11 GREAT Books Set In Mexico
Looking for books that take place in Mexico?
Mexico is an amazing, beautiful and complicated country, culturally and historically – that often doesn’t get enough credit.
While most people think of resorts when they think of Mexico, Mexico has so much else going for it too: amazing cities, vibrant and colourful cultural festivities, and a long history of ancient civilizations, Spanish settlers, and the Mexican Revolution.
These books set in Mexico will give you a deeper understanding of:
- Life in Mexico, for people today and historically
- Some of the major events in Mexico’s history that shaped its country
- The current issues facing Mexico today (some very dark)
The books below are some of the highest-rated books set in Mexico and promise not to bore.
So let’s jump in – here are the best books that take place in Mexico.
BEST 9 Fiction Books Set in Mexico
1. The Murmer of Bees
By: Sofia Segovia
Published: 2015
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0)
Genre: Historical fiction
The Murmer of Bees is set in northern Mexico in the early 1900s, and takes place during the Mexican Revolution and the influenza of 1918.
The Murmer of Bees follows a family for about half a century, spanning from the late 1800s into the mid-1900s. You can see directly through the character’s experiences how the flu epidemic and the Revolution affect them.
There is also a hint of magical realism, but overly so. I personally loved this book; it was so beautifully written. I would say it should be #1 on your list for a book that takes place in Mexico.
The Murmer of Bees actually one of the first fiction books I read that took place in Mexico, and it’s part of what inspired this article. I realized I wanted to read more. It wasn’t a page-turner, but it was the kind of book that every page felt so beautifully crafted and written and I wanted to hang on every word. Beautifull written (even the translation.)
2. American Dirt
By: Jeanine Cummins
Published: 2020
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)
Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Suspense
American Dirt is set in modern-day Mexico, starting in Acapulco and involves a trek through the country in effort to get into the United States.
I absolutely loved this book, and it was popular with one of my book clubs as well. A mother and her son are the main characters and they embark on this journey as a team.
There are a few things to keep in mind before reading American Dirt, though:
- The beginning has a very disturbing scene. However, the rest of the book doesn’t continue on with this level of graphic violence.
- The book has faced some criticism with a white American writing from the perspective of a Mexican person.
Given these two things, I loved American Dirt and would recommend it. I read it very quickly, and couldn’t put it down – I was so invested in the story of the mom, and her child. As someone who lived in Mexico (spent time Acapulco, Mexico City and other places mentioned in this book) I found American Dirt captured Mexico very well; its beauty as well as some of the dark aspects of it – the cartel.
3. The House of the Scorpion
By: Nancy Farmer
Published: 2002
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)
Genre: Science Fiction, Novel, Young Adult
The House of the Scorpion takes place far in the future in a fictional place called Opiom, which separates the United States from Azatlan (which is what Mexico is formerly known as in this book.)
Needless to say, this is a sci-fi book. It’s also entertaining for any age from middle schoolers and up.
The main character is a boy named Matteo, who is told to always stay indoors. He soon finds out that he is actually a clone (clones have no status or rights) of El Patrón, the leader of Opium.
It’s an interesting book, with characters that actually leave you feel something too. After you read it, you may find yourself ordering it for all the pre-teens you know.
4. The Lacuna: A Novel
By: Barbara Kingsolver
Published: 2009
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Novel
The Lacuna is set in the 1930s through to the 60s, primarily in Mexico City and Coyoacan.
It’s about a half-Mexican and half-American boy, who is living in Mexico City with his mother.
Real historical events are central to the story, such as Soviet politician Leon Trotsky being exiled to Mexico (and later murdered in Coyoacán), and artists Frida Khalo and Diego Riviera.
The main character works in the household of Frida and Diego (who are married) and later as an assistant for Leon Trotsky.
It’s quite an interesting book, and if you love Mexico City and are interested in some of it’s history then I highly recommend this book.
The author of The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver is a best-selling author who also wrote The Poisonwood Bible.
5. The Hummingbird’s Daughter
By: Luis Alberto Urrea
Published: 2006
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Novel
The Hummingbird’s Daughter takes place in Northern Mexico during the civil war in the late 1800s.
The author, Luis Alberta Urrea wrote this book about his great aunt, Teresa Urrea, who was believed to have healing powers, was revered in Mexico and made into a folk saint (she is like the Mexican Joan of Arc!)
Teresa Urrea was born out of an affair between a wealthy landowner and a teenage indigenous servant, and as a young woman began to become known for her healing powers.
She became a symbol of resistance for Mexicans (mostly poor and indigenous) and ended up being exiled to the United States as a result. I don’t want to spoil anything, but she didn’t live a long life – her death is somewhat of a mystery.
Luis Alberta Urrea researched all the details he could find about Teresa over the course of 20 years before compiling this well-told, amazing story about her.
Pro Tip: Luis Alberto Urrea is an award-winning Mexican American writer who has written lots of best-sellers. Into the Beautiful North is another popular one of his books that is set in Mexico.
