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stephsbooktalk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Audiobook: This was an enjoyable audiobook told from two POVS - one from Pen and the other Xander. Pen's father owns a restaurant called Nacho's Tacos where Xander begins working. Pen does not want to work at her father's restaurant but instead a pastry shop. This causes major conflict between her parents and her. Xander comes to America as an immigrant and longs for a family. This is definitely an important listen as it tackles racism, hate crime & the paranoia of possibly being deported.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Racism
betweentheshelves's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This YA contemporary definitely packs a lot off issues into it, filed with great characters and references to some delicious food. I think the romance between Pen and Xander unfolds really naturally, and adds to the tone of the story. Plus, the audiobook features a song written for the book, which is pretty cool!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Racism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcoholism and Stalking
wordrevel's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Hate crime
Moderate: Police brutality, Racism, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Minor: Self harm
thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was definitely more sweet than bitter! Hehe. We get POVs from Pen and Xander, two different narrators in the audiobook and both were excellent. Pen and Xander are easy to like and root for, and I loved their individual growth over the course of the story and the growth of their relationship with each other.
There is a good plot here, but I would say it's more character-based. A lot of the plot has to do with Pen and Xander coming of age and figuring out who they are, and parts of it felt a little unrealistic (but this is true for most YA books I think). The setting was wonderful though—there are so many food descriptions in this book, you will be hungry throughout the whole book! I loved all the scenes at Nacho's Tacos, Pen's dad's restaurant (major flashbacks for me, I worked at my dad's restaurant as a kid), and the family aspect within this community and all that I learned about Mexican culture. So many good developed side characters too.
Overall I enjoyed this quick audiobook and this sweet story! Now I'm gonna go eat some tacos.
Thank you to Libro.fm, Hachette Audio, and the author for my ALC.
Read if you like: eating, cooking, community families, not backing down.
There is a good plot here, but I would say it's more character-based. A lot of the plot has to do with Pen and Xander coming of age and figuring out who they are, and parts of it felt a little unrealistic (but this is true for most YA books I think). The setting was wonderful though—there are so many food descriptions in this book, you will be hungry throughout the whole book! I loved all the scenes at Nacho's Tacos, Pen's dad's restaurant (major flashbacks for me, I worked at my dad's restaurant as a kid), and the family aspect within this community and all that I learned about Mexican culture. So many good developed side characters too.
Overall I enjoyed this quick audiobook and this sweet story! Now I'm gonna go eat some tacos.
Thank you to Libro.fm, Hachette Audio, and the author for my ALC.
Read if you like: eating, cooking, community families, not backing down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Racism
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Self harm, and Suicidal thoughts
melaniereadsbooks's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to LibroFM and the publisher for an ALC of this book.
Pen's dream has always been in her father's restaurant, cooking and baking and giving hope to the community. But her father wants her in college.
Xander has been looking for his father for years, and struggling to stay afloat with an undocumented status and no family except his Abuelo. Xander starts a job at Pen's father's restaurant the same day Pen is fired and forced to move out of her family home for lying about college. Together and with the support of their found families, the two learn what they are really looking for.
This audiobook was absolutely beautiful. I loved it so much. The characters are so real and incredible and I love them. The conflict is rough to read about but so realistic and meaningful.
The writing is gorgeous and I would definitely read many more books by this author! Absolutely beautiful.
I loved it, and I especially loved the ending!
Pen's dream has always been in her father's restaurant, cooking and baking and giving hope to the community. But her father wants her in college.
Xander has been looking for his father for years, and struggling to stay afloat with an undocumented status and no family except his Abuelo. Xander starts a job at Pen's father's restaurant the same day Pen is fired and forced to move out of her family home for lying about college. Together and with the support of their found families, the two learn what they are really looking for.
This audiobook was absolutely beautiful. I loved it so much. The characters are so real and incredible and I love them. The conflict is rough to read about but so realistic and meaningful.
The writing is gorgeous and I would definitely read many more books by this author! Absolutely beautiful.
I loved it, and I especially loved the ending!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Self harm, Violence, Vomit, and Xenophobia
Depression, intimidationsurefinewhatever_'s review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book fell a little too hard into the insta-love trope to me. It also had a scene that was v similar to the story arc in Gilmore Girls when Dean builds Rory a car. Idk, it was just hard to suspend my disbelief. I enjoyed the Austin backgrounds and the messages around food and community.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Racism
Moderate: Self harm
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