When she falls in love with Hector, a beautiful young man who dreams of becoming a professional dancer, the two decide to form the House of Xtravaganza, the first-ever all-Latino house in the Harlem ball circuit. Burned by her traumatic past, Angel is new to the drag world, new to ball culture, and has a yearning inside of her to help create family for those without. It’s 1980 in New York City, and nowhere is the city’s glamour and energy better reflected than in the burgeoning Harlem ball scene, where seventeen-year-old Angel first comes into her own. “Cassaras’s propulsive and profound first novel, finding one’s home in the world-particularly in a subculture plagued by fear and intolerance from society-comes with tragedy as well as extraordinary personal freedom.” - EsquireĪ gritty and gorgeous debut that follows a cast of gay and transgender club kids navigating the Harlem ball scene of the 1980s and ’90s, inspired by the real House of Xtravaganza made famous by the seminal documentary Paris Is Burning Told in a voice that brims with wit, rage, tenderness, and fierce yearning, The House of Impossible Beauties is a gritty and gorgeous debut – a tragic story of love, family, and the dynamism of the human spirit.NAMED A RECOMMENDED BOOK OF 2018 BY Buzzfeed They are joined by Venus, Juanito and Daniel, all with their own devastating stories to tell, each determined to survive. When Angel falls in love with him, the two decide to set up the House of Xtravaganza, the first ever all-Latino house on the dance circuit.

Just seventeen years old and burnt by her traumatic past, she wants to create a family for those without.

Nowhere is the city’s glamour and energy better reflected than in the burgeoning Harlem dance scene. ‘Cassaras’s propulsive and profound first novel, finding one’s home in the world – particularly in a subculture plagued by fear and intolerance from society – comes with tragedy as well as extraordinary personal freedom.’ EsquireĪ gritty and gorgeous debut inspired by the real House of Xtravaganza made famous by the seminal documentary Paris Is Burning It is also an unexpected love story.’ Graham Norton, Top Five Reads of 2018 ‘Cassara has written a heartbreaking tale of gay men struggling to survive in a world of clubbing and drugs. NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2018 BY Buzzfeed

The house of impossible beauties review