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chrisb913's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-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? Yes
4.75
I adored this book and Natalie Caña just continues to provide outstanding stories and unforgettable characters. This story focuses on Saint and Lola and is all about second chances and learning to allow others into the mc's lives. The plot touches on some important social topics such as body positivity, the importance of community activism, and the shear horror that is the gentrification of local communities. The increased inclusion of Saint's daughter Rosie was absolutely adorable and seeing her relationship to her father and family along with developing a relationship with Lola was just the best.
On top of all this, we have Abuelo back and of course hilarity ensues that had me cracking me up throughout this book.
On top of all this, we have Abuelo back and of course hilarity ensues that had me cracking me up throughout this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, and Violence
Moderate: Chronic illness
sydapel's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
3.5
Not as much of a hit for me as the first in the series, as I struggled with keeping all the family names/relationship dynamics straight and felt the middle of this book lacked pacing. I did love the way Lola and Saint's individual trauma and insecurity made their conflicts believeable, as well as book's overall focus on how oppressive structures feed cycles of violence and crime. Saint's daughter was also adorable and ending was really well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness and Fatphobia
Minor: Bullying
bookishmillennial's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Lola León is a preschool teacher and also works with unhoused LGBTQ+ youth who have been disowned by their families. Saint Vega is set to take over his uncle Luis' construction company, and he has been navigating why his four-year-old daughter Rosie is not speaking at school, and even at home sometimes. He is a single dad, and while her teachers are quick to diagnose her with an intellectual disability, Lola steps in and hopes to give Rosie and Saint the space to figure this out.
Lola has recently returned home and is also dealing with the gentrification of her neighborhood, including the homeless shelter that she volunteers at. She teams up with Saint to find a new space for the unhoused LGBTQ+ youth that rely on this space, and this forced proximity forces them to confront their falling out years ago. Their grandfathers are also pranking each other at the senior care home that they live in, so that's yet another thing these two need to worry about.
Lola is a main character you really root for: she is an incredibly independent, passionate, self-deemed social justice warrior. She is fat and has no time for fatphobia or body shaming. Her brother and father were well-known gang members and she is constantly reckoning with the bias she receives from others because of this association. She cares deeply about her neighborhood, has no qualms protesting loudly and proudly, and she is not easily swayed. She has absolutely wondered if she was "too much" for people, but she mostly stands strong in her convictions, almost to a fault if you ask Saint.
On the other hand, Saint is grappling with his own past with the military as such a young kid, being a single father, and now worrying over Lola's safety in addition to his own and his daughter Rosie's. I appreciated that Lola called attention to the manipulative tactics that armed forces take when it comes to targeting minors from communities of color and framing it as one of their "only" options for a bright future. Saint can be a bit condescending at times, but it felt rooted in his deep concern over the consequences, which he knew all too well from his time in the military.
I enjoyed the flashbacks in this second-chance romance, and my favorite moments are always when folks divulge what caused it to all unravel so long ago, or when they are so bravely sharing their deepest cuts.
I listened to the audiobook on Kobo, and thought the narration by Valentina Ortiz was excellent!
steam rating: 2/5
cw: ableism, classism, gentrification, mention of armed forces/military, gun violence, injury detail, incarceration/prison system, fatphobia, body shaming, homophobia, biphobia, unhoused/abandoned/kicked out LGBTQ+ youth
Lola León is a preschool teacher and also works with unhoused LGBTQ+ youth who have been disowned by their families. Saint Vega is set to take over his uncle Luis' construction company, and he has been navigating why his four-year-old daughter Rosie is not speaking at school, and even at home sometimes. He is a single dad, and while her teachers are quick to diagnose her with an intellectual disability, Lola steps in and hopes to give Rosie and Saint the space to figure this out.
Lola has recently returned home and is also dealing with the gentrification of her neighborhood, including the homeless shelter that she volunteers at. She teams up with Saint to find a new space for the unhoused LGBTQ+ youth that rely on this space, and this forced proximity forces them to confront their falling out years ago. Their grandfathers are also pranking each other at the senior care home that they live in, so that's yet another thing these two need to worry about.
Lola is a main character you really root for: she is an incredibly independent, passionate, self-deemed social justice warrior. She is fat and has no time for fatphobia or body shaming. Her brother and father were well-known gang members and she is constantly reckoning with the bias she receives from others because of this association. She cares deeply about her neighborhood, has no qualms protesting loudly and proudly, and she is not easily swayed. She has absolutely wondered if she was "too much" for people, but she mostly stands strong in her convictions, almost to a fault if you ask Saint.
