Thanks to partners, @bibliolifestyle and @astrahousebooks for the gifted copy.

Las Biuty Queens by Ivan Monalisa Ojeda is a book of short stories about Trans Latinx sex workers in NYC. I was immediately captivated by Ivan Monalisa's voice. The way he/she created such a strong, personal narrative with dark humor and NYC flair really gives this book a unique perspective and appeal. I was taken on an emotional roller coaster. I was really taken deep into Ojeda's mind and it showed me how his/her dark humor is what has been their survival mechanism.

Each story introduces one of Ojeda's friends or an event that has transpired of tragic proportions. My heart couldn't help but split open because of some of the things that transpired. This novel gave me more insight into the issues that trans people face, such as poverty, addiction, abuse, violence, homelessness, and discrimination. I see more clearly how the system continues to fail them when they are murdered, face mental health and substance abuse issues and are undocumented in some cases. When a trans person is also involved in sex work, the system is even more cruel and treats them as if their humanity does not have value.

I devoured this book in a day and a half because I was so invested in Ivan and his/her friends. I was taken on a journey through parts of NYC I thought I knew very well. Ivan makes you "see" his/her friends and you will be unable to look away. You are forced to reckon with how society deems people as others and judges their worth. The camaraderie that Ivan has made on the streets of NYC transcends gender, ethnicity and class. Ivan's heart is on display at all times and the way he/she fiercely advocates for his/herself is admirable. Ivan's unique style of storytelling leaves me not only excited to see what the future holds for Ivan but also motivated to continue to advocate for sustainable change for trans people, especially BIPOC ones.

Bookdragon rating 4.5 🔥 ( )

Here's the thing about Las Biuty Queens: if the community it represents matters to you, you'll want to read it; if you're looking for a "literary experience," it's going to let you down. The premise for this book grabbed me right away—and I'd been eagerly awaiting the approach of the publication date so I could read and review it. The pre-publication description describes Las Biuty Queens as "an irreverent, honest and full-throated love song to New York City from the perspective of a group of trans Latinx immigrant friends who walk the streets, smoke crystal meth, compete in beauty contests, look for clients on their impossibly high heels, and fall prey to increasingly cruel immigration policies." That much is true. If you're interested in the intersection of trans identity/sex work/immigration law, you'll find this book fascinating.

What I feel compelled to quibble about is the latter part of Las Biuty Queens' title: Stories. These pieces provide a rich look into the realities of a community that's very much underrepresented in current writing, but its contents aren't so much stories as vignettes or fictionalized excerpts from a memoir. They don't have the kind of arc one expects from stories. They start; they go on for a while; they stop. There weren't any moments when I found myself moving at increasing speed because I wanted to see how a plot would develop or how a character would transform over time.

If you want to begin getting to know to know the trans/Latinx/undocumented/sex worker population of New York City—or if you're part of that community looking to see your experiences reflected in print—this title is a great place to begin, but it won't work for those looking for a more carefully structured literary experience.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via EdelweissPlus; the opinions are my own. ( )