Publication Date: October 25, 2022
Larimar Cintrón works hard at three things: her job as brand manager for Beacon Café, a New York based corporate bakery chain; taking care of her parents and her abuela; and hiding that she’s a ciguapa—a mythical creature of Dominican folklore with long, straight hair and backwards-facing feet. Larimar may only be a ciguapa on full moons, but she feels like an outsider in her family the rest of the month too. Her love of ’90s punk rock music and style further sets her apart. But when her best friend introduces her to Ray, a bakery owner and fellow punk rock lover, Larimar thinks she may have finally found someone with whom she can be her true self.
As Beacon’s brand manager, Larimar oversees all new location openings, including its newest store in New Jersey, which could be the project that finally lands her a coveted promotion. But when she discovers the location is right across from Ray’s bakery, Borrachitos, Larimar is torn between impressing her boss and saving Ray’s business.
As Larimar continues to grow closer to Ray and the new store’s opening looms, she struggles to hide the truth about herself and her job. But embracing her magical nature may be the only way Larimar can have everything she wants. Witty and poignant, A Touch of Moonlight is a celebration of heritage, culture, and identity—of embracing yourself and finding your place in the world.
It is good for readers and reviewers to stretch themselves by delving into different genres and experiencing different cultures. This is definitely true for me with A Touch of Moonlight by Yaffa S. Santos. I was immersed in Dominican American culture while following the story of a young woman learning to accept herself and find her place in the world.
Larimar Cintrón is dedicated to her job as a brand manager with a bakery chain while caring for her aging family. She is energetic and happy, except for a part of her life she keeps secret—she is a full moon ciguapa. During each full moon, Larimar turns into a mythical Dominican creature with backward-facing feet.
This secret makes Larimar feel isolated. Challenges begin when she forms a real connection with Ray. Unfortunately, he owns an artisan bakery that directly competes with the new bakery location she is developing. Larimar’s life becomes tied in knots as she hides her relationship with the new bakery from Ray. And what will he think about her full moon activities?
It was hard for me to pigeonhole the genre of A Touch of Moonlight. I think it is probably magical realism, which is a type of literature that is difficult for me to understand. On the simplest level, the book is a realistic story of a woman’s struggle for acceptance, but the magical elements confuse that a bit.
I enjoyed Larimar’s spirit and enthusiasm. The book includes excellent descriptions of food and desserts, complete with recipes at the end of each chapter! I gained a much greater understanding and appreciation for the Dominican-American world. A Touch of Moonlight is a book worth reading.
Yaffa S. Santos was born and raised in New Jersey. She is the author of A Taste of Sage, which won an International Latino Book Award and was named an Indie Next List Pick and an Amazon Editor’s Pick, and the forthcoming A Touch of Moonlight. Yaffa is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, where she studied writing and visual art. She enjoys books, coffee, and the beach, and lives in Central Florida with her family.
