by Elaina Lyons
As an indie author myself, I feel that it’s super important to support other self-published writers. So…I’ve started buying and reviewing one indie book each month. (Want to be included? Email me here with your book info!)
Next up is “The Road to Somorrostro” by Julia Slack.
“The Road to Somorrostro” is a multi-generational tale of love, loss and finding one’s identity. Set in Barcelona in 1966, the story follows teenager Margarita Marquez as she struggles to break free from a life that stifles her; Santi Calaf, a young man who dreams of a career in medicine despite the poverty that plagues his town; and Margarita’s mother, Carmen, who fights her own demons of addiction in an attempt to finally become the woman and caregiver she wants to be.
At almost 400 pages, this is a pretty sizable read, but it isn’t tough to get through at all.
This book wasn’t what I expected. I found it easy to connect with the characters and the storyline. I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity, not just of the overall plot, but of the characters themselves. Each character has their own unique voice, making it easy for me to imagine the plot unfolding as I read. I definitely think the book got better as I kept reading.
I’ll be honest, when I first started reading this book, I struggled with the dual/switching POVs. The author switches from third to first person, and sometimes from one decade to another, which I found challenging to follow at times. I also thought some of the vocabulary used was a bit above standard reading level, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing! Just have your dictionary handy and be prepared to expand your word bank. I love learning new words, so I wasn’t too bothered by it.
Though I wasn’t super fond of that aspect of the switching POVs, I don’t think it was a huge detriment to the quality of the work. The writing was top notch. I would definitely read another book by Slack.
Please note: This review was not sponsored. I purchased the book independently and reviewed it honestly.
Grab your copy of “The Road to Somorrostro” here.
If you’re an indie author and you’d like to guest post on this blog, email me!
elainalyons.com 
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