picked it up a few weeks ago, and since…
The Air You Breathe
After I signed up for Book of the Month in early 2019, I started looking into their back catalogue of offerings, adding many books to my TBR. One novel that particularly caught my eye was The Air Your Breathe by Frances de Pontes Peebles. Brazil and music in the 1930s? Yes please! First offered in…
The Lost Book of Adana Moreau
About one year ago, The Lost Book of Adana Moreau by Michael Zapata was just about to come out when I discovered it. I was immediately interested in reading this debut, especially when I saw comparisons to Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s The Shadow of the Wind. I do love books about books! Although I did buy The…
Infinite Country
I’ve been a member of Book of the Month for about two years now. Though I generally buy their new offerings, I do like to look at what books they picked for months in the past; sometimes I’ll add one of those to a box. One book I discovered and definitely want to read is…
Woven in Moonlight
At the beginning of this year, I stumbled across a captivatingly beautiful novel on Book of the Month: Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez, her debut and the first in a new duology. But it wasn’t just the cover and the fantasy themes that grabbed my attention. I was also excited to read a book…
Chasing the Sun
Six years ago, I was living in Lima, Peru with my fiancé (now husband). He’s Peruvian, and in addition to spending nearly a year living in his country, getting to know his family, I also wanted to learn more about Peru through books. One of the newest novels I’d found online was Chasing the Sun…
Next Year in Havana
A couple of years ago, I picked up Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton. She’s released two more books in this series since then, and has already announced another due next spring, and I knew it was time to finally settle in and give this novel my attention. That this month (from September 15…
You Had Me at Hola
This summer, I started hearing great things about a new contemporary romance, You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria. I was instantly interested, in part because it highlights Latinx characters. My husband is Latino – Peruvian, specifically – and while it wasn’t quite love at first sight, we at least became friends at “hola.”…
With the Fire on High
I have a confession: In the first few years after I finished college, I thought I was too old for YA books. I thought I could only read about characters who were my age or older, and that reading YA books would make me look immature. This nonsense went on for several years before I…
Mexican Gothic
I was introduced to Silvia Moreno-Garcia through her 2019 novel, Gods of Jade and Shadow. I loved that book, and was thrilled to learn of her upcoming 2020 books, Untamed Shore and Mexican Gothic. The former came out in February, and now Mexican Gothic is available and already charting high on bestseller lists. My Book…
Dominicana
I discovered Dominicana by Angie Cruz thanks to Book of the Month featuring it as one of their August 2019 picks. Although I hadn’t heard of it before, reading its description made it an instant impulse buy, and I was eager to read it. Fast forward a few months, and after finishing Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Gods…
Gods of Jade and Shadow
Last spring, I learned about an upcoming novel called Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I think I was on Goodreads or looking at some article somewhere, but as soon as I saw its gorgeous cover and intriguing title and read the description, I was hooked. So when Book of the Month announced…
American Chica
Last summer my husband and I got married. We’ve been together for three years, and we’ve been getting to know more about each other’s cultures. Although we met in Spain in 2012, I’m American and he’s Peruvian. Before our wedding, he lived here with me for seven months, and I lived with him in Lima,…
Finding Latinx: In Search of the Voices Redefining Latino Identity
In the past couple of years, I’ve had a growing interest in reading more nonfiction about identity, especially related to racial diversity and immigration. This may be partially because of the obvious tensions present in the United States and around the world. It’s also inspired by my husband, a Peruvian immigrant who just recently earned…
What the Hex
Last September I read (and adored) You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria. It’s the first in her Primas of Power series, and I’m eagerly awaiting its second installment, A Lot Like Adiós, due out in two months. Luckily, the countdown was made a bit easier with the release of her new novella, What the…
Recent novels and memoirs with Latinx characters and authors:
What books do you plan to read during Latinx Heritage Month this year? Are there any books this list is missing? Let me know in the comments!
Amanda's Book Corner 
What a comprehensive list! I’ve read a few of these but plenty still to discover. Have you heard of Charco Press? They are bringing some exciting contemporary voices from the region translated into English from Spanish and Portuguese.
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I haven’t heard of Charco Press before, but thank you for letting me know about it! It’s so important to read books by authors around the world, including all of Latin America, and I’m happy to learn about Charco Press and the translated books the offer 🙂
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