She asked for a promotion. She got a performance review.
A sharp, darkly funny, and emotionally resonant debut, 360 Degrees of Valentina is a coming-of-leadership story for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider in a world that wasn’t built for them.
Valentina Navarro is 29, single, and the first in her family to land a corporate leadership role in the U.S. She’s finally managing her own team at Orion Grocer—and four months in, her numbers are up, and leadership is pleased. There’s just one problem: her team hates her.
Haunted by guilt after pushing out a long-tenured employee, Valentina pours her shame into a self-drawn graphic novel alter ego: La Machetera, a machete-wielding villain forged by corporate dysfunction. But when the drawing lands in HR’s inbox, she’s forced into a brutal 360-degree performance review that threatens to unravel everything she’s worked for.
Navigating office politics, old wounds, and an unexpected reunion with her ex, Valentina struggles to reconcile the pressure to lead with authenticity against a backdrop of layoffs laden with toxic positivity, double standards, and “feedback culture.” As her team turns from resistance to trust, she must decide what kind of leader—and woman—she wants to be.
Two Parts Fiction. One Part Graphic Novel
La Machetera, A Graphic Novel
Chapters
1
Origin story
2
Homecoming
3
Broken Trust
4
I Remember
5
The Stakes
6
The Battle
7
Valentina, La Machetera
About the author
Ana V. Ayestas
Ana V. Ayestas writes. Sometimes, it’s good. Sometimes, she just deletes it and wishes she had been reading instead. Her books explore the coming-of-age journeys of first-generation characters as they navigate love, work, and identity. Nicaraguan-born and Florida-raised, she now lives in New England with her family, navigating her way through Corporate-landia.
What readers said
★★★★★
I found myself laughing out loud while cheering Valentina on every step of the way. It’s a timely and empowering story—one of heroism, passion, and the universal desire to succeed.
★★★★★
Loved this story! Insightful and fresh perspective on the cultural expectations first generation grapples with. Themes of love, friendship, resilience and overcoming adversity all made for an exceptional read. The heroine surprises at every turn and keeps you vested in her outcome. I was rooting for Vale!
Book Club Discussion
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Looking for your next event theme?
This compelling novel centers on Valentina Navarro, a sharp, ambitious first-generation Nicaraguan-American woman stepping into her first management role. Far from a simple workplace story, 360° of Valentina delves into the intricate realities many of us face:
Navigating Corporate Culture
Authentic Leadership
First-Generation Pressures & Identity
Mentorship & Allyship
Vulnerability & Resilience
360° of Valentina combines relatable workplace drama with unique elements of cultural heritage and magical realism tied to Valentina’s “La Machetera” drawings. It’s a story that will undoubtedly ignite meaningful, empowering discussions within your organization, offering validation, insight, and connection.
Ana V. Ayestas 