Throughout the book, many characters struggle in their romantic relationships. Some of the characters, such as Clemencia, of “Never Marry a Mexican,” and Carmen, of “La Fabulosa: A Texas Operetta,” knowingly commit adultery with married men. Others, such as Cleofila, of “Woman Hollering Creek,” and Lupe, of “Bien Pretty,” are startled and distraught to learn of their beloved’s unfaithfulness or that they’re married to other women. Ines, of “Zapata’s Eyes,” alone seems to accept that she loves a man who does not exclusively love her.

The expectations that the women have for their romantic partners are often based on ideas they see modeled by their parents. Clemencia, of “Never Marry a Mexican,” looks at her mother’s unhappiness in marriage and feels sure that if she wed she would also end up unhappy because of her spouse. Ines excuses some of Zapata’s infidelity because Ines’s mother took a lover, one who later betrayed her. Cleofila, of “Woman Hollering Creek,” is searching for a man as honest and steadfast as her father. Shea and Lupe, of “Bien Pretty,” are also strongly influenced by the romances they witness on their telenovela programs. Faithfulness generally seems to be elusive in the book, or else it is appreciated too late, as is the case for the widower of “Los Boxers,” who appreciates his wife’s unwavering devotion but not until after she is gone.