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A review by southern_librarian
Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
Community Read 2024 YA Title. Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet is the story of Pen and her coming of age, framed by an evolution in her family's restaurant. Pen has worked in her family's restaurant for as long as she can remember. Now that she's 18, though, her parents have big dreams for her: college, a degree, a profession outside of the gritty paycheck-to-paycheck restaurant life. Pen, however, wants nothing more than to continue her dad's legacy: running a gritty paycheck-to-paycheck restaurant in the community that she loves, helping the neighbors she loves. Along the way to growing up and growing out, her life intertwines with Xander, a young man who is doing his own growing up.
This book started off super strong. I was hooked. It actually made me think a lot of the show The Bear, which I loved. Pen is fierce and her colleagues at the restaurant are characters. (3D characters.) But then quite a few plot points sped up in the middle... a little unrealistically fast. I was hooked, though, so I kept on keeping on. Then I really liked the ending... but also wasn't sure it was realistic. But I'm going to chalk that up to my *ahem* advanced age. To a teen reader, the ending would, I'm sure, be 100% just right and exciting. ;) Overall, I'm pleased for this to be my library's YA Community Read pick. I'm going to have no trouble selling this one to readers at the library this spring!
This book started off super strong. I was hooked. It actually made me think a lot of the show The Bear, which I loved. Pen is fierce and her colleagues at the restaurant are characters. (3D characters.) But then quite a few plot points sped up in the middle... a little unrealistically fast. I was hooked, though, so I kept on keeping on. Then I really liked the ending... but also wasn't sure it was realistic. But I'm going to chalk that up to my *ahem* advanced age. To a teen reader, the ending would, I'm sure, be 100% just right and exciting. ;) Overall, I'm pleased for this to be my library's YA Community Read pick. I'm going to have no trouble selling this one to readers at the library this spring!