Reading 'Más allá del invierno' felt like unraveling a tapestry of human resilience. The way Allende weaves together Lucia’s fiery Chilean spirit, Evelyn’s quiet Guatemalan strength, and Richard’s broken-but-healing American heart had me highlighting passages about second chances.

I devoured this during my subway commute – the Brooklyn winter scenes mirrored the frost on our windows, making Richard’s drafty house feel eerily present. That scene where they transport the body? My coffee went cold because I forgot to blink.

What surprised me was how Allende makes trauma digestible. Evelyn’s backstory could’ve been crushing, but her determination while making pupusas for the Leroys added such warmth. My bookmark kept slipping because I couldn’t resist peeking ahead – each chapter truly does drop little bombshells!

The romantic tension between Lucia and Richard gave me proper ‘will-they-won’t-they’ anxiety. Their banter over terrible American coffee (so relatable!) made their eventual connection feel earned rather than rushed.

Minor gripe? I wanted more sensory details about Chicago when Evelyn arrives – Allende usually paints cities so vividly. But that final image of them driving toward a new dawn? Perfection. Left me staring at my bookshelf for 10 minutes just processing.

Pro tip: Read with a blanket and something warm to drink. This story seeps into your bones in the best way possible.