Infinite Books

Mayra and Ingrid used to be childhood friends, growing up in Hialeah, a Cuban neighborhood west of Miami. At the time, their friendship was for them the most essential thing in the world. Ingrid was a quiet one, while Mayra, wild and mostly free from her mother’s care, initiated adventures that were risky but exciting. They separated when Mayra left for college, but reunited when she invited Ingrid for a weekend visit to a house in the Everglades.

“Mayra” is the debut novel of Nicky Gonzales. We are quickly immersed in an eerie mood, starting when Ingrid drives through the dark Florida swamplands. Even the stop at the gas station can end up being the end of the road for her. Once she arrives, everything seems fine at first: the house is enormous, she has her room, and Mayra’s boyfriend, Benji, is a gourmet cook who is delighted to prepare delicious dinners for them. But slowly, the mood gets darker and claustrophobic.

The unresolved issues between friends come to the surface. In Ingrid’s eyes, Mayra appears philosophical but also detached from her roots, almost fake. On the other hand, Mayra regrets that Ingrid never embraced her interests and achievements, as if wanting their relationship to stay the same.

Throughout the book, there is a feeling of something sinister looming around.  The house they stay in doesn’t offer safety, with its labyrinth-like rooms, and the pleasant boyfriend becomes weird. Is it like a Hotel California’s situation – you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave?  

“Mayra” can be interpreted as a horror story, but also as a coming-of-age story. The writing style is beautiful, often poetic, and I frequently stopped to admire sentences, like when Ingrid searches the room, “drawers yawned when pulled”.  The strained childhood friendship reminded me of another book, namely “Sing Her Down” by Ivy Pochoda, and the visual descriptions looked like they could be easily transformed into a captivating movie. I hope Nicky Gonzales has already started writing another novel – it would be exciting to see what’s next for this talented writer.

MAYRA by Nicky Gonzalez, Random House, 2025