Evenings at the Argentine Club - by Julia Amante (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Victor and Jaqueline Torres imagined moving to the U.S. would bring happiness and prosperity-instead they found a world of frustration. While Victor put long hours into his restaurant business, Jaqui devoted her life to her daughters, until they grew up and moved on. Even their eldest, Victoria, is torn trying to reconcile being the perfect Argentine daughter and an independent American woman.

Antonio and Lucia Orteli face the same realities, especially when their only son Eric leaves their close-knit Argentine community in pursuit of his own dreams. When Eric unexpectedly shows up at the Argentine Club-the heart of the Argentine community in southern California-he starts a series of events that will bring these two families closer than ever. New relationships are formed and old ones are put to the test, as everyone must learn how to balance different cultures-and different dreams-without hurting those they love.

Review Quotes

"Evenings at the Argentine Club is a big, beautiful novel of love, family, and the close-knit community they inhabit. By turns touching, funny, tragic, and triumphant, it's the story of an endearing group of people in search of their own American dream. This book is a delightful feast for the reader."--New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs

"A fresh and unique perspective into a culture that is at once foreign and familiar. I savored every word."--Julie Leto, New York Times bestselling author

"An engaging story of family, community and the love the binds it all together. "--RT Book Reviews

"In Evenings at the Argentine Club, Julia Amante has created an enchanting community to fall into, true-to-life characters to fall in love with, and a rich story that will fall directly onto readers' keeper shelves. Amante's tale is tantalizing tango for the imagination."--Lynda Sandoval, award winning author of Unsettling and Who's Your Daddy?

"Julia Amante understands the ties that bind all families regardless of culture and nationality--the struggle for identity, the importance of dreams, and above all, love. I truly enjoyed Evenings at the Argentine Club."--New York Times bestselling author Jill Marie Landis

"The story of Victoria and Eric is a story of family, culture, class, success, and love in the vein of the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding."--Booklist

About the Author

Julia Amante had the misfortune of growing up away from the extended family that is so valued in the Latin culture, but missed out on very little of what it means to be Argentine. Asados were sacred meals shared together on weekends. Cheering for the Argentine soccer team was a must, as were the weekly pilgrimages to the Argentine Club in Los Angeles where the young Americanized kids hid under the tables and watched the adults dance tango until the wee hours of the morning. Julia giggled right along with the rest of the kids at how "geeky" the parents looked, but was secretly intrigued by the romantic culture and passionate music.