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barbaramariaa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful, motivational and good book about a teen mom and how she wants to be a cook and how hard she works, studies to get something good.
I have been meaning to read this book for quite some time and I was delighted when I spotted it at Library #1's English collection (slowly they are adding more books).
Meet Emoni (though her name is apparently pronounced Imani which was utterly confusing to me as I kept calling her Ay (double ee here)moni). A teen mom who has a sweet baby named Emma (though Emoni likes to call her Babygirl). She loves cooking and she is working hard for her family to make sure things are possible. I loved her strong will and I loved how brave she was. I loved seeing her with her daughter and their bond was just so sweet and strong.
There is a slow-burning romance and I am definitely happy with how the author wrote it. I just loved seeing the characters get closer and closer together as the book went on. Though OK, at times it was a bit too slow and I wished they would just kiss already. :P But other than that very happy with how Malachi and Emoni found each other. I loved how sweet and patient Malachi was and how he was with Emma.
While I wasn't always a fan of Tyrone (especially not the whole I can date but you cannot), he was a great father and really did his best to be there for Emoni and Emma. Sure, his mom was a handful (and being a terrible woman at times), but at least Tyrone was a good guy. I loved seeing him pick up his daughter, and at the end with his proposal... well I had a feeling it was coming given things in the book.
The trip to Spain was so much fun and I was delighted for Emoni that she could come with her group. I don't see it as a spoiler given the whole book has things going well for Emoni. She learned so much while being there, and I loved the cook she had as a teacher. I also loved how mature she was, as her other classmates clearly showed they were still teens.
I loved Angelica, she was such a fun and sweet girl and I loved seeing her together with her girlfriend, Laura.
Abuela was also a terrific character. I have to say I was worried with the constant going to the doctor stuff, and was preparing myself for the worst. In the end something else turns out to be the reason why, but I kind of wish that maybe the author had picked another venue, because really I kept being worried throughout the book. I didn't want to lose this great grandmother.
We also see Emoni's father with whom she has not so good of a bond, which I could understand given how she only sees him once a year and other than that at times phone calls. Given how he practically dumped her with his mother when she was born. WOW. But I could see that he was a kind person and that he did mean well mostly.
Plus points to the absolutely stunning and beautiful cover. And I love that we see the food/fruit items come back with each chapter header.
Just a few things why this book isn't a 5 stars, however there was enough good that the book was saved from a 4 stars.
1) The magical food that Emoni makes and how everyone thinks it is perfect and magical and stirs up memories and how people cry. I have never in my life see anyone cry about food or say it brought back memories. Not even in tv shows (and I watch a great deal of food shows). I have eaten at restaurants, food made by myself, by other people. They were delicious, they were great, and I would eat them all the time, but to say it stirred memories? Neither have I seen friends or family cry over food. I wouldn't have minded the OMG memories/crying thing happening once or twice, but it kept happening and it felt really too much.
2) Emoni and her instinct. I am glad that she learned something because oh boy you could kill someone with that instinct. I know people who are lactose intolerant, I myself have nuts/peanuts/sesame/ and some others allergies, I know people who are allergic to garlic and other spices. You CANNOT just add stuff unless you tell people or put it on the list. You could kill someone. She was quite a drama queen when she was taught this lesson.
3) Drinking age in Spain is 18, not 16.
4) The Babygirl stuff and how she called her baby's real name her government name. Whut? I have never in my life heard anyone say that nor call a given name that way. Plus, is she really going to call her baby Babygirl forever? I can tell you that will confuse the kid, not to mention she is coming to an age she may not be called a baby.
5) The ending just felt a bit to convenient. I understand that it may happen this way, but it just such a small small chance.
But all in all, this was a book I really liked reading and I am so glad I got a chance to do so. There was so much good to this book and I really liked the characters. I would definitely recommend it to all!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I have been meaning to read this book for quite some time and I was delighted when I spotted it at Library #1's English collection (slowly they are adding more books).
Meet Emoni (though her name is apparently pronounced Imani which was utterly confusing to me as I kept calling her Ay (double ee here)moni). A teen mom who has a sweet baby named Emma (though Emoni likes to call her Babygirl). She loves cooking and she is working hard for her family to make sure things are possible. I loved her strong will and I loved how brave she was. I loved seeing her with her daughter and their bond was just so sweet and strong.
There is a slow-burning romance and I am definitely happy with how the author wrote it. I just loved seeing the characters get closer and closer together as the book went on. Though OK, at times it was a bit too slow and I wished they would just kiss already. :P But other than that very happy with how Malachi and Emoni found each other. I loved how sweet and patient Malachi was and how he was with Emma.
While I wasn't always a fan of Tyrone (especially not the whole I can date but you cannot), he was a great father and really did his best to be there for Emoni and Emma. Sure, his mom was a handful (and being a terrible woman at times), but at least Tyrone was a good guy. I loved seeing him pick up his daughter, and at the end with his proposal... well I had a feeling it was coming given things in the book.
The trip to Spain was so much fun and I was delighted for Emoni that she could come with her group. I don't see it as a spoiler given the whole book has things going well for Emoni. She learned so much while being there, and I loved the cook she had as a teacher. I also loved how mature she was, as her other classmates clearly showed they were still teens.
