First published 2014
The narrative follows characters navigating the blurred boundaries between reality and fabrication in modern Mexico. Clement weaves together stories where personal truths collide with social expectations and political realities. Her protagonists confront situations where honesty becomes dangerous and lies offer protection or opportunity. The book examines how people construct their identities when external forces demand constant adaptation. Characters must choose between authentic self-expression and survival in environments where speaking truth carries significant risks. Clement reveals how ordinary people develop elaborate fictions to shield themselves from violence, poverty, or social judgment. The stories interconnect through themes of family loyalty, economic desperation, and the weight of secrets. Each character discovers that their carefully constructed narratives begin to reshape their understanding of themselves. The emotional center emerges from the recognition that survival sometimes requires abandoning absolute honesty while still preserving human dignity and connection.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, magical-realism
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Mexico
Period: modern
192 pages · Mass Market Paperback · DEBOLSILLO
Content warnings: violence