La mala costumbre, the first novel by Alana S. Portero, is a raw, poetic, and moving tale about the childhood and adolescence of a girl trapped in a body she does not recognize. Set in a working-class neighborhood of Madrid in the 1980s, marked by heroin, and in the clandestine nights of the 1990s, the protagonist faces violence, rejection, and the search for identity.
The novel combines the harshness of survival with the strength of culture, pop divas, and female solidarity, showing how anger against a system that excludes can become a vital driving force. Considered an international literary phenomenon before its publication, this work marks a milestone in contemporary queer storytelling.
You can listen to the novel’s soundtrack at: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0gQEfjdfg1iInLPl5JPoho?si=rirNC6yaRsautEDcBe27GA
A novel that is much more than a literary phenomenon.
A voice that stays alive in those who read it. «I recommend reading La mala costumbre to get an idea of how much suffering, how much pain, how much risk there is in being born in the wrong body.» Pedro Almodóvar
«This book made me laugh, cry, and shout. It hooked me from the first page.» Dua Lipa
«If we understand that literature has the quality of delving into the human soul, this book allows you to understand that nothing is easy, frivolous, or capricious.» Elvira Lindo
«La mala costumbre teaches us to look at everything again and understand it better.» Bob Pop
«One of the books that has moved and touched me the most in recent times [?]. A very harsh story masterfully written.» Zahara
«A very beautiful, cruel, and redeeming book about the path we travel until we become who we are.» Elena Medel
«A writer in capital letters, raw and brilliant. A breathtaking debut full of good omens. A nameless wound that can finally heal.»María Sánchez
About the author:
Alana S. Portero (Madrid, 1978) is a medievalist, writer, playwright, and stage director. She co-founded the theater company STRIGA and writes about culture, feminism, and LGTBIQ+ reality —with special attention to the experience of trans women— in media such as eldiario.es, SModa, Vogue, and Público. La mala costumbre is her first novel and has established her as one of the most powerful literary voices in contemporary Spanish storytelling.