I loved Angelica, she was such a fun and sweet girl and I loved seeing her together with her girlfriend, Laura.
Abuela was also a terrific character. I have to say I was worried with the constant going to the doctor stuff, and was preparing myself for the worst. In the end something else turns out to be the reason why, but I kind of wish that maybe the author had picked another venue, because really I kept being worried throughout the book. I didn't want to lose this great grandmother.
We also see Emoni's father with whom she has not so good of a bond, which I could understand given how she only sees him once a year and other than that at times phone calls. Given how he practically dumped her with his mother when she was born. WOW. But I could see that he was a kind person and that he did mean well mostly.
Plus points to the absolutely stunning and beautiful cover. And I love that we see the food/fruit items come back with each chapter header.
Just a few things why this book isn't a 5 stars, however there was enough good that the book was saved from a 4 stars.
1) The magical food that Emoni makes and how everyone thinks it is perfect and magical and stirs up memories and how people cry. I have never in my life see anyone cry about food or say it brought back memories. Not even in tv shows (and I watch a great deal of food shows). I have eaten at restaurants, food made by myself, by other people. They were delicious, they were great, and I would eat them all the time, but to say it stirred memories? Neither have I seen friends or family cry over food. I wouldn't have minded the OMG memories/crying thing happening once or twice, but it kept happening and it felt really too much.
2) Emoni and her instinct. I am glad that she learned something because oh boy you could kill someone with that instinct. I know people who are lactose intolerant, I myself have nuts/peanuts/sesame/ and some others allergies, I know people who are allergic to garlic and other spices. You CANNOT just add stuff unless you tell people or put it on the list. You could kill someone. She was quite a drama queen when she was taught this lesson.
3) Drinking age in Spain is 18, not 16.
4) The Babygirl stuff and how she called her baby's real name her government name. Whut? I have never in my life heard anyone say that nor call a given name that way. Plus, is she really going to call her baby Babygirl forever? I can tell you that will confuse the kid, not to mention she is coming to an age she may not be called a baby.
5) The ending just felt a bit to convenient. I understand that it may happen this way, but it just such a small small chance.
But all in all, this was a book I really liked reading and I am so glad I got a chance to do so. There was so much good to this book and I really liked the characters. I would definitely recommend it to all!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
jcgirl1032's review against another edition
challenging
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
fabacious's review against another edition
3.0
I heard about this book from a book tuber and was intrigued. I didn't realize this book was for young readers. It's a simple straightforward story about a teenage mom with a passion for cooking. Overall, not bad. The cover is gorgeous; I'm considering buying a physical copy just for the beautiful cover.
rebeccarudisill's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
schnatti's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
laurendeen's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
I absolutely loved this, and can't wait to read Clap When You Land.
I absolutely loved this, and can't wait to read Clap When You Land.
amimafotak's review against another edition
2.0
/knihu jsem četla v rámci spolupráce s Knižním klubem, knihkupectvím Luxor/
2/5
2/5
cristalmh's review against another edition
4.5
Emoni is living an adults life as a teen. She has a child. She works to help support her family. Her grandma is raising her. Emoni tries her best in school. She tries to keep her head low and works hard. She has always had a love of cooking. The school adds a cooking class as an elective that includes a trip to Spain. Emoni has to harness her cooking powers and use her fund raising brain to make it all happen. Regular problems between the father of her child and her. Emoni also has a best friend who is very creative. A new kid starts school and immediately is enamored with Emoni.
Enjoyed the book so very much. From Emoni trying to reach her goals to her relationships with others. Her trip to Spain is so meaningful and reminds me of when I went to Europe after high school.
Lots of great quotes
We all smile at Babygirl, who shows off her teeth as if she knows she has a coven of women holding her down, and that she can be anything and everything we dream for her.
if anyone can take ingredients that shouldn't work and make something delicious out of them, it's you.
Malachi and I have talked about his dream to start a practice back in his hood. He insists they need more people from home trying to help home
3. Bake the bread for the entirety of Bad
Bunny's last album.
Enjoyed the book so very much. From Emoni trying to reach her goals to her relationships with others. Her trip to Spain is so meaningful and reminds me of when I went to Europe after high school.
Lots of great quotes
We all smile at Babygirl, who shows off her teeth as if she knows she has a coven of women holding her down, and that she can be anything and everything we dream for her.
if anyone can take ingredients that shouldn't work and make something delicious out of them, it's you.
Malachi and I have talked about his dream to start a practice back in his hood. He insists they need more people from home trying to help home
3. Bake the bread for the entirety of Bad
Bunny's last album.
alli_thebookgiraffe's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVE this book. Acevedo writes the absolute best characters. I love that she showed a girl can be a teen mom and still be successful. She showed that people can be parents and still follow their dreams. I love that the dad is not absent because that is a terrible stereotype pushed onto men. She also wrote a broken family that works. I love strong family dynamics.
I forgot to add this book used the line "I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding" 3 times. Ya authors please stop this line.
I forgot to add this book used the line "I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding" 3 times. Ya authors please stop this line.