L.A. Weather
A Novel
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3.4 • 290 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK • 2022 INTERNATIONAL LATINO BOOK AWARD WINNER FOR FICTION
FORECAST: Storm clouds are on the horizon in L.A. Weather, a fun, fast-paced novel of a Mexican American family from the author of the #1 Los Angeles Times bestseller Esperanza’s Box of Saints.
“There’s a 100% chance you’ll be paging through this book to uncover the secrets and deception that could potentially burn everything down!”—Reese Witherspoon
“This is by far one of the most endearing L.A. novels in recent memory.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A lively and ambitious family novel."—New York Times Book Review
Oscar, the weather-obsessed patriarch of the Alvarado family, desperately wants a little rain. L.A. is parched, dry as a bone, and he’s harboring a costly secret that distracts him from everything else. His wife, Keila, desperate for a life with a little more intimacy and a little less Weather Channel, feels she has no choice but to end their marriage.
Their three daughters—Claudia, a television chef with a hard-hearted attitude; Olivia, a successful architect who suffers from gentrification guilt; and Patricia, a social media wizard who has an uncanny knack for connecting with audiences but not with her lovers—are left questioning everything they know. Each will have to take a critical look at her own relationships and make some tough decisions along the way.
With quick wit and humor, María Amparo Escandón follows the Alvarado family as they wrestle with impending evacuations, secrets, deception, and betrayal, and their toughest decision yet: whether to stick together or burn it all down.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
A lot can happen in a year. In María Amparo Escandón’s novel, the tight-knit Alvarado clan navigates 12 months of romance, divorces, and life-changing health crises with love and endless plates of food that pay homage to their Mexican and Jewish roots. Set in January 2016, as L.A. endures a historic drought, the story follows along as the three Alvarado sisters’ comfortable lives are upended when their patriarch, Oscar, is suddenly paralyzed by anxiety. Oscar obsesses about the weather and the dire impacts of the climate crisis even as he ignores the emotional storms brewing under his own roof. Escandón’s sharp eye captures the intricacies of family dynamics, as well as the impact of privilege and gentrification. With its sprawling cast of characters who feel like friends, L.A. Weather is a timely reminder that life’s only constant is change—and that love is a choice we make every single day.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Escandón (González & Daughter Trucking Co.) returns with a rollicking and hilarious family drama of telenovela-esque proportions that doubles as a fiery love letter to Los Angeles. The story follows the Alvarados, a wealthy Mexican-American family, and all the turmoil that exists beneath the sheen of their Instagram-perfect lives. Oscar, the patriarch, is a descendant of a once-influential California ranching family, and his wife, Keila, is an acclaimed artist who still has roots in the art scene of her hometown of Mexico City. Together, they have three lovely, successful daughters: Claudia, a celebrity chef; Olivia, an architect; and Patricia, a social media consultant for large brands. When Keila shares with her family that she intends on divorcing Oscar, the shock sends the entire cast on an emotional roller coaster as the daughters all begin to question how happy they are in their own marriages and Keila develops an attraction to a gallery owner. Beyond the juicy plot, Escandón is a pro at capturing the socioeconomic geography of L.A.; even scenes of mundane life such as a trip to get ice cream provide occasions for the characters to comment on the shifting fortunes of acquaintances after being priced out of up-and-came east side neighborhoods. This is by far one of the most endearing L.A. novels in recent memory.
Customer Reviews
Not horrible but….
Not horrible but I wouldn’t rave about it. I loved the book in the beginning but towards the end my love for the booked started to disappear. I did love the metaphoric association with weather and how detailed the chapters were. A 6.7 out of 10 for me.
Started slow, but came together
It started out slow as it takes time for so many stories to develop. But, it was quite the heartwarming story once it all comes together.
Disappointing
Intriguing beginning, shapeless middle, not much of an ending, painfully bad dialog, inexplicable turns that defy all logic, superficially-drawn characters whose feelings & commitments to each other are named, then left unexplored. I was willing to give it a go, as the set-up pulled me in, but then… event after event after event like a laundry list of plot points with no point. Even the map of Los Angeles is abused here. No one drives all the way to Torrance to their favorite nursery outlet, and no one has a “Jewish accent.” By 50% I was getting frustrated, from 75% on I pushed myself to read every word & just finish it, in order to (a) see if it’s all redeemed in the end and (b) feel ok about writing a review or giving my opinion. So, voila.