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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Mariana and Antonio. Star-crossed lovers who may be the ones who are destined to make peace between their feuding families.
This is a compelling tale of not only forbidden love, but preserving family traditions and loyalty to family. This story is beautifully written and I truly enjoyed reading about the Capuleta sisters and diving into the world of the competing mariachi bands. This has a Romeo and Juliet or Tony and Maria vibe BUT with a HEA ending. Despite the hatred between the heads of the Capuleta and Montero families, Antonio pursues Mariana and she can’t deny her attraction to him. They compete in the battle of the mariachi bands, both desperate to win the competition for their own futures as well as their families’ futures, but also desperate to be together.
The struggles of Mariana and her sisters, Antonio torn between loyalty to his uncle, his devotion to his sister, and his desire for Mariana all make for an enjoyable read.
This is a compelling tale of not only forbidden love, but preserving family traditions and loyalty to family. This story is beautifully written and I truly enjoyed reading about the Capuleta sisters and diving into the world of the competing mariachi bands. This has a Romeo and Juliet or Tony and Maria vibe BUT with a HEA ending. Despite the hatred between the heads of the Capuleta and Montero families, Antonio pursues Mariana and she can’t deny her attraction to him. They compete in the battle of the mariachi bands, both desperate to win the competition for their own futures as well as their families’ futures, but also desperate to be together.
The struggles of Mariana and her sisters, Antonio torn between loyalty to his uncle, his devotion to his sister, and his desire for Mariana all make for an enjoyable read.
3.0
i’m finally free from the shackles of this book
i’m finally free from the shackles of this book
A LatinX, Romeo and Juliet retelling, with rival Mariachi bands?… YES, PLEASE!! West Side Love Story was so freaking cute!
The heads of the Monteros and the Capuletas have been bitter rivals for decades and it is now affecting the younger generation. House Capuleta has fallen on hard times and Mariana wants to win the Battle of the Mariachi bands to help save their community center. House Monteros is the reigning champion and Angelo wants to win as a tribute to is late father.
I loved the Capuleta family dynamics. The girls are all adopted, but see each other as true family and really show that one you choose is just as strong as any family that you’re born with. I also love the fact that they want to be the first all female mariachi band to win the battle.
Angelo and Mariana complemented each other so well. Angelo brought out a more relaxed and fun side of Mariana and she brought out a softer, caring side of him. And of course we love it when a man falls first.
The heads of the Monteros and the Capuletas have been bitter rivals for decades and it is now affecting the younger generation. House Capuleta has fallen on hard times and Mariana wants to win the Battle of the Mariachi bands to help save their community center. House Monteros is the reigning champion and Angelo wants to win as a tribute to is late father.
I loved the Capuleta family dynamics. The girls are all adopted, but see each other as true family and really show that one you choose is just as strong as any family that you’re born with. I also love the fact that they want to be the first all female mariachi band to win the battle.
Angelo and Mariana complemented each other so well. Angelo brought out a more relaxed and fun side of Mariana and she brought out a softer, caring side of him. And of course we love it when a man falls first.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
I had been waiting for a long time for this book to be out. I first stumbled upon it in one of those GoodReads future releases a few months ago and I was super curious to read this modern take on West Side Story.
Synopsis:
The story begins with a rivalry between two families, the Capuleta and the Montero. A long feud which origin began between the patriarchal and matriarchal elements of each family and an unrequited love.
The story follows Mariana Capuleta, the oldest of the Capuleta family, a nurse whose only focus is her family, mainly known as the problem solver of the family; and it follows Angelo Montero, the oldest of the Montero family, whose parents tragically died in an accident and he got left in charge of his younger sister.
Although they are both off-limits for each other, fate has the last word and it decided to put them in each other’s path long before they knew of each other’s existence. However, with the competition of the mariachi bands and the pressure of the feud, the couple will have to face challenges they have never faced before and they have to decide what beats stronger: their loyalty to their family or their love for each other.
Review:
Very rarely do I let myself get high expectations for books, especially those I do not know a lot about. But the intriguing synopsis let me hooked and I was counting down the days to get my hands in that book.
It exceeded those expectations.
I really liked how [a:Priscilla Oliveras|16322252|Priscilla Oliveras|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1485941372p2/16322252.jpg] incorporated so many Latin American (I believe she got her inspiration on Mexican culture but the author is Puerto Rican-Mexican so I cannot be sure) and it fit perfectly well in the story. It felt like I was part of that community with so many words, sentences and expressions mixed together with English to create the perfect tribute to a beautiful culture(s).
