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bswanntastic's review against another edition
couldn't handle the teenage drama and unhealthy family rivalry. I prefer more positive portrayals of Latinx communities and families.
kaylareadsbooks's review
5.0
I really liked this one! I loved the relationship Carmen and her friends. I liked the way she grew throughout the story and the way she changed. It was very much the princess saves herself and I loved it. I also really loved Mauro.
lisamparkin's review against another edition
4.0
Carmen, Carmen, Carmen. This is one fiesty, hard-headed but ultimately passionate character, who you just can't help but root for. Even as she is the cause of most of her troubles.
Family plays such an important role in the book - along with second chances and not letting others' opinions of define who are you.
All the dancing, culture, Disney princess costumes and personal growth make this a fun and meaningful YA contemporary.
Family plays such an important role in the book - along with second chances and not letting others' opinions of define who are you.
All the dancing, culture, Disney princess costumes and personal growth make this a fun and meaningful YA contemporary.
teaandtropes's review against another edition
DNF @ 21%. The plot was just spinning around in circles and that was sad because I think this concept really had potential.
strandedinbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so fucking cute!!
Sure, not much gets addressed at the end and it definitely left me wanting more closure, buuuuuut this one is so unapologetically Latinx I LOVED IT SO MUCH FOR IT
Sure, not much gets addressed at the end and it definitely left me wanting more closure, buuuuuut this one is so unapologetically Latinx I LOVED IT SO MUCH FOR IT
brooke_review's review
2.0
Oh, when you have such high hopes for a book and it disappoints you! I am sad that Monica Gomez-Hira's debut YA novel, Once Upon a Quinceanera, did not live up to my expectations. Having heard of quinceaneras (Latin America celebrations marking a girl's passage to womanhood at the age of 15), but knowing little about them, I was excited to read this novel and get a glimpse into this tradition. Not only did Once Upon a Quinceanera fail to capture what makes quinceaneras so special, it also lacked in all other departments as well.
This novel unfortunately has more flaws than it does attributes. I was confused by the plot from the very beginning. Gomez-Hira brings readers up to speed in the first few pages by dumping an enormous amount of backstory into their laps before they are even prepared to receive it. Let us get to know and care about the characters before you tell us everything about them! Then there are the characters themselves, who are unlikeable and not engaging. The writing is stale and uninspired, and the conversations between characters are boring. Even the quinceanera itself was not the glittering, magical affair I expected. Once Upon a Quinceanera suffers from major lack of development and descriptive language. I felt like I was reading a book that could practically be happening anywhere, to anyone, when what I wanted to read was a novel that felt wholly special and unique.
I listened to an audiobook production of Once Upon a Quinceanera, and perhaps the most interesting aspects of this book was Gomez-Hira's sprinkling of Spanish words throughout the novel. It livened up an otherwise drab story, making it feel more authentic and interesting.
This novel unfortunately has more flaws than it does attributes. I was confused by the plot from the very beginning. Gomez-Hira brings readers up to speed in the first few pages by dumping an enormous amount of backstory into their laps before they are even prepared to receive it. Let us get to know and care about the characters before you tell us everything about them! Then there are the characters themselves, who are unlikeable and not engaging. The writing is stale and uninspired, and the conversations between characters are boring. Even the quinceanera itself was not the glittering, magical affair I expected. Once Upon a Quinceanera suffers from major lack of development and descriptive language. I felt like I was reading a book that could practically be happening anywhere, to anyone, when what I wanted to read was a novel that felt wholly special and unique.
I listened to an audiobook production of Once Upon a Quinceanera, and perhaps the most interesting aspects of this book was Gomez-Hira's sprinkling of Spanish words throughout the novel. It livened up an otherwise drab story, making it feel more authentic and interesting.
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the setting and Carmen’s fierceness, and I loved the unique premise of the book. Miami and Carmen and her family’s culture were so vivid throughout the story ~ I loved the sense of place. Overall the story was a solid teen romance with family and friendship elements. I think it could have been trimmed down a bit and I did have a “here we go again” sense a few times. And despite the title, NO ONE in the story is turning 15. Librarian note: MC has just finished high school, sex and alcohol on the page. HS and up.