A review of Nicky Gonzalez's "Mayra"

Did we all have one of those best friends? The kind that captivated us when we were young, but slowly the veil was lifted and reality set in. Then, years later, you reunite. Is the new dynamic just growing up or…something else?

In Nicky Gonzalez’s “Mayra,” the narrator, Ingrid, is invited to a mysterious house in the Florida Everglades to reunite with her best friend from school, the titular character. They’ve drifted apart over the years, each blaming the other for changing. Reunited by Mayra’s boyfriend, Benji, the two women alternately bond and fight about the past and how they’ve changed. Slowly, Ingrid realizes there is something else going on in the house, not just their shifting relationship dynamics. Why is this strange window in this room? How come Ingrid seems to get turned around so easily in the surrounding swamp? Why is Benji doing THAT? The mysteries compound until Ingrid learns a terrible truth.

I would peg this is a great horror beach read. It’s gripping and pleasantly atmospheric in waves. There’s the nostalgia of the two women reminiscing about growing up in a Cuban community near Miami. Good food is described in detail. Then, the creepy elements start to…creep in. We follow Ingrid, the first-person narrator, as she explores and discovers. We are pulled down into the truth with her, and it’s hard to get out.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it to Gothic horror fans who like a contemporary spin on a classic. I’m looking forward to what else Nicky Gonzalez has to offer. I received this title from NetGalley.

Comments

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