How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water is a novel by Angie Cruz, first published in 2022. Set in the New York City neighborhood of Washington Heights, it tells the story of a middle-aged Dominican woman named Cara Romero.
The novel follows Cara through a series of interviews with a woman at the local employment office. She has recently lost her long-term job at a lamp factory and is looking for work. Over the course of several interviews, Cara reveals a great deal about her life. She recounts her son's decision to leave home, as well as her friendships with the women who live in her neighborhood, her escape from the Dominican Republic, her time spent working in a lamp factory, and her daily struggle to make ends meet. She continually discusses the pain she feels about the absence of her son as well as her anxiety about finding a job in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Each interview concludes with the text of a different document, such as Cara's job interview form or her rent balance. As she retells the story of her life and its various episodes, Cara begins to see different people with increasing clarity and expresses regret over how she handled certain moments. The interviews are less about Cara's actual search for work and more about the personal relationship she builds with the interviewer.
Published in 2022, the novel was well-received by critics. It was included on best-of-the-year lists by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and BookRiot and received the Latino Book Awards Gold Medal. The Washington Post wrote, "With How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water, Cruz once again offers a fresh glimpse of immigration, womanhood, aspiration and gentrification." NPR called Cruz's novel "A poignant portrait of one fallible, wise woman and a corner of one of New York’s most vibrant immigrant communities."
