Safe Return Doubtful

written in English with some untranslated Spanish – published May 2026

This is the coming of age story of Ignacio, who grows up in a rural town near Bogotá in Colombia. Despite a physically abusive and alcoholic father, as an adolescent he is crazy about football, and dreams of a glamorous life like his neighbour Lucrecia has. He is unsure of his sexuality, while admiring Lucrecia, he is shy to skinny dip with the other boys, but eventually does with a special eye on Lucrecia’s son Felipe, naked while wearing his football shirt on his head to simulate long hair. All the time he is becoming aware of how gay culture is not tolerated more widely in the country.

Ignacio’s story alternates with that of Valentina, his daughter, growing up at a similar age to Ignacio. Through Valentina’s story we learn her mother, Ignacio’s wife, Alma, is dead. Valentina determines to find out more about her.

It may seem a fairly ordinary story, but under the pen of Lopera it comes to life. His characters are described with passion and in enough detail that their lives become fascinating, and the reader develops a genuine concern for them. The theme of pretending to be someone you are not, may seem a depressing one, but these characters make the whole piece very entertaining.

My GoodReads score 4 / 5