Anita de Monte Laughs Last

A Novel

By: Xochitl Gonzalez

Narrated by: Jessica Pimentel, Jonathan Gregg, Stacy Gonzalez

Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

This program is read by a full cast of Stacy Gonzalez, Jonathan Gregg, and Jessica Pimentel, best known for her role on Orange Is the New Black.

"The book is clever and original, but what’s more, Jessica Pimentel, a star of Orange Is the New Black, reads Anita as if she’s in a fever dream. There’s a vibrant wickedness to her performance that no doubt will make this one of the best listens of the year."—Vulture

REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK • New York Times bestselling author Xochitl Gonzalez delivers a mesmerizing novel about a first-generation Ivy League student who uncovers the genius work of a female artist decades after her suspicious death

A Most Anticipated Book of 2024: TIME, The Washington Post, Refinery 29, Barnes & Noble, Marie Clare, Real Simple, Entertainment Weekly, LA Daily News, LitHub, The Millions, TODAY.com, HipLatina, Book Riot, Kirkus, and more!

“Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a cry for justice. Writing with urgency and rage, Gonzalez speaks up for those who have been othered and deemed unworthy, robbed of their legacy."―The Washington Post

"Anita De Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez asks some big questions, like who in art or history is remembered, who is left behind or erased and WHY. I have goosebumps just talking about this story."―Reese Witherspoon

1985. Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t. By 1998 Anita’s name has been all but forgotten—certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student is preparing her final thesis. On College Hill, surrounded by privileged students whose futures are already paved out for them, Raquel feels like an outsider. Students of color, like her, are the minority there, and the pressure to work twice as hard for the same opportunities is no secret.

But when Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks. As she attempts to straddle both worlds, she stumbles upon Anita’s story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship, which eerily mirrors that of the forgotten artist.

Moving back and forth through time and told from the perspectives of both women, Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a propulsive, witty examination of power, love, and art, daring to ask who gets to be remembered and who is left behind in the rarefied world of the elite.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

©2024 Xochitl Gonzalez (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Gonzalez crafts excoriating and whip-smart commentary on the art world’s Eurocentric conceptions of beauty and the racism faced by first-generation students of color. This is incandescent."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Funny, piercing, and full of moxie, Anita de Monte Laughs Last is unsparing in its assessment of what goes on behind the castle walls, the price people pay to be accepted into those hallowed halls, and what it takes to liberate oneself from the dangers that lurk within. Really, what Xochitl Gonzalez has written is an affirmation for anyone who's ever had to 'work twice as hard to get half as much.' Anita de Monte Laughs Last is rollicking, melodic, tender, and true. And oh so very wise."—Robert Jones, Jr., author of The Prophets, a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction

"Bravo! A remarkable story about reclaiming what has been erased. Reader, enjoy!”—Ana Castillo, author of So Far From God

Left me wanting more!

I hate it that this book had to end! I really enjoyed the story the performances I want it more!

Anita narrator!

It was a full cast narration. What made this book was the narrator for Anita! She was so awesome! Her passion with words was felt. The story itself was a little boring but her character was so dang good!

Unique and powerful

Unique and powerful, beautiful work that I’ve come to expect from Xochitl, waking up emotions hidden deep within but easily brought to light by this wonderful storytelling

The reader does a lot of screaming

The reader does a lot of screaming. It’s a loud book. I know it’s to make a point, but it gets old. Almost stopped listening.

The performance was on point.

It has a fantastic plot and outstanding performance. I plan on recommending this author to my colleagues.

Amazing book!!!!!

I loved the intelligent complexity of the story (the ghosts) and simplicity of the message. Brava, Xotchitl!

Great storytelling, outstanding delivery!! A must read/listen.

I loved everything, outstanding plot and delivery- congratulations, great choice of actors who performed- I enjoyed every minute.

Good story, too dramatic narration

The narrator that read Anita’s section really took away from my fully enjoying this book. She was overly dramatic and her tone made her an increasingly unsympathetic character — when in fact she should have had all of my sympathy. I even skipped some of her chapters towards the end because I didn’t want to listen to more yelling. That said, I did enjoy the book overall and the other narrators were quite good.

Time to credit Ana Mendieta!

I liked that this book brought me awareness to Ana Mendieta’s real life story (not acknowledged by the author). I wish the author would acknowledge the likeness and story was inspired by the very real events that happened to Ana.

Great book

This story was so well done. I loved every minute of it. The characters were so well developed. I truly enjoyed this book.