Angie Cruz

Cara Romero thought she would work at the factory of little lamps for the rest of her life. But when, in her mid-50s, she loses her job in the Great Recession, she is forced back into the job market for the first time in decades. Set up with a job counselor, Cara instead begins to narrate the story of her life. Over the course of twelve sessions, Cara recounts her tempestuous love affairs, her alternately biting and loving relationships with her neighbor Lulu and her sister Angela, her struggles with debt, gentrification and loss, and, eventually, what really happened between her and her estranged son, Fernando. As Cara confronts her darkest secrets and regrets, we see a woman buffeted by life but still full of fight.

Structurally inventive and emotionally kaleidoscopic, How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water is Angie Cruz’s most ambitious and moving novel yet, and Cara is a heroine for the ages.

A Novel

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water

“Sometimes life feels very small and other times it feels very rich. And when it feels small I think it’s because I don’t let myself, you know, enjoy the life.”

“Desahogar: to undrown, to cry until you don’t need to cry no more.”

“How many years have you known your personal reference?	

Laura Wilson

Sometimes life feels very small and other times it feels very rich. And when it feels small I think it’s because I don’t let myself, you know, enjoy the life.

maia

4.5 so well written and interesting and emotional

Caroline

“Desahogar: to undrown, to cry until you don’t need to cry no more.” “Desahogar: to undrown, to cry until you don’t need to cry no more.”


How not to drown in a glass of water is a bittersweet heartwarming story about Cara Romero told to us by Cara Romero herself over the duration of Twelve session with the job counselor as the part of The Senior workforce program for the continuation of her unemployment benefits and to find new employment after she lost her job in the lamp factory due to the recession. 

The writing is witty and the character is strong and hopefully, that keeps you wanting to know more of Cara Romero life as she faces all the darkest secrets of her life with a pinch of salt or rather with a glass of water😉 

The story of Cara Romero leaves a great message that however difficult or whatever the ups and downs in life, one needs to undrown, wipe the tears and get back up and be hopeful that life has a lot of positive things on store for you. 

Recommended if you are looking for a short quick reader as well as thought provoking.

Hannah Yoon

This one was sad and funny. My heart feels heavy yet satisfied with how it ended. Everyone has a story to share but are we willing to listen?

I bet this would be even better as an audiobook.

Kendall McClain

Love the premise, but the writing style is just not for me. I also couldn’t connect too deeply to any of the characters, which i think is just a consequence of this books length. This author was trying to do a lot in a short space and I think everything just kinda got lost in the process. Did giggle though

fatru tamzil

Complicated, raw, and honest story about surviving, generational trauma, love of a mother, and understanding between families. It's not a light read, but it's a very honest read.

There is such pleasure in a book that pushes you to empathize with someone you didn’t know well enough to before. Cara is so real, I’m almost certain I’ve met her. Cruz created a beautifully stubborn, loving, fierce mother thrown into a world that she doesn’t understand, but begins to. Cruz dances between asking us as readers to empathize with Cara, knowing her history and what she has endured, and empathizing with Ángela and Fernando and all they will do. Overall, a phenomenal book I’m excited to read again and again.

Nina

I loved every bit of this book. It felt very close to home. Many in my generation are dealing with the passed down trauma from our parents; parents who didn’t really talk out loud about anything that they ever felt. 

Gisela Ayala 

This was so good, I finished it in one sitting. The main character tells the story of her life in twelve therapy sessions and it’s written in a way that is similar to listening to one side of a phone call. I haven’t read anything written like that so I was intrigued and I actually ended up really liking it. 

This is one of those books where the main character is obviously flawed and often shows a lack of self awareness but you can’t help but feel sympathy for them. It was a very emotional read and contained so many life lessons (I made a lot of notes) and important messages. I loved every page. 

I will say though, that there were times were the ‘spanglish’ used felt unnatural but other that that, it was so so good. 

amarachi

“Desahogar: to undrown, to cry until you don’t need to cry no more.”

This was so good, I finished it in one sitting. The main character tells the story of her life in twelve therapy sessions and it’s written in a way that is similar to listening to one side of a phone call. I haven’t read anything written like that so I was intrigued and I actually ended up really liking it. 

This is one of those books where the main character is obviously flawed and often shows a lack of self awareness but you can’t help but feel sympathy for them. It was a very emotional read and contained so many life lessons (I made a lot of notes) and important messages. I loved every page. 

I will say though, that there were times were the ‘spanglish’ used felt unnatural but other that that, it was so so good. 

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water A Novel

Reviews

Highlights