DEAR HAITI, LOVE ALAINE

Author(s): Maika Moulite and Martiza Moulite

Stand-alone or Series: Stand-alone

Rating: 3/5 stars

I was in Haiti. Ayiti. The Motherland. Would you believe me if I said that I instantly felt a connection to the people? I could feel the blood of my ancestors coursing powerfully through my veins. Intense pride swelled within my chest as I realized that I had returned to the country of my forefathersmothers.

One of the things I look for when I’m reading contemporary is a good narrator, and Alaine was an excellent one. Her sassy and humorous comments on unfolding events made me laugh several times, but she could also be real.

To start, this story is about Alaine Beauparlant, aspiring journalist and daughter of a psychologist and a well-known political journalist. After an unfortunate school presentation, she’s sent to Haiti to work at her aunt’s nonprofit. Along the way, she learns more about the curse that’s been plaguing her family for generations.

I really liked the voice of Alaine throughout the novel. I enjoyed her little comments. Her relationship with her father was cute, her aunt was great (at least in the beginning), and I liked the development with her mother’s relationship.

Alaine did things relatively well. I didn’t feel like she was rash or anything. I liked how she navigated the curse, and it was really interesting and new. I haven’t read many books that deal with curses in this way so it was interesting to see!

I also enjoyed the look into life in Haiti, and the differences between the classes and the attitudes of people.

The romance was minimal, and that’s probably one of the reasons why I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I need a substantial amount of romance in a book to enjoy it.

All in all, it was fun read!

Thank you for reading and see you next time ❤