America's Dream

A Novel

By: Esmeralda Santiago

Narrated by: Esmeralda Santiago

""Lyrical [and] haunting, América’s liberating epiphany will have readers . . . on their feet and cheering."" — Washington Post

From the award-winning, best-selling author of When I Was Puerto Rican, América’s Dream explores the ever-shifting definition of what it means to be American and exemplifies the spirit of every immigrant who has dared to realize the American dream.

América Gonzalez is a hotel housekeeper on Vieques, an island off the coast of Puerto Rico, cleaning up after wealthy foreigners who don’t look her in the eye. Her alcoholic mother resents her; her married boyfriend, Correa, beats her; and their fourteen-year-old daughter thinks life would be better anywhere but with América. So when América is offered the chance to work as a live-in housekeeper and nanny for a family in Westchester, New York, she takes it as a sign to finally make the escape she's been longing for.

Yet, even as América revels in the comparative luxury of her new life—daring to care about a man other than Correa—she is faced with the disquieting realization that no matter what she does, she can never really escape her past.

Like Watching A Movie

Wow! So good! This book on Audible was like watching a movie...so much drama, full of suspense and very descriptive. You felt like you were there! I listened to it while having breakfast, while driving and at bedtime. I couldn’t wait to listen to the next chapter! So glad the “Victim” became the “Victor.”

It was great!

I found this book to be extremely good! It explores domestic violence, and mother daughter relationships. It might be triggering for anyone with DV history or in a current DV relationship. However brilliant writing mixed in with some suspense! It depicts Puerto Rico and I feel like I’m transported there! Thank you Esmeralda Santiago!

La Cultura

Excellent! Secrets of our PR culture America culture too! Has changed for some young women because some of us older women are telling our stories. This story is about without the murder! All the rest is my Truth.

Santiago gives a voice to often invisible women

Esmeralda Santiago’s story of America Gonzales gives a voice to the often invisible women who are the backbone of public and private spaces - domestic workers who clean hotels and homes, care for children, raise them, cook for families, and enable ‘work-life’ balance for working professional parents. Compelling flawed characters and realistic backdrops, Esmeralda depictions are authentic (not relaying on stereotypes or over simplifications). The story unfolds easily as it moves between many different spaces and characters. Great audiobook narration.