Reviews

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp

pjchappie's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Self harm, Excrement, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Deportation

z_brarian's review

4.0

This was a good story. I’m going to have to come back and do my review at a later date. There’s a lot of things I need to think about.

*update: Brought together by a love of food and family, this was a different story. Definitely a more mature #ownvoices YA novel. It’s romance but also coming of age, finding not only yourself but your place in the world. For Pen, she realizes she needs to fulfill her dreams, not her parents and for Xander, he is seeking assurance that his father does love him, that he wasn’t just left behind. The food descriptions alone made me want to learn how to create Pens amazing desserts! Foodies will appreciate this book.

danyell919's review

4.0

The end of this book really tied things together for me - I struggled a bit in the middle but I don’t think it was the book, I think it was me! I really liked both Pen and Xander but I found their love story a little too rushed.

sweet_dee_reads's review

5.0

For this one I listened to the audiobook and I totally recommend it!! Both narrators did an amazing job. Thank you to @libro.fm for an #ALC of this one in exchange for my honest review.

Told between alternating POVs, Somewhere Between Bitter & Sweet tells the story of Penelope Prado and Xander Amaro. Pen has always wanted to have her own bakery and Xander wants to find his father. Once Xander & Pen’s paths cross at Pen’s father’s restaurant, the sparks fly. Can they make both of their dreams come true?

Holy smokes was this one a phenomenal listen!! The writing for the sone was so atmospheric and descriptive! I was hungry for a lot of this one. Pen and Xander’s story was such a beautiful one and the supporting characters just made the story that much more enjoyable. Such a fantastic listen and this one gets 5 stars!!

rcaivano's review

I liked the book but I just couldn't get past the premise that Pen's (Mexican-American) family threw her out of the house because she lied about going to college. After one semester, she knew it wasn't for her, and she pretended to keep going. All she wanted was to work in her father's restaurant - she's an amazing baker. But when she came clean, her parents threw her out, like that day, and she had no where to go. That made zero sense to me, especially considering they are such a tight knit family. Although that killed her, it was like she accepted it - she still spoke to her mother and tried to talk to her father. I just didn't think that was realistic, and it sort of ruined it for me. Then all of a sudden we find out she has some sort of anxiety which made it all the more unrealistic for me. I liked Xander's character better, he was much more realistic. He works in the restaurant, is undocumented, and is trying to find his father who took off when he was a kid. They have a lovely relationship which saved the book for me!

veronicahoffman's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

3.25

gini_coll's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

5.0

The easiest five stars I've given this year.

library_kb's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.25

This was a great book to finish out my Nerdy Bookclub Reading Challenge. The character development of Pen and Xander was so amazing, that very early in the story I was invested in them and their challenges and lives. Pen's struggles with depression and Xander's struggles with being undocumented and not feeling like he belongs were treated with such care, but also honesty. I liked the setting of the restaurant and cooking. The one critique I have is that I think the ending wrapped up a little quickly--I would have been willing to read a more drawn out and deeper ending. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Abandonment and Deportation

bibliozord's review

4.0

CW: self harm, anxiety, depression, racism, ICE

allthestories08's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

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

3.0