The Girls from the Revolutionary Cantina

A Novel

M. Padilla

St. Martin's Griffin/Thomas Dunne Books

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Inspired by their good-natured rivalry, career-oriented best friends Julia Juarez and Ime Benevides have never let anything come between them. Then enters Julia's new coworker, Ilario, who pulls both women's heartstrings, disrupts their friendship, and brings Julia's career to the brink of disaster.

Looking for support, Julia turns to her other friends: Concepción, a party-obsessed dance instructor; Nina, a timid but shrewd seamstress who's not too taken with her fiancé; and Marta, owner of the Revolutionary Cantina, who is preoccupied with the details of a Hollywood murder case. When they involve Julia in a risky scheme, she must choose between her loyalty to her friends and a chance to live the life she's worked so hard to achieve.

Boasting irreverent, edgy humor and a clear sense of Southern Californian culture, this hilarious, insightful debut novel by award-winning author M. Padilla brilliantly captures the comforts and dangers of friendship.

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1
Risks and Opportunities
Even now Julia cringed to think about it: how she must have appeared to him, caught standing in the middle of his office, riffling through his things. Monica from his sales group had assured her he was gone for the day, so how could she resist peeking in to see what she could learn about him—this company hero with the stunning gray eyes, ese hot papi chulo, as her friend Concepción called him. She’d wanted a closer look at the photo on his desk, the one of the San Fernando Valley beauty queen rumored once to have been his fiancée.

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Praise for The Girls from the Revolutionary Cantina

"Padilla’s compulsively readable novel is centered around a group of Mexican American friends living in California’s San Fernando Valley....Readers will find these gals great company, and Padilla’s second outing is a rollicking good ride with plenty of flare and heart."--Booklist
 
"Padilla has written a charming and offbeat tale of a group of Latina women. It is the tale of women finding the way together until they must grow apart."--The Washington Times

“Who needs sisters when you have friends like The Girls from the Revolutionary Cantina? Padilla’s debut novel delivers plenty of laughter, a pinch of intrigue and a whole lot of drama. Readers will be so eager to find out what happens next, they won’t be able to put this down.”—Margo Candela, author of More Than This

"A heartfelt, honest story of how career, men and misunderstandings can rock the best of friendships. A natural-born writer, Padilla has an ear for dialogue and razor sharp wit that brings to life these flawed and intriguing heroines."—Mary Castillo, author of Switchcraft

 

Reviews from Goodreads

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Annie  rated it  
Jan 17, 2012
I really enjoyed this book! It was very fun and the stories developed quickly which made it a quick read as well. I thought it would remind me of “The Dirty Girls Club” which it did, but moved at a faster pace closer to an Emily Giffin novel. I loved the little insight you got into each girl’s li ...more
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Catherine  rated it  
Oct 11, 2010
I really loved this character-driven story of a group of Latina friends living in the Valley. It was funny and engaging, and I wanted to keep reading to see what the characters would do next. I can see why it's being characterized at a Latina Sex and the City, to me it felt deeper than that. I do ...more
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Dina  rated it  
Aug 10, 2010
I read this book in one sitting; I just had to keep finding out what happens next! Friendship, infatuation, romance (sometimes a little complicated) Southern California...I think I want to move from the rainy Northwest and find some friends like Julia's. Padilla has created a smart, funny, well pa ...more
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About the Author

M. Padilla

M. Padilla is a winner of the Chicano/Latino Literary Prize and a California Arts Council artist fellowship. Padilla lives in West Hollywood, California.

M. Padilla

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Available Formats and Book Details

The Girls from the Revolutionary Cantina
A Novel
M. Padilla

Trade Paperback

Trade Paperback
St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Griffin/Thomas Dunne Books
June 2010
Trade Paperback
ISBN: 9780312593087
ISBN10: 0312593082
5 1/2 x 8 1/4 inches, 368 pages
$14.99

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St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Griffin/Thomas Dunne Books
June 2010
e-Book Agency
ISBN: 9781429921725
ISBN10: 1429921722
368 pages
$6.99
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