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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was full of personality and I loved it!
An adorable YA novel centered around the relationship between three sisters as they navigate various stages of going off to college and pursuing their dreams. Their zany antics were delightful, but most of all loved the realistic and moving portrayal of sibling relationships where each tries to break out of the roles they’ve been cast in without rejecting their bond.
(actual rating: 4.5 stars)
Sisters Lulu and Milagro couldn’t be more different. This is detailed from the get-go with their strikingly different personalities. Lulu is a perfectionist, striving to be the best student and person she can be. She has plans, and she’s not afraid to chase them into reality, namely her dream internship on her school’s cross-country road trip. Meanwhile, middle sister Milagro isn’t up for the challenge of college or further education. Her plans involve, one: losing her virginity as soon as possible, and two, have the best Spring Break.
Unfortunately for Milagro, her Spring Break plans fall through, and just as she’s setting herself up for disappointment, she hops on the class field trip that Lulu is on, flinging herself into distracting from family (and sister) drama, and especially her ex. But on the way, Lulu and Milagro both have their eyes opened to things they never thought. Lulu knows she needs to fix what is stopping her Peruvian mother from letting her go to an out-of-state college, leading the trail to their oldest sister Clara, who is away at college. Meanwhile Milagro sees herself differently on the trip, suddenly seeing possibilities for her life that never propositioned themselves as a genuine reality before.
Overall, Lulu and Milagro’s Search For Clarity was a total breath of fresh air, delightfully brilliant from start to finish. I loved the family and sister dynamic and thought that they were written really truthfully. I did struggle at times to keep up with the different POV’s, especially in the middle, but this wasn’t a bad thing at all, it just showed how similar the sisters were, despite them feeling they weren’t alike. If you’re looking for a charming and honest coming-of-age novel about sisters, finding yourself and growth, this is the perfect one for you. 4.5 stars – Angela is definitely an author to watch!
Sisters Lulu and Milagro couldn’t be more different. This is detailed from the get-go with their strikingly different personalities. Lulu is a perfectionist, striving to be the best student and person she can be. She has plans, and she’s not afraid to chase them into reality, namely her dream internship on her school’s cross-country road trip. Meanwhile, middle sister Milagro isn’t up for the challenge of college or further education. Her plans involve, one: losing her virginity as soon as possible, and two, have the best Spring Break.
Unfortunately for Milagro, her Spring Break plans fall through, and just as she’s setting herself up for disappointment, she hops on the class field trip that Lulu is on, flinging herself into distracting from family (and sister) drama, and especially her ex. But on the way, Lulu and Milagro both have their eyes opened to things they never thought. Lulu knows she needs to fix what is stopping her Peruvian mother from letting her go to an out-of-state college, leading the trail to their oldest sister Clara, who is away at college. Meanwhile Milagro sees herself differently on the trip, suddenly seeing possibilities for her life that never propositioned themselves as a genuine reality before.
Overall, Lulu and Milagro’s Search For Clarity was a total breath of fresh air, delightfully brilliant from start to finish. I loved the family and sister dynamic and thought that they were written really truthfully. I did struggle at times to keep up with the different POV’s, especially in the middle, but this wasn’t a bad thing at all, it just showed how similar the sisters were, despite them feeling they weren’t alike. If you’re looking for a charming and honest coming-of-age novel about sisters, finding yourself and growth, this is the perfect one for you. 4.5 stars – Angela is definitely an author to watch!
like 2.75? i wonder if i would've liked this better if i didn't read via audiobook because one of the narrators i really did not like which lead to me zoning out/not paying attention. maybe one day i'll reread via ebook and see if my thoughts change
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
She was cute. It was a fun little read on the plane and I am here for Peruvian representation. Your typical sibling vibes and It had you asking for part 2. Wasn't revolutionary but I liked it.
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes
This was such a personal read for me. Not only is it rare that I find characters to be from a country as small as Peru (which is part of my heritage), but it was rare being able to see a bit of myself in all 3 sisters. It was fun being able to recognize some of the food and cultural points that the Zavelas talk about, and I found myself sharing in their frustration when they experienced microaggressions based on their nationality. Not only that, but as both a middle child and yet the eldest daughter among my siblings, I found that I was able to connect with all three sisters in some way: whether it was Clara's pressure to be the perfect example for her sisters, or Milagro's fierce protectiveness over her younger sister, or Lulu's need to step up and be the caretaker at home after her eldest sibling leaves. I could even see a lot of my mom in their mother, and it was just so nice being able to really connect to the characters and their story. This was a really sweet story of a sibling relationship, and how sometimes it needs to fall apart a bit in order for it to grow stronger. There's nothing like forced proximity to really shape those sibling bonds! Velez's voice in this was really strong, and I enjoyed this fun yet moving read.
This is a decent coming of age story told from the POV of two sisters. It was a perfectly fine novel, but definitely not something I would gravitate towards had it not been on my TBR. It's really been the last year or so that I have stopped reading as much contemporary YA.