Dreaming of You: A Novel in Verse

Product Description
"A feverish story of young adulthood, exploring how fandom and obsession shape how we relate to the world . . . Dreaming of You navigates the complexities of Latinx identity, self-loathing, love, and the loneliness of drifting into adulthood." —Miguel Salazar, Vulture"At the center of this exploration of insecurities, joys, and identity stands Melissa Lozada-Oliva—an unapologetic poet who isn’t afraid of the rawness of the mind and is resilient in her writing— so much so that it feels like we’re talking to our best friend." —Bianca Pérez, Porter House ReviewA macabre novel in verse of loss, longing, and identity crises following a poet who resurrects pop star Selena from the dead.\nMelissa Lozada-Oliva's
Dreaming of You is an absurd yet heartfelt examination of celebrity worship.\nA young Latinx poet grappling with loneliness and heartache decides one day to bring Tejano pop star Selena Quintanilla back to life. The séance kicks off an uncanny trip narrated by a Greek chorus of gossiping spirits as she journeys through a dead celebrity prom, encounters her shadow self, and performs karaoke in hell.\nIn visceral poems embodying millennial angst, paragraph-long conversations overheard at her local coffeeshop, and unhinged Twitter rants, Lozada-Oliva reveals an eerie, sometimes gruesome, yet moving love story.\nPlayfully morbid and profoundly candid, an interrogation of Latinidad, womanhood, obsession, and disillusionment,
Dreaming of You grapples with the cost of being seen for your truest self.
Review
"Poet and writer Melissa Lozada-Oliva is an unstoppable force within the poetry world." \n—Laysha Macedo, HipLatina
"The novel is narrated in verse, a device that could feel gimmicky in less capable hands than Lozada-Oliva’s, but instead melds with the macabre-yet-gossipy subject matter to create an unforgettable portrait of a public figure who to many seemed larger than life."\n—Emma Specter, Vogue"Crackly and energetic, with poignancy beneath; for Latinx and millennial readers, plus poetry lovers interested in new voices."
—Library Journal
"One of the most original releases of the year Melissa Lozada-Oliva's surreal fusion of poetry and prose . . . [is] gruesome yet heartfelt, macabre yet intimate, brimming with life on every page."\n—
Chicago Review of Books\n"Themes of celebrity, fandom, grief, queer identity, and loneliness feature in this novel in verse about a poet who resurrects Tejano pop star Selena. This story is as absurd and magical as it sounds."\n—Casey Stepaniuk, Autostraddle\n"Melissa Lozada-Oliva's surreal novel-in-verse is sure to delight and surprise readers . . . You may know and love Selena's voice, but Lozada-Oliva's is utterly new, original, and worth hearing, too."\n—Elena Nicolaou, Oprah Daily\n"Obsessive, inventive, and exceedingly funny, Lozada-Oliva’s debut sets a new platinum standard for a tricky genre."\n—Diego Báez, Booklist\n"An enjoyably madcap journey through the wasteland of fame, popular culture, and feminine identity in a post-colonial world."\n—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"A feverish story of young adulthood, exploring how fandom and obsession shape how we relate to the world . . .
Dreaming of You navigates the complexities of Latinx identity, self-loathing, love, and the loneliness of drifting into adulthood."\n—Miguel Salazar, Vulture"... a macabre love story that casts an inquisitive eye on Latinidad, womanhood, and celebrity worship."\n— Keely Weiss, Harper's Bazaar\n"At the center of this exploration of insecurities, joys, and identity stands Melissa Lozada-Oliva— an unapologetic poet who isn’t afraid of the rawness of the mind and is resilient in her writing— so much so that it feels like we’re talking to our best friend."\n—Bianca Pérez, Porter House Review\n"With the intensity and fluidity of a fever dream, Lozada-Oliva situates the figure of the assassinated superstar—'a star I can only see because it has died'—alongside the protagonist