A sweet and delectable love story.
A teen enlists help from an unlikely source to make her culinary dreams come true.
Rising senior Ana Maria Ybarra loves helping at her family’s Cuban bakery. Her dad wants her to take over the struggling business, but, dreaming of attending pastry school in Paris, she enters a scholarship competition for “Latin American students interested in furthering their food-related education.” Meanwhile, her mom wants her to attend a good college like UCLA, and it’s on a college tour in Los Angeles that Ana Maria meets handsome Cuban American Miguel Fuentes. They share one incredible day—and an unforgettable kiss—before parting, likely for forever. When Miguel suddenly appears at a party in Ana Maria’s small Washington state hometown, they have the same strong connection, but it’s ruined by the revelation that Miguel is a cousin of the Morales family, who run a nearby Cuban bakery that went viral with their dessert burritos. Thanks to a decades-old betrayal, the Ybarras don’t trust the Moraleses. Still, struggling with the social media aspect of the scholarship contest, Ana Maria secretly accepts help from talented aspiring cinematographer Miguel. Their chemistry is undeniable, but they’ll have to overcome their family feud if they want to be together. This fun, heartwarming story of star-crossed lovers centers on a relatable lead who’s struggling with her family’s expectations and her own desires. Cuban food, culture, and immigration stories are seamlessly woven throughout, enriching the characterization and setting.
A sweet and delectable love story. (recipe) (Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
ISBN: 9781547613717
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: July 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A suspenseful story that starts off with great promise but fails to deliver.
A teenage girl struggles with the question of whom to trust in the age of social media exposure.
Thanks to Connie’s mom’s family vlog, her life is anything but private. She enjoyed it at first, but now, between the mean comments online and the cruel mockery from peers in real life, Connie feels like she’s in a prison. Her sister, Isla, says it’s worth it for the money, but Connie isn’t sure if that’s really true. Connie’s anger over Mom’s refusal to heed warnings that revealing so much puts them in danger continues to build. When she’s left alone for two weeks while Mom and Isla go on a college road trip, local girls start dying, and a fan reaches out on social media in an unsettling way, leaving Connie worried about her safety. White-presenting Connie’s sense of humor is charming, and her insights will earn readers’ sympathy as the tension builds. As emotions rise, Preston’s poetic language beautifully captures Connie’s feelings about her mom’s obsession with social media and her confusion about who is worthy of her trust. The topics of safety and the uncharted waters of social media are skillfully woven into the plot. However, some inconsistencies weaken the overall story: Apart from Connie, the characters are too lightly developed, and some plot points don’t align with earlier events and motivations, making the ultimate revelation a disappointment.
A suspenseful story that starts off with great promise but fails to deliver. (Thriller. 12-18)Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9798217028009
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
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