The Affairs of the Falcóns - by Melissa Rivero (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Winner of the 2019 New American Voices Award
Longlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel
Longlisted for the Aspen Words Literary Prize

A Recommended Book of 2019 from:
Southern Living * Buzzfeed * The Huffington Post * Bustle * Fierce * Hip Latina * Ms. Magazine * Alma * Library Journal * The Rumpus * The Millions * Refinery29 * Electric Literature

A stunning debut novel about a young undocumented Peruvian woman fighting to keep her family afloat in New York City

Ana Falcón, along with her husband Lucho and their two young children, has fled the economic and political strife of Peru for a chance at a new life in New York City in the 1990s. Being undocumented, however, has significantly curtailed the family's opportunities: Ana is indebted to a loan shark who calls herself Mama, and is stretched thin by unceasing shifts at her factory job. To make matters worse, Ana must also battle both criticism from Lucho's cousin--who has made it obvious the family is not welcome to stay in her spare room for much longer--and escalating and unwanted attention from Mama's husband.

As the pressure builds, Ana becomes increasingly desperate. While Lucho dreams of returning to Peru, Ana is deeply haunted by the demons she left behind and determined to persevere in this new country. But how many sacrifices is she willing to make before admitting defeat and returning to Peru? And what lines is she willing to cross in order to protect her family?

The Affairs of the Falcóns is a beautiful, deeply urgent novel about the lengths one woman is willing to go to build a new life, and a vivid rendering of the American immigrant experience.

From the Back Cover

Ana and her husband, Lucho, along with their two young children, have fled the financial and political upheaval facing Peru in the twilight of the twentieth century, seeking a chance at a new life in New York City. When Lucho loses his job, his cousin proposes a tenuous offer of hospitality to the family. Despite the setback, Ana is intent on putting down roots, but she soon finds that her undocumented status significantly curtails her family's opportunities. Ana is indebted to a loan shark who calls herself Mama, and she is stretched thin by unceasing shifts at her factory job. To make matters worse, Ana must also battle both criticism from Lucho's cousin--who has made it obvious the family is not welcome to stay in her spare room for much longer--as well as escalating and unwanted attention from Mama's husband. With the pressure building, Lucho dreams of returning to Peru, but Ana is deeply haunted by the demons she left behind and determined to forge a better future for her children. Soon Ana will be forced to decide just how much she's willing to sacrifice to protect her family--and how much more she can take in this new country before she admits defeat.

Deeply urgent and richly told, The Affairs of the Falcóns is the breathtaking story of one woman's relentless pursuit of a new American dream and a remarkable portrait of the contemporary immigrant experience.

Review Quotes

"A beautiful, serious and life-affirming book." -- Washington Post

"At a time when the United States is wracked with debates about what constitutes a 'real' American, this rendering of the immigrant experience couldn't be more important."
-- Refinery 29

"Rivero's talent for storytelling and sympathetic portrayal of many characters propels this novel above the melodrama of the telenovelas that play in the background on Valeria's television. Book groups will thoroughly enjoy this vivid, inspired debut, a valuable addition to immigration literature." -- Library Journal (starred review)

"Timely and beautifully rendered.... Rivero succeeds in drawing to light the challenges many new immigrants face.... A complex and compelling portrait of Latin American immigrants and the experience of undocumented families." -- Booklist

"A nuanced look at the human cost of immigration policy.... This is, obviously, a book that has a lot to say to our current moment, but it also has an emotional appeal that is timeless and universal. Thoughtful and eye-opening, this is an admirable debut." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Melissa Rivero writes about love with all of its beauty, fierceness, and complications: of motherhood and hard choices, the bonds of family and homeland, and the sacrifices made for survival and a better future. Ana Rios is an unforgettable character and a necessary American hero." -- Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

"Melissa Rivero is a gifted writer with a clear view of the human heart. This novel shows us new things. It's a winner." -- Luis Alberto Urrea, author of The House of Broken Angels and The Devil's Highway

"An unsparing look at the world of the undocumented through the life of Peruvian immigrant Ana Falcón and her family.... Melissa Rivero's The Affairs of the Falcóns does poetic justice to this riveting tale of identity, belonging, and transformation."
-- Cristina García, author of Dreaming in Cuban and Here in Berlin

"The Affairs of the Falcóns is a powerfully honest testament to the strength of immigrant mothers. May we all see them, honor them, and fight for them in the way Melissa Rivero sees, honors, and fights for Ana Rios, free of judgement and full of love."
-- Natalia Sylvester, author of Chasing the Sun and Everyone Knows You Go Home

"Beautiful.... The theme is immigration, but at heart, this is a story about family--the long-standing tensions, the profound bonds, the depth of spousal, parental and filial love. It's at once a timeless work and a book we urgently need now." -- Rumaan Alam, author of That Kind of Mother