Xochitl Gonzalez
2025
Reese’s Book Club Pick
In Anita de Monte Laughs Last, the mysterious death of rising star Anita de Monte is the talk of the New York art world – until both her art and her life are erased by her famous avant garde artist husband. Decades later, Raquel, a Latina, first-generation college student, studying art at an Ivy League college, becomes involved with a fellow student artist from a privileged and well-connected family. After stumbling upon de Monte’s story, Raquel examines her own relationship, which has some eerie parallels to the forgotten artist. Gonzalez injects magic and spirituality, issues of class, and the question of how women of color fit in the elite world of fine art into this beautifully written story, named a Reese’s Book Club Pick. Gonzalez earned her BA from Brown University and her MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her bestselling debut novel, Olga Dies Dreaming, was named a Best Book of 2022 by The New York Times, Time, Kirkus, The Washington Post, and NPR. Gonzalez lives in Brooklyn.
“This novel is the best, most elusive combination: a thought-provoking and a brilliantly entertaining triumph.” – NPR. “Unflinching and thought-provoking.” – People.
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