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Lara Ríos

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Becoming Latina in 10 Easy Steps Paperback – January 3, 2006

by Lara Rios (Author)

4.2 29 ratings

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Considered the family spinster because of her high-powered career and lack of marital prospects, Marcela Alvarez receives an unexpected shock when she discovers that her deadbeat dad is not Latino and embarks on a ten-step plan to reunited with her Chicana roots. A first novel. Original.

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About the Author

Lara Rios lives in Los Angeles with her family. This is her first novel.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley Trade (January 3, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0425207552
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0425207550
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.32 x 1.08 x 7.8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,717,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,252 in Hispanic American Literature & Fiction
- #19,148 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction

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4.2 29 ratings

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Lara Ríos

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Lara Rios is a multi-published author of romance fiction and chick lit novels exploring the topics that make life worth living: love, friendships, passionate work, and success. She is a frequent motivational speaker for educational and corporate settings, and writing teaches part-time in lieu of sleeping. Lara can be contacted at larariosauthor@gmail.com

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4.2 out of 5

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Ana RC

Being Latina

Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2017

Verified Purchase

Omg I loved this book. I read it in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. I really felt for the h, Marcella who came from a big Mexican family and finding out at 27 your dad might not be your biological dad was heartbreaking. To find out her biological dad might be Anglo made her feel disconnected to her family. She felt she had to be more Latina, Hispanic like her dad to feel closer to him and the family. Making a list seemed silly but it helped her identify more with her family. I liked that Marcella was a successful independent woman. I enjoyed her comical interactions with her coworker, best friend and one time lover Jackson. I laughed out loud at how Jackson reacted to her other love interest. I liked seeing how hard Marcella tried to make Lupe, a neglected 13 year from the barrio have a better life. Now I really liked the H, George. We need more Georges. He was great and so supportive and loving with Marcella. I loved that he tried to protect himself from rejection from Marcella. He appears so cold and uninterested at the beginning. Their chemistry was off the charts. You are rooting for George. Their relationship was fun to follow. Their love making was steamy. The story is great. I'm Hispanic so I can relate to a lot of her family's expectations, but I think the story is relatable to anyone in a close loving traditional family. Read and see if George gets her in the end.

One person found this helpful

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Sarah Bojorquez

A Great read-if you stick it out

Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2009

Let me start by saying I loved this book. The problem is, after reading the first 15 pages I did not want to finish it. I only actually kept reading it because a friend of mine gave me the book, and I did not want to hurt her feelings. I am so glad I did.

The first few pages are choppy and the character does not come across as believable or likeable. The author spends too much time telling the story and not enough time letting it tell itself. But keep reading.

After the first chapter or so, things pick up nicely, and we actually get to know and like the character. We see her as one person with her family, another with the men in her life, a different girl with her friends, and someone else entirely when she is at work. As the little dramas in her life unfold she finds the barriers she put up around the different parts of her life come tumbling down.

About half way through the book, Marcela really fleshes out. We discover she is human and does things that make us laugh or roll our eyes. She makes good choices and bad ones, and really works hard trying to figure herself out. Her romantic antics are anything but boring (sometimes even becoming scary), and between her family, a trip to Mexico and mentoring a juvenile delinquent, she manages to keep the story exciting to the end of the book. She has a family and friends that are well developed and complex as well, and there are several smaller plot-lines revolving around the people surrounding her that are great as well.

2 people found this helpful

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Susan L. Alvarez

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2018

Verified Purchase

gave AS A GIFT, did NOT READ,

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2014

Verified Purchase

Funny and witty...
Some parts could have been left off as they were 'too descriptive'

One person found this helpful

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S.

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2014

Verified Purchase

Really entertaining and funny!

Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2010

When Marcela Alvarez finds out she's half-gringa, she questions what it means to be Latina in this warm and funny story.

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Frances

I could relate to this story.

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2006

This book is hilarious in some ways as I saw much of my own family in this authors depiction of a Mexican family... though we are not Mexican-American but Puerto Rican. Though, I appreciated the passion in which this author writes, the sex scenes were a little intense for me. There are a few dark parts of the book dealing with issues such as drugs, abuse, rape, and child abuse that were described so well that I was cringing. I was pleased overall with the general story. It was exciting, romantic, heart breaking, and funny. What I like most about this book is that it depicts a Latin American woman not as a sexy hot tempered "fire cracker" but as a real person with real problems and vulnerabilities. I hope to see more from this writer.

5 people found this helpful

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Vonnie

A fabolous book!

Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2007

I absolutely love this book! Lara Rios did a wonderful job in creating a very believable character, Marcela, that brings up true issues that sorround Latinas living in the United States. What does it really mean to be Mexicana/Latina? Is there such a thing to be a true Mexicana/Latina? What makes you a Mexicana/Latina? There are many different answers to these questions, but the correct answer is to be yourself. I found this book to be very funny, romantic, and most of all, inspirational. It has encouraged me to be who I really am without worrying to be too Mexican to please my family and not worrying in trying to fit in to American society. Marcela has become my mentor.

One person found this helpful

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