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lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to like this so much more than I did. West Side Love Story is spun from a tried-and-true source of inspiration from an authentic voice, and the premise of warring mariachi band families amidst gentrification and other socially relevant issues is a huge huge plus.
However. I simply could not get over Oliveras' writing style. The narrative voice feels stilted and awkward, and every other sentence is so bloated with similes that rarely even fit the context of the story (how many times do they have to mention "beautiful hazel eyes with flecks of gold" and other uncomfortably hyperbolic descriptions of how perfect each other are? I counted at least 10) that it felt like I was reading a 2012 fanfiction. Beyond this, while Mariana and Angelo are interesting, they're also portrayed as way, way too perfect to feel real at times - somehow they're both incredibly competent and attractive and perfectly kind and compassionate, the models of decorum to literally everyone around them 24/7?
Instead of adding depth and nuance to the romance genre with the exploration of the foster care system, gentrification, and a number of the other layered topics introduced, Oliveras sidetracks what could otherwise have been a standout retelling with overloaded and awkward writing & dialogue, not-so-three-dimensional characters (plus, where is all the love for the other side characters?) and a generally anticlimactic ending.
However. I simply could not get over Oliveras' writing style. The narrative voice feels stilted and awkward, and every other sentence is so bloated with similes that rarely even fit the context of the story (how many times do they have to mention "beautiful hazel eyes with flecks of gold" and other uncomfortably hyperbolic descriptions of how perfect each other are? I counted at least 10) that it felt like I was reading a 2012 fanfiction. Beyond this, while Mariana and Angelo are interesting, they're also portrayed as way, way too perfect to feel real at times - somehow they're both incredibly competent and attractive and perfectly kind and compassionate, the models of decorum to literally everyone around them 24/7?
Instead of adding depth and nuance to the romance genre with the exploration of the foster care system, gentrification, and a number of the other layered topics introduced, Oliveras sidetracks what could otherwise have been a standout retelling with overloaded and awkward writing & dialogue, not-so-three-dimensional characters (plus, where is all the love for the other side characters?) and a generally anticlimactic ending.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-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
relaxing
sad
medium-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
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
No
This book was a nice spin on West Side Story/Romeo & Juliet. I enjoyed reading it. & the music competition was a joy for me. I liked Mariana & Angelo, they were so sweet & caring! I would read this book again.
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol