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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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:
Complicated
As her family was immigrating from Cuba, a boat was hit by a storm that left only Rosa Santos’ grandmother and mother alive. Eighteen years later, Rosa’s father left on his boat as part of his routine for the day and never returned. This had led them to believe that the women in their family are cursed when it comes to love and that’s exactly what Rosa believes.
This book made me so happy. I had so much joy and happiness while reading about Rosa and what she was going through. Rosa struggled balancing out a lot of things in this journey. She struggles with how she fits in with her heritage and what she wants to do after graduating high school. She has so many questions and all she wants are answers and she tries to navigate how to get the answers she is desperately looking for.
I loved seeing so much Latinx cultured weaved throughout this. The Spanish that was weaved in made me thrilled to see as it felt so natural from the experiences I’ve heard around from my Latina friend. It was thrilling for me to know that so many people are going to feel validated from this book and feel like they aren’t alone.
The relationships Rosa had with her family were complex and wonderful. They were tense at times and it wasn’t always this easy going, but they cared for one another and continued to grow and bond as they spent more time together as learned about their struggles.
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the romance. Alex and Rosa were cute together, but there was something missing that really convinced me that I thought they should be together. I would have liked to see that relationship expanded a little bit more, but overall they were still cute and I enjoyed their scenes together.
This was such a cute contemporary that really weaves Latinx culture throughout. As this is a new book, I’m really hoping to see this pick up and gain some wind as I think this could be good for Latinx individuals.
This book made me so happy. I had so much joy and happiness while reading about Rosa and what she was going through. Rosa struggled balancing out a lot of things in this journey. She struggles with how she fits in with her heritage and what she wants to do after graduating high school. She has so many questions and all she wants are answers and she tries to navigate how to get the answers she is desperately looking for.
I loved seeing so much Latinx cultured weaved throughout this. The Spanish that was weaved in made me thrilled to see as it felt so natural from the experiences I’ve heard around from my Latina friend. It was thrilling for me to know that so many people are going to feel validated from this book and feel like they aren’t alone.
The relationships Rosa had with her family were complex and wonderful. They were tense at times and it wasn’t always this easy going, but they cared for one another and continued to grow and bond as they spent more time together as learned about their struggles.
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the romance. Alex and Rosa were cute together, but there was something missing that really convinced me that I thought they should be together. I would have liked to see that relationship expanded a little bit more, but overall they were still cute and I enjoyed their scenes together.
This was such a cute contemporary that really weaves Latinx culture throughout. As this is a new book, I’m really hoping to see this pick up and gain some wind as I think this could be good for Latinx individuals.
My FAVORITE book of the summer and possibly my life!!!
Don't Date Rosa Santos is everything I could ever want in a book. Cute boy with a boat, bookish girl with a family curse, three generations of women, BAKED GOODS?? Literally, it's perfect.
Don't Date Rosa Santos is everything I could ever want in a book. Cute boy with a boat, bookish girl with a family curse, three generations of women, BAKED GOODS?? Literally, it's perfect.
Audiobook.
Idk this just didn't do it for me
I didn't really enjoy the magic in the kitchen thing they had going on lol. This was just different than what I was expecting.
Idk this just didn't do it for me
I didn't really enjoy the magic in the kitchen thing they had going on lol. This was just different than what I was expecting.
3.5*
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, however I don't think I read it the right way.
I read it in 4 days and I feel like, to purely digest a beautifully written magical realism story, I need to give it more time.
We follow Rosa Santos while she's struggling with life choices along with her family curse.
I loved the homely feeling that the book's setting had. Seeing all the different people from the town getting together to discuss stuff was adorable and I really enjoyed those scenes.
The romance part was also adorable, even though I feel like everything happened too fast and was a bit insta-lovey.
I would really recommend the book though, it is a great summer read!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, however I don't think I read it the right way.
I read it in 4 days and I feel like, to purely digest a beautifully written magical realism story, I need to give it more time.
We follow Rosa Santos while she's struggling with life choices along with her family curse.
I loved the homely feeling that the book's setting had. Seeing all the different people from the town getting together to discuss stuff was adorable and I really enjoyed those scenes.
The romance part was also adorable, even though I feel like everything happened too fast and was a bit insta-lovey.
I would really recommend the book though, it is a great summer read!
♡ Da book ♡
As a Latinx I admire that Nina put old generation supersitutions in the book because that takes up the majority of the culture. That said I felt the curse wasn't taken seriously enough by any of the characters especially the viejos and the abuela. The curse wasn't fully and completely explained to the love interest, and the instant love was so annoying. I wish there were more scenes in which the curse was dramatically emphasized instead of 'oh no a curse!...anyway'
Also there was too many technology and pop culture references every other page. Which is fine to throw in every now and then, but it was giving me whiplash and someone might not understand if they didn't watch a certain show or movie.
