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A review by samanthafondriest
Don't Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno
3.0
3.5 Stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are, as always, my own.
A charming read about a quiet Floridian coast town with lots of Cuban & Latinx flare, and Rosa, who is trying to save the town's marina from being bought by a developer. There’s also her healer-bordering-on-witchy grandma, her flaky artist mom who just rolled back into town, and a hunky tatted older boy with a boat... all the makings of a super cute contemporary romance! I loved reading such a fun book completely immersed in Cuban culture. The inter-generational immigrant experience is portrayed so beautifully here - we understand Mimi's heartache that she can't return to the homeland she loves so much while also understanding Rosa's intense desire to visit Cuba and better understand where she comes from and who she is.
I knocked this down to 3.5 stars because I found the ending to be lacking. This book has the laid back vibes of the coastal town it takes place in until about 85% of the way through the book. I was so invested in this adorable little town and its eccentric inhabitants that I hated leaving them in favor of a last-minute location change. The ending felt rushed - a TON happens in so few pages! I would have loved if it could have slowed down a little so I could've wrap my head around the journey Rosa and her mom were on. The romance was lackluster, particularly towards the end, and by that time I was much more interested in the family dynamics of the Santos women anyways. Overall, it was still worth the read - Rosa, the Santos family, and her town are so infectiously readable that the off-pace ending didn't ruin the enjoyment of the rest of the book for me.
Recommend for: Teens looking for a fun summer read with Latinx rep, really quirky and lovable characters, and an immersive setting.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are, as always, my own.
A charming read about a quiet Floridian coast town with lots of Cuban & Latinx flare, and Rosa, who is trying to save the town's marina from being bought by a developer. There’s also her healer-bordering-on-witchy grandma, her flaky artist mom who just rolled back into town, and a hunky tatted older boy with a boat... all the makings of a super cute contemporary romance! I loved reading such a fun book completely immersed in Cuban culture. The inter-generational immigrant experience is portrayed so beautifully here - we understand Mimi's heartache that she can't return to the homeland she loves so much while also understanding Rosa's intense desire to visit Cuba and better understand where she comes from and who she is.
I knocked this down to 3.5 stars because I found the ending to be lacking. This book has the laid back vibes of the coastal town it takes place in until about 85% of the way through the book. I was so invested in this adorable little town and its eccentric inhabitants that I hated leaving them in favor of a last-minute location change. The ending felt rushed - a TON happens in so few pages! I would have loved if it could have slowed down a little so I could've wrap my head around the journey Rosa and her mom were on. The romance was lackluster, particularly towards the end, and by that time I was much more interested in the family dynamics of the Santos women anyways. Overall, it was still worth the read - Rosa, the Santos family, and her town are so infectiously readable that the off-pace ending didn't ruin the enjoyment of the rest of the book for me.
Recommend for: Teens looking for a fun summer read with Latinx rep, really quirky and lovable characters, and an immersive setting.