CANTORAS by Carolina De Robertis - BookPage Starred Review

BOOKPAGE | SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

“Cantoras is at its most powerful when dissecting consequences of desire. Several of the central characters are subjected to horrific violence at the hands of the military dictatorship, but they are also sometimes subjected to violence at the hands of their relatives, people who cannot accept them as they are, who want desperately to ‘fix’ them. In this atmosphere of repression, Romina, one of the five women, thinks, ‘the path into the forbidden was in fact wide open right in front of you...stepping onto it could be a kind of rightness, a vitality more powerful than fear.’

The bond the five women form—the way they orbit, attract and repel, take solace and find strength in one another—is the most moving part of Cantoras. By the end of the novel, there is a sense that the reader has done more than simply peer in on the lives of strangers, that instead they have experienced something organic and deeply human—a dangerous, powerful kind of freedom.”

Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis received a starred review on BookPage! Follow the link above to read the full review.


Victoria Sanders
CANTORAS by Carolina De Robertis - Buzzfeed "Nine New Books By Latinx Writers You've Got To Read"

BUZZFEED | SEPTEMBER 16, 2019

“It’s 1977 in Uruguay, and the country is under a military dictatorship. Groups of five or more people can’t gather in private spaces without a permit; while homosexuality isn’t outlawed outright, it doesn’t need to be — being openly gay is an automatic prison sentence. Under these dire straits, five women — ringleader Flaca, activist Romina, housewife Anita, the mysterious Malena, and the teenage Paz — go on an excursion to an isolated beach where they can just be themselves — ‘cantoras,’ or women who sing, a code name for lesbians. Over the course of 35 years, De Robertis charts the fortunes of these women as they fall in and out of love and navigate the country’s tumultuous politics.”

Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis was included in Buzzfeed’s roundup of must-read books written by Latinx authors. Follow the link above to view the entire list!


Victoria Sanders
LITTLE VOICES by Vanessa Lillie - Bookish "Fall 2019's Buzziest Mysteries & Thrillers"

BOOKISH | SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

“Devon Burges has her hands full. She’s had a tough pregnancy, and the birth turns out to be more challenging than anticipated. After having her baby, complications linger, and she doesn’t feel like herself. In the midst of all of this, she learns that a close friend of hers, Belina, has been murdered. She has a strong conviction that the man the police have identified as the lead suspect in the case–also a friend of hers–did not actually commit the crime. Devon becomes increasingly preoccupied with finding the truth about who killed her friend, but the demands of recovering from a C-section, dealing with postpartum depression, and taking care of a newborn are overwhelming on their own. We bet readers will find Vanessa Lillie’s first novel completely engrossing.”

Little Voices by Vanessa Lillie, forthcoming October 1 from Thomas & Mercer, was included in Bookish’s roundup of Fall 2019’s must-read mysteries and thrillers! Follow the link above to read the entire list.

Victoria Sanders
CANTORAS by Carolina De Robertis & LITTLE VOICES by Vanessa Lillie - Bookish "Fall 2019’s Buzziest Mysteries & Thrillers"

Bookish | September 9, 2019

“Fall has arrived, and the days are getting shorter. This means that twilight comes earlier each day, creating the perfect setting to pick up a spooky mystery or thriller. This season, readers have lots of great options to choose from, whether you’re interested in a buzzy tale involving dolls and a serial killer, or you’re more excited about the latest installment in a long-running series. Read on and check out fall 2019’s must-read mysteries and thrillers!”

Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis and Little Voices by Vanessa Lillie were both included in this lovely round-up! Follow the link above to see the full list.

Victoria Sanders
PUMPKINHEADS by Rainbow Rowell and illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks - Publishers Weekly Children's Frontlist Fiction Bestseller List

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY | SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

“Best known for the YA novels Eleanor & Park and Fangirl, Rainbow Rowell also wrote the recent resurrection of Marvel’s popular Runaways franchise, illustrated by Kris Anka. Now she debuts at #7 in children’s frontlist fiction with the original graphic novel Pumpkinheads, illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks. ‘The pacing is assured, driving along in short bursts that leave room for key scenes to stretch, but it’s the primary characters’ authentic friendship,’ our starred review said, ‘and the variously inclusive cast that really bring this funny last-day story home.’”

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks has landed on Publishers Weekly’s bestseller list for children’s frontlist fiction! Follow the link above for more!




Victoria Sanders
AFTER THE FLOOD by Kassandra Montag - Shelf Awareness Starred Review

Shelf Awareness | September 6, 2019

“After the Flood, the first novel by Kassandra Montag, is the atmospheric post-apocalyptic story of a mother's quest. Myra, who lived in Nebraska before the deluge came, has spent the last seven years in search of her elder daughter, Row. Row's father snatched her away just before Nebraska flooded, leaving behind a pregnant Myra. Myra gave birth to another daughter aboard the small boat her grandfather built in the attic of their home. Pearl has spent her entire life on this ship, roaming with Myra from island to island, at the tips of former mountain ranges.

This new, watery world is a terrifying place, full of bands of roving pirates and very little food besides fish. Myra and Pearl are floating in what used to be British Columbia when they hear of a girl matching Row's description at a colony on the edge of Greenland. Setting off on an epic journey down the Rockies to the Caribbean, and back up north to Greenland, Myra will battle pirates, the elements and her own fears all the way.

Beautiful, violent and horrifying, After the Flood is the poignant tale of a mother's desperation. When Myra and Pearl join the crew of another ship, the relationships among crew members become a microcosm of humanity in the wake of disaster. Myra's story will resonate with fans of The Road or Station Eleven, and make readers wonder just how well they would handle the end of the world.”

