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A review by sandlynn
Salty, Bitter, Sweet by Mayra Cuevas
5.0
Salty, Bitter, Sweet, published in 2020, is Mayra Cuevas’ debut novel. It’s squarely in the young adult category in terms of the character’s personal experiences, but it is very adult in terms of her passion to become a world-renown chef.
Salty, Bitter, Sweet follows Isabella Fields, a 17 year old American high school student, who is spending the summer in France at the home of her father and his new, pregnant wife. Still smarting over her parents’ divorce, Isa is willing to stay with her father’s new family because it is near a noted restaurant led by a Michelin-starred chef who offers an apprenticeship program. The only requirement to enter the program is to take a three week course at the restaurant where you are up against other young chefs competing for the one slot available. Of course, Isa doesn’t count on the unexpected arrival from Spain of her new stepmother’s former stepson, Diego, who is escaping his own issues and trying to figure out what he *really* wants to do with his life rather than follow his father’s expectations.
This story weaves between Isabella’s past and her present. Her past involving her loving relationship filled with cooking and baking with her Cuban American grandmother who escaped from Castro’s Cuba and ended up married to an American man and living on a farm in the middle of the United States. And, Isa’s present in France, dealing with what she still sees as her father’s betrayal while making friends and “enemies” in the kitchens of the French restaurant, competing and also learning about what she really values.
First off, I have to say, if you’re a foodie, this book will satisfy every craving you have. The story may feature a 17 year old, but she’s a teen with an incredible talent and palate competing with and learning from other talented chefs. The food descriptions, the preparations and the stories behind the dishes were mouthwatering and heartfelt. Kudos to that.
While Isa may annoy some readers at times, I found her to be a typical teenager in her self absorption, her single-mindedness, her emotionality, and her self doubt. What I particularly loved about this book is, although Isa lets thoughts of the handsome Diego mess with her head, her memories of and sadness and anger over the loss of her grandmother, her interactions with accomplished women chefs and mentors, and her rocky friendships with two competitors who are also young women are the focal point of this book. It’s really a book about learning from other women and what paths they took as well as learning to value and support each other. It’s a very empowering, female-centric story in this way. Diego does play a key role as an example of a young person who was equally driven by a special talent but decided to jump off that train and take a different path, but he also, ultimately, is supportive of Isa. Once Isa (and the reader) gets to know him, Diego becomes a little too good to be true, i.e., a dream boyfriend. But since this *is* a female centric story, I supposed I can forgive that. I really enjoyed this read. I’d give it an A.
Salty, Bitter, Sweet follows Isabella Fields, a 17 year old American high school student, who is spending the summer in France at the home of her father and his new, pregnant wife. Still smarting over her parents’ divorce, Isa is willing to stay with her father’s new family because it is near a noted restaurant led by a Michelin-starred chef who offers an apprenticeship program. The only requirement to enter the program is to take a three week course at the restaurant where you are up against other young chefs competing for the one slot available. Of course, Isa doesn’t count on the unexpected arrival from Spain of her new stepmother’s former stepson, Diego, who is escaping his own issues and trying to figure out what he *really* wants to do with his life rather than follow his father’s expectations.
This story weaves between Isabella’s past and her present. Her past involving her loving relationship filled with cooking and baking with her Cuban American grandmother who escaped from Castro’s Cuba and ended up married to an American man and living on a farm in the middle of the United States. And, Isa’s present in France, dealing with what she still sees as her father’s betrayal while making friends and “enemies” in the kitchens of the French restaurant, competing and also learning about what she really values.
First off, I have to say, if you’re a foodie, this book will satisfy every craving you have. The story may feature a 17 year old, but she’s a teen with an incredible talent and palate competing with and learning from other talented chefs. The food descriptions, the preparations and the stories behind the dishes were mouthwatering and heartfelt. Kudos to that.
While Isa may annoy some readers at times, I found her to be a typical teenager in her self absorption, her single-mindedness, her emotionality, and her self doubt. What I particularly loved about this book is, although Isa lets thoughts of the handsome Diego mess with her head, her memories of and sadness and anger over the loss of her grandmother, her interactions with accomplished women chefs and mentors, and her rocky friendships with two competitors who are also young women are the focal point of this book. It’s really a book about learning from other women and what paths they took as well as learning to value and support each other. It’s a very empowering, female-centric story in this way. Diego does play a key role as an example of a young person who was equally driven by a special talent but decided to jump off that train and take a different path, but he also, ultimately, is supportive of Isa. Once Isa (and the reader) gets to know him, Diego becomes a little too good to be true, i.e., a dream boyfriend. But since this *is* a female centric story, I supposed I can forgive that. I really enjoyed this read. I’d give it an A.