I really liked how there was more time of them falling in love and getting to know each other and then together than there was of them separated.
The reason it didn’t got 5 stars is because I really hoped there wasn’t a “break-up” in the third act; I really expected them to pull through, even though with hard times, it hurt to read how little faith Mariana had in Angelo about *a certain issue*.
HOWEVER, that can change in the future. Maybe a 5 stars rating is reserved after times passes by.
But I really liked how the ending wasn’t happily ever after for all sides. It let an opening in regards with Angelo’s and Mariana’s relationship with other people and how they’d fit into their lives from that moment on.
It was such a beautiful, passionate and alluring love story inspired in one of the Hollywood classics, giving it a modern and Latin American take. I believe this book should have more hype than it currently does. I'll definitely look up more books from this author and I'm very excited to follow her through her career from here on now.
Synopsis:
The story begins with a rivalry between two families, the Capuleta and the Montero. A long feud which origin began between the patriarchal and matriarchal elements of each family and an unrequited love.
The story follows Mariana Capuleta, the oldest of the Capuleta family, a nurse whose only focus is her family, mainly known as the problem solver of the family; and it follows Angelo Montero, the oldest of the Montero family, whose parents tragically died in an accident and he got left in charge of his younger sister.
Although they are both off-limits for each other, fate has the last word and it decided to put them in each other’s path long before they knew of each other’s existence. However, with the competition of the mariachi bands and the pressure of the feud, the couple will have to face challenges they have never faced before and they have to decide what beats stronger: their loyalty to their family or their love for each other.
Review:
Very rarely do I let myself get high expectations for books, especially those I do not know a lot about. But the intriguing synopsis let me hooked and I was counting down the days to get my hands in that book.
It exceeded those expectations.
I really liked how [a:Priscilla Oliveras|16322252|Priscilla Oliveras|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1485941372p2/16322252.jpg] incorporated so many Latin American (I believe she got her inspiration on Mexican culture but the author is Puerto Rican-Mexican so I cannot be sure) and it fit perfectly well in the story. It felt like I was part of that community with so many words, sentences and expressions mixed together with English to create the perfect tribute to a beautiful culture(s).
I really liked how there was more time of them falling in love and getting to know each other and then together than there was of them separated.
The reason it didn’t got 5 stars is because I really hoped there wasn’t a “break-up” in the third act; I really expected them to pull through, even though with hard times, it hurt to read how little faith Mariana had in Angelo about *a certain issue*.
HOWEVER, that can change in the future. Maybe a 5 stars rating is reserved after times passes by.
But I really liked how the ending wasn’t happily ever after for all sides. It let an opening in regards with Angelo’s and Mariana’s relationship with other people and how they’d fit into their lives from that moment on.
It was such a beautiful, passionate and alluring love story inspired in one of the Hollywood classics, giving it a modern and Latin American take. I believe this book should have more hype than it currently does. I'll definitely look up more books from this author and I'm very excited to follow her through her career from here on now.
West Side Story is one of my favorite musicals, and I was so excited to read this modern retelling of Romeo & Juliet for our June Literary Devices Book Club discussion. My favorite parts of the book:
-The romance between Angelo and Mariana -- after having an unforgettable kiss on NYE and then discovering each other months later, only to realize they are from families with deep animosity toward each other, they have to decide whether or not to pursue their strong feelings for each other at the risk of their families finding out
-The family of foster sisters who formed an all-female mariachi band
-Angelo's deep care and sacrifice for family and loved ones, especially raising his young sister following his parents' untimely passing
-The romance between Angelo and Mariana -- after having an unforgettable kiss on NYE and then discovering each other months later, only to realize they are from families with deep animosity toward each other, they have to decide whether or not to pursue their strong feelings for each other at the risk of their families finding out
-The family of foster sisters who formed an all-female mariachi band
-Angelo's deep care and sacrifice for family and loved ones, especially raising his young sister following his parents' untimely passing
I really enjoyed this book! Great representation of family and strong women, and the relationship was written really well. The butterflies came out for me! Looking forward to the rest of the series
Sentence fragments and over the top metaphors spoiled this, but the Spanish and culture were interesting.
Priscilla Olivera’s “West Side Love Story” is a story including an old feud, forbidden love, and sweet mariachi music. The cover instantly grabbed me, and I was thrilled to know that this retelling of the classic movie promises a HEA.
As a fan of music competition shows, I was drawn to this story of two feuding families competing against each other in the Battle of the Mariachi Bands in San Antonio, Texas. Mariana Capuleta and her younger sisters compete against Hugo Montero, their father’s archnemesis, and his band and this certainly escalates a decades-old feud. But that doesn’t stop Angelo, Hugh’s nephew and part of the band, from giving in to his forbidden attraction to Mariana.
