e-Audio, 08:37:38
Narrated by: Marisa Blake
Release Date: September 3, 2024
Published by: Bloomsbury YA
Read from: September 9-10, 2024
Stand-alone
Source: LibroFm (I received a copy of this e-audio from LibroFM in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning:
For Readers Interested In: Racial/Ethnic Diversity (Cuban), Romance, Social media, Foodie Favorite, Family Dynamic, Realistic Fiction, YAAna Maria Ybarra dreams of becoming a world-famous pastry chef, but dreams have a cost. Her family can barely keep the family business running, let alone pay for culinary school. Ana Maria helps out at the family bakery, Café Y Mas, whenever she can, but they are struggling while the rival Cuban bakery across the street, Morales Bakery, is doing better than ever with their Instagram famous desserts. Ana Maria’s only hope is winning a recipe competition, which has a grand prize big enough to pay for culinary school. But then the ultimate distraction shows up in her small town: Miguel, a boy she spent one magical day with six months ago, and who she never thought she’d see again. Ana Maria thinks maybe fate has brought them together again for a reason– until she learns the horrible truth that Miguel is a Morales.
A Ybarra cannot be associated with a Morales-let alone fall for one. But when Miguel offers to help Ana Maria with the competition, she is so desperate to win she can’t turn him down. All she needs to do is keep Miguel at arm’s length and keep their deal a secret from their families. After all, teaming up with Miguel is just business, nothing more…right?
*MY THOUGHTS*
As soon as I heard there was going to be a bakery and a romance involved, I added this to my TBR. Did I know anything about this other than that? No. But it didn’t matter. I needed this book immediately.
As a fictional foodie I was all in for this one and I couldn’t wait for this release! I was hella excited for this one. From the food to the romance, to the family aspect, it was most definitely a “me” book. I loved everything about this. And it definitely lived up to the hype for me.
There’s so many Romeo and Juliet type books out now! And I love it. The best part is the fact that they mostly have food in it lol Now I just need to find a Cuban pastry shop because Lordt Alexis Castellanos has a knack for making these things sound delicious. And a huge thanks to her for also putting the recipe in the back of the book also. And the way she was able to describe what Miguel did with the pictures was also amazing. I wanted to see the pictures each time I read about one. I really need to try one of these pastries.
The romance was indeed like Romeo and Juliet. To be honest, this story reminded me of two other books: Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho and Caught in a Bad Fauxmance by Elle Gonzalez Rose especially. But even though I’ve read a lot of these, I can truthfully say, they never get old. There’s so many different ways to write these, so there’s always something new.
The rest of the romance was cute. I really liked Miguel. He seemed to be the only one with sense. HOWEVER I didn’t understand why he was so intent on letting them be so wrong on some things. I knew he liked her, but he was so ok with her being narrow minded. And she kept saying the feud didn’t make sense, but she was also taking part in it too. I hated that part too because it felt like she was doing this for her own benefit. Not that she owed him or anything, but she said she liked him, but then said they could only be friends, but then also said they couldn’t be anything. She was making my head hurt lol But when they finally got it together, I thought it was adorable.
The family dynamic in this one was amazing as well. Her dad was a peach, but I imagine this is how it really was. Parents are very prideful, and they can’t admit when they’re wrong. And like with any other man, he definitely was not going to let go of this grudge that has been hanging on to his family for so long. I don’t even think I would let go of that grudge. And then for this to happen all over again? Yeah that would have been enough to send me over the edge. But I do wish we got to see more of her ON the show. Just to make it a bit different than the others.
This was enjoyable and I could definitely see this end up on different end of the year lists. I hope more of you pick this up because it was so freakin good!
Overall, I give this
