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The Complexities of Humans
In this is my worst nightmare: please be nice to me, a young high school teacher is confronted with losing her best friend and must come to terms with the trauma bond the two have formed. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for this story came to me organically, as it started from a poem. I wanted to delve deeply into human relationships, and I find that people often don’t solve their problems and battle their ghosts unless they’re in a desperate situation, like the one in the novel, which is why I wanted to have a somber setting, like a hospital for instance.
Is there anything from your own life found within the characters of Sunny and Charlie?
I think whenever we write we always take something from our lives. Everyone I’ve ever met, every book I’ve ever read and every film I’ve ever seen are in this book, as well as some of myself. But I do think that building these characters and getting to know them as the writing process continued was wonderful, and they definitely didn’t just come to me ready; I had to slowly meet them and find out more about them.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to explore the complexities of humans and the way they relate to each other, all the joys, pains, and grief. But ultimately, I hope that what readers take away is that it’s a story about love and its power, for good or bad.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I can’t say much about my next book other than it’s a big shift from this one, something a little more mysterious, and in an entirely different genre. Other than that, I’m working on plenty of films, and writing a lot of screenplays! I’m currently focused on food writing, and a couple of my next projects are about food and cooks.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Sunny is a high school teacher in her late twenties navigating the hospitalization of her best friend Charlie. As a narrator who feels like an observer in her own life, Sunny examines what her life without Charlie might have been like and what life with him has meant for her. The story moves through time non-linearly, exploring Charlie’s family, his and Sunny’s mutual friend Louis, and Sunny’s past and present.
Mourning for someone who is still alive and a past that has been left unresolved, Sunny tells her story, straying away from the darkest aspects of the past with witty comic relief. this is my worst nightmare, please be nice to me is a tale of love, its pains and joys, belonging, and finding trouble in one’s brain, whether literally or figuratively.
this is my worst nightmare: please be nice to me
this is my worst nightmare: please be nice to me, by Sofia Pires Baquedano, is a raw, contemplative journey through love, trauma, and the unspoken complexities of close friendships. The novel follows Sunny, a high school teacher in her late twenties, grappling with the gravity of her best friend Charlie’s hospitalization. For years, Charlie has been the foundation of Sunny’s emotional support, a bond so deep it transcends simple friendship. But as she confronts the possibility of losing him, Sunny begins to recognize the impact of their trauma bond—a connection as complex as it is comforting.
Baquedano crafts a literary experience reminiscent of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, inviting readers into a loosely structured narrative composed of poignant, interconnected vignettes. Each vignette explores a moment in Sunny and Charlie’s relationship, glimpses into lives that have been as enriched as they have been tested by each other’s presence. The book doesn’t just examine the support they offer one another; it forces Sunny to question if their entwined lives have indeed brought healing or if they’ve unwittingly anchored each other in unresolved pain.
At the heart of the story is Sunny’s inner dialogue as she reflects on her love for Charlie, bittersweet memories, and the absurdity of life’s trials. Her introspective moments are filled with wry humor, often weaving into abstract musings that leap from one thought to the next, capturing the erratic nature of human consciousness. Baquedano’s prose achieves a stream-of-consciousness style that feels true to life—thoughts colliding, jumping unpredictably, creating a realistic portrayal of the way we think in times of crisis.
This novel holds a wealth of genuine emotion, but I feel its non-traditional narrative may feel challenging to readers who prefer a linear storyline. Those willing to immerse themselves, however, will discover passages of breathtaking beauty and insight. It’s a sensitive portrayal of a person in pain, her reflections a testament to resilience, humor, and the unpredictable nature of love in the face of life’s uncertainties. this is my worst nightmare: please be nice to me captures the fleeting, fractured thoughts of someone trying to make sense of heartbreak in a way only Baquedano’s singular style can.
Pages: 308 | ASIN : B0D5DL2LVM
LITERARY TITAN 