After the Flood by Kassandra Montag received a starred review from Shelf Awareness! Follow the link above to read the full review.

Victoria Sanders
CANTORAS by Carolina De Robertis - LitHub "The Ultimate Fall 2019 Books Preview"

LitHub | September 5, 2019

“Fall always feels like a time of possibility: new school year, new wardrobe, new weather patterns, and of course: lots of brand new books. The literary season tends to be packed with big name authors, and this year is no different—but one can’t read everything, so how’s a newly-booted bookworm to choose? Well, you could poll all of your friends and get their recommendations—or you could succumb to your introversion (you know you want to) and simply poll the internet.”

Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis was included in this round-up on Literary Hub! Follow the link above to see the full list.

Victoria Sanders
CANTORAS by Carolina De Robertis - Bustle "36 New Books Of Fall 2019 You Need To Have On Your Autumn Reading List"

Bustle | September 4, 2019

“Summer gets all the credit for being the good reading season, but truthfully, wouldn't you rather read by a fire with a cup of tea than by pool — where water, sunshine, and fruity drinks all get in the way of things? Over the next four months, the 36 best new books of fall 2019 on the list below will make the perfect companions on the chilly nights of autumn ahead.”

Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis was included in this fabulous round-up. Follow the link above to see the full list!

Victoria Sanders
CANTORAS by Carolina De Robertis - The New York Times "A Tale of Five Women"

THE NEW YORK TIMES | SEPTEMBER 3, 2019

“Cantoras is bold and unapologetic, a challenge to the notion of ‘normalcy’ and a tribute to the power of love, friendship and political resistance. It’s a revolutionary fable, ideal for this moment, offered with wisdom and care. De Robertis takes us inside a repressive regime during a time of global revolution and social discord much like our own. She reminds us that the young can force social change and urges them to act when they see tyranny taking hold. ‘The essence of dictatorship,’ she writes, is that ‘no matter where you are or how ordinary you seem, you’re in a cage.’”

Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis received an absolutely stunning review in The New York Times! Follow the link above to read the full review.




Victoria Sanders
CANTORAS by Carolina De Robertis - Fodor's "16 Books to Inspire Your Travels This Fall"

FODOR’S TRAVEL | SEPTEMBER 2, 2019

“Books are a traveler’s best friend both on the road and at home. There’s no better way to pass the hours of a long flight than with a riveting book in your hands. At home, stories of adventures and lives on the other side of the world help inspire our next trips and broaden our horizons. Here are the books that should be on your bedside table (and in your suitcase) this season.”

Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis was included in Fodor’s roundup of the best books to inspire your fall travels! Fodor’s suggests that Cantoras might be best enjoyed “on your own adventure to the rugged coastlines and pristine beaches of Uruguay.” Follow the link above to view the entire list.


Victoria Sanders
Carolina De Robertis, author of CANTORAS, in Read it Forward - "Why We Need Novels to Bring History to Life"

READ IT FORWARD | SEPTEMBER 1, 2019

“As a novelist, I’ve always been inspired by true histories, and by fiction’s ability to breathe life into them, make them vivid, make them sing. We need nonfiction, of course, in all its glorious forms: memoir, journalism, scholarly tomes, essays, histories, cold hard facts. Good lord, yes: facts. More facts! All hail real facts! And yet, novels can not only reveal the truths of history but transport us into them, and into the consciousness of human beings in other places and times. As a reader, I’ve experienced this hundreds of times, and it’s helped shape who I am. As a writer, it’s my job to try my darnedest to offer readers the same.”

Carolina De Robertis, author of Cantoras, shares with Read it Forward what inspired her to write Cantoras and the history behind the five women the novel explores.

Victoria Sanders
CANTORAS by Carolina De Robertis - USA Today "5 Books Not To Miss"

USA TODAY | AUGUST 31, 2019

“What it’s about: In 1977 Uruguay, life under a military rule is punishing: political dissent is quickly squashed, civil rights are under attack and homosexuality is ruthlessly punished. Still, five women find one another, become friends, then family, and try to live authentic lives.

The buzz: ‘A stunning novel about queer love, womanhood, and personal and political revolution,’ says a starred review in Kirkus Reviews.”

USA Today named Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis one of five books not to miss! Follow the link above to view the entire list.

Victoria Sanders
AFTER THE FLOOD by Kassandra Montag - Bustle "35 New Books Out in September 2019 For The Cozy Days of Fall Ahead"

BUSTLE | AUGUST 31, 2019

“Kassandra Montag's novel imagines a world that may soon not be fiction. A hundred years in the future, the coast and the heartland of the United States have been obliterated. A mother lives with her daughter on the mountainous islands that remain, but when she learns that her older daughter — the one who has long been missing — is living on a colony in the Arctic Circle, she undertakes a perilous journey to find her.”

After The Flood by Kassandra Montag was included in this list on Bustle featuring the most anticipated books of September 2019! Follow the link above to read the full article.



Victoria Sanders
CANTORAS by Carolina De Robertis - Vanity Fair Fiction Recommendations from "Fall's Most Exciting Authors"

VANITY FAIR | AUGUST 30, 2019

“It’s impossible not to fall in love with these fierce ‘girlwomen’—queer, courageous, and adventurous—as they find freedom in their relationships with each other while living under a ruthless dictatorship. —Angie Cruz”

Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis was included in Vanity Fair’s list of fiction recommendations by fall’s most anticipated authors! De Robertis was also quoted by Vanity Fair for her praise of Laura Restrepo’s Delirium! Follow the link above to view the entire list of recommendations.

Victoria Sanders