- Date Published:
2022 - Length:
208 pages—Listening Time: 6 hrs 16 minutes - Genre:
Fiction - Setting:
2009, during the US Great Recession, in the Dominican neighborhood of Washington Heights, NYC - Awards:
Aspen Words Literary Prize Shortlist 2023; Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize Longlist 2023; Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee Fiction 2022; The New York Times Notable Books of the Year Fiction 2022; Mid-Continent Public Library Best Books Angie's Top 25 Reads 2022 - Language:
English and Spanish - Sensitive Aspects:
Abuse and trauma, poverty, debt, gentrification, family conflict, discrimination and marginalization, mental health and despair - Movie:
As of May 2025, there are currently no movie deals - Recommend for Book Club:
Yes, this is a unique read that many groups will enjoy
How Not To Drown In a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz is one of those books that I had seen on several book lists, but I knew very little about. I figured that if it fell flat, it was only a 6-hour listening commitment, and frankly, the clever title sucked me in.
Despite its brevity, this book delivers a powerful punch. It is an amazing read. The plot centers around the hardship of elderly Americans amid the Great Recession of 2009, concentrating on a Senior Workforce Program designed to assist older individuals in finding work following layoffs. Although this topic sounds about as interesting as a bag of bricks, the book is brought to life through the lovable and sassy voice of Cara Romero, a 55-year-old Dominican immigrant who finds herself navigating life after losing her factory job. It's funny, insightful, and full of warmth. The writing is just as clever as the title!
The entire book is written as a series of Cara's monologues, detailing her side of conversations with her assigned employment social worker, giving the book a feel akin to a one-woman show. At first, I thought the story would get old, since there were 12 counseling sessions. But, as the book progressed, I became enthralled with Cara as well as the plight of so many older unemployed immigrants in the United States.
If you can, I would recommend the audio format as the definitive way to engage with the novel. Rossmery Almonte's performance as Cara Romero is brilliant, capturing the protagonist’s humor, vulnerability, and resilience with remarkable authenticity. There are also sound effects such as footsteps, typing, and the sound of swallowing water, which add to the theatricality and immersion. It was almost like listening to a radio play or live theater for me, which added to the impact of this gem of a book.
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water centers on Cara Romero, a Dominican immigrant in her mid-fifties living in New York City. After losing her long-term job at a lamp factory during the 2008 financial crisis, Cara is forced to confront unemployment and reenter the job market through a government-run career counseling program.
The novel unfolds over the course of twelve sessions with a job counselor, during which Cara narrates the story of her life. Rather than focusing strictly on job skills, Cara uses these sessions to reflect on her personal experiences, which include
- Her strained relationship with her estranged son, Fernando.
- Her complicated but loving relationships with her sister Angela and her best friend Lulu.
- Her struggles with debt, the pressures of gentrification, and the challenges of aging as an immigrant woman in America.
- Her memories of leaving the Dominican Republic and building a life in Washington Heights, New York.
The story is told in Cara’s vibrant, distinctive voice, blending English and Spanish, and is punctuated by official documents such as job interview forms, benefits paperwork, and rent statements, which ground her narrative in the bureaucratic realities faced by many immigrants and working-class people.
The title refers to a Spanish idiom, “No te ahogues en un vaso de agua,” meaning, “Don’t drown in a glass of water”—a reminder not to be overwhelmed by manageable problems. The book explores how Cara, despite her hardships, finds resilience and hope, refusing to be defeated by life’s setbacks.
Community is also a central theme. Cara’s relationships with her neighbors, family, and friends form a safety net that helps her endure adversity.
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water has been widely acclaimed for its fresh perspective on immigration, womanhood, and the immigrant experience in New York City. It was included on several best-of-the-year lists and received the Latino Book Awards Gold Medal.
The novel is a moving, character-driven exploration of how one woman faces the challenges of displacement, loss, and change, ultimately finding strength in her community and her own indomitable spirit.
