Scan barcode
stralins's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 - fun! oscillated between serious and goofy, maybe could have used a little more depth when unpacking identity, trauma, corruption, but also lovely to read where light is shone versus darkness overcoming
thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I’m Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter meets Emergency Contact meets Maurene Goo’s The Way You Make Me Feel.
fdpayne's review against another edition
4.0
Small but mighty!
It’s short, only 337 pages, but it packs a bunch. It successfully addresses a number of difficult and serious subjects: mental illness, immigration, and familial expectations. Though it’s categorized as a YA novel, aside from the fact that the leads, Pen and Xavier, are still teens (but just barely) and the lack of explicit scenes and language, it reads like adult fiction. Which I suppose could put it more in the new adult category.
If I were to have one complaint, it would be that the ending felt rushed. After the big climax, the story was wrapped up quickly in a nice bow, but there were a few things I would have liked more detailed about.
It’s short, only 337 pages, but it packs a bunch. It successfully addresses a number of difficult and serious subjects: mental illness, immigration, and familial expectations. Though it’s categorized as a YA novel, aside from the fact that the leads, Pen and Xavier, are still teens (but just barely) and the lack of explicit scenes and language, it reads like adult fiction. Which I suppose could put it more in the new adult category.
If I were to have one complaint, it would be that the ending felt rushed. After the big climax, the story was wrapped up quickly in a nice bow, but there were a few things I would have liked more detailed about.
calypsogilstrap's review against another edition
4.0
Took a hundred pages to get into it but once I did- it is a great story about family, restaurant life, and the definition of home. I am going to eat cupcakes now.
kthornette's review against another edition
4.0
“But do you feel like it’s … you? Or do you feel like it’s who others want you to be?”
This question’s harder to answer. “I don’t know. Sometimes it feels like a choice, and sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it feels like the only weapon I have against being an outsider… and sometimes it feels like a weapon other people use against me.”
I’m prefacing this review by saying this cover is hot.
I’ll be real with you guys, I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would’ve. I’ve read a lot of books talking about immigrant kids and their problems, but this was really stood out from the bunch. Pen and Xander both had their own family and self-identity issues but they both contrasted in hers being centred on her future and his about his past while fearful for his future. I even liked the addition of Pen’s anxiety and the classic immigrant parent projection. Both of them were strong protagonists and I enjoyed reading their stories. My only critique is that more attention was given to Pen’s POV and problems so I would’ve loved more of Xander’s.
As a note, I also love all the food descriptions.
“What you’ve gotten yourself into is the most faithful and fucked up family you’ll ever meet.”
rdyourbookcase's review
5.0
I absolutely loved it. It had interesting characters, a love story that wasn't too complicated or cheesy, food, and a terrible villain. Teens will enjoy the romance and fast pace of the story. Wonderful!
christinavarela's review against another edition
2.0
I was reading about the upcoming Netflix version of one of my favorite five star books - I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, when I came across the suggestion that fans of that book would appreciate this book. I disagree. I have quite a few issues with this book. However, buried in some of those issues was an interesting story about what it is to live undocumented in the United States and predators like JP who prey on those people. Of course, I like all books that include food.
zbrarian's review against another edition
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.
*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.
aalafave's review against another edition
3.0
I think I was too hard on this novel when reading it. It's in present tense so the story seems choppy and emotionless at times. But it has heart and, even though I went from an audiobook to speed reading, I began to enjoy myself much more by the end.
Also, the food descriptions in this novel make me want to bake and eat tacos at the same time.
Also, the food descriptions in this novel make me want to bake and eat tacos at the same time.
scromero's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Rich food descriptions and themes of community. Some cringy, preachy writing
Rich food descriptions and themes of community. Some cringy, preachy writing