Scan barcode
jjreads331's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The blurb on the cover called this "A love story for our times." I don't think that kind of lead in could be more misleading. I'm mad the cover is so beautiful since the book was deeply mid for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Abandonment, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Child death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Blood
ginnylambda's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Moderate: Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Child abuse, and Blood
tejanafeminist's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Death, and Drug use
imstephtacular's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Infidelity, Grief, Alcohol, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Death of parent, Death, Cursing, Chronic illness, Sexual assault, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Child death
Minor: Classism
shoohoob's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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
4.75
This book feels like warmth. The way that Emilie and Sara kept finding each other was as beautiful and tender as it was heartbreaking and tense. I loved how they fell in love with each other, how Emilie began to find her voice, how Sara began to heal from the past. The ending was bittersweet in a way too: not necessarily happy and satisfying but not without hope.
I loved the side plot of Collette and how her and Emilie grew closer. This book felt like a love story to romantic, platonic, and familial relationships.
My only issue is that I felt the beginning and ending chapters could have been longer. It felt like so much happened in such a short amount of time (especially at the end with Sara going back to her hometown) that it would have been explored more. These were such pivotal moments and I wanted more!
All in all, a fantastic read. I think Nina Lacour is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors.
I loved the side plot of Collette and how her and Emilie grew closer. This book felt like a love story to romantic, platonic, and familial relationships.
My only issue is that I felt the beginning and ending chapters could have been longer. It felt like so much happened in such a short amount of time (especially at the end with Sara going back to her hometown) that it would have been explored more. These were such pivotal moments and I wanted more!
All in all, a fantastic read. I think Nina Lacour is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, and Drug use
Moderate: Death of parent, Blood, and Pedophilia
Minor: Homophobia
evelync's review against another edition
4.25
I listened to an ALC of this book and omg Julia Whelan is truly one of the best narrators around.
I will start off by saying that this book has heavy trigger warnings. Because of the trigger warnings and how heavy the book starts off, I did have to take a short break from it when I first started listening to it. But once I picked it up again I flew through it. Sara and Emilie both carry a lot of pain and trauma from their childhoods and we see their individual lives unfold and how it brings them together. From their first meeting, their connection was there and you could feel it so clearly. As time goes on and they come in and out of each other’s lives, you are left with so much angst and yearning and honestly, it was done so well.
The ending was perfect for the story and for the characters. Did I wish and hope for more? Of course, but I understand why it ended the way it did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
I will start off by saying that this book has heavy trigger warnings. Because of the trigger warnings and how heavy the book starts off, I did have to take a short break from it when I first started listening to it. But once I picked it up again I flew through it. Sara and Emilie both carry a lot of pain and trauma from their childhoods and we see their individual lives unfold and how it brings them together. From their first meeting, their connection was there and you could feel it so clearly. As time goes on and they come in and out of each other’s lives, you are left with so much angst and yearning and honestly, it was done so well.
The ending was perfect for the story and for the characters. Did I wish and hope for more? Of course, but I understand why it ended the way it did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Addiction, Sexual assault, and Infidelity
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Blood
brandys_library's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
Moderate: Infidelity, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Sexual assault, and Addiction
Minor: Terminal illness, Blood, and Homophobia
caseythereader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.75
Thanks to Flatiron Books for the free advance copy of this book.
- YERBA BUENA is a small book that packs a big punch. It cuts right to the heart, looking both the best and worst life has to offer straight in the eye.
- This book does a great job of showing how trauma stays with you, but that doesn't mean your life will be devoid of joy and growth.
- YERBA BUENA is a small book that packs a big punch. It cuts right to the heart, looking both the best and worst life has to offer straight in the eye.
- This book does a great job of showing how trauma stays with you, but that doesn't mean your life will be devoid of joy and growth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Abandonment, Grief, and Suicide attempt
karinreadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a book that hit so many of my soft spots. The writing feels quiet, but it still packs a punch. And while this book is blurbed as a love story, it certainly isn't a romance novel. Throughout most of the book, the story focuses more on each of the main character's personal journey and the hardships that they face rather than the relationship between the two of them. That led to a net of relationships that all felt real to me, with both Sara and Emilie having important, genuine connections outside their romantic relationship. I also loved the role that food played in this book - when Sara and Emilie meet, Sara is a bartender and Emilie a florist, and they meet while working at the restaurant Yerba Buena. The description of the different flavour notes of Sara's cocktails, the gumbo that Emilie learns to make based on her Creole ancestry, and all the other food that is being eaten in this book really made me crave some tasty food. I sometimes wished the middle part of the book had focused a bit more on Sara's perspectives than Emilie's, because I felt much more immersed in Emilie's character at that point, but I also liked that I got to spend longer stretches of time with one character instead of constantly switching back and forth. At the end of the day, I found myself unable to put down this book until I had finished it, and I think spending these hours with two messy, queer girls trying to deal with the scars their lives have left on them was a great choice.
This review is based on an uncorrected, advanced reading copy.
This review is based on an uncorrected, advanced reading copy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Blood, Cancer, and Death of parent
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
A free ARC of this title was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve enjoyed Nina LaCour’s writing for some time now, but admittedly I haven’t kept up much with her recent works, so hearing about Yerba Buena was an exciting surprise. Following her shift from young adult to adult writing feels oddly fitting and personal—I first read one of her novels as a young teenager, maybe even a pre-teen, and now I too am, at least legally, an adult. Unfortunately, though Yerba Buena is poignant and beautiful, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
I’ve enjoyed Nina LaCour’s writing for some time now, but admittedly I haven’t kept up much with her recent works, so hearing about Yerba Buena was an exciting surprise. Following her shift from young adult to adult writing feels oddly fitting and personal—I first read one of her novels as a young teenager, maybe even a pre-teen, and now I too am, at least legally, an adult. Unfortunately, though Yerba Buena is poignant and beautiful, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
Writing-wise is where the novel primarily shines—it’s been some time now since I last read LaCour’s earlier pieces, so I can’t really recall enough to compare (not that I would be too inclined to if I could), but her style here reads very cleanly and smoothly. Each sentence flowed well, and there was a definite neat balance of showing and telling. The writing is somewhat subdued and laidback, if looked at as a whole, but that adds to the general quiet warmth Yerba Buena exudes.
In substance, Yerba Buena does have a great deal to offer. It’s a very human work, driven by character and emotion. The handling of trauma and healing in particular is very thoughtful and compelling. A great deal of heavy subject matter is present—some of which I wish I had known about in advance, though it fortunately doesn’t affect me too severely—but it’s treated with care, and the note on which things end is a soothing yet realistic one. There is closure, but it is acknowledged and shown that recovery isn’t a simple, linear process. I do wish that some things and their aftermath had been touched upon more, but I’m overall satisfied with how these themes are depicted.
While romance ends up being an important element in Yerba Buena’s narrative, I’d actually hesitate to classify it as a romance outright, which I consider a positive. Its focus ends up primarily just being people’s lives and bonds, including but not elevating romantic relationships. The portrayal of complicated family relationships, from loving to distant to both at once, was interesting and engaging as well.
To speak on the romance in specific, though: Sara and Emilie’s dynamic is very understated and well-written. It doesn’t actually feel like the “star-crossed” type of connection the blurb cites, just two troubled people who have managed to find each other and choose to work toward a relationship, which is super refreshing and nice to see. It’s a fairly minor thing to take note of, but I also liked that it was far from either’s first relationship (even if I have mixed opinions on Emilie’s prior romances). The development itself is a little rushed, but it slows effectively enough to appreciate and enjoy. With a tad more buildup, it would definitely rank as one of the best relationships I’ve seen in fiction as of late.
Getting involved in the characters’ lives and stories was easy enough, but ultimately, I feel that I lack understanding of who they truly are. Their hardships and struggles well outweigh the softer, quieter moments, which makes their exact characterization hard to get a grasp on. This is perhaps the point, as finding identity is a major theme, but it kept me from investing in full. There are some side characters I wish had been delved deeper into as well; though the cast is broad enough in theory, no particular characters are really explored in great detail. With how character-driven the novel is, this is likely its most glaring flaw.
The pacing also felt a bit strained in places; I had some trouble keeping up with the timeline, although this admittedly could have been on my part more so than the book’s, as I got through it far faster than I expected or planned. I did like that certain backstory scenes established early on were embellished upon later, but I’m not certain that their actual inclusion to open the novel was the most effective choice. Some loose ends remain by the conclusion as well, but I wasn’t actually especially bothered by most.
Yerba Buena is a well-written piece with a number of intriguing themes and things to say, but I found it to fall flat in some areas. I enjoyed my time with it—perhaps a bit too much, if my reading speed is anything to go by—but ultimately was not able to take as much from it as I anticipated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Child death, Pedophilia, Drug abuse, Addiction, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood, Racism, and Homophobia
Non-graphic overdose from a non-perspective character. Mild descriptions of corpses. Caretaking of a terminally ill relative, including hospice care and other depictions of end-stage illness and process thereof. Past relationship between professor and former student. Pedophilia/CSA (coercion of minors to have sex with an adult) is not shown but is unambiguously discussed.
More...