Big Familia

Starred review from September 1, 2019
A quiet, thoughtful story about coming-of-age at middle age. Juan Guti�rrez is enjoying a life of pleasant routine. He and his ex-wife share mostly amicable custody of their teenage daughter, Stella. He's dating a smart, handsome man named Jared. He sees his buddies twice a week at a crappy local bar. Sure, he could stand to lose a few pounds, but he's working on it, just like he's preparing himself for Stella's leaving home and starting college. But just as Juan and Jared are sharing more of their lives with each other, it becomes clear that they want different things from their relationship. Then Stella gets pregnant. And Juan's father dies. With his first novel, poet Moniz tells a story that is simultaneously timeless and quite timely. Juan is Chicanx--Stella taught him the term--and bisexual. Jared is black and gay. Characters deal with and talk about racism and homophobia, gentrification and police brutality. These are some of the challenges they endure as they navigate universally human experiences like connection, community, birth, and death. Juan is an engaging narrator, someone who is fully aware of his limitations and is trying to change--for himself and the people he cares for. None of these characters exist solely--or primarily--as a portrait of "difference" because white and straight aren't default categories here. Being sexually and romantically attracted to men is not a problem for Juan; his problem is that he is emotionally unavailable and uneasy about commitment, and it turns out that neither of those problems is insurmountable. Diverse characters and a deeply likable protagonist make this a standout debut.

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November 1, 2019

DEBUT Single dad Juan Guti�rrez lives in the Bay area, and his "big familia" is multilayered, multiethnic, and pretty much multi-everything. He and his ex-wife Betsy coparent one daughter, Stella, who's about to go off to college. His boyfriend Jared is his main cycling partner as they bike all over town, but Juan is uncertain about solidifying their partnership further. His extended circle of friends, and the local bar where they hang out, is another touchstone in Juan's social life. But once Stella leaves town, Juan is forced to face an empty-nester life. Then Nick's transforms into a karaoke bar. Juan can't escape change at every turn, including sprawling gentrification in his hometown. Should he completely commit to Jared, which is what Jared wholly wants? And when Stella's life takes an unexpected turn, Juan's entire focus shifts. VERDICT This debut novel from Rad Dad 'zine editor Moniz is a sweet look at a multilayered modern family and Juan's possibilities at the precipice of his complicated life. Recommended for readers of domestic fiction with an urban/modern twist, like the works of Stephen McCauley.--Beth Gibbs, Davidson, NC

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