This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz
Reviewed by Colleen
If there is one author who knows how to simultaneously make me fall head-over-heels in love and break my heart, it’s Junot Diaz. This Is How You Lose Her sent me on such a roller coaster of an emotional ride that, upon closing this book for the last time, I let out a sigh filled with heartbreak and laced with admiration and awe. How Diaz manages to do this to me with every single book, I will never understand. I am so grateful he does, though, because This Is How You Lose Her is hands-down one of the best literary journeys I’ve been on this year.
Each new story takes a raw and unflinching trip into Yunior’s world, where his heart leads the way regardless of what his head may tell him. There were moments where I related so much with Yunior’s hazardous decision making, only to be punched in the gut with the outcomes of these scenarios. I fell in love with each new character, and had my heart broken just as often. Truly, you feel the sadness in your core, in a way that only Diaz knows how to masterfully pen.
I had my heart dragged along a bumpy journey of passionate decision making and unadulterated youthful bliss. Diaz’s writing flows like none other, and reads so smoothly and with such vulnerability, you’d think he were writing to you personally. There was not a single moment during this entire book when I found myself anything but enthralled. Diaz holds nothing back in This Is How You Lose Her, and I cannot thank him enough. He won the Pulitzer Prize for a reason. If you had any doubts about Diaz’s incredible talent, his latest work makes sure you’re aware he rightfully earned his place as one of the best writers alive today. Do yourself a favor and spend some time with Alma, Nilda, Miss Lora, and the handful of other breathtaking characters Diaz introduces. I cannot recommend This Is How You Lose Her enough. You will absolutely be blown away and so grateful you took this heart wrenching journey. Trust me on this one.
Junot Diaz speaks about & signs This is How You Lose Her here at BookPeople on Tuesday, September 25 at 7p. Order signed copies online or by calling 512-472-5050. We ship internationally.
BookPeople 
I have not read any of his books. Your blog makes me want to test the waters. Do you have a recommendation for an introduction?
The majority of his fans (myself included) came to know him through THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO (http://www.bookpeople.com/book/9781594483295). But if you dig the short story style, you could start with DROWN (http://www.bookpeople.com/book/9781573226066).
All three are amazing. And if you can see him in person (and don’t mind profanity), you have to do it. A true original. And he just won a MacArthur Prize, so that should help him write the next one.