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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Okay. WOW!
This was an absolutely swoony and delicious love story that is so rich with culture and family values, with subtle nods to Romeo & Juliet and West Side Story.
Angelo and Mariana are such incredible, capable and STRONG main characters. They’re the support for each other that strong people usually deny but always need, and I LOVE that they had each other. Their chemistry was adorable and I never stopped rooting for them.
This story was so RICH in Mexican culture and family values. It was such an interesting read in that respect. I loved learning about the culture and the community. The Capuletas created a family and instilled this deep sense of belonging and familial pride in the girls that was honestly EVERYTHING. *I* wanted to be a Capuleta after reading this!
I’m a giant theatre nerd, so I LOVED the little added references to West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet. They were subtle, but enough for me to notice and appreciate!
This was an absolutely swoony and delicious love story that is so rich with culture and family values, with subtle nods to Romeo & Juliet and West Side Story.
Angelo and Mariana are such incredible, capable and STRONG main characters. They’re the support for each other that strong people usually deny but always need, and I LOVE that they had each other. Their chemistry was adorable and I never stopped rooting for them.
This story was so RICH in Mexican culture and family values. It was such an interesting read in that respect. I loved learning about the culture and the community. The Capuletas created a family and instilled this deep sense of belonging and familial pride in the girls that was honestly EVERYTHING. *I* wanted to be a Capuleta after reading this!
I’m a giant theatre nerd, so I LOVED the little added references to West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet. They were subtle, but enough for me to notice and appreciate!
West side love story is a Romeo and Juliet retelling featuring two rival Mariachi bands competing in San Antonio, Texas.
A West Side Story/ Romeo and Juliet Retelling with a rich cast of characters, lots of culture and music.
Synopsis: Mariana and Angelo have an instant connection after meeting on New Years Eve. However, at the time, neither of them realize that their families are long time rivals. When they are both signed up for the upcoming Battle of the Mariachi Bands, the two come together to keep their families in line and have to fight the urge to pursue their attraction.
Thoughts: I enjoyed the West Side Story retelling and learning more about the LatinX culture and community in Texas. The Mariachi concept was clever and forbidden love/ forced proximity is a great trope combo. However, I will say the writing style did not make this romance the easiest of reads, particularly the dialogue. When I switched to the audio, I was more engaged and had an easier time following the plot. I wish the final performance was in the actual story and not just mentioned in the epilogue.
Read if you like:
-Forbidden love
-Forced Proximity
-Fueling families
-Spanish words/ phrases in books
-San Antonio setting
-Lots of Texas references
Synopsis: Mariana and Angelo have an instant connection after meeting on New Years Eve. However, at the time, neither of them realize that their families are long time rivals. When they are both signed up for the upcoming Battle of the Mariachi Bands, the two come together to keep their families in line and have to fight the urge to pursue their attraction.
Thoughts: I enjoyed the West Side Story retelling and learning more about the LatinX culture and community in Texas. The Mariachi concept was clever and forbidden love/ forced proximity is a great trope combo. However, I will say the writing style did not make this romance the easiest of reads, particularly the dialogue. When I switched to the audio, I was more engaged and had an easier time following the plot. I wish the final performance was in the actual story and not just mentioned in the epilogue.
Read if you like:
-Forbidden love
-Forced Proximity
-Fueling families
-Spanish words/ phrases in books
-San Antonio setting
-Lots of Texas references
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
thank you NetGalley for the arc!
this one took me awhile to get into and i didn't really get into it until about 150-ish pages in (which is roughly half way). i just think the beginning dragged out sooo much more than it needed to. but i loved the idea that went into the book and i love a modern adaptation of a classic!!
synopsis:
Two familias in Texas, both alike in dignity, rivalries, and passion…
Having grown up in the nurturing household of Casa Capuleta, Mariana will do anything for familia. To solve her adoptive parents’ financial problems amid their rapidly changing San Antonio comunidad, Mariana and her younger sisters are determined to win the Battle of the Mariachi Bands. That means competing against Hugo Montero, their father’s archnemesis, and his band and escalating a decades-old feud. It also raises the stakes of Mariana’s forbidden attraction for a certain dark-eyed mariachi who sets her heart racing.
To Angelo Montero’s familia, Mariana is also strictly off-limits. But that doesn’t stop him from pursuing her. As their secret affair intensifies and the competition grows fierce, they’re swept up in a brewing storm of betrayals, rivalries, and broken ties. Against the odds, they vow to bring peace. But sacrifices must be made and consequences weighed for two star-crossed lovers to make beautiful music together.
this one took me awhile to get into and i didn't really get into it until about 150-ish pages in (which is roughly half way). i just think the beginning dragged out sooo much more than it needed to. but i loved the idea that went into the book and i love a modern adaptation of a classic!!
synopsis:
Two familias in Texas, both alike in dignity, rivalries, and passion…
Having grown up in the nurturing household of Casa Capuleta, Mariana will do anything for familia. To solve her adoptive parents’ financial problems amid their rapidly changing San Antonio comunidad, Mariana and her younger sisters are determined to win the Battle of the Mariachi Bands. That means competing against Hugo Montero, their father’s archnemesis, and his band and escalating a decades-old feud. It also raises the stakes of Mariana’s forbidden attraction for a certain dark-eyed mariachi who sets her heart racing.
To Angelo Montero’s familia, Mariana is also strictly off-limits. But that doesn’t stop him from pursuing her. As their secret affair intensifies and the competition grows fierce, they’re swept up in a brewing storm of betrayals, rivalries, and broken ties. Against the odds, they vow to bring peace. But sacrifices must be made and consequences weighed for two star-crossed lovers to make beautiful music together.
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes