Scan barcode
valeriabee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
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
I think I can't read books centering on Latine characters and Latine culture cause I can get overly critical of the way things are represented and the use of Spanish language.
The cultural aspect was well-done with the music and the dancing and the overbearing family. The language doesnt fit though because...contrary to popular belief, there are grammar rules to Spanglish just like there are with AAVE and other dialects. You cant just say "familia" every time you mean to say family because it doesnt always make sense to use the Spanish.
Not gonna lie, I was excited to read about a sexy firefighter 🥵 but when the main character Sara was revealed as a blonde hair, blue-green eyed white girl... I was saddened a bit. Especially a white girl who grew up with a Hispanic nanny so now she feels connected to the culture.
My biases are showing. Which is why I bumped this book to a 4 from the 3.25 I would personally rate it. I know that what I don't like about it comes from weird prejudices and biases and gatekeepy tendencies within myself that dont accurately reflect the writing and the story.
I will say that I didnt really like the insta-love thing because... well it just doesnt make sense for things to happen that fast...but I wouldnt know.
Also the "there was only one bed" trope was right there and it didnt lead us anywhere. Instead the beach was the backdrop for the broken barriers of intimacy. ALSO, WHY WOULD YOU CUT IT OFF BEFORE THE GOOD STUFF. DONT INTERRUPT. THEYRE GOING MULTIPLE ROUNDS AND YOU CANT SHARE WITH THE AUDIENCE? READ THE ROOM, IM HORNY.
That is to say, they were getting all intimate and steamy and we were just getting to the good stuff and then FADE TO BLACK and I was unhappy. I did throw the book because thats unfair. It took 200 pages to get there and THEN WE DONT GET THERE.
Which brings me to my next two points: 1) they were falling for each other fast on the timeline but it took FOREVER in the narrative for them to do something about it and then 2) the climax and resolution were far too short. The narrative went into painful detail of the first 3 and a half days of the 7 day trip and then we skipped whole ass days to get to the literal final minutes of the trip. The pacing could be better, personally.
There was some awesome character growth, even from some of the secondary characters. I appreciated the way the eating disorder plot was handled. It was done with great delicacy and grace and focused on the recovery phase.
Unrelated, there was a scene where there is a bit of gore and death that was jarring cause it kind of comes out nowhere. It was startling the way they jump into the details of an unfortunate 911 call that Luis experienced without really easing into it. It threw me for a loop.
Given that the ending and resolution are quite rushed, I have to say that the character development for Luis happens too quickly and not quite to satisfaction. I'm realizing that some of Sara's questions for Luis and his necessary healing went unanswered, even to the very end with the HEA.
I did cry at one point so I definitely grew an attachment to the relationship. There was just something about their easy intimacy and vulnerability with each other. Also, we love a fake-dating trope. I loved watching their messy lies unravel in front of them, but also seeing how the lies started to blur into truths. Love that for us.
The cultural aspect was well-done with the music and the dancing and the overbearing family. The language doesnt fit though because...contrary to popular belief, there are grammar rules to Spanglish just like there are with AAVE and other dialects. You cant just say "familia" every time you mean to say family because it doesnt always make sense to use the Spanish.
Not gonna lie, I was excited to read about a sexy firefighter 🥵 but when the main character Sara was revealed as a blonde hair, blue-green eyed white girl... I was saddened a bit. Especially a white girl who grew up with a Hispanic nanny so now she feels connected to the culture.
My biases are showing. Which is why I bumped this book to a 4 from the 3.25 I would personally rate it. I know that what I don't like about it comes from weird prejudices and biases and gatekeepy tendencies within myself that dont accurately reflect the writing and the story.
I will say that I didnt really like the insta-love thing because... well it just doesnt make sense for things to happen that fast...but I wouldnt know.
Also the "there was only one bed" trope was right there and it didnt lead us anywhere. Instead the beach was the backdrop for the broken barriers of intimacy. ALSO, WHY WOULD YOU CUT IT OFF BEFORE THE GOOD STUFF. DONT INTERRUPT. THEYRE GOING MULTIPLE ROUNDS AND YOU CANT SHARE WITH THE AUDIENCE? READ THE ROOM, IM HORNY.
That is to say, they were getting all intimate and steamy and we were just getting to the good stuff and then FADE TO BLACK and I was unhappy. I did throw the book because thats unfair. It took 200 pages to get there and THEN WE DONT GET THERE.
Which brings me to my next two points: 1) they were falling for each other fast on the timeline but it took FOREVER in the narrative for them to do something about it and then 2) the climax and resolution were far too short. The narrative went into painful detail of the first 3 and a half days of the 7 day trip and then we skipped whole ass days to get to the literal final minutes of the trip. The pacing could be better, personally.
There was some awesome character growth, even from some of the secondary characters. I appreciated the way the eating disorder plot was handled. It was done with great delicacy and grace and focused on the recovery phase.
Unrelated, there was a scene where there is a bit of gore and death that was jarring cause it kind of comes out nowhere. It was startling the way they jump into the details of an unfortunate 911 call that Luis experienced without really easing into it. It threw me for a loop.
Given that the ending and resolution are quite rushed, I have to say that the character development for Luis happens too quickly and not quite to satisfaction. I'm realizing that some of Sara's questions for Luis and his necessary healing went unanswered, even to the very end with the HEA.
I did cry at one point so I definitely grew an attachment to the relationship. There was just something about their easy intimacy and vulnerability with each other. Also, we love a fake-dating trope. I loved watching their messy lies unravel in front of them, but also seeing how the lies started to blur into truths. Love that for us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Sexual content, and Car accident
Moderate: Eating disorder and Cancer
100_pages_hr's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
Another amazing book from Oliveras! I'm fairly new to the Latinx Romance scene but she has quickly become a favorite!
From the meet-cute all the way to the end I was hooked. I actually really like it when both the guy and the girl have a lot to work through in their personal lives.
I'm not a huge fan of duplicity, but it wasn't really their goal in this book to lie so much as help each other out I actually rather enjoyed it. It had a huge "The Wedding Date" vibes and that is one of my favorite movies.
I loved the theme of familia throughout this book. I loved that Luis never missed mass or family dinner.
I also loved that Sara spoke Spanish. It is always fun when a white girl shocks the Hispanics (I know because it is one of my favorite things to do).
I loved visiting Key West. I loved the historical sights, the beaches, the food, and everything. It totally made me wish I could go right now.
One of my favorite parts were the very realistic and authentic character flaws of so many of the characters, but especially Sara and Luis. No spoilers, but I really got invested in reading as they grew and worked through some of their hang ups. I also appreciated the very real struggles they were dealing with. I like books that don't sugar coat issues.
I cannot wait to read book two and any other books Oliveras writes!
From the meet-cute all the way to the end I was hooked. I actually really like it when both the guy and the girl have a lot to work through in their personal lives.
I'm not a huge fan of duplicity, but it wasn't really their goal in this book to lie so much as help each other out I actually rather enjoyed it. It had a huge "The Wedding Date" vibes and that is one of my favorite movies.
I loved the theme of familia throughout this book. I loved that Luis never missed mass or family dinner.
I loved visiting Key West. I loved the historical sights, the beaches, the food, and everything. It totally made me wish I could go right now.
One of my favorite parts were the very realistic and authentic character flaws of so many of the characters, but especially Sara and Luis. No spoilers, but I really got invested in reading as they grew and worked through some of their hang ups. I also appreciated the very real struggles they were dealing with. I like books that don't sugar coat issues.
I cannot wait to read book two and any other books Oliveras writes!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Blood, Cancer, Car accident, Death, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, and Self harm
More...