On the other hand, Saint is grappling with his own past with the military as such a young kid, being a single father, and now worrying over Lola's safety in addition to his own and his daughter Rosie's. I appreciated that Lola called attention to the manipulative tactics that armed forces take when it comes to targeting minors from communities of color and framing it as one of their "only" options for a bright future. Saint can be a bit condescending at times, but it felt rooted in his deep concern over the consequences, which he knew all too well from his time in the military.
I enjoyed the flashbacks in this second-chance romance, and my favorite moments are always when folks divulge what caused it to all unravel so long ago, or when they are so bravely sharing their deepest cuts.
I listened to the audiobook on Kobo, and thought the narration by Valentina Ortiz was excellent!
steam rating: 2/5
cw: ableism, classism, gentrification, mention of armed forces/military, gun violence, injury detail, incarceration/prison system, fatphobia, body shaming, homophobia, biphobia, unhoused/abandoned/kicked out LGBTQ+ youth
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Gun violence, Ableism, Body shaming, War, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Fatphobia, and Classism
booknerderika's review against another edition
lighthearted
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Natalie Caña has done it again!
There was so much representation in this book (Plus-size, LGBTQ+, mental health/trauma, etc) and tropes that I normally don't like but actually enjoyed here (2nd chance romance, single parent romance, "good boy" smut).
Lola is a plus-sized bisexual activist who stands firm in her beliefs and loves everyone so fiercely. Then there is Saint, the caring father and military veteran who feels it's his duty to protect everyone while neglecting his own struggles withanxiety and PTSD.
I appreciate that this was not a pro-war book and that the topic of how marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by military recruitment out of high school was brought up.
Saint wasn't a favorite character for me in the first book, but I have gained a new view of him and want nothing but the best for him.
I am curious to see how things are going to work out for the next couple. Especially with the drama from book 1. I am very much looking forward to book 3.
There was so much representation in this book (Plus-size, LGBTQ+, mental health/trauma, etc) and tropes that I normally don't like but actually enjoyed here (2nd chance romance, single parent romance, "good boy" smut).
Lola is a plus-sized bisexual activist who stands firm in her beliefs and loves everyone so fiercely. Then there is Saint, the caring father and military veteran who feels it's his duty to protect everyone while neglecting his own struggles with
I appreciate that this was not a pro-war book and that the topic of how marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by military recruitment out of high school was brought up.
Saint wasn't a favorite character for me in the first book, but I have gained a new view of him and want nothing but the best for him.
I am curious to see how things are going to work out for the next couple. Especially with the drama from book 1. I am very much looking forward to book 3.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Biphobia, Gun violence, Sexual content, Body shaming, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Fatphobia
Minor: Car accident
allingoodtime's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
When I read the first book in this series, A Proposal They Can’t Refuse, I knew I’d love the Vega family and their friends more and more as this series progressed. You don’t have to have read the first book to read and love this one, but I’m enjoying getting to know this boisterous cast of characters.
While I enjoyed the first book, I liked this one even more. It’s another slow burn, but with the amazing chemistry that Saint and Lola have there were plenty of sparks leading up to their fire. They were both being careful before jumping in, with good reason. Saint is a single father and Lola is the woman who disappeared on him back when they were just out of high school. Lola’s father was the local gang/drug lord and she has always wanted to make sure the stereotype she lives under doesn’t rub off on those she loves. Lola and Saint are thrown back together when their grandfathers decide to wage a prank war against each other in their senior living home. There is angst and fun along with yearning and old hurts.
Something I noticed before and that came back to me while reading this book, the author does a beautiful job of incorporating the multilingual aspects of the characters and their community. I’m one of those readers who always wants to know what everything means. Be it the mention of a tree I’m unfamiliar with or a sentence in a language I don’t speak, I tend to stop reading and look it up. My brain has a hard time moving past it if I don’t. The author artfully weaves these multilingual conversations together with plenty of subtext and responses in English that I never questioned what was being said. She does it without having the characters repeat or interpret the Spanish, but in a way that is organic and feels like a naturally flowing conversation. That alone shows me her talent.
I appreciate the way the characters in this story always own up to their shortcomings once they realize what they are. Not only that, but their community is open to accepting the apology and not holding past mistakes against them. Lola is an extremely strong and independent woman who will fight with a single-minded focus to help those who are usually ignored or dismissed. While Saint believes in the things Lola does, his focus centers more on his family and his fierce protective nature when it comes to all of his cousins and siblings. Neither realize how much air they can take up when they are on a tear. This makes them perfect for each other while also making them terrible for each other. This book is about them finding that happy medium that allows them to find joy in life instead of always being “on”.
