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this_momma_is_booked's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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
This was such a cute and steamy read! I loved the audiobook, so I definitely recommend listening to it. I enjoyed the paranormal elements that were mixed into the story and they were such a great tool to discover things the characters themselves wouldn't know and move the story forward. I appreciated the family dynamics and how true they were to so many Latinx families, particularly those who are living in the U.S. and straddling that line between assimilation and keeping their culture and customs alive.
Plus, that masturbation scene through the wall is one of the hottest things I've ever read. PHEW.
Plus, that masturbation scene through the wall is one of the hottest things I've ever read. PHEW.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Misogyny and Bullying
Minor: Abortion
maryashlyn's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Racism, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcoholism and Colonisation
katiehasanxiety's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Okay so I had a hard time with the spice at times because I’d never read something that used the anatomical names of things during like… explicit spicy scenes, but then that became meta. Besides that, the spice was ✨🤌🏻✨ and the book was lovely. Alex was hard to like for me for a good majority of the book, but once her protective layer was peeled back a bit, Everything made sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Abortion
literaryintersections's review
emotional
funny
informative
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
How does this book not have 5 stars it is SO DAMN GOOD oh em gee. I love Alex. I love dirty talking cinnamon roll Jeremiah . I loved learning about traqueros and Mexican culture in Kansas. IT WAS SO GOOD.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Racism
juffnstuff's review
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Sexual content, and Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Death
nitya's review
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
If you like enemies to friends to lovers trope and a Midwest/South setting, this is definitely a great read!! Not as steamy as I hoped for, but that's okay.
And the last minute plot twists were a bit too convenient imo, but I'll allow it. Especially if it results in white tears 😀😀😀
(Also the cover 🔥🔥🔥❤️)
And the last minute plot twists were a bit too convenient imo, but I'll allow it. Especially if it results in white tears 😀😀😀
(Also the cover 🔥🔥🔥❤️)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, Abandonment, and Alcoholism
sshelbyreadss's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
givemaribooks's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I struggled with this book. It took me about 3 weeks to finish it. I really enjoyed learning about Mexican colonias and the history with the train tracks, but I could not connect with the story. I did not like their first encounter because it felt like he did not want to hook up, and she pushed him into it. I kept thinking that if this had been the other way around, it would be considered problematic. I also do not buy these two together, although the fmc was a well-rounded character, I don't think the mmc was as well developed. He wears a fedora for god's sake! Who wears a fedora nowadays? Plus we never got his full story, and it did not make a lot of sense.
Something that bothered me about the book that took me a couple of weeks to pinpoint was that for every POC character we are told they are POC, but not for the white characters. I don't like the implication that white is the default. I mean I wasn't 100% sure the mmc was white until towards end and after confirming with another reader, same with the fmc's father. We get a physical description that I am guessing we are supposed to assume means he is white, but you can be white and Latinx. Considering how much weight the fmc put on her Latinx identity, it felt weird that it is never explicitly mentioned whether her father is white or not.
Lastly, one of my biggest pet peeves is when another language is added to a book and it is wrong. I don't care as much if dialogue is not grammatically correct or if it seems off, but the name of the Mexican society they find in a Mexican newspaper was wrong and that really threw me off. The book called it "Sociedad de Mexicanas Senoras y Senoritas" but it should be "Sociedad de Senoras y Senoritas Mexicanas."
CW: racism on page, alcoholic parent, child neglect
Something that bothered me about the book that took me a couple of weeks to pinpoint was that for every POC character we are told they are POC, but not for the white characters. I don't like the implication that white is the default. I mean I wasn't 100% sure the mmc was white until towards end and after confirming with another reader, same with the fmc's father. We get a physical description that I am guessing we are supposed to assume means he is white, but you can be white and Latinx. Considering how much weight the fmc put on her Latinx identity, it felt weird that it is never explicitly mentioned whether her father is white or not.
Lastly, one of my biggest pet peeves is when another language is added to a book and it is wrong. I don't care as much if dialogue is not grammatically correct or if it seems off, but the name of the Mexican society they find in a Mexican newspaper was wrong and that really threw me off. The book called it "Sociedad de Mexicanas Senoras y Senoritas" but it should be "Sociedad de Senoras y Senoritas Mexicanas."
CW: racism on page, alcoholic parent, child neglect
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Alcoholism
time4tori2read's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism
amandalorianxo's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
2.25
Re-read in January 2024:
The initial set up meeting between Alex and Jeremiah felt a bit uncomfortable for me and I’m not sure why I glossed passed this when I first read this book. Not to mention - we are told that Alex is the best “bitch” in bartending but her actual skills are never really put on display for us to understand why she’s just that good. The cover art disappointed me too because for all the drooling over Alex’s floral tattoos… it wasn’t even drawn on the cover! Why?! I also wasn’t a fan of her behavior toward Jeremiah and the initial reason why she left 13 years ago felt way more built up compared to the actual reasoning. Overall, not my cup of tea when it came to the romance (they aren’t really enemies like that) but I did fully appreciate the historical context when Mexican railroad workers were elaborated on. I’m sure a ton of small town / small cities had a spread of people of color coexisting amongst Europeans and other settlers as well. Crossing my fingers Juliana’s story is better.
Contemporary romance set in Kansas with a Mexican American family at the centerfold along with two people who you think wouldn’t work together romantically but they grow on you the more you read. Lots of steam / spice (one in particular that happens a little early on in the book.) But you also get a mini spooky story within (possible haunted house?!)
The initial set up meeting between Alex and Jeremiah felt a bit uncomfortable for me and I’m not sure why I glossed passed this when I first read this book. Not to mention - we are told that Alex is the best “bitch” in bartending but her actual skills are never really put on display for us to understand why she’s just that good. The cover art disappointed me too because for all the drooling over Alex’s floral tattoos… it wasn’t even drawn on the cover! Why?! I also wasn’t a fan of her behavior toward Jeremiah and the initial reason why she left 13 years ago felt way more built up compared to the actual reasoning. Overall, not my cup of tea when it came to the romance (they aren’t really enemies like that) but I did fully appreciate the historical context when Mexican railroad workers were elaborated on. I’m sure a ton of small town / small cities had a spread of people of color coexisting amongst Europeans and other settlers as well. Crossing my fingers Juliana’s story is better.
Contemporary romance set in Kansas with a Mexican American family at the centerfold along with two people who you think wouldn’t work together romantically but they grow on you the more you read. Lots of steam / spice (one in particular that happens a little early on in the book.) But you also get a mini spooky story within (possible haunted house?!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Racism