We Have Always Been Who We Are

Pushcart Prize–nominated Romero debuts with a dynamic collection of interrelated short stories, twisting and turning between the real, the surreal, and the quietly magical. The collection is presented by three talented narrators: Frankie Corzo, who offers clear, down-to-earth tones, seamlessly interweaving Spanish with English; Carolina Hoyos, who imbues her narration with confidence and conviction; and Inés del Castillo, whose youthful voice adds a note of innocence. In “Ashes to Ashes,” the remains of a deceased mother offer advice to her son’s fiancée, while in “No Good Answer,” a cat moves in and takes over a woman’s home. Listeners will also discover a man who slowly disappears into a fog as he becomes someone else, elephants escaping from zoos and circuses and making their way across the continent, and a bayside cottage in an artist colony with a closet full of talking jars. The collection moves with alacrity from one story to the next, featuring recurring characters and themes in an enchanting, mystical parade.