Book Review: Midpoint

Reviewed by Jadidsa Perez

Like a kaleidoscope, Midpoint shows all the beautiful colors of one woman’s journey to motherhood and success.

Midpoint tells the story of Patricia Angeles, a career-driven banking professional and loving mother of three. The tale follows Angeles from her birth in the Philippines to her current success as a top performing digital risk manager in California. 

Described as a gift to her three daughters, Angeles’s story is a wholehearted adventure embracing all detours, joys, and adversities along the way. Angeles wrote this memoir not only to create a permanent, beautiful billet-doux for her daughters but to also inspire other immigrant women globally. 

“To my daughters, Maxine, Samara, and Riley: My hope is, by reading this book, you will get to know me beyond motherhood and discover my many other layers—as a child, daughter, sister, friend, worker, and wife.”

This book turned out to be such an important read for me. My family immigrated to the United States, and everything Angeles describes feels so close and near to my own experiences. I root for her as she enters the workforce and works extremely hard despite facing discrimination. I loved following Angeles on her journey as a mother and her devotion to her career, children, and traveling. You can also feel Angeles’s passion for writing throughout.

“I refuse to be dragged down by this kind of mindset, and I’m here to break glass ceilings by showing my daughters that one can be a successful career woman and a great mother at the same time.”

Despite being known as someone who has an extensive portfolio and seems well put together, Angeles recounts critical learning moments in her life in a way that is humbling and inspiring. Many people see and envy success without realizing how many failures can lead up to it. Angeles’s refreshing candor makes the story feel more down-to-earth. Her struggle with asserting herself in a corporate world as a person of color is also especially notable. Many others share a similar uphill battle with corporate mobility and Angeles’s dedication to staying true to herself is admirable. Her peregrination to accolades and recognition as a worker is an inspiration to me and hopefully many others.

Out of all the wonderful chapters, my personal favorite is “Alter Ego.” Many women from immigrant families have to auspiciously shift from persona to persona, depending on what role they need to fulfill. To their parents, immigrant daughters have to uphold traditional values while also being smart, kind, and sociable. To friends, the same daughters have to shed that skin and become more personable and fun. Balancing these different faces can be emotionally and mentally challenging while also having to be financially successful.

If there is one thing I wish I got more of in this book, it would be stories from the Philippines. Angeles’s childhood experiences are fascinating. I really wish I could read more about her parents’ dynamic or even more about her brothers. There are a few interesting topics that are raised that are only gleaned over quickly, but they could have added layers to her story.

Midpoint is impactful, engaging, and most of all, honest. I’d recommend it to any memoir lover.

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