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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Great book, a lot of unexpected twists and turns but some part just made me kinda want to roll my eyes
This was a sweet, somewhat cheesy, pretty innocent YA romance with some magical realism. Some of the plot points were a bit unbelievable and that’s why it didn’t get as many stars from me. It did touch on good topics for high school students asking those big life questions about where to go next in life, as well as general issues of grief and mother daughter relationships that are relatable to a wider audience.
I found myself pleasantly surprised by this book. The cover made me think that this book would fall more along the lines of chic lit, something I have little to no interest in. However, Moreno beautifully dives into the complicated relationships of a multigenerational family of Cuban women haunted by trauma. Moreno fills the book with lively characters with the minor characters just nuanced enough to provide differences and major characters full of depth and complexity. At the end, she even explores a bit of magical realism, so apt for this book.
(Just talked myself into a 5 star rating...)
(Just talked myself into a 5 star rating...)
This book struck a chord in me. When I picked up this book I expected a fun and beautiful read (which it was! please pick it up if you haven't). What I didn't expect was how hauntingly raw the emotions of Rosa's struggle as a child of diaspora and struggling with dual identity would resonate with myself. The Feelings that have been undefined in my own struggle finally were in the pages of this book.
Nina does an incredible job weaving together Rosa's two worlds that made Port Coral seem that it could exist anywhere, with characters that can easily identifiable in your own. Rosa's journey to find out who she is while trying to navigate the ideas of who her family thinks she should be; is done in a way that will leave you thinking about your own personal journey long after you put it down.
Nina does an incredible job weaving together Rosa's two worlds that made Port Coral seem that it could exist anywhere, with characters that can easily identifiable in your own. Rosa's journey to find out who she is while trying to navigate the ideas of who her family thinks she should be; is done in a way that will leave you thinking about your own personal journey long after you put it down.
actual 3.5
the romance: 4/10
the family relationships: 100000/10
the romance: 4/10
the family relationships: 100000/10
Overall a good, cute story, but the end is really weird, it becames this mystical moment that doesn't vibe with the rest of the book. And i think it perpetuates the stereotypes of latin countries being mystical and exotic places where weird shit happens. I actually rate it 3.5 stars because i'm feeling generous and sad that the end didn't live up to the beggining.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
I'm a mess. How is it possible that one book is at the same time heartwarming and -breaking?!
CW:mentions of death of a loved one, death of a loved one, grief, heart attack, anxiety
Rosa Santos is bi Cuban-American teen who lives is a small coastal town called Port Coral. She lives with her abuela and her mother is a traveling artist. Rosa has a big decision ahead of her, where to go to college. Then she meets Alex who is a baker and owns a boat, which is a problem because of the family curse.
This book is a love letter to Cuba and its culture. All of the characters are so unapologetically Latinx. They use Spanish in really natural ways and it made me want to learn it. Also, I just want to visit Port Coral. I can't talk about the rep, so here is one review that I highly recommend to check up: Angelica's review
What I can speak on is Rosa's will to go to Cuba and to experience her culture, the feeling that because you haven't lived in your home country are you enough. It brought me back to a time when I thought the same thing, even when I had visited my home country, I wasn't sure if I was enough because I hadn't lived there.
The love that the three Santos women have towards each other is so clear. They have their struggles like communication and the fact that they have lived in so different worlds. All of these things make their world-views different but they care for each other.
The ending was a little rushed but I still enjoyed it immensely.
I would recommend checking some content warnings as they helped me a lot. That being said, I was still crying my eyes out and get why the story took the turn, but I'm heartbroken.
CW:
Rosa Santos is bi Cuban-American teen who lives is a small coastal town called Port Coral. She lives with her abuela and her mother is a traveling artist. Rosa has a big decision ahead of her, where to go to college. Then she meets Alex who is a baker and owns a boat, which is a problem because of the family curse.
This book is a love letter to Cuba and its culture. All of the characters are so unapologetically Latinx. They use Spanish in really natural ways and it made me want to learn it. Also, I just want to visit Port Coral. I can't talk about the rep, so here is one review that I highly recommend to check up: Angelica's review
What I can speak on is Rosa's will to go to Cuba and to experience her culture, the feeling that because you haven't lived in your home country are you enough. It brought me back to a time when I thought the same thing, even when I had visited my home country, I wasn't sure if I was enough because I hadn't lived there.
The love that the three Santos women have towards each other is so clear. They have their struggles like communication and the fact that they have lived in so different worlds. All of these things make their world-views different but they care for each other.
The ending was a little rushed but I still enjoyed it immensely.
I would recommend checking some content warnings as they helped me a lot. That being said, I was still crying my eyes out and get why the story took the turn, but I'm heartbroken.