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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, intimidationmeagankc21's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Full of lush and delicious language that perfectly embodies the sense of family, community and culture.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Mental illness
Content deals with living with depressionsurefinewhatever_'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
alertnerd's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Self harm
introvertinterrupted's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Death and Bullying
Minor: Stalking
utopiastateofmind's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the Libro.fm. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet is a stunning and emotional book. It perfectly encapsulates the experiences that leave your heart tinged with bitterness. That threaten to overwhelm your entire taste palette. That you're not sure if you'll ever taste anything again. While also celebrating moments of sweetness. Sugar that rolls over your tongue and lulls you into a moment. A memory sweeping you away on dusted pastries. It's a sweeping and moving book about family and future. About figuring out how to pursue our own futures in the shadows of legacies.
To try to escape the ghosts and uncertainties of haunted mistakes. It can tear an abyss in our heart when the ones we love don't understand our dreams. When these decisions rip us apart, putting a gulf of space between us. Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet will have your mouth watering. But my favorite element of the book has to be the characters. They unfurl before us and to each other across the pages. We witness their dreams, ambitions, and hopes curl in the fire. Taking bloom, rising from the ashes, and swirling in the wind.
Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet is a stunning and emotional book. It perfectly encapsulates the experiences that leave your heart tinged with bitterness. That threaten to overwhelm your entire taste palette. That you're not sure if you'll ever taste anything again. While also celebrating moments of sweetness. Sugar that rolls over your tongue and lulls you into a moment. A memory sweeping you away on dusted pastries. It's a sweeping and moving book about family and future. About figuring out how to pursue our own futures in the shadows of legacies.
To try to escape the ghosts and uncertainties of haunted mistakes. It can tear an abyss in our heart when the ones we love don't understand our dreams. When these decisions rip us apart, putting a gulf of space between us. Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet will have your mouth watering. But my favorite element of the book has to be the characters. They unfurl before us and to each other across the pages. We witness their dreams, ambitions, and hopes curl in the fire. Taking bloom, rising from the ashes, and swirling in the wind.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts
karbingut's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Self harm
wine_tea_paper's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Self harm, and Mental illness
Minor: Alcoholism
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