“Marcela is a personable, witty and entertaining presenter. When she read an excerpt from her book, it was a dramatic performance that included some audience interaction. The audience was interested and engaged and before we knew it, time was up for the presentation part of the night. She then answered questions from the audience (and there was no shortage of them). And right after, she autographed books for every person who stood in line to meet her, and that was most of the audience. Audience members left happy and we, as the hosts of the event, were equally happy.” — Nicholson Memorial Library System, 2025

“Marcela is an amazing person and author. Her light shines bright. She. Is. A. Rock. STAR!! She’s engaging and up to speed with the literary world around her. She’s inspiring!! It was an honor to meet and host her.” — Literary Women Festival, 2025

“Readers will devour Malas. Fuentes’ propulsive plotting; rich and precise depiction of Tejano culture; complex characters; and thoughtful exploration of female anger, grief and intergenerational trauma combine to form a fully immersive reading experience that—for all its specificity—will be compelling and meaningful to readers of all backgrounds. Brimming with brio, Fuentes’ deliciously defiant debut breathes new life into classic lore and heralds the arrival of a bold new literary powerhouse.” — BookPage

“Malas is an antidote for the hard-line essentialism that has made this world an intolerant, violent place. Fuentes humanizes seemingly insoluble conflicts, both generational and cultural, with imperfect characters who are just doing their best, even when they know they are screwing up. She gives them something that many of us nonfictional people living and messing up in the world could use, and give back — grace.” — The New York Times Book Review

“Malas is a machete: sharp, terrifying, and beautiful. Each character feels dynamic, familiar, and so utterly human in their glorious messiness. Fuentes has achieved something rare and indelible with this story of complex women.” — Erika L. Sánchez, New York Times bestseller author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and Crying in the Bathroom

“Fuentes seamlessly knits familiar history and urban legend with a heartfelt, modern, coming of age story to deliver a vivacious, page-turning novel of rebellion and rebirth. The truth, in the hands of Fuentes lively and beautiful prose, liberates these characters and the reader alike.” — Xochitl Gonzalez, New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming