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blondelibrarian's review
4.0
“…home is not a place. It’s a heartbeat. A living thing made up of every person who has ever left a mark on us.”
tolfarie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
greidypm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
notapiano's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.5
clarkf87's review
4.0
“Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet” by Laekan Zea Kemp
⭐⭐️⭐⭐
Topics: Immigration, mental health, Latin culture, racism
TW: Intrusive thoughts, gang violence
When the neighborhood you live in is dangerous and the only place that brings you comfort is a Mexican American family-owned and operated restaurant called Nacho’s Tacos. Some of the neighbors are undocumented but all are welcome. This was a wholesome story about Penelope “Pen” Prado and her passion to own a bakery someday, despite her family’s expectations. She meets and falls in love with Xander Amaro who is searching for his father and a place to call home since learning he is an undocumented immigrant. Nacho’s Tacos brings them together as first loves.
QUOTES:
“At the restaurant, we’re in a hurry. We need to cook fast so people leave happy. But at home, we cook to remember where we come from. We cook to remember the people who came before us. But, most importantly, we cook to remember what love tastes like.”
“Just because the voice is familiar, doesn’t mean it tells the truth.”
“Courage isn’t a currency and claiming it isn’t a game. The things that scare us are not roadblocks, but mirrors. And bravery isn’t about shattering a reflection; it’s about having the strength to look.”
⭐⭐️⭐⭐
Topics: Immigration, mental health, Latin culture, racism
TW: Intrusive thoughts, gang violence
When the neighborhood you live in is dangerous and the only place that brings you comfort is a Mexican American family-owned and operated restaurant called Nacho’s Tacos. Some of the neighbors are undocumented but all are welcome. This was a wholesome story about Penelope “Pen” Prado and her passion to own a bakery someday, despite her family’s expectations. She meets and falls in love with Xander Amaro who is searching for his father and a place to call home since learning he is an undocumented immigrant. Nacho’s Tacos brings them together as first loves.
QUOTES:
“At the restaurant, we’re in a hurry. We need to cook fast so people leave happy. But at home, we cook to remember where we come from. We cook to remember the people who came before us. But, most importantly, we cook to remember what love tastes like.”
“Just because the voice is familiar, doesn’t mean it tells the truth.”
“Courage isn’t a currency and claiming it isn’t a game. The things that scare us are not roadblocks, but mirrors. And bravery isn’t about shattering a reflection; it’s about having the strength to look.”
carolina98's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book I think it touched on a few topics that I could relate to however it did not feel like a romance it felt more like a coming of age book.
dhamira's review
3.0
i think the storyline is great however i dont really enjoyed it :((( the writing is beautiful, the romance is sweet and i really like the characters nonetheless
megs_s's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jackolanterns_in_august's review
4.0
I loved this book! I loved the characters and the food and the neighborhood; it made me want to visit all the places and eat the food and hang out with all the characters. The ending wasn’t as satisfying as I would’ve liked, but honestly it was deeply realistic and I respect the hell out of that.