Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - Mangos and Mistletoe

Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'

Mangos and Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera

21 reviews

orinthebard's review against another edition

relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I appreciated the spice but I actually wanted more baking lol. Also, I know romance novel pacing can be fast but falling in love in 3 days is... a lot

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wandering_seal's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Right. This story was very hot, and enjoyable to listen to. Loved all the food references. But wow was I not in love with Sully.

So, hi, immigrant here, and I struggle soooo much with second + gen families that make sweeping statements about where I'm from like they grew up there and know all the dirty laundry. The stereotyping can be wild when it's coming from people who say they're your people. Sully had that energy in spades. She had no real interest in understanding Kiskeya's perspectives, or how the two of them were different because they have different life experiences. If I was Kiskeya I wouldn't have found Sully hot, I'd have found her insufferable. And yes, it's great that

by the end Kiskeya felt more confident in being her authentic self

, but that doesn't mean I liked the journey she went on to get there. I also didn't like the unevenness of how the two MCs grew as a result of the relationship -

Kiskeya changed everything about her life, and Sully... got more confident? That thing that, within the text, she already was?

I so, so, so wanted to love this. I just didn't.

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bluberrybooks's review

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adventurous funny hopeful informative lighthearted 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

3.75

Very cute! I love their chemistry and the chatacter development of kiskeya. I liked the cooking competition aspect. I also like the discussion of homphobia and internalized xenophobia like it was just a rom com but also a social commentary!

I like how she didn't take the job beucase sshe knew it wasn't for her instead of just for a love interest. She can have both if she wants not one or the other. I feel Kiskeya learned a lot more then sully. Maybe Sully's was to be more ambitious hm. The rebecas were a bit too cartoonishly villainous LA influencer cliche for my liking

Over all 7.5 / 10 or 3.75/ 5. I liked it though!!

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giasbookhaven's review

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challenging emotional lighthearted tense medium-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

3.25

Mangos and Mistletoe felt more like enemies to lovers rather than just grumpy/sunshine paring just based off of the vibes Kiskeya's character was giving off. The weight of the importance of this international baking competition was IMMENSE for her character and when readers find out just how much, they begin to realize why she acts the way that she does. Not only towards Sully but the other contestants as well.

Sully and Kiskeya's attraction for each other is clear from the moment they meet. And both are really talented at creating knock-out baked treats. I actually wished this book had a recipe or two to try out.

Readers will find this sapphic holiday book offers flirty banter, spicy scenes and the origins of a heartfelt love-story.

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heather667's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing 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

4.0

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rickireadss's review against another edition

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3.25

i wanted to love this so much, but i just didn’t believe the MCs had *any* emotional connection. if it had been a tad longer of a story & timeline, i feel like that connection could have been cultivated but the on-page chemistry just wasn’t there for me. all we got was them saying in their inner monologue “omg i like her” but then not seeing much interaction between them that backed that up?? i don’t know. it wasn’t my fave but i didn’t absolutely hate it.

⚠️: lesbophobia, homophobia, racism, domestic abuse

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spaghettireads's review

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emotional lighthearted relaxing fast-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

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sultrytartreviews's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny 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

It took me a bit to ease into this story because I was listening to the audio and I wasn't a fan of the narrator. Once I got passed that I was able to get into this lovely grumpy and sunshine Christmas story. I was also a little scared to like Sully, but thankfully she wore me down and I think the reasoning behind her tough exterior was nicely explained. I was expecting a little more spice from this (I give it a 2.5/5 flames) having read a lot more of Herrera's work, but the story did ultimately need to unfold to show the work the characters were putting into their relationship and personal growth.

Anyway, a read I recommend and enjoyed overall!

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tey_lynn's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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onlyonebookshelf's review

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hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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