There are so many characters in these books I want to see get their HEA. Hopefully, they all will in time.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, and Grief
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
cover2covertx's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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? Yes
5.0
A Dish Best Served Hot, the connected standalone for A Proposal They Can't Refuse, was a really fun read and not entirely what I expected it to be. I assumed after the first book that this one would also be a little more light-hearted and witty, which it absolutely had it's moments but this story had a bit of a more serious tone, and for good reason given the topics dealt with in this story. It's not just a rom com "dramedy" spanning across families and cultures- which is definitely a HUGE part of its charm- but it also landed a bit on the side of romantic suspense.
For all of these reasons, this book is definitely a five star read for me. The book has a slow start, building on the characters and their pasts and especially fleshing out the side characters from the previous story as well; giving them even more of a backstory AND setting up the perfect scenarios for future books. :)
There's fantastic representation of diverse characters including Latinx families from different backgrounds, a bi-sexual female main character who is also plus-size, and a variety of different family dynamics (single dad, grandparents raising grandkids, etc.)
Book Tropes: slow burn, childhood friends, friends to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity (related to business)
For all of these reasons, this book is definitely a five star read for me. The book has a slow start, building on the characters and their pasts and especially fleshing out the side characters from the previous story as well; giving them even more of a backstory AND setting up the perfect scenarios for future books. :)
There's fantastic representation of diverse characters including Latinx families from different backgrounds, a bi-sexual female main character who is also plus-size, and a variety of different family dynamics (single dad, grandparents raising grandkids, etc.)
Book Tropes: slow burn, childhood friends, friends to lovers, second chance romance, forced proximity (related to business)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Cursing, Gun violence, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racism, Classism, Death, and Xenophobia
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Police brutality, War, and Fatphobia
hollielovesromance's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
Saint Vega and Lola Léon didn’t imagine that when they said goodbye as teenagers that they’d ever see each other again. But fate has a strange way of intervening in the Vega children’s lives. After being called into the office of his grandfather’s assisted living facility due to a prank gone wrong on another resident, Saint is brought face-to-face with Lola who is just as fierce and alluring to him as she was as a teenager. During her time away from the neighborhood, Lola has dedicated her life to fighting for justice and equity for those around her. And as fate would have it, Lola ends up being Saint’s daughter’s teacher.
I loved how fierce and yet tender Lola was throughout this book. She and Saint are both extremely stubborn and a lot of the time frustrating characters. You just want to shake them and ask them both why they have to save everyone. I’m normally not big on second chance love or single parent tropes but these were both done so well. It is very believable that these two characters would not only fall apart as headstrong idealistic teenagers but that as adults those qualities could bring them back together and that their maturity could help them work better together as partners. Saint’s daughter feels like a truly authentic part of the story and not just a character that’s supposed to make us like this stubborn man. There’s something extremely sweet about their relationship and you can feel the anxiety he has as a parent wanting the best for his daughter. The Vega family was entertaining as always and I’ll be interested to see what Papo drags us all into in the next book.
I loved how fierce and yet tender Lola was throughout this book. She and Saint are both extremely stubborn and a lot of the time frustrating characters. You just want to shake them and ask them both why they have to save everyone. I’m normally not big on second chance love or single parent tropes but these were both done so well. It is very believable that these two characters would not only fall apart as headstrong idealistic teenagers but that as adults those qualities could bring them back together and that their maturity could help them work better together as partners. Saint’s daughter feels like a truly authentic part of the story and not just a character that’s supposed to make us like this stubborn man. There’s something extremely sweet about their relationship and you can feel the anxiety he has as a parent wanting the best for his daughter. The Vega family was entertaining as always and I’ll be interested to see what Papo drags us all into in the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Fatphobia
Minor: Homophobia
time4tori2read's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
The Vega Family is back, and this time readers experience Chicago alongside Saint and Lola.
Lola has returned to Chicago after being away for quite some years, and she is back stronger than before as she continues to her social justice advocacy for homeless LGBTQIA+ folks. Only this time, Lola is fighting to find a new location for their shelter and community center, El Hogar, once the building is taken over by a construction company determined to replace it with high-rise condominiums. And surprise - who else is contracted to do these renovations? None other than Saint himself, and that is just the start of this story for these two former high school sweethearts since both realize that maybe those flames didn't completely fizzle out.
The second book by Natalie Caña delivered even more than the first, and the characters resonated with me on multiple fronts -- fat, strong female main character; family loyalty; social justice; sense of duty and responsibility; growth and redemption. I also appreciated the ongoing banter between all characters, even four-year-old Rosie who definitely stole my heart time and again. I appreciated the way that Caña provided the dual perspective and flushed out both Lola and Saint's backstories without excusing their behaviors and reactions to one another. The vibrancy that Caña brings to her stories and characters always draw me in, and I found myself often wondering what would happen next.
