Oye by Melissa Mogollon

Oye by Melissa Mogollon

A Voice That Commands Attention - A Whirlwind of Family Drama Told Through Phone Calls

Like Luciana herself, who finds her voice amidst family chaos, Mogollon emerges as a talented storyteller unafraid to explore messy emotions and complicated truths. By the novel's end, we feel as though we've not just read about these characters but actually know them – their quirks, their flaws, their fierce loyalties and equally fierce grudges.
  • Publisher: Hogarth
  • Genre: Coming-of-Age, Literary Fiction, Queer
  • First Publication: 2024
  • Language: English

In her electrifying debut novel Oye, Melissa Mogollon delivers a narrative as unpredictable as a Florida hurricane and as complex as family ties themselves. Through a series of phone conversations between Luciana and her older sister Mari, we experience a story that unfolds with the messy authenticity of real life—complete with its humor, heartbreak, rage, and moments of unexpected tenderness.

Oye—Spanish for “listen”—commands our attention from the first page, inviting us to eavesdrop on the private communications between two sisters navigating the tumultuous waters of family crisis, identity, and growing up. The result is a reading experience that feels startlingly intimate, as if we’ve accidentally picked up someone else’s phone and can’t bring ourselves to hang up.

Structure That Both Succeeds and Stumbles

Mogollon’s decision to tell the story entirely through one-sided phone calls is both the novel’s greatest strength and occasional weakness. On one hand, it creates an immediate sense of intimacy and authenticity. On the other, this format sometimes feels constraining, particularly when conveying complex backstory or when the emotional beats demand more nuance than a phone call might naturally provide.

The novel is divided into three parts, with each chapter titled after a common Spanish phrase parents or grandparents might say to their children—phrases like “Pásame el teléfono” (Pass me the phone) and “Bájame el tono” (Lower your tone). These chapter titles serve as both thematic anchors and wry commentary on the generational dynamics at play.

What works brilliantly is how Mogollon captures the cadence of teen speech, particularly the way Luciana’s voice evolves throughout the novel. Her rapid-fire delivery, punctuated with “lol” and “dude” and sudden emotional pivots, feels authentic without becoming caricature. The linguistic code-switching between English and Spanish enhances this authenticity, subtly reinforcing the cultural duality Luciana navigates.

Characters Who Linger Long After the Final Page

At the heart of Oye by Melissa Mogollon is Luciana – an 18-year-old Colombian-American navigating her senior year of high school in Florida while grappling with her sexuality, her future, and the complicated women in her family. Mogollon crafts a protagonist who is both achingly vulnerable and fiercely resilient. Luciana’s narration is a masterclass in character voice – sarcastic, self-deprecating, occasionally profound, and always compelling.

But it’s Abue (grandmother) who steals the show. Through Luciana’s descriptions and recounting of conversations, Abue emerges as a force of nature – vain, stubborn, occasionally cruel, but also capable of surprising wisdom and tenderness. Her insistence on maintaining her appearance even as her health deteriorates (“I want a sexy outfit for my funeral”) speaks volumes about her character and the cultural values she embodies.

The relationships between the women in this novel—Luciana, Abue, Mari, and their mother Elena—are rendered with nuanced complexity. Each woman is shaped by generational trauma but responds to it differently, creating a fascinating exploration of how pain is inherited and transformed across generations.

Cultural Resonance and Universal Themes

While deeply rooted in Colombian-American culture, Oye by Melissa Mogollon explores universal themes with remarkable insight:

  • Intergenerational trauma: The novel delves into how trauma is passed down through families, particularly as revealed through Abue’s devastating backstory
  • Coming-of-age and identity formation: Luciana’s struggle to define herself amidst family chaos resonates regardless of cultural background
  • Mortality and grief: The novel’s unflinching look at illness and death avoids sentimentality while honoring the complexity of loss
  • The immigrant experience: Through subtle details and family dynamics, Mogollon illustrates the particular challenges of straddling two cultures

For Latinx readers, there’s a special recognition in the small details – from the obsession with appearances to family communication styles. Mogollon expertly balances cultural specificity with universal emotional truths, creating a story that feels both particular and widely accessible.

Shortcomings That Don’t Sink the Ship

Despite its many strengths, Oye by Melissa Mogollon isn’t without flaws. The phone call format, while innovative, occasionally strains credibility—particularly when Luciana recounts entire conversations verbatim or delivers extended backstories. This format also means we only ever experience Mari’s reactions through Luciana’s responses, which sometimes feels limiting.

The pacing suffers in the middle sections, where the hurricane plot gives way to medical drama without quite maintaining the same narrative momentum. Some readers might find the profanity-laden teen dialogue excessive, though others will appreciate its authenticity.