6. Pedro Páramo
By: Juan Rulfo
Published: 1955
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4)
Genre: Novel, Fiction, Magical Realism
Pedro Páramo is a dark, classic Mexican literature novel about a haunted, mysterious (fictional) Mexican village called Camalo.
The main character follows his mom’s dying wish to return to her hometown to make his estranged father pay for abandoning the family -only to find out that it’s now a literal ghost town.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but as he interacts with the people in the town, it’s beginning to seem that a lot of them are actually dead.
Pro Tip: It’s a quick read, less than 200 words. And if you buy the English copy, just be aware that it still has the title in Spanish (you’re not buying a Spanish copy if the title is in Spanish.)
7. Like Water For Chocolate: A Novel in Monthly Installments With Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies
By: Laura Esquivel
Published: 1989
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4)
Genre: Romance, Fiction, Romance, Magical Realism
Like Water for Chocolate is about a young woman who, was born early while her mother was cooking, and as a result- had early exposure to spices, broth and flavours.
Because of this birth exposure to food, she grows up to be an incredible, impossibly good chef.
The book is about somewhat of a life triangle between her, and a man named Pedro who marries her sister to be close to her.
Like Water for Chocolate is a family drama, with cooking and Mexican cuisine as a theme in the book. Romance is a big part of it, but it has a huge ‘unrequited love’ theme in the book too.
Best Non-Fiction/Memoirs Set in Mexico
I’ve read some incredible non-fiction books that were set (either fully or partially) in Mexico and would highly recommend them. Here are a few that should be considered!
1. Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans
By: Michaeleen Doucleff
Published: 2021
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)
Genre: Parenting, Family and Relationships, Cultural Studies
Hunt, Gather, Parent is set primarily in three different countries – Mexico, Canada and Tanzania.
During the Mexico part of the book, the author travels to a small remote village in Mexico to live among indigenous Mayan people and learn about their parenting techniques, and how they raise such helpful, involved children.
She does the same in Canada and Tanzania (visiting the Inuit people, and the Hazda people.)
Personally, I found this book to be one of the most inspiring, and helpful parenting books I’ve ever read. I truly loved it, and it gave me some ideas, concepts and values that has made my parenting better. I’d highly recommend it if you’re a parent of young kids, or are even just interested in the topic of parenting or learning about other cultures.
2. Solito: A Memoir
By: Javier Zamora
Published: 2022
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)
Genre: Autobiography, Travel Literature
Solito is a memoir of a now-grown man who made the trek from his native country, El Salvador all the way to the United States to reunite with his parents when he was only 9 years old.
During the trek from El Salvador to the US, he spent quite a bit of time in Mexico (which makes sense, as it’s a huge country to make this journey through on foot.)
Migrants who aren’t believed to be Mexican are often sent back home, so he’s given a fake Mexican ID has to learn a lot of facts about Mexico in order to pretend he really is Mexican (such as knowing the sports teams, knowing how he’d refer to what grade he’s in in school and things like that.)
Solito is an incredible story of survival, especially of such a young child. Personally, I didn’t love it and I was surprised and how many details were remembered 20 years later (including specific whole conversations, and the order of menial events) but it was very good, and has very high ratings.
3. God’s Middle Finger: Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre
By: Richard Grant
Published: 2008
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.2)
Genre: Biography, Travel Literature
God’s Middle Finger is a travel memoir set in the Sierra Madre mountains, which is considered to be one of the most dangerous parts of Mexico.
It’s where a lot of the illegal drugs smuggled into the US are produced.
The author spends time living and travelling through the area in a pickup truck, even after advice from many people telling him not to (as it would be easy to get killed.)
During his time there, encounters crime, poverty, isolated indigenous communities, and puts himself in several life-threatening situations.
The book is fascinating, but also pretty disturbing. The murder and rape rates are high, and most are unreported and the Mexican government has little control over this region. The author ends up cutting his original plans short and high-tailing it back to the US for reasons you will find out in the book. It’s not like other travel memoirs I recommend, but it’s an eye opening one into a place that none of us will ever go or spend time in.
4. A Massacre In Mexico: The True Story Behind the Missing Forty-Three Students
By: Anabel Hernández
Published: 2018
Amazon Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)
Genre: True Crime, Non-Fiction
A Massacre In Mexico is an awful, heartbreaking about a large group of student from a school in southeast Mexico (in the state of Guerrero, north of Acapulco) who disappeared in 2014 en route to a protest against political corruption.
They were arrested by the police, and handed over to the cartel. No one knows exactly what happened to them after, but in the past few years, some of their remains have been found.
A Massacre In Mexico is a real look at the depths of corruption and injustice in Mexico and is a hard read; but an important one about one of the largest scandals in Mexican history.
Resources for Finding More Books Set in Mexico
- Sanborns is the largest department store in Mexico and sells books. Most of them are in Spanish, but there are
- If you visit very touristy places in Mexico, such as Cancun or Playa del Carmen, many of the hotels have a book exchange section. Have a look to see if there are any gems (set in Mexico, or not.)
- Find a list of great Mexican authors here
- If you specifically want historical Mexican novels that will teach you things about Mexico, there is another great list here (it has some of the books I recommended on this list, and some different ones)