Anita de Monte Laughs Last.

 

 ★★★★

1985. Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t. By 1998 Anita’s name has been all but forgotten—certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student is preparing her final thesis. On College Hill, surrounded by privileged students whose futures are already paved out for them, Raquel feels like an outsider. Students of color, like her, are the minority there, and the pressure to work twice as hard for the same opportunities is no secret. 

But when Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks. As she attempts to straddle both worlds, she stumbles upon Anita’s story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship, which eerily mirrors that of the forgotten artist. 

Moving back and forth through time and told from the perspectives of both women, Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a propulsive, witty examination of power, love, and art, daring to ask who gets to be remembered and who is left behind in the rarefied world of the elite. 

 🌼

  

I learned about this book from Reese's Book Club and was intrigued by the story. I wasn't sure what to expect from the book because Anita de Monte Laughs Last was the first book I had read by the author. I had heard several different reviews about the book, but that didn't stop me from reading it, and I am glad that I did. Anita de Monte Laughs Last is unique, and the story surprised me on several occasions. I've read art books before, but this one is unique...I don't know how to begin to explain everything. There were so many emotions that were going through me all at once, and I know that it’s going to be a book that I will be returning to in the future. 

I discovered this book during the cover reveal when the title caught my attention, and I looked it up out of curiosity. I couldn't help but wonder about the meaning behind the title. When I started reading Anita's perspective, the title made a lot more sense. I loved how the book smoothly combined magical realism, making the story feel incredibly lifelike. In most of the book that I read, I find myself able to transform into the story and experience everything that the characters go through. That was one of my favorite aspects of this book. Reading from multiple points of view helped me to better connect with each character. 

I enjoyed both Raquel's and Anita's perspectives, but Raquel's seemed to start slower. However, it didn’t take long for Raquel’s to pick up, to the point where I was so invested in the story that I lost track of time. I knew a little about art before reading the book, but I felt like I learned more about the process of creating art just by reading the book. While reading the book, I did wonder if the two timelines would end up connecting somehow. In general, I couldn't get enough of this book and would finish it faster if I didn't have to study. 

Highly recommended.