My Train Leaves at Three: A Novel

After the death of her sister, Xiomara Sanchez is left reeling with her ultra-catholic mother in a tiny, Washington Heights apartment they can barely afford, despite working two minimum-wage jobs—one of which involves singing show tunes while serving pancakes to tourists at Ellen’s Stardust Diner. And even with a new love, Santi, tugging at the fraying threads of her apathy, Xiomara is unmoored in her desires.

But when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity falls into her lap—the chance to audition for Manny Santos, the most charismatic director of the moment—Xiomara sees a second chance to pursue the dream she thought she'd lost. As she grapples with the hard truth, that sometimes the closer you get to your dreams, the further you drift from yourself, Xiomara must ask whether she has what it takes to build a new shiny life without losing the truth of her old one.