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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
It’s been a while since I wrote a proper review. I’m chosing this book not only because it’s my first ever audiobook but because it was such a beautiful, heartwarming and refreshing story. Relatable in many ways.
A knee-weakening romance, a perfect adaptation for a retelling of such a classic. And a tribute to the core of Latinx culture: La Familia.
First, I have to talk about how amazing the entire Las Nubes Mariachi was. I’m not Mexican, but rancheras and their legacy are very important for some Guatemalan groups. I grew up listening to them, dancing and singing in my abuelito’s house for family gatherings and fiestas. Las Nubes gave me the CHILLS. I could feel the vibe, hear them letting out those gritos, singing and could picture them and all the people cheering at the sound of their music. I cried with many of the songs mentioned in the book (an all female mariachi singing Los Laureles? Don’t mind me crying like Mary Magdalene). I don’t even need to mention what they represented for the Latina Feminist movement currently fighting against machismo and the patriarchal system that’s still ingrained in our cultura. They were strong mujeres I could see myself in and feel proud of.
About the romance. Dios mío, I ADORED Angelo and Mariana! Both of them were so down to earth, passionate, inspiring and also caught between the same heartbreaking walls most of the oldest kids from Latinx households get caugh up, forcing them to choose between loylty to their familias or their hopes and dreams. Their struggles were so real and raw, and I loved the creative and beautiful way the author made them navigate through those issues to bring them together, still keeping the beauty and strength of familia love, forgiveness, compassion and mucha mucha música! I even shed a couple of tears seeing them working together to bring peace to both of their families and facing their obstacles despite their fear and doubt.
I was blown away by how Pricilla tackled so some of the most important issues our community is facing nowadays like gentrification, toxic masculinity in Latino men, machismo, confronting our elders with love and respect when they screw up, and the easy-to-cross fine line many of our familias cross when they want to preserve tradition over love and understanding. And especially the fact that familia (blood related or chosen) will always be there to give us unconditional love and support.
A shout out to the amazing narrator!
Seriously, this book had it all and I cannot wait to get this in paperback to read it again aaaaand I cannot wait for Cat’s book!
A million stars to this one!
A knee-weakening romance, a perfect adaptation for a retelling of such a classic. And a tribute to the core of Latinx culture: La Familia.
First, I have to talk about how amazing the entire Las Nubes Mariachi was. I’m not Mexican, but rancheras and their legacy are very important for some Guatemalan groups. I grew up listening to them, dancing and singing in my abuelito’s house for family gatherings and fiestas. Las Nubes gave me the CHILLS. I could feel the vibe, hear them letting out those gritos, singing and could picture them and all the people cheering at the sound of their music. I cried with many of the songs mentioned in the book (an all female mariachi singing Los Laureles? Don’t mind me crying like Mary Magdalene). I don’t even need to mention what they represented for the Latina Feminist movement currently fighting against machismo and the patriarchal system that’s still ingrained in our cultura. They were strong mujeres I could see myself in and feel proud of.
About the romance. Dios mío, I ADORED Angelo and Mariana! Both of them were so down to earth, passionate, inspiring and also caught between the same heartbreaking walls most of the oldest kids from Latinx households get caugh up, forcing them to choose between loylty to their familias or their hopes and dreams. Their struggles were so real and raw, and I loved the creative and beautiful way the author made them navigate through those issues to bring them together, still keeping the beauty and strength of familia love, forgiveness, compassion and mucha mucha música! I even shed a couple of tears seeing them working together to bring peace to both of their families and facing their obstacles despite their fear and doubt.
I was blown away by how Pricilla tackled so some of the most important issues our community is facing nowadays like gentrification, toxic masculinity in Latino men, machismo, confronting our elders with love and respect when they screw up, and the easy-to-cross fine line many of our familias cross when they want to preserve tradition over love and understanding. And especially the fact that familia (blood related or chosen) will always be there to give us unconditional love and support.
A shout out to the amazing narrator!
Seriously, this book had it all and I cannot wait to get this in paperback to read it again aaaaand I cannot wait for Cat’s book!
A million stars to this one!
4.5 Stars
Priscilla is the Jane Austin of current times. She evokes the deepest feelings in me with just light touches of the hand, held stares across the room. I am clenching my heart over the smallest of moments.
I don't know what magic she possess when she writes romance, but I am under her spell and I love it.
The loose Romeo and Juliet slash West Side Story retelling with a full Latinx cast is so heartfelt!
The flair of forbidden romance and the clandestine meetings are my actual catnip and it had me on the loveliest chokehold.
The book also addresses the prevalent topic of gentrification as well, all this proves that the romance genre can teach so much (socially) and emotionally!
The full family of the sisters are also so near and dear to my heart. Their connections both the life long ones and the newer ones (some sisters are more recently adopted/fostered) are so special and add such depth to the story.
I love this book so much. It's light, yet deep with emotions. Just like the queen Priscilla can muster up with every book!
