"Marlenée wraps a touching mother-daughter reconciliation in a freewheeling road trip narrative." - Publishers Weekly

"Agave Blues... is as illuminating as it is memorable, and its core themes - self-discovery and following your dreams - are timely for curious souls longing for newfound hope and purpose during existential times." - Greg Archer, The Desert Sun

"The book is a gripping family saga, poetry, and lesson in transformation." - Lillian Ann Slugocki, Angel's Flight * literary west

"Marlenée probes the undeniable bonds of family, the powerful rootedness in the land and the transformative essence of love...Set largely in Mexico where the magic of agave and the generational roots of the land bring its heroine home and into her true self." - Suzanne M. Lang, NPR's A Novel Idea

"An ode to magic realism and the storytelling that permeates Latin American culture, Agave Blues tackles complicated themes wrapped up family, faith, and healing." - A.E. Santana, Kelp Journal

"In the footsteps and spirit of Latin American magic realism masters, Ruthie Marlenée's Agave Blues transports readers on a journey of self-discovery. It's an exceptionally well-written tale of love, loss, family and following dreams. What a phenomenal book!"

-- Rob Samborn, author of The Prisoner of Paradise

"Ruthie Marlenée's Agave Blues is distilled in secrets, ghosts and magic, a beautiful testament to the power of family, place and tequila."

-- Mary Camarillo, author of The Lockhart Women

"A tale of tequila and misplaced fathers, Agave Blues offers potent sips of magic and soars with memories of a half-forgotten childhood in Mexico. A charming read."

-- Stephanie Barbé Hammer, author of The Puppet Turners of Narrow Interior, and Pretend Plumber

"Fighting tooth and nail at work, in her love life, and in US culture, Maya is having a rough time. Despite her success as an attorney, she feels like an outsider, ashamed of her Mexican heritage. Called back to Mexico due to her father's death, Maya rekindles her joy and revels in the deep well of mystery and magic in her culture, past, and history. She grapples with what has haunted and hindered her and heals parts of herself she didn't know needed healing. By the end of this rich, evocative novel, you will come full-circle with Maya as she finds 'home' in all ways possible. A wonderful read."

-- Jessica Barksdale Inclán, author of 15 novels including The Play's the Thing, The Burning Hour, Her Daughter's Eyes, The Matter of Grace, and When You Believe

"Marlenée's rhythmic writing creates ancestral notes between the past and the present ultimately rewriting the future."

-- Vanessa Chica Ferriera, editor of What They Leave Behind: A Latinx Anthology