"Much like the robust inventory of neighborhood bodegas, Castillo’s book serves up a chorus of characters that fill in essential gaps to our American story. A joy to read!"—Angie Cruz, author of How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water
"Brimming with sensory details and lively character sketches, Bodega Stories is a loving portrait of a family business and the community it both supports and creates."—Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
"As enlivening as a warm ocean breeze... A tender and vibrant tribute that will brighten every collection but especially those serving Caribbean immigrant communities."—Booklist, Starred Review
Listed in Debutiful’s Most Anticipated Debut Books of 2026
Listed in Lupita Reads’ New Latine Reads Coming in 2026
Behind the Bodega Stories Cover (Debutiful)
Available on September 8, 2026
Advance Praise for Bodega Stories
“Bodega Stories is not just a compelling snapshot into one family’s Orlando Latin Market but an endearing love letter to how communities thrive together. Amaris Castillo beautifully captures this world through rich characters and enchanting prose. A standout debut from an exciting new voice!”—Lilliam Rivera, author of Tiny Threads
“Everyone is familiar with the neighborhood bodega, but not everyone gets to know the inner workings of such places. Bodega Stories takes you behind the scenes, into the heart of one family’s business. Its draw is magnetic and only strengthened by the tenderness and charm Castillo infuses into so many of her vignettes.”—Annabelle Tometich, author of The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony
“A compelling story. Bodega Stories gives voice to the working-class immigrants from the Caribbean who often play such important roles in community building, those who create safe spaces for gathering like bodegas, barbershops, salones de belleza, and mom-and-pop restaurants. Castillo’s descriptions are rich and layered, giving a sense of place and situating the reader beautifully inside each nook and cranny of Orlando Latin Market.”—Erika Morillo, author of Mother Archive: A Dominican Family Memoir
“I love this book. Bodega Stories is a joyful portrait not only of Castillo’s family and their bodega but also of the larger community of immigrants hailing from the Caribbean and Latin America that come to Orlando Latin Market in search of home. Castillo gracefully weaves together the memories, interviews, and stories of her family and customers with loving detail and the precision of a poet.”—Claire Jiménez, author of What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez
“With care, insight and sensitivity, Castillo captures what makes bodegas so important and necessary. In depicting her parents’ experience operating Orlando Latin Market, Castillo introduces us to the community upon which the bodega depends—bringing to life a vibrant multicultural, multilingual, multigenerational community, shining a light on people who are often overlooked, and holding space for those who are often crowded out.”—Amina Gautier, author of The Best That You Can Do
