While her work often delves into specific themes like immigration, identity, and the experience of being Latina, she masterfully weaves these themes into rich narratives that resonate with readers across cultural and personal backgrounds.
Alvarez also writes in the genres of memoir and poetry. Her memoir "In the Time of the Butterflies" explores the lives of the Mirabal sisters, Dominican political activists who were assassinated by the Trujillo regime. Her poetry often reflects on themes of exile, womanhood, and the complexities of cultural identity.