Nerdette Book Club: Xochitl Gonzalez on ‘Olga Dies Dreaming’

By Greta Johnsen
‘Olga Dies Dreaming’ by Xochitl Gonzalez sits on a shelf with other books and a plant. The cover is a collage of color and texture that form the outline of a woman’s face. In her shoulder, you can see the skyline of Brooklyn.
At 40, Xochitl Gonzalez decided to leave behind her career as a wedding planner and write a novel. We're so glad she did! Anna Bauman / WBEZ
‘Olga Dies Dreaming’ by Xochitl Gonzalez sits on a shelf with other books and a plant. The cover is a collage of color and texture that form the outline of a woman’s face. In her shoulder, you can see the skyline of Brooklyn.
At 40, Xochitl Gonzalez decided to leave behind her career as a wedding planner and write a novel. We're so glad she did! Anna Bauman / WBEZ

Nerdette Book Club: Xochitl Gonzalez on ‘Olga Dies Dreaming’

By Greta Johnsen
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We are kicking off another year of the Nerdette Book Club with one of the most anticipated novels of 2022: Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez. Olga and her brother Prieto run in New York’s most elite circles, Olga as a wedding planner to the wealthy and Prieto as a media savvy congressman. When Hurricane Maria hits Puerto Rico, their estranged, radical mother comes back into their lives and the gentrifying Brooklyn neighborhood where they grew up.

Xochitl shares a lot with her bold main character. She was also raised by her grandparents in Brooklyn and went on to become a successful wedding planner. We dig into it all in this spoiler-free conversation.

If you’re reading along with us this month, we want to hear your thoughts! Record yourself on your smartphone and send the file to nerdettepodcast@gmail.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!