Although this is not the type of book I "gush" about, this one is well worth your reading time. Read How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water if you want a moving, inventive novel that brings to life the struggles and resilience of an unforgettable woman. It’s a powerful exploration of survival, community, and the dignity of ordinary lives, told with humor, warmth, and honesty. Here are a few more reasons I think you will enjoy reading or listening to How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water.
A Unique and Delightful Protagonist
Cara Romero, the novel’s central character, is a 55-year-old Dominican immigrant living in New York City. Her voice is captivating, honest, and full of humor and humanity. Cara’s journey-navigating job loss, estrangement from her son, and the daily challenges of survival-offers a deeply personal perspective on resilience, motherhood, and the immigrant experience.
Creative, Inventive Narrative Structure
The book is structured as a series of one-sided job counseling sessions, allowing readers to experience Cara’s life story through her own words. This approach creates an intimate, confessional tone and provides a profound character study, making Cara’s joys, regrets, and struggles feel immediate and very real.
Exploration of Timely Themes
Angie Cruz tackles issues such as perseverance in the face of adversity, the complexities of cultural identity, generational trauma, gentrification, and economic insecurity. Cara’s story unfolds against the backdrop of the 2008 financial crisis, highlighting the precariousness faced by working-class immigrants and the bureaucratic hurdles they encounter.
Rich Sense of Community
Despite her hardships, Cara finds strength and warmth in her relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. The novel beautifully illustrates how community bonds become lifelines, especially for those living on society’s margins.
Representation of Underrepresented Voices
The novel centers on an older, working-class Latina woman-an uncommon protagonist in contemporary fiction. Cara’s perspective brings much-needed representation and depth to stories about aging, motherhood, and the immigrant experience.
Critical Acclaim
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water has received widespread praise, earning spots on best-of-the-year lists from The New York Times, The Washington Post, and BookRiot, as well as winning the Latino Book Awards Gold Medal. Critics have lauded its fresh take on immigration, womanhood, and aspiration, and its poignant depiction of one of New York’s vibrant immigrant communities.
Inventive Use of Language
The novel incorporates Spanish phrases and idioms, enriching Cara’s voice and authenticity. The title itself alludes to the Spanish word desahogar, which means to "un-drown," or to pour one's heart out, reflecting Cara's process of venting her trauma and finding catharsis through storytelling.
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Clever and innovative, Angie Cruz's books are must-reads.
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If you enjoyed Angie Cruz’s How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water-a novel praised for its vibrant voice, immigrant experience, humor, and poignant exploration of community, resilience, and family-you’ll likely appreciate the following books, which share similar themes, narrative styles, or emotional resonance:
- Maame by Jessica George: This novel follows Maddie, a young woman navigating life in London while grappling with family obligations, identity, and the immigrant experience. Like Cruz’s book, it blends humor and heartbreak, offering a deeply personal look at coming of age and finding one’s voice.
- Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo: A multigenerational story about Dominican-American women, exploring family secrets, resilience, and the ties that bind. It’s rich in character and cultural detail, echoing Cruz’s focus on community and heritage.
- Dominicana by Angie Cruz: Also by Cruz, this earlier novel centers on a young Dominican woman’s immigration to New York City. It’s an own-voice narrative about adaptation, sacrifice, and the pursuit of dreams-perfect for fans of How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water.
- Stories from the Tenants Downstairs by Sidik Fofana: This collection offers interconnected stories of residents in a Harlem apartment building, exploring themes of gentrification, survival, and community—parallelizing the struggles and warmth found in Cruz’s novel.
- American Street by Ibi Zoboi: A coming-of-age story about a Haitian immigrant teen in Detroit, this novel delves into family, identity, and the challenges of assimilation, resonating with the immigrant perspective and emotional depth of Cruz’s work.
- Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia: Spanning generations and countries, this novel explores the lives of Cuban and Cuban-American women, touching on themes of migration, motherhood, and resilience.
- How the García Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez: A classic of Dominican-American literature, this novel traces the lives of four sisters as they adapt to life in the United States, blending humor, memory, and cultural identity.
- Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata: While set in Japan, this character-driven novel about a woman who doesn’t fit societal norms offers a similarly strong narrative voice and exploration of what it means to belong.
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