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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
I was home, and talking about Cuba had no place here. Mimi was never returning, my mother was always leaving, and I was a flightless bird left at her harbor, searching for answers that were buried at the bottom of a sea I could not know.
So ends chapter 1.
Don't Date Rosa Santos is so much more to me than just a sweet story about a girl on the brink of summer romance. I mean, it is that too and I'm sure that'll be enough to draw in plenty of lovers of YA contemporary. But for Cuban-Americans like myself, it's a story of who I am and who I never was. It's a story about the secrets we bury in our families for generations. It's a story about living in the hyphen, the feeling of straddling cultures and countries, the never-ending struggle to feel enough.
We follow my precious romper-wearing, bullet-journaling, overachieving Ravenpuff who is on a mission. Well, a couple missions. The first: to decide where to go for college. The second: to save Spring Fest.
I wish I could translate the experience of reading this book into words, but I don't have them. How does one even begin to review a book of their heart? All I can say is that Nina Moreno has a gift. She took things I'd only ever felt and put them into Rosa and Port Coral, which are vibrant and alive in ways that feel tangible. I was completely transported as I read this and I am absolutely certain this book will be a game-changer for other Latinx folks as well.
tw: death of a family member
I loved this so much. For the most part, it was deeply adorable - I adored Rosa and Alex and Rosa's friends and community - but I also almost sobbed through like three chapters. I'm obsessed with Rosa and need a finished copy for my shelves. Then I need whatever book Nina's writing next because her writing is stunning.
Initial thoughts: thank you to Gabi and Carmen for talking about this book so much. This was seriously such a beautiful and fun story and just... wow!
I definitely enjoyed reading Don’t Date Rosa Santos but it unfortunately isn’t a new favorite of mine. I really liked Nina Moreno’s style of writing and this book was also a really quick read. Overall however, the story just wasn’t very interesting and I for some reason had a very hard time connecting with the characters. Nevertheless, I’ll definitely be checking out future releases by Nina Moreno!
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instagram || my blog || twitter
A lovely story about a small town coming together to stop gentrification by hosting a festival showing and selling their crafts. It does have a death scene and deals with how painful one can be and how it can make you feel like something’s missing or you’re lost.
Rosa Santos is cursed: Every sailor her family falls in love with have died by the sea. Her grandfather and her father were the first victims, and now she’s scared of doing the same with the boy she has a crush on.
Rosa is a very relatable character for me. She’s very intelligent and works very hard, getting her two-year degree at the same time she’s getting her high school diploma and working at the local bodega. She is Cuban but because she has grown up in America and her grandmother does not talk about her life or family in Cuba, she feels disconnected with that culture and wants to learn about it, going so far as to apply to a university that has a study abroad program in Havana and major in Latin American Studies. She doesn’t quite know where she fits in.
She loves helping others and was the one that came up with the idea to host the festival to save the town. What I find really relatable about her is that when her plans for the future did not pan out, she was sort of stuck in a limbo and didn’t know what to do with the rest of her life. She’s also passionate about sustainability
Rosa has a very complicated relationship with her mother and currently lives with her grandmother. Because of the superstitions and family curse, her mother does not feel like she belongs in Port Coral. She only comes back to be with her daughter in between her painting commissions. She wants what’s best for her daughter and does not believe going to Cuba just to see what it’s like is the best choice. Change can be scary and not all of it is good or accepted by your family, but sometimes it’s needed.
This novel also talks about how college is expected, especially for some immigrant families, and talks about how it’s not for everyone. In one scene, a father gets upset at his son for dropping out and he gets reminded that his job should be to support his children no matter what they choose to do with their lives.
It also touches on the political climate in Cuba and how dangerous it was for some people and how scared her grandmother was to stay there. She left to a land where she couldn’t speak the language just so her family has a chance to be free, but it also talks about how beautiful Cuba is and how happy it makes Rosa and her mother to be there for Mimi.
I received an ARC from Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rosa Santos is cursed: Every sailor her family falls in love with have died by the sea. Her grandfather and her father were the first victims, and now she’s scared of doing the same with the boy she has a crush on.
Rosa is a very relatable character for me. She’s very intelligent and works very hard, getting her two-year degree at the same time she’s getting her high school diploma and working at the local bodega. She is Cuban but because she has grown up in America and her grandmother does not talk about her life or family in Cuba, she feels disconnected with that culture and wants to learn about it, going so far as to apply to a university that has a study abroad program in Havana and major in Latin American Studies. She doesn’t quite know where she fits in.
She loves helping others and was the one that came up with the idea to host the festival to save the town. What I find really relatable about her is that when her plans for the future did not pan out, she was sort of stuck in a limbo and didn’t know what to do with the rest of her life. She’s also passionate about sustainability
Rosa has a very complicated relationship with her mother and currently lives with her grandmother. Because of the superstitions and family curse, her mother does not feel like she belongs in Port Coral. She only comes back to be with her daughter in between her painting commissions. She wants what’s best for her daughter and does not believe going to Cuba just to see what it’s like is the best choice. Change can be scary and not all of it is good or accepted by your family, but sometimes it’s needed.
This novel also talks about how college is expected, especially for some immigrant families, and talks about how it’s not for everyone. In one scene, a father gets upset at his son for dropping out and he gets reminded that his job should be to support his children no matter what they choose to do with their lives.
It also touches on the political climate in Cuba and how dangerous it was for some people and how scared her grandmother was to stay there. She left to a land where she couldn’t speak the language just so her family has a chance to be free, but it also talks about how beautiful Cuba is and how happy it makes Rosa and her mother to be there for Mimi.
I received an ARC from Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The comparisons for this novel - Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic - are SPOT ON. I wasn't expecting it to be so heavy in the middle, but the sweetness and the magic of the beginning and end lifted it up quite well. I loved Rosa, and I loved her journey. Moreno does a brilliant job depicting diaspora to someone like me, not intimately familiar with the concept.
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated