# Is "Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel (Editorial Planeta, Mexico City, 1989) is identified by: True first: Editorial Planeta Mexicana, Mexico City, 1989 (Como agua para chocolate), Esquivel's debut novel; the first printing reportedly sold out within about two months. Spanish-language Mexican first (Planeta 1989) is the true first.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- True first: Editorial Planeta Mexicana, Mexico City, 1989 (Como agua para chocolate), Esquivel's debut novel; the first printing reportedly sold out within about two months
- First edition in English: Doubleday, New York, 1992, translated by Carol and Thomas Christensen; the first printing states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the full number line '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2,' bound in brown boards with a brown cloth spine lettered in gilt
- First-issue dust-jacket point: the front panel LACKS the yellow oval that later printings add to carry a USA Today review or a 'NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FROM Miramax' banner; the rear panel carries an author photo and blurbs by Sandra Cisneros, Diana Kennedy and Elena Poniatowska
- Publisher imprint reads Editorial Planeta, Mexico City
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Laura Esquivel |
| Publisher | Editorial Planeta, Mexico City |
| Year | 1989 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | True first: Editorial Planeta Mexicana, Mexico City, 1989 (Como agua para chocolate), Esquivel's debut novel; the first printing reportedly… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
True first: Editorial Planeta Mexicana, Mexico City, 1989 (Como agua para chocolate), Esquivel's debut novel; the first printing reportedly sold out within about two months. First edition in English: Doubleday, New York, 1992, translated by Carol and Thomas Christensen; the first printing states 'FIRST EDITION' on the copyright page with the full number line '1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2,' bound in brown boards with a brown cloth spine lettered in gilt. First-issue dust-jacket point: the front panel LACKS the yellow oval that later printings add to carry a USA Today review or a 'NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FROM Miramax' banner; the rear panel carries an author photo and blurbs by Sandra Cisneros, Diana Kennedy and Elena Poniatowska.

## Is this the true first?
Spanish-language Mexican first (Planeta 1989) is the true first. The US Doubleday 1992 is the first in English and precedes the UK issue (Doubleday/Black Swan); the film-tie-in jacket state is a later printing, not the first.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later Doubleday and Anchor / Black Swan printings drop the 'FIRST EDITION' line and add the Miramax film banner to the jacket, marking reprints. No dedicated book-club edition is a recognized point.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Like Water for Chocolate* by Laura Esquivel a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/like-water-for-chocolate
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.