Mayra

An eerie,hypnotic debut about friendshipdesireand memory set against the sultry backdrop of FloridaΓÇÖs swamplands. ΓÇ£A mesmerizinghallucinatory adrenaline rush of a novel.ΓÇ¥ΓÇöClaire Luchetteauthor of Agatha of Little Neon ItΓÇÖs been years since Ingrid has heard from her childhood best friendMayraa fearless rebel who fled their hometown of Hialeaha Cuban neighborhood just west of Miamifor college in the Northeast. But when Mayra calls out of the blue to invite Ingrid to a weekend getaway at a house in the Evergladesshe impulsively accepts. From the moment Ingrid sets outdanger looms: The directions are difficultsheΓÇÖs out of reach of cell serviceand as she drives deeper into the Evergladesthe wet maw of the swamp threatens to swallow her whole. But once Ingrid arrivesMayra isin many waysjust as she remembersΓÇöwith her sharp tongue and effortlessseductive beautystill thumbing her nose at the world. Before they can fully settle into the familiar intimacy of each otherΓÇÖs companytheir reunion is spoiled by the reemergence of past disagreements and the unexpected presence of MayraΓÇÖs new boyfriendBenji. The trio spend their hours eating lavish meals and exploring the labyrinthine housewhich holds as much mystery as the swamp itself. Indoors and on the groundstime itself seems to expandand Ingrid begins to lose a sense of the outside worldand herself. Against this disquieting settingwhere lizards dart in and out of porches and alligators peek from dark watersGonzalez weaves a surrealunforgettable story about the dizzying power of early friendship and the lengths weΓÇÖll go to earn love and acceptanceΓÇöeven at the risk of losing ourselves entirely.