Malas: A Novel BY Marcela Fuentes

La Cienega is a vivid, multi-generational novel set along the Texas-Mexico border, rich with themes of passion, revenge, and rebirth. The story begins in 1951 when a mysterious old woman confronts Pilar Aguirre in the small town of La Cienega, Texas. Accusing Pilar of stealing her husband, the woman lays a curse on Pilar and her family that will reverberate through the decades.

Fast forward more than forty years, and we meet Lulu Muoz, a teenager navigating the chaos of her life. Lulu’s world is filled with her troubled father’s unpredictable moods, the strict rules she’s expected to follow, her secret life as the singer in a punk band, and the looming pressure of her upcoming quinceaera. When her beloved grandmother dies, Lulu is drawn to a glamorous stranger who crashes the funeral—a woman who lives alone and is shunned by the town.

As Lulu forms an unexpected bond with this enigmatic woman, she begins to unravel the secrets of her family’s past. The narrative alternates between the voices of two strong, resilient women—one grappling with a cursed past and the other striving to embrace her future. Through their intertwined stories, the novel explores the deep connections between generations and the meaning of family.

Set against a backdrop of Tejano culture, La Cienega is rich with cinematic details, from dusty rodeos to the vibrant energy of a Selena concert. This debut novel is a powerful love letter to the community and culture that shape the lives of its characters, offering a story that is both memorable and moving.