Reviews

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp

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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

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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

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dark emotional inspiring medium-paced

5.0

The easiest five stars I've given this year.

library_kb's review against another edition

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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.

Content Warnings