“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.”
I loved how Angelo was careful and patient with his pursuit of Mariana. She’s fully committed to her family and he’s very understanding about that. He’s a loving big brother and fatherly figure to his teen sister, and for me, well, that’s kinda hot. I am a little bit like Mariana in that she is the older one and feels like she needs to sacrifice her life for her “familia”. It was nice to see her let go, however, when life was screaming “seize the moment”.
This was my second book by the author and like the first one, the strong family ties and memorable side-characters were a plus for me. I resonate with family duty and its commitment to do anything for them. Besides learning some Spanish along the way, I especially enjoyed the music element; all the collaboration banter and singing practices were aspects of my life written on paper.
“West Side Love Story” is a slow burn fade-to-black romance that will continue into a series. It’s now available so check it out. Thanks to the author, Montlake, and Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
As a fan of music competition shows, I was drawn to this story of two feuding families competing against each other in the Battle of the Mariachi Bands in San Antonio, Texas. Mariana Capuleta and her younger sisters compete against Hugo Montero, their father’s archnemesis, and his band and this certainly escalates a decades-old feud. But that doesn’t stop Angelo, Hugh’s nephew and part of the band, from giving in to his forbidden attraction to Mariana.
“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.”
I loved how Angelo was careful and patient with his pursuit of Mariana. She’s fully committed to her family and he’s very understanding about that. He’s a loving big brother and fatherly figure to his teen sister, and for me, well, that’s kinda hot. I am a little bit like Mariana in that she is the older one and feels like she needs to sacrifice her life for her “familia”. It was nice to see her let go, however, when life was screaming “seize the moment”.
This was my second book by the author and like the first one, the strong family ties and memorable side-characters were a plus for me. I resonate with family duty and its commitment to do anything for them. Besides learning some Spanish along the way, I especially enjoyed the music element; all the collaboration banter and singing practices were aspects of my life written on paper.
“West Side Love Story” is a slow burn fade-to-black romance that will continue into a series. It’s now available so check it out. Thanks to the author, Montlake, and Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
Priscilla Olivera’s “West Side Love Story” is a story including an old feud, forbidden love, and sweet mariachi music. The cover instantly grabbed me, and I was thrilled to know that this retelling of the classic movie promises a HEA.
As a fan of music competition shows, I was drawn to this story of two feuding families competing against each other in the Battle of the Mariachi Bands in San Antonio, Texas. Mariana Capuleta and her younger sisters compete against Hugo Montero, their father’s archnemesis, and his band and this certainly escalates a decades-old feud. But that doesn’t stop Angelo, Hugh’s nephew and part of the band, from giving in to his forbidden attraction to Mariana.
“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.”
I loved how Angelo was careful and patient with his pursuit of Mariana. She’s fully committed to her family and he’s very understanding about that. He’s a loving big brother and fatherly figure to his teen sister, and for me, well, that’s kinda hot. I am a little bit like Mariana in that she is the older one and feels like she needs to sacrifice her life for her “familia”. It was nice to see her let go, however, when life was screaming “seize the moment”.
This was my second book by the author and like the first one, the strong family ties and memorable side-characters were a plus for me. I resonate with family duty and its commitment to do anything for them. Besides learning some Spanish along the way, I especially enjoyed the music element; all the collaboration banter and singing practices were aspects of my life written on paper.
As a fan of music competition shows, I was drawn to this story of two feuding families competing against each other in the Battle of the Mariachi Bands in San Antonio, Texas. Mariana Capuleta and her younger sisters compete against Hugo Montero, their father’s archnemesis, and his band and this certainly escalates a decades-old feud. But that doesn’t stop Angelo, Hugh’s nephew and part of the band, from giving in to his forbidden attraction to Mariana.
“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.”
I loved how Angelo was careful and patient with his pursuit of Mariana. She’s fully committed to her family and he’s very understanding about that. He’s a loving big brother and fatherly figure to his teen sister, and for me, well, that’s kinda hot. I am a little bit like Mariana in that she is the older one and feels like she needs to sacrifice her life for her “familia”. It was nice to see her let go, however, when life was screaming “seize the moment”.
This was my second book by the author and like the first one, the strong family ties and memorable side-characters were a plus for me. I resonate with family duty and its commitment to do anything for them. Besides learning some Spanish along the way, I especially enjoyed the music element; all the collaboration banter and singing practices were aspects of my life written on paper.