Really good ....

This was an eye opening lesson. To often society dehumanizes and judges unfairly those whom participate in gang lifestyles. Its unfamiliar and we can’t understand and it frightens us. Salvador has been out of prison just 6 months when this starts. He’s pretty much homeless and struggling to get his feet under him. He is trying to avoid notice and recall to his gang. But he hasn’t figured out just how he’s gonna go about that. As he was approached in his early teens and bullied into a lifestyle he didn’t fully understand the ramifications of. And there is no leaving, it’s not done. This story is not violent there is minimal crime or fighting. It’s more the internal war Salvador is struggling with the anxiety and indecision and fear. The worst was the hopelessness he felt. If I’m taking a hurt friend to the hospital it’s mostly an injury earned while having fun. When I fall short at work my coworkers won’t come at me with fists and knives and guns. When I decided to quit my job my boss won’t put out a kill order for me or my family. The pressure is enormous. The trap solid. I don’t want to give spoilers out but Vanessa and Sal’s love story is adorable if that can be said of a gangster and a woman strong enough to love him. The supporting characters around them are colorful and many helped add laughter and hope to the story. I really enjoyed this MH has mad skills and OR did an awesome job voicing Sal. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

5 people found this helpful

Porn + Plot + Heart

This book gave me all the feels. So much heart and well developed characters. And steamy sex. And danger. And a crazy dog. And a feisty abuela. Narrator was the dreamiest.

4 people found this helpful

What a breath of fresh air

I was looking for a sexy romance novel that was not about rich white people bc tbh they all just kind of run together in my head anymore. And I was also looking for a book that had characters who were worth caring about, that would make me feel something....This book f**king delivered. Can’t wait to dig in to the next one!

4 people found this helpful

A bit traumatic but ultimately hopeful

A reminder of how much luck & the kindness of strangers is key to survival. Even more so in tense situations like Sal finds himself in. Being a parolee from a gang he can’t quit makes Sal’s life tense. Somehow, he figures out how to be good at cleaning up after himself & sex. He winds up being a convenient release for his landlady, Vanessa, who is also trying to regain ground ceded to teenaged decisions. Sal is living three separate lives - one with his bew girlfriend’s family, one with his new work friends, and one with/without his old gang. Navigating these varied relationships is not smooth sailing but our plucky hero keeps on keeping on … and learns to brew beer.

3 people found this helpful

Thirsty

I saw this book on the audible website and I thought I would give it a try.

I was sucked in to these characters. I loved Sal and I felt his pain. I wanted to make it better for him. I hate that he was so torn in what to do. He wanted to do the right thing but that right thing isn’t so easy for a gang member when the gang wants you back.

He has a hard choice to make.

He is turning his life around, working 2 jobs to make a better life for himself and his brother when his brother is to be released from jail.

Ahh but he gets his heart snagged by a girl and not just any girl a Vanessa a girl from the same neighbourhood so she knows all about him and his ways.

But she too falls for him too. I do wish she as a little more understanding in the end but I get it she was trying to protect her daughter.

I really loved the narration someone who actually sounds like they know the language, I truly don’t like when they pick narrators who don’t fit the stories. This one does <3.

1 person found this helpful

Redemption story

I couldn't sleep and started this book. It was a very good insomniac decision. I love Sal and I love his story. Hopkins handled the PTSD of gang relations and imprisonment with such care and consideration. While I thought I wasn't going to enjoy being in Sal's head it really brought to light the helpless that occurs when you don't think you have options. I loved this book so much.

Heat Level: Medium/Tremble

CW: gang violence, drug use and death, family death (drunk driver), PTSD, anxiety attacks, self harm, race based violence, blackmail

This story felt so real.

I enjoyed the realness of this story. The narrator sounded like he was Sal! It wasn’t extra and it wasn’t glorifying gang life. It was just a story Sal aka Ghost trying to build his life back after a 5 year stint in prison for gang related crimes.

Vanessa was a good heroine. She was smart enough to keep her eyes open when dealing with Sal and she held him accountable.

I enjoyed this story.

Blown away

This book was excellent, well written, and brought back to memory the barrios mi amigos grew up in. The reader did an excellent job bringing to life the character. His life trials, choices, and successes are truly an inspiration. Thank you for writing a true to heart book with Mexican flare about life in the neighborhood.

good read

eye opening in a way. rooting for Gost. excelent naration. too bad next in this is not narated by oscar

❤️ this story‼️

The writing is terrific, very descriptive and you find yourself routing for Salvador all the way! He’s such a likable and 🔥 character ❣️
The narrator is great and I love that he is Latino as it makes for a more authentic story.
This is a story for EVERYONE and gives one an authentic view into life in the barrios of East LA
It’s important for those of us not familiar and this story helps you experience a bit of the struggles of those who live there💕
Me Gutsta Mucho!!!