We Have Always Been Who We Are, Sofia T. Romero
We Have Always Been Who We Are, Sofia T. Romero
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We Have Always Been Who We Are

Author: Sofia T. Romero

Narrator: Carolina Hoyos, Inés del Castillo, Frankie Corzo

Unabridged: 6 hr 2 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/10/2023

Synopsis

From Pushcart Prize–nominated author Sofia T. Romero comes a breathtaking debut collection of interrelated stories suffused with magical realism.In stories that evoke the haunting beauty of New England beaches and resonate with a bittersweet loneliness, Romero blurs the lines between life and death, reality and fantasy. A deceased woman counsels her son’s fiancée on how to be a good wife to him, with disastrous consequences. A mysterious, commanding cat appears in a young woman’s home, as inexplicable as the demise of her years-long relationship with her boyfriend. At turns humorous, sorrowful, and whimsical, this collection spans the familiar setting of a college-town supermarket and eerie dystopias that are not just postpandemic but postart. Romero masterfully conveys the follies of youth and the regrets of life, and a sense of loss—of a relationship, a child, a time before—pervades each page.With this remarkable debut, Romero joins the ranks of writers such as Brenda Peynado and Marytza K. Rubio, offering a superb collection of speculative fiction with a distinctly Latina perspective. We Have Always Been Who We Are is at its heart a testament to the power of storytelling, and an invitation to develop our inner strength through the imagination.

About Sofia T. Romero

Sofia T. Romero is a Pushcart Prize nominee and has published work in Necessary Fiction, Blue Mountain Review, Rigorous, and Waterwheel Review, among others. She lives in the Boston area, where she works as an editor. Visit her website at www.SofiaTRomero.com.

About Carolina Hoyos

Carolina Hoyos is an Afro-Indigenous (Quechua-Kichwa) stage and film actor, director, voiceover artist, and musician. A fellow in La Skins Fest Native American TV Writers Lab, she earned a coveted spot on the LA County Artist Roster, is a West Hollywood Directing Artist Grantee, and is in development with It's Personal on her debut solo show. She performs regularly with the comedy troupes Dad Jeans and Nightpantz and the theater artist ensemble Native Voices at The Autry.

About Frankie Corzo

Frankie Corzo is a film and voice-over actress and audiobook narrator. She obtained a BA degree in theater studies from Montclair State University.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Tracey on October 09, 2023

Sofia T. Romero’s debut collection, We Have Always Been Who We Are, contains a fantastic mix of stories. Here are my favorites: My First Confession - A weird sorority initiation ceremony including a book of secrets. It all goes wrong when an “outsider” tries to join. Ashes to Ashes - Oh my word, this......more

Goodreads review by Alysia on October 12, 2023

I'm really going to rate this 2.5 stars, but for the benefit of the author I increased to a 3. This was another book of short thrillers and I thought it was unique how all the characters from each short story connected together. That's very different from some of the other short story books I've rea......more

Goodreads review by Annalise on September 28, 2024

This one is more of a 3.5 but I rounded up🥸 This is another collection of short stories because I refuse to stop reading them regardless of how my brain tends to cross wires while reading them😭 This one wasn’t too bad when it came to my brain trying to make connections because this time around there......more

Goodreads review by Madalyn on November 29, 2024

It was better than I thought! I got this kind of by accident and didn’t know what it was about even reading the description which I am learning are the best kinds of books. You have to take each story for what they are and I only really understood the theme of the book after reading it and its descr......more

Goodreads review by Christian on September 02, 2024

Such a gem of a story collection. The rhythm within each story and then within the collection as a whole, really added a level of solace and comfort that helped ride through the more heartbreaking moments of certain stories — sort of an ever present silver lining through some of the darkness. If you......more

Quotes

“The spare, muscular prose of newcomer Sofia Romero brings to mind the best parts of Hemingway, though her characters, unlike his, journey inward, through complex emotional truths that belie the minimalist language used to tell them. These are deceptively quiet stories that grow louder the longer they sit inside you. Stories that leave a fragrance behind, in your skin. Stories whose urgency lies in the haunting understatedness with which they’re told. Romero’s voice is clean, strong, and unique, and one that deserves to be heard.” Alisa Lynn Valdés, New York Times bestselling author of Hollow Beasts and The Dirty Girls Social Club

“Rich, interconnected stories follow characters as they face the dynamics and unspoken conflicts within their identities and relationships…Sincere yet unrestrained, Romero’s searching collection burrows deep into its mysteries.” Booklist

“We Have Always Been Who We Are stuns and soars. Romero has the staggering ability to depict unforgettable characters in their dreamlike states, losses, freedoms, and magic. With majestic, cleanly conceived prose and a wonderful attunement to the pulses of the human heart, this book is a winner. Highly recommend!” Jennifer Maritza McCauley, author of When Trying to Return Home

“A trio of experienced narrators…bring these creepy and unsettling works to life with vivid and evocative narrations…These expressive performers elevate this collection.” AudioFile

“This is a really exciting collection, with some incredibly original ideas. Yay for new short stories!” California Reading

“A debut collection of magically imbued interlinked stories.” Library Journal

“This debut collection of speculative stories from Pushcart Prize–nominated writer Sofia Romero illustrates her brilliant imagination, her divine timing, and her mastery of subtle storytelling. They are urgent and deceptively quiet all at once.” Ms. magazine

“An imaginative collection of short stories that makes an impact. Share with fans of Aimee Bender’s The Girl in the Flammable Skirt or Lorrie Moore’s Collected Stories.” Library Journal (audio review)

“This stunning collection filled with vengeful seal queens, books of secret confessions, and creepy customizable mothers is just the speculative jewel you’re looking for.” Erika T. Wurth, author of White Horse: A Novel

“These pitch-perfect tales call to mind the work of short fiction greats like Kelly Link, Alison Lurie, and Laurie Colwin. I tore through this book like a novel, astonished by Romero’s singular voice and in love with her thorny, irresistible characters!” Joanna Rakoff, author of My Salinger Year and A Fortunate Age

Awards

  • Ms. Magazine Pick
  • Library Journal Pick
  • BookRiot Pick
  • Electric Literature
  • Massachusetts Book Award
  • International Latino Book Award
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