Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Music to My Years  By  cover art

Music to My Years

By: Cristela Alonzo
Narrated by: Cristela Alonzo
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.99

Buy for $17.99

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In this memoir full of humor and heart, comedian, writer, and producer Cristela Alonzo shares personal stories of growing up as a first-generation Mexican American in Texas and following her dreams to pursue a career in comedy.

When Cristela Alonzo and her family lived as squatters in an abandoned diner, they only had two luxuries: a television and a radio, which became her pop cultural touchstone and a guiding light.

Cristela shares her experiences and struggles of being a first-generation American, her dreams of becoming a comedian, and how it feels to be a creator in a world that often minimizes people of color and women. Her stories range from the ridiculous - like the time she made her own tap shoes out of bottle caps or how the theme song of The Golden Girls landed her in the principal’s office - to the sobering moments, like how she turned to stand-up comedy to grieve the heartbreaking loss of her mother, and how, years later, she’s committed to giving back to the community that helped make her.

Each significant moment of the audiobook relates to a song, and the resulting playlist is deeply moving, resonant, and unforgettable. Music to My Years will make you laugh, cry, and even inspire you to make a playlist of your own.

©2019 Cristela Alonzo (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

Featured Article: Latino Stories in Biographies & Memoirs


In modern America, the interchangeable use of the words "Hispanic" and "Latino" blends two identities that are inherently unique in their own right. While Hispanic refers to those who speak Spanish, Latino generally denotes geography, referring to people of Latin American descent. This collection seeks to embody a few Latino narratives from authors descended from Latin America. Press play on these inspiring listens.

More from the same

What listeners say about Music to My Years

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    340
  • 4 Stars
    31
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    312
  • 4 Stars
    18
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    301
  • 4 Stars
    26
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing Book!

Cristela shares such heartfelt life stories. As a daughter of immigrant parents imher story is so relatable. Loved it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Upbeat

Funny, sad, eye opener, social issues. This book has it all! Kept me focus and intrigued.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful, Hilarious, Powerful.

Oh my, I loved this book. The mixtape framework was incredible. I resonated so much with Cristela’s stories and yet also learned so much about her particular experience. Very grateful for the nuance she brings to the conversation around Latinx representation in media. Want another book from her asap….and a writing class!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Worth my money & time

Will listen to at least 2 more times. I discovered Cristela through this book. She's now a personal hero. I cannot wait to follow her on her journey and discover more of her work. Her delivery and written story is beyond touching. She's a true gem.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiring, insightful, integrity

The author is each of these-inspiring, insightful, and she has integrity. I love her honesty even when she contradicts herself, as we all do. I love her way of dealing w her bully as a child. That she can’t be bought bc she’s not afraid of severe poverty bc she’s already survived it. Great listen!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Easy to relate too

I enjoyed the book very much . The chronological order of things could have been better otherwise a great listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book!

I enjoyed this book very much! You feel all kinds of emotions as you get through the chapters. I def enjoyed it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Vulnerable and honest stories from an excellent comic.

I picked this book because I love her stand up. She’s funny! But I also wanted to hear her stories because she is a woman of color who is shining in her industry, and I wanted to know what she decided to share. If I had to guess, this was going to be a funny book with more stories about growing up, being a Mexican American, how groceries at Whole Foods was exxxpensive! The depth, the realness, the honesty she showed in the storytelling, and the genius of pairing each chapter with a song that represented the era, the person, the situation, really pulled me in. It made me laugh out loud while I did the dishes and listen, made me cry as I was mending my clothes, made me motivated to keep on keeping on as an immigrant in this country myself. Thank you Cristela for this gift. I highly recommend!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Relatable in many ways.

I highly recommend this book. I loved it!
thank you Cristela for sharing your journey.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Music to my Years

The author and I had a different perspective on many issues in her book, nevertheless she did an excellent job relating her feelings throughout the narrative.
She spoke in flawless English and wherever Spanish words were required (I am far from proficient in this area), they seemed to be perfect as well. After all English is her second language.
I congratulate her on a job well done.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!