The Undoing of Alejandro Velasco is Boneta’s debut novel. Eva Longoria says, “Moody, sexy and so clever,” and quickly points out she’s talking about the book, not the author.
The novel follows a Mexican high-society family, the Velascos, after the apparent suicide of their son Alejandro. Alejandro’s best friend Julian Villareal (who is also a famous tennis player) visits the Velasco state to pay his last respects. Little does he know, he’s about to get caught in the Velasco family’s web of lies, half-truths, and deceits. He is drawn to Alejandro’s sister, the alluring Sofia, who proves to be his match on and off the tennis court. It’s a thrilling read that will leave readers guessing until the very end.
“The book is full of twists and turns,” Boneta says. “I wanted to set the tone early on and let the reader know what they were in for from the start. It’s an open question in the back of your mind as you read: What role did these characters play in Alejandro’s undoing? I love the process of digging deep into each character I get to interpret as an actor. I think that’s also why I wanted to make every character in the novel layered and complex – those are my favorite characters to play.”
Boneta’s inspiration came from films such as The Talented Mr. Ripley and Match Point, and the desire to write a story set in San Miguel de Allende, with its mix of Mexican high society.
“And, of course, tennis,” Boneta says. “I LOVE tennis and it’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My dad played professionally when he was young, and I’ve been a fan since I was little. So, I mixed my passion for film, tennis, and Mexico to build this world.”
The book was released simultaneously in English and Spanish, as well as in audiobook. Interestingly, the book was first written in English and later translated into Spanish.
“However, as a native speaker, it was important to me that the characters sounded authentic in both languages. We made several edits and revisions up to when I was recording the audiobook in Spanish and in English to keep each version authentic to the characters. We made sure the book features its best version in each language, and not simply a translation.
“It was important to me to show a side of Mexican society that isn’t often portrayed on screen or explored in popular books—to move away from some of the clichés that reign supreme, and place Mexican-based content in the same stratosphere with the global elite we all love to read about. The Velascos, after all, are a family whose travels and business have global reach, and I hope the book will, too!”
The novel is also being turned into a TV series produced by Amazon MGM Studios, where Boneta gets to star as Julian Villareal. Much like its inspiration, this is a high-flying story in development to keep an eye on…stay tuned!
