As a Puerto Rican woman who loves to read, I’ve always found comfort and inspiration in the works of Latina authors. Their stories always feel familiar, filled with the richness of our cultures, the complexities of Hispanic families, and the resilience that so many of us carry. Whether it’s a powerful memoir, a magical realism tale, or captivating poetry, these writers have given me glimpses of my own experiences through literature.

If you’re looking to explore more stories by Latinas, here are 9 incredible Latina writers whose works you need to add to your Libby TBR!

1. Isabel Allende

A master of magical realism, Chilean-American author Isabel Allende blends family, politics, and mysticism in her storytelling. Her iconic novel, The House of the Spirits, introduced me to the beauty of generational narratives that intertwine personal and political histories.

⭐Recommended Listen: Violeta

2. Elizabeth Acevedo

Elizabeth Acevedo’s books feel like music. As a Dominican-American poet and novelist, she captures the complexities of growing up between cultures. When I read The Poet X, I saw myself reflected in Xiomara’s journey of finding her voice, and Acevedo’s vivid storytelling continues to resonate.

⭐Recommended Read: With the Fire on High

3. Julia de Burgos

As a Puerto Rican, I feel a special connection to Julia de Burgos, whose passionate poetry like Roses in the Mirror explored themes of identity, feminism, and colonialism. Her words still resonate even now with strength and vulnerability.

⭐Recommended Read: I Am My Own Path: Selected Writings of Julia de Burgos ed. by Vanessa Pérez-Rosario

4. Sandra Cisneros

Sandra Cisneros introduced me to the beauty of coming-of-age stories through The House on Mango Street. Her iconic work explores the struggles and dreams of Mexican-American women navigating life in the U.S., with prose that’s both poetic and honest.

⭐Recommended Read: The House on Mango Street

5. Julia Alvarez

Dominican-American author Julia Alvarez’s In the Time of the Butterflies left me in awe of the courage and sacrifice of the Mirabal sisters. Her stories explore themes of exile, identity, and the search for belonging—sentiments that often resonate with me as I navigate my own bicultural experience.

⭐Recommended Read: How the García Girls Lost Their Accents

6. Esmeralda Santiago

Reading Esmeralda Santiago’s When I Was Puerto Rican felt like coming home. Her vivid memoir of growing up in Puerto Rico and moving to New York City captures the complexities of navigating two worlds—a journey I know all too well.

⭐Recommended Read: Las Madres

7. Cristina García

Cuban-American author Cristina García’s Dreaming in Cuban explores the emotional ties between generations of Cuban women, separated by exile but bound by memory. Her work highlights the complexities of family, displacement, and longing.

⭐Recommended Read: Vanishing Maps

8. Carmen Maria Machado

Carmen Maria Machado’s work defies genres, blending elements of horror, fantasy, and memoir to explore gender, sexuality, and power. Her haunting memoir In the Dream House left me speechless with its raw vulnerability and innovative narrative style.

⭐Recommended Read: Her Body and Other Parties

9. Silvia Moreno-Garcia

If you love a good genre-bending novel, Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a must-read. Her gothic hit Mexican Gothic kept me on the edge of my seat while subtly addressing colonialism and power. Moreno-Garcia effortlessly blends folklore, horror, and fantasy into her unforgettable stories.

⭐Recommended Read: Velvet Was The Night

*Title availability may vary.

These powerful stories that have shaped and inspired me are available to borrow on the Libby app from your library.

RELATED READ: Books with amor: Romance reads by Hispanic & Latino authors