Additionally, while the novel boldly tackles heavy themes, it occasionally resolves complex emotional situations too neatly. Abue’s decision regarding her treatment feels rushed given the gravity of the choice, and some family revelations are processed with a speed that undermines their emotional weight.

Prose That Pulses with Life

What ultimately elevates Oye above its structural limitations is Melissa Mogollon’s vibrant, muscular prose. Even within the constraints of the phone call format, she crafts sentences that surprise and delight:

“He couldn’t believe his friends had never mentioned how beautiful she was! And Mom said something must have come over him, because he then asked Fernanda out right there. On the spot. Before she could even finish her sentence.”

“But imagine having to sleep next to the possibility of that visual for the past six months. Your feelings are not my priority here.”

Mogollon particularly excels at capturing the rapid emotional pivots of adolescence – the way Luciana can swing from profane fury to tender vulnerability within a single breath. The dialogue crackles with life, each character distinguished by speech patterns that reveal their personalities and backgrounds.

Verdict: A Flawed but Formidable Debut

For all its occasional missteps, Oye announces Melissa Mogollon as a formidable new literary voice. Like its protagonist, the novel is sometimes messy, occasionally frustrating, but ultimately impossible to ignore.

The novel will particularly resonate with:

If you enjoyed the cultural specificity and family dynamics of Elizabeth Acevedo’s work or the narrative innovation of Jenny Offill’s “Dept. of Speculation,” Oye offers similar pleasures with a distinctive voice all its own.

Strengths:

  • Vibrant, authentic character voices
  • Nuanced exploration of family dynamics
  • Skillful blending of humor and heartbreak
  • Rich cultural specificity
  • Bold narrative structure

Weaknesses:

  • Phone call format occasionally strains credibility
  • Uneven pacing in middle sections
  • Some emotional beats resolved too quickly
  • Limited perspective due to one-sided conversations

Final Thoughts: A Voice Demanding to Be Heard

In Spanish, “oye” is both a command and an invitation—”listen”—and Mogollon’s debut novel earns our attention. Though not without flaws, Oye by Melissa Mogollon introduces a writer with a distinctive voice and a keen eye for the complexities of family, culture, and growing up.

Like Luciana herself, who finds her voice amidst family chaos, Mogollon emerges as a talented storyteller unafraid to explore messy emotions and complicated truths. By the novel’s end, we feel as though we’ve not just read about these characters but actually know them – their quirks, their flaws, their fierce loyalties and equally fierce grudges.

Oye reminds us of the power of listening – to each other’s stories, to the painful truths of the past, and to the voices of young women figuring out their place in the world. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most important stories are the ones shared when no one else is supposed to be listening.

As Luciana herself might say: it’s messy, it’s complicated, sometimes it’s frustrating as hell – but ultimately, it’s worth it.

More on this topic

Comments

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

  • Publisher: Hogarth
  • Genre: Coming-of-Age, Literary Fiction, Queer
  • First Publication: 2024
  • Language: English

Readers also enjoyed

Never Say Never by Danielle Steel

Discover the compelling story of Never Say Never by Danielle Steel, a novel about resilience, rediscovery, and finding love after heartbreak. This review explores the book’s themes, character development, and Steel’s signature storytelling.

My Dog by Olivia Wakeford

My Dog by Olivia Wakeford is a touching middle-grade novel that explores grief, family dynamics, and the healing power of a child’s bond with a mysterious dog. Read our review to discover why this book is a must-read for young readers.

Maya & Natasha by Elyse Durham

Dive into the evocative world of Soviet-era ballet with Maya & Natasha by Elyse Durham. This novel masterfully explores ambition, sisterhood, and sacrifice against the backdrop of Cold War-era Russia, where dance is both an art and a battleground.

May All Your Skies Be Blue by Fíona Scarlett

Fíona Scarlett’s May All Your Skies Be Blue is a poignant novel exploring love, sacrifice, and the unbreakable ties of the past. Set against Dublin’s working-class backdrop, this deeply emotional story follows Shauna and Dean as they navigate missed chances and lifelong responsibilities. Read our in-depth review of this heart-wrenching novel.

Love and Other Hollywood Endings by Susannah Erwin

In Love and Other Hollywood Endings, Susannah Erwin delivers a compelling second-chance romance set against the high-stakes backdrop of the film industry. Follow Sutton and Xavier as they navigate creative ambition, lost dreams, and the possibility of a real-life happy ending.

Popular stories

Like Luciana herself, who finds her voice amidst family chaos, Mogollon emerges as a talented storyteller unafraid to explore messy emotions and complicated truths. By the novel's end, we feel as though we've not just read about these characters but actually know them – their quirks, their flaws, their fierce loyalties and equally fierce grudges.Oye by Melissa Mogollon