Priscilla is the Jane Austin of current times. She evokes the deepest feelings in me with just light touches of the hand, held stares across the room. I am clenching my heart over the smallest of moments.
I don't know what magic she possess when she writes romance, but I am under her spell and I love it.
The loose Romeo and Juliet slash West Side Story retelling with a full Latinx cast is so heartfelt!
The flair of forbidden romance and the clandestine meetings are my actual catnip and it had me on the loveliest chokehold.
The book also addresses the prevalent topic of gentrification as well, all this proves that the romance genre can teach so much (socially) and emotionally!
The full family of the sisters are also so near and dear to my heart. Their connections both the life long ones and the newer ones (some sisters are more recently adopted/fostered) are so special and add such depth to the story.
I love this book so much. It's light, yet deep with emotions. Just like the queen Priscilla can muster up with every book!
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
Sadly not my favorite R&J retelling, and I love the forbidden romance trope! I really liked the premise, dueling mariachi bands with an old family feud and two people from the warring families falling in love despite the animosity between their parents & in this case, the uncle. But the execution sadly fell flat for me.
I loved the Latinx spin on this well-known tale, and reading about the culture and family dynamics by an author of that same background. I wished there wasn’t always a translation after most of the Spanish phrases…I felt like that slowed down the story a bit (I don’t mind looking up words and phrases I don’t understand). I also liked Mariana’s character a lot and could really relate to her need for putting others above herself and eventually learning to bring down her walls for Angelo. And I truly adored the tale of sisterly love between her adopted family!
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Angelo. I felt like he had no real personality outside of being the perfect man with zero flaws. The generations-long family feud was resolved so quickly and too easily. The story seemed like it couldn’t decide what direction to go in - to focus on the mariachi band competition or the family dynamics, or the family feud. As a result, there was a mix of all three. I was also really confused what was going on with Angelo and his uncle and the whole financial situation with the Capuletas. Maybe I missed something crucial somewhere.
The writing was also heavyhanded and very telly many times and drew me out of the story.
But my biggest gripe was that I didn’t feel anything when I read this story. I wanted to root for Mariana and Angelo to fight for their love and push through their and their families’ differences to be together. I wanted to feel the tension between the two families. And I wanted to feel anger at the Monteros for what they did to the Capuletas. Sadly, I didn’t feel any sort of tension or a fear that they would be found out when they were together, that *I* also wanted to appreciate the stolen moments they had, and I wanted so badly to feel that.
3 stars overall - I finished the book, but it just wasn’t for me.
I loved the Latinx spin on this well-known tale, and reading about the culture and family dynamics by an author of that same background. I wished there wasn’t always a translation after most of the Spanish phrases…I felt like that slowed down the story a bit (I don’t mind looking up words and phrases I don’t understand). I also liked Mariana’s character a lot and could really relate to her need for putting others above herself and eventually learning to bring down her walls for Angelo. And I truly adored the tale of sisterly love between her adopted family!
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Angelo. I felt like he had no real personality outside of being the perfect man with zero flaws. The generations-long family feud was resolved so quickly and too easily. The story seemed like it couldn’t decide what direction to go in - to focus on the mariachi band competition or the family dynamics, or the family feud. As a result, there was a mix of all three. I was also really confused what was going on with Angelo and his uncle and the whole financial situation with the Capuletas. Maybe I missed something crucial somewhere.
The writing was also heavyhanded and very telly many times and drew me out of the story.
But my biggest gripe was that I didn’t feel anything when I read this story. I wanted to root for Mariana and Angelo to fight for their love and push through their and their families’ differences to be together. I wanted to feel the tension between the two families. And I wanted to feel anger at the Monteros for what they did to the Capuletas. Sadly, I didn’t feel any sort of tension or a fear that they would be found out when they were together, that *I* also wanted to appreciate the stolen moments they had, and I wanted so badly to feel that.
3 stars overall - I finished the book, but it just wasn’t for me.
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Put me in a reading slump. Might come back to it later.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
I’ve read this book for the book club and because I haven’t read one by the author in a while.
A Romeo and Juliet retelling without the heartbreaking ending.
It is a slow burn romance with lots of family drama. The competition between both families for the contest that can help them thrive through all their financial issues takes the front seat in here. Apparently the stakes are set high and some surprises are coming along the way.
The secret romance story between Angelo and Mariana was the highlight for me and I feel like I am missing something because while the story has lots of interactions and scenes with their friends and family members, but the together ones are far and stretched out.
Overall, it is a good story that many romantics will enjoy.
A Romeo and Juliet retelling without the heartbreaking ending.
It is a slow burn romance with lots of family drama. The competition between both families for the contest that can help them thrive through all their financial issues takes the front seat in here. Apparently the stakes are set high and some surprises are coming along the way.
The secret romance story between Angelo and Mariana was the highlight for me and I feel like I am missing something because while the story has lots of interactions and scenes with their friends and family members, but the together ones are far and stretched out.
Overall, it is a good story that many romantics will enjoy.