My Train Leaves at Three

An Afro-Latina singer pursues her big break while contending with grief and predatory men in this dramatic if unfocused debut from Guerrero. Xiomara Sanchez, 29, was previously on the cusp of landing a breakout role on Broadway when her sister, Nena, suddenly died. Now, a year later, she’s waiting tables and singing in a tourist trap and toiling at a print shop, where the manager manipulates her into having sex with him. Despite how hard she works, Xiomara still falls short on the past-due rent for the cramped apartment she and her mom share in Washington Heights. When she hears that celebrated director Manny Santos is casting for his next show, she pushes herself to audition, despite being laden with grief. Manny loves her voice and the two begin an affair. He lavishes her with money, prompting her to quit the print shop, and she puts up with his increasingly controlling nature and unwelcome tendency to choke her during sex, holding out hope for a part in his play. Amid this turmoil, Xiomara has a falling out with her mom and regrets brushing off a good-hearted former coworker. In the third act, Guerrero guides her protagonist toward redemption but loses track of the plot. Still, the novel offers sharp insights on the effects of exploitation, loss, and self-debasement. The protagonist’s strong voice carries this slightly scattered coming-of-age tale. Agent: Sabrina Taitz, WME. (July)