A Decent Woman

Eleanor Parker Sapia’s debut historical fiction novel, A Decent Woman, takes place in early 1900s Puerto Rico. It follows the life of a midwife, Ana Belen, and attempts to weave a tale through history of love, betrayal, and deceit. The premise of this book is exciting as we watch Ana grow friendships with her clients and neighbors. However, as much as there are few key moments of interest for the reader, such as hints of magic and superstition, it falls short on the magical flavor and zest that this book could have if it was not rushed to be published.

This book has the perfect setting, plot, and characters but is the victim of being too repetitive. It is this repetitiveness which forces the story to become stale with obvious plot holes. As much as I want to be engaged and root for the characters, there is nothing that would inspire me to recommend this novel to another reader. A Decent Woman lacks the magic to hold a strong story that interweaves the lives of several women.