Overall, this was a wonderful, fun sophomore novel, and I am looking forward to reading more about how Papo Vega meddles and schemes to ensure his grandchildren and family wind up with their HEAs. Natalie Caña has become an auto-buy author for me, and I look forward to reading her future works.
Thank you for NetGalley for providing my an eARC -- all opinions are mine.
**I would especially like to say thank you to Natalie Caña for bringing to the forefront ways fat individuals are discriminated against and how she beautifully wrote Lola to confront those issues, but also overcome them and be unapologetically a badass female lead. Thank you so much for this representation AND showing that people are more than just their bodies. It meant a lot. **
Lola has returned to Chicago after being away for quite some years, and she is back stronger than before as she continues to her social justice advocacy for homeless LGBTQIA+ folks. Only this time, Lola is fighting to find a new location for their shelter and community center, El Hogar, once the building is taken over by a construction company determined to replace it with high-rise condominiums. And surprise - who else is contracted to do these renovations? None other than Saint himself, and that is just the start of this story for these two former high school sweethearts since both realize that maybe those flames didn't completely fizzle out.
The second book by Natalie Caña delivered even more than the first, and the characters resonated with me on multiple fronts -- fat, strong female main character; family loyalty; social justice; sense of duty and responsibility; growth and redemption. I also appreciated the ongoing banter between all characters, even four-year-old Rosie who definitely stole my heart time and again. I appreciated the way that Caña provided the dual perspective and flushed out both Lola and Saint's backstories without excusing their behaviors and reactions to one another. The vibrancy that Caña brings to her stories and characters always draw me in, and I found myself often wondering what would happen next.
Overall, this was a wonderful, fun sophomore novel, and I am looking forward to reading more about how Papo Vega meddles and schemes to ensure his grandchildren and family wind up with their HEAs. Natalie Caña has become an auto-buy author for me, and I look forward to reading her future works.
Thank you for NetGalley for providing my an eARC -- all opinions are mine.
**I would especially like to say thank you to Natalie Caña for bringing to the forefront ways fat individuals are discriminated against and how she beautifully wrote Lola to confront those issues, but also overcome them and be unapologetically a badass female lead. Thank you so much for this representation AND showing that people are more than just their bodies. It meant a lot. **
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fatphobia
stephbeaudoin20's review
emotional
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
5.0
A Dish Best Served Hot by Natalie Caña
This is the second book in a series, but you can definitely read it as a standalone. If you read it on its own, you'll be in the same place as the main character Lola. 😊
Things I am here for:
Lola is a fat woman who loves her body and doesn't dress to hide it 🔥
Diverse main characters: Lola is Puerto Rican and Mexican and Saint is Puerto Rican
Bisexual representation! Lola is bisexual and Saint immediately accepts her sexuality when they are in high school
Lola is an absolute badass, taking on systems and fighting the man
Saint is the absolute best single dad. Doing Rosie's hair and her edges 🥰
Saint listens to others, apologizes when he is wrong, and goes to therapy! No shame in getting help!
Rosie is the perfect addition to the story. I love her so much.
Lola chooses not to have kids. And that is OK. It's also OK for her to fall in love with Rosie and make a family.
This is the second Natalie Caña book I've read. The third act break up happens because of major character flaws with both main characters. They wrestle with these flaws and how to be a better partner. I'm not a fan of the third act breakup, but at least it's for the characters to grow instead of something ridiculous like miscommunication.
This is an arc, and I'm not supposed to quote it. Know that there are so many highlights on my copy. So many good things!
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the second book in a series, but you can definitely read it as a standalone. If you read it on its own, you'll be in the same place as the main character Lola. 😊
Things I am here for:
Lola is a fat woman who loves her body and doesn't dress to hide it 🔥
Diverse main characters: Lola is Puerto Rican and Mexican and Saint is Puerto Rican
Bisexual representation! Lola is bisexual and Saint immediately accepts her sexuality when they are in high school
Lola is an absolute badass, taking on systems and fighting the man
Saint is the absolute best single dad. Doing Rosie's hair and her edges 🥰
Saint listens to others, apologizes when he is wrong, and goes to therapy! No shame in getting help!
Rosie is the perfect addition to the story. I love her so much.
Lola chooses not to have kids. And that is OK. It's also OK for her to fall in love with Rosie and make a family.
This is the second Natalie Caña book I've read. The third act break up happens because of major character flaws with both main characters. They wrestle with these flaws and how to be a better partner. I'm not a fan of the third act breakup, but at least it's for the characters to grow instead of something ridiculous like miscommunication.
This is an arc, and I'm not supposed to quote it. Know that there are so many highlights on my copy. So many good things!
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Biphobia, Body shaming, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, and Cursing
Minor: Grief, Kidnapping, Mental illness, War, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Drug use
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