That being said, I like how the LGBTQIA+ representation was subtle and not added or thrown in, I wish we got to experience the festival without it ending so soon, and I don't like that the abuela died (because it made me cry like a baby) but I felt it wasn't needed to give the main character a push.
☆ Author writing style ☆
I liked the way Nina Moreno described scenes and the background stories, sometimes they got a little Rick Yancy confusing, but after reading a sentence or a paragraph enough times I caught on. I would enjoy the book more if she stopped saying "she/he" and say who the subject of the sentence she is referring to!!! Over all, not the worst book I've ever read : )
As a Latinx I admire that Nina put old generation supersitutions in the book because that takes up the majority of the culture. That said I felt the curse wasn't taken seriously enough by any of the characters especially the viejos and the abuela. The curse wasn't fully and completely explained to the love interest, and the instant love was so annoying. I wish there were more scenes in which the curse was dramatically emphasized instead of 'oh no a curse!...anyway'
Also there was too many technology and pop culture references every other page. Which is fine to throw in every now and then, but it was giving me whiplash and someone might not understand if they didn't watch a certain show or movie.
That being said, I like how the LGBTQIA+ representation was subtle and not added or thrown in, I wish we got to experience the festival without it ending so soon, and I don't like that the abuela died (because it made me cry like a baby) but I felt it wasn't needed to give the main character a push.
☆ Author writing style ☆
I liked the way Nina Moreno described scenes and the background stories, sometimes they got a little Rick Yancy confusing, but after reading a sentence or a paragraph enough times I caught on. I would enjoy the book more if she stopped saying "she/he" and say who the subject of the sentence she is referring to!!! Over all, not the worst book I've ever read : )
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was such a cute read! Like some other reviews said, it had big Jane the Virgin vibes and Gilmore Girls, and I love both of those shows. I loved the whole premise of saving your small hometown, and this book was full of culture and adventure. This was also written beautifully. It was written very similar to With The Fire On High, so if you like the way that was written I think you'd enjoy this one as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
3.5 Stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are, as always, my own.
A charming read about a quiet Floridian coast town with lots of Cuban & Latinx flare, and Rosa, who is trying to save the town's marina from being bought by a developer. There’s also her healer-bordering-on-witchy grandma, her flaky artist mom who just rolled back into town, and a hunky tatted older boy with a boat... all the makings of a super cute contemporary romance! I loved reading such a fun book completely immersed in Cuban culture. The inter-generational immigrant experience is portrayed so beautifully here - we understand Mimi's heartache that she can't return to the homeland she loves so much while also understanding Rosa's intense desire to visit Cuba and better understand where she comes from and who she is.
I knocked this down to 3.5 stars because I found the ending to be lacking. This book has the laid back vibes of the coastal town it takes place in until about 85% of the way through the book. I was so invested in this adorable little town and its eccentric inhabitants that I hated leaving them in favor of a last-minute location change. The ending felt rushed - a TON happens in so few pages! I would have loved if it could have slowed down a little so I could've wrap my head around the journey Rosa and her mom were on. The romance was lackluster, particularly towards the end, and by that time I was much more interested in the family dynamics of the Santos women anyways. Overall, it was still worth the read - Rosa, the Santos family, and her town are so infectiously readable that the off-pace ending didn't ruin the enjoyment of the rest of the book for me.
Recommend for: Teens looking for a fun summer read with Latinx rep, really quirky and lovable characters, and an immersive setting.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are, as always, my own.
A charming read about a quiet Floridian coast town with lots of Cuban & Latinx flare, and Rosa, who is trying to save the town's marina from being bought by a developer. There’s also her healer-bordering-on-witchy grandma, her flaky artist mom who just rolled back into town, and a hunky tatted older boy with a boat... all the makings of a super cute contemporary romance! I loved reading such a fun book completely immersed in Cuban culture. The inter-generational immigrant experience is portrayed so beautifully here - we understand Mimi's heartache that she can't return to the homeland she loves so much while also understanding Rosa's intense desire to visit Cuba and better understand where she comes from and who she is.
I knocked this down to 3.5 stars because I found the ending to be lacking. This book has the laid back vibes of the coastal town it takes place in until about 85% of the way through the book. I was so invested in this adorable little town and its eccentric inhabitants that I hated leaving them in favor of a last-minute location change. The ending felt rushed - a TON happens in so few pages! I would have loved if it could have slowed down a little so I could've wrap my head around the journey Rosa and her mom were on. The romance was lackluster, particularly towards the end, and by that time I was much more interested in the family dynamics of the Santos women anyways. Overall, it was still worth the read - Rosa, the Santos family, and her town are so infectiously readable that the off-pace ending didn't ruin the enjoyment of the rest of the book for me.
Recommend for: Teens looking for a fun summer read with Latinx rep, really quirky and lovable characters, and an immersive setting.