Point of View

The novel is narrated in the third person, switching between the perspectives of Laura and Alina. Laura and Alina are long-time best friends from Mexico who have bonded over their desire to be child-free. The work is partially biographical and the author, Guadalupe Nettel, based Alina on one of her friends who is named in the dedication.

Nettel’s decision to fashion a character from her perspective but as “Laura” humanizes the character and allows additional space for the thoughts and feelings that she was not able to explore before and feel anything other than anger for not matching the traditional view of a woman’s role. Looking back with the additional context as a woman who has found love and meaning in her community despite not being a mother helps Nettel to re-examine her friend’s memories in a positive light.

Laura seems to...