Back in August, I was in a major reading slump. All of the books I picked up were fine, but nothing really drew me in. When the kind folks at Celadon Books sent me a very early copy of Like Happiness, it had no cover image, no blurbs, no color. It was just a bound manuscript with a short description of the plot, but that was all I needed to dive in. The story grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let go. It’s an intimate exploration of power dynamics and the weight of words, but its fine-tuned attention to perspective and devotion is where it shines. Like Happiness is a quiet stunner, the kind of book you can’t wait to get back to once you set it down. I’m so excited to introduce you to Ursula Villarreal-Moura and her work.
—Sarah Arnold, Parnassus Marketing & Communications Director
First, tell us a bit about your book and what inspired you to write it: My novel Like Happiness is about a young Chicana who feels isolated at her New England college. She reads a book by a Latino writer, feels seen for once in her life, and decides to contact him. The novel traces their decade-long relationship and her quest for happiness. I started drafting this novel in 2011 because I wanted to untangle ideas I had about gender, power, sexuality, and self- actualization. In particular, I wanted to examine society’s role in fostering or thwarting a woman of color’s drive to self-actualize.
I’ve been listening to: Olivia Rodrigo’s album GUTS has been my anthem since its release.
I love to watch: The sunset while I’m running. I also love to watch my cat when she’s playing or showing me affection.
Something I saw online that made me laugh, cry, or think: I’m hooked on Between the Covers, the Tin House podcast hosted by David Naimon. Nearly every episode is a masterpiece. I’m always ruminating over what I’ve heard in those interviews.
A creator who’s doing something I admire: If I had to pick only one, it would be Bisan Owda in Gaza. Her intelligence, humanity, creativity, and resilience are truly unmatched. Sadly, I don’t know if she’ll still be alive by the time this interview goes to print. In the writing world, I admire Tommy Orange, Shelia Heti, Sigrid Nunez, and Fernando A. Flores, to name a few. In the world of the TV/Film, I am often blown away by Sam Esmail.
A book I recently recommended to someone else: Three books that I loved somewhat recently were Liliana’s Invincible Summer by Cristina Rivera Garza, The Lonely City by Olivia Laing, and Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi.
If I could teleport anywhere in the world right now, I’d go to: Chile or Argentina. I really miss living in Buenos Aires. I adore South America. I have family in Brazil, and I had a wonderful experience in Uruguay, but I’d have to go with Chile.
I wish I knew more about: Every year, I make a goal to learn about two new topics. In 2022, I learned about the Chicano Movement and the Hopi. In 2023, I learned more about cooking and a bit of Middle East history. This year, my goal is to learn about Frederick Douglass and the hacker group Anonymous.
My favorite thing about indie bookstores: Nothing beats a well-curated indie bookstore. The joy of discovering a new-to-me writer or book is unmatched.
Like Happiness is on our shelves now! Grab your copy here.
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