Liliana's Invincible Summer

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From one of Mexico's greatest contemporary writers comes a powerful work of non-fiction that sheds light on the epidemic of femicide in Mexico through the tragic story of one woman. On July 16, 1990, Liliana Rivera Garza, the author's sister, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, becoming part of Mexico's grim history of gender-based violence. At just twenty, Liliana, an architecture student, had struggled to end a controlling relationship. Just weeks before her death, she resolved to leave him behind and pursue her dreams of higher education and travel. However, her ex-boyfriend believed she could not have a life without him. Returning to Mexico after years in the United States, Cristina Rivera Garza gathers evidence—letters, police reports, notebooks, recordings, and blueprints—to confront the pervasive violence against women and to honor her sister's memory. Through this meticulous collection, she uncovers Liliana's voice, which resonates across time, echoing the demands for justice from countless women who have suffered similar fates. This poignant exploration not only seeks to restore Liliana's identity but also challenges the normalization of violence against women in society.