Book Review: ‘Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer’

Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer

Author: Mari SanGiovanni

Publisher: Bywater Books

Year of Publication: 2006

One of my personal tenets: never trust back-cover blurbs. So when Mari SanGiovanni’s debut novel, Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer, came with a bold “Warning: This Book May Have You Laughing Out Loud in Public,” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and take it as a dare. Surely I could get through it without laughing, being moved, or—let’s be honest—feeling a little turned on.

I don’t typically gravitate toward comedic fiction. Aside from a few Dave Barry gems and the five-part absurdist brilliance of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, humor in novel form rarely works for me. But this book? This one surprised me.

SanGiovanni introduces us to Marie Santora, a smart, stylish, talented—and proudly out—lesbian writer whose chaotic Italian-American family reaches new levels of eccentricity after Marie unexpectedly inherits her grandmother’s estate. The twist? Marie and Grandma never really got along.

As Marie’s relationship with her cheating girlfriend Jess begins to implode, she sees the inheritance as her golden ticket out—toward screenwriting dreams in California and possibly into the arms of her celebrity crush, actress Lorn Elaine. But first, Marie stages a tropical peace offering: an all-expenses-paid Jamaican getaway for her wonderfully dysfunctional clan, including her lesbian sister, straight brother, meddling aunt, and delightfully maddening parents.

As Mari herself puts it, the novel is about “siblings, Sicilians, and celebrity stalkers…money, mothers, and wayward meatballs.” It’s the kind of book that welcomes you in with big gestures, loud laughter, and enough heart to make even the most jaded reader smile.

Alex Diaz-Granados on Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer

While SanGiovanni isn’t afraid to explore bittersweet truths about love, loyalty, and messy relationships, her novel is, above all, a vibrant romantic comedy. It’s smart, playful, and genuinely funny—often in ways I didn’t see coming. Lines like: “What does one wear to her first penis-viewing? Despite my late-night investigation, Tiger Beat held no clues,” had me snorting into my coffee.

Though Marie’s sexuality is central to the story (and yes, there are a few tastefully sexy scenes), the real magic lies in the affectionate chaos of the Santora family. As Mari herself puts it, the novel is about “siblings, Sicilians, and celebrity stalkers…money, mothers, and wayward meatballs.” It’s the kind of book that welcomes you in with big gestures, loud laughter, and enough heart to make even the most jaded reader smile.

Even if you don’t identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer has something universal to offer—especially for anyone who’s ever juggled love, family, and a suitcase full of dreams.