Hurricane Season

DAMN. This was an experience. Brutal, visceral, and unrelenting. Melchor’s prose is staggering!

The novel paints a town that feels cursed, a case study of so many things like poverty, violence, drugs, gender, sexuality, hopelessness/futility, all swirling together in a relentless storm. (you see what I did there? 😜)

This is what I would call a low enjoyment, high appreciation read-- I’m thrilled to have discovered Melchor and will 100% read more of her work, but while Hurricane Season was unforgettable, it was also exhausting, claustrophobic, and anxiety-inducing.

I’M TORN on what to rate this! Based on enjoyment, it’s a 3. Based on craft, it feels like a 4 (or even higher?!). Let’s call it a solid 3.5⭐️.

Recommended to readers ready for a brutal, demanding experience. This is a book that will stick with you, but it asks a lot in return. Before you read don't forget to check the TWs!