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june book club: monstrilio by gerardo sámano córdova

we’re excited to announce our june book club selection:

monstrilio by gerardo sámano córdova!

tender, strange, grotesque, and unexpectedly funny, monstrilio begins with grief: after the loss of her young son, a mother cuts away a piece of his lung and keeps it alive. what begins as mourning slowly transforms into something monstrous, intimate, and deeply human as the creature “monstrilio” grows within a queer chosen family navigating love, identity, desire, and survival across mexico city, berlin, and new york. blending horror with dark humor and emotional vulnerability, the novel explores what it means to care for someone who exists outside the boundaries of "normalcy."

this novel embraces the camp sensibility of turning monstrosity into something tender, theatrical, and fiercely alive.

gerardo sámano córdova is a mexican american writer whose work often explores queer identity, grief, migration, and transformation through surreal and speculative storytelling, making monstrilio a perfect june pick for pride month.

can’t wait to dive into this bizarre, heartbreaking, and unforgettable read together!

we have lots of space available in our june book club! email events@leavesbookclub.com to sign up!