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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Ana Maria is someone who tries so hard to avoid conflict that she actually goes by Amy at school since people can’t seem to pronounce Ana right. At home she keeps her dreams secret from her parents who have different dreams for her. Her mom wants her to go to college. Her dad wants her to take over the family’s Cuban restaurant and Ana Maria wants to go to Paris to go to pastry school. But she’s only told her best friend and a boy she only spent one magical day with.
While on a college tour Ana met Miguel. She didn’t know he was from the Morales family. They decided not to stay in touch entirely because their paths were taking them in different directions. But they ran into each other again six months later in Ana’s hometown and then Ana found out he was a Morales. And suddenly there was a new, bigger, reason why they couldn’t be together. Their families are bitter rivals. Picture Romeo and Juliet. It’s all very dramatic.
But Ana asks Miguel for help and to keep it secret. She asks Miguel to help photograph her entries into a pastry contest.
I thought this book was cute and sweet but I thought it was really slow to start. It took me awhile to get into the story.
While on a college tour Ana met Miguel. She didn’t know he was from the Morales family. They decided not to stay in touch entirely because their paths were taking them in different directions. But they ran into each other again six months later in Ana’s hometown and then Ana found out he was a Morales. And suddenly there was a new, bigger, reason why they couldn’t be together. Their families are bitter rivals. Picture Romeo and Juliet. It’s all very dramatic.
But Ana asks Miguel for help and to keep it secret. She asks Miguel to help photograph her entries into a pastry contest.
I thought this book was cute and sweet but I thought it was really slow to start. It took me awhile to get into the story.
Thank you to libro.fm for an ALC of this book.
this was really delightful. i didn't know it was YA when i picked it up but it was a fun read. this book ends with a recipe which was really cute. i did cry at one point but that cause i have issues
this was really delightful. i didn't know it was YA when i picked it up but it was a fun read. this book ends with a recipe which was really cute. i did cry at one point but that cause i have issues
Cute, if somewhat predictable star-crossed lovers where their families are historical enemies of each other.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
emotional
funny
informative
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
On the surface, this is a delicious summer romance filled with feuding families and amazing Cuban food. Ana Maria and Miguel are so sweet together, from their first moments at Diddy Reese (points for the authentic UCLA experience, go Bruins!). Dig a little deeper though and we have an excellent exploration of balancing the expectations of our family against one's own hopes and dreams, and charting a course for the future. Highly recommended for grades 8 & up.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
“Every point of contact between us is sparking with possibility.”
Thanks to Libro.fm for the gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
This was just so cute. Ana Maria and Miguel have such a sweet relationship, even though their families have a decades-long grudge. We get a bit of a Romeo and Juliet situation, and they keep their romance a secret as long as possible. He helps her with her social media content and wants to be there for her. The chemistry they have is so well-written and you can’t help rooting for them.
I particularly loved Ana Maria’s honest and vulnerable conversation with her mother about her future. She feels this pressure to go to college to do something that she had no interest in. Her passion is clearly baking and she has such a clear idea of what she wants her future to be. When this conversation finally happens, it’s done so beautifully.
This does feel just a bit long and when I thought we’d gotten to the end, there was still more to go. Marisa Blake does such a fabulous job with the narration, and she really manages to bring you fully into the story.
funny
inspiring
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