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booksalacarte's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5⭐️2.75🌶️
Rom com
Multicultural romance
Friends to enemies to lovers
Marriage of convenience
Chef FMC
Brew Master MMC
Older Main Characters
He fell first
Forced proximity
Chicago setting
Barely open door romance
Tw: cancer, death of a family member
The side characters are so vibrant and adorable. I loved all of them. The family dynamics are top tier and so relatable!
Pop cultural references, but I didn’t mind.
The spice was there, but it was more liked a cracked door into the on page romance rather than open door. Things get hot and heavy, but the sex itself is off page.
As someone who only speaks English, the use of Spanish was a lot, but not overwhelming due to the wonderful way that it was used and expressed throughout the book. It lent such a rich texture to the family and story.
I adored this book so dang much!
Rom com
Multicultural romance
Friends to enemies to lovers
Marriage of convenience
Chef FMC
Brew Master MMC
Older Main Characters
He fell first
Forced proximity
Chicago setting
Barely open door romance
Tw: cancer, death of a family member
The side characters are so vibrant and adorable. I loved all of them. The family dynamics are top tier and so relatable!
Pop cultural references, but I didn’t mind.
The spice was there, but it was more liked a cracked door into the on page romance rather than open door. Things get hot and heavy, but the sex itself is off page.
As someone who only speaks English, the use of Spanish was a lot, but not overwhelming due to the wonderful way that it was used and expressed throughout the book. It lent such a rich texture to the family and story.
I adored this book so dang much!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
nelumie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
Minor: Racism and Cultural appropriation
thisteachreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.75
I really enjoyed this story from Natalie Caña. The characters are well developed and the story moves at a pace that is engaging and realistic.
She does a great job of keeping the characters authentic by mixing in Spanish words and phrases and explains them just enough that non-speakers understand the sentiment but it isn’t a literal translation.
Liam and Camila’s relationship is supported with snippets of their past which helps to keep their growth throughout innovative and possible.
I’d love to know more about Killian and Papo.
If you enjoy the enemies to lovers/ childhood friends trope, I would highly recommend you read this story!
She does a great job of keeping the characters authentic by mixing in Spanish words and phrases and explains them just enough that non-speakers understand the sentiment but it isn’t a literal translation.
Liam and Camila’s relationship is supported with snippets of their past which helps to keep their growth throughout innovative and possible.
I’d love to know more about Killian and Papo.
If you enjoy the enemies to lovers/ childhood friends trope, I would highly recommend you read this story!
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
chrisb913's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed the plot and characters in this book. We start off the book with Kamilah and Liam having to bail out their troublemaking grandads from being in time-out at the assisted living facility. First off, Abuelo and Granda are a blessing to this story as their hijinks result in just pure amusement and glee throughout the book. Next, Kamilah and Liam, I felt, were incredibly well written and the passion between the two as the story progressed was so cute and adorable.
Kamilah comes from a large Puerto Rican family in Chicago. Liam's only family left is his Granda. Both are too busy trying to save their respective family businesses, Kamilah the authentic Puerto Rican restaurant and Liam an authentic Irish whiskey distillery, to bother with any form of social life much less finding love. But when Abuelo and Granda (life long best friends) decide to play matchmaker, the two workaholics find themselves caught in a fake engagement to one another in order for them both to get what they want.
This is the first book in a series written by Natalie Caña. I will definitely be reading her other books.
Kamilah comes from a large Puerto Rican family in Chicago. Liam's only family left is his Granda. Both are too busy trying to save their respective family businesses, Kamilah the authentic Puerto Rican restaurant and Liam an authentic Irish whiskey distillery, to bother with any form of social life much less finding love. But when Abuelo and Granda (life long best friends) decide to play matchmaker, the two workaholics find themselves caught in a fake engagement to one another in order for them both to get what they want.
This is the first book in a series written by Natalie Caña. I will definitely be reading her other books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
callidoralblack's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
iridescentdreams's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
jamie_cruz's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
Younger me would be so happy to see more books written by BIPOC. I never got this, and I’m now able to see so many diverse authors and their stories. Anyways, back to the book.
I loved Kamilah’s family because they reminded me of mine. Leo is exactly like my brother, and the mother is so similar to mine it made me feel even more connected to the world. I enjoyed watching the grandfathers conspiring to get Kamilah and Liam to get together, and I can’t wait to see the rest of the family.
I loved Kamilah’s family because they reminded me of mine. Leo is exactly like my brother, and the mother is so similar to mine it made me feel even more connected to the world. I enjoyed watching the grandfathers conspiring to get Kamilah and Liam to get together, and I can’t wait to see the rest of the family.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Death and Death of parent
kimberpoi's review against another edition
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
bibliozord's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Death of parent
indieandajean's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
We love a good childhood friends to enemies to lovers romance. The scheming octogenarians were just the icing on the cake for this one. Didn't love the majority of the "supporting" cast of characters (other than Papo and Saint) which is what makes this one a 3.75/5 for me. I don't necessarily know that I will be reading the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Death, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Classism