Fiebre Tropical was well-received by critics, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly[1] and Kirkus Reviews, who also named it one of the best books of the year.[2]
Kirkus Reviews called Fiebre Tropical a "rich, deeply felt novel about family ties, immigration, sexual longing, faith, and desire," saying it was "[s]imultaneously raw and luminous."[2]
Publishers Weekly called Lopera's writing "funny, fresh, and indelible."[1] The Los Angeles Review of Books referred to the main character's voice as "captivating" and "riotously funny."[3]
Lambda Literary said the book is "[f]unny, irreverent, and deeply moving with its pitch-perfect rendering of the kaleidoscopic emotionality of the character."[4] They also highlighted the book's bilingual prose, saying it is "a much-needed approach to writing about not only immigration but life itself in America. This country is a multi-lingual one, and it is past due that our literature reflects this."[4]The New York Times Book Review also commented on the book's use of both English and Spanish "to bold and farcical effect."[5] Because of the bilingualism, Shelf Awareness noted that "monolinguists may want to have a translation app handy for full comprehension. But context more often than not brings absolute clarity."[6] Booklist called the code-switching "engaging and lyrical."[7]
