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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
alyssancoon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I thought this was good, but I have a few gripes.
Her family sucked big time. I was begging her to go no contact with them at one point. The scene where she made up with her parents was really nice, but her brothers never apologized or admitted their guilt in making her life miserable.
The book concludes withouther making up with her childhood best friend! Maybe Emily Henry has spoiled me, but I don't know how anyone can get their HAE without their best friend.
Speaking of friends, I wanted Liam to have better friends or more screen time with his friends. At one point he's in a mood and his friendsstraight up, are like, "fuck you and your depressive episodes. We don't care enough about you to have an adult conversation about this." Like
I get he was mean to them first, but there is a better way to do that.
Her family sucked big time. I was begging her to go no contact with them at one point. The scene where she made up with her parents was really nice, but her brothers never apologized or admitted their guilt in making her life miserable.
The book concludes without
Speaking of friends, I wanted Liam to have better friends or more screen time with his friends. At one point he's in a mood and his friends
I get he was mean to them first, but there is a better way to do that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
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
mari1532's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I listened to this book through my library with Libby.
Brief Summary: Kamilah Vega is trying to keep her grandmother's bakery and dream alive. However, at every turn, she butts heads with her grandfather about the direction in which to take the business. However, when he seems willing to enter the bakery on a popular food tour in town Kamilah immediately agrees to anything he wants. Little does she know that he wants her to marry his best friend's grandson, who happens to be her childhood enemy, Liam Kane.
Thoughts: This was a charming and heartwarming romance novel. I enjoyed Caña's writing and in large part, I enjoyed the tension and chemistry between Kamilah and Liam. However, I did feel that the marriage of convenience and forced proximity of it all was a bit hard to buy into sometimes. The hidden aspect of the relationship went on a little longer than I felt was necessary.
My favourite parts of the book were the relationships between Kamilah and her grandfather and Liam and his grandfather. They were loving but complicated, and a large part of the entertainment throughout the book. Caña captured the complex relationships of grandchildren and grandparents well and nailed difficult, but endearing grandfathers.
I did enjoy the way that Kamilah and Liam were able to learn about their familial trauma together and develop a deep and vulnerable relationship with one another is the real highlight of the book. Overall this emotional connection made the romance feel real and well-rounded. There is sexual chemistry between the two of them but it accentuates the emotional connection between them.
Caña's writing is very good and the plot is heartwarming. I enjoyed this book, but the troupes were not my favourite.
Brief Summary: Kamilah Vega is trying to keep her grandmother's bakery and dream alive. However, at every turn, she butts heads with her grandfather about the direction in which to take the business. However, when he seems willing to enter the bakery on a popular food tour in town Kamilah immediately agrees to anything he wants. Little does she know that he wants her to marry his best friend's grandson, who happens to be her childhood enemy, Liam Kane.
Thoughts: This was a charming and heartwarming romance novel. I enjoyed Caña's writing and in large part, I enjoyed the tension and chemistry between Kamilah and Liam. However, I did feel that the marriage of convenience and forced proximity of it all was a bit hard to buy into sometimes. The hidden aspect of the relationship went on a little longer than I felt was necessary.
My favourite parts of the book were the relationships between Kamilah and her grandfather and Liam and his grandfather. They were loving but complicated, and a large part of the entertainment throughout the book. Caña captured the complex relationships of grandchildren and grandparents well and nailed difficult, but endearing grandfathers.
I did enjoy the way that Kamilah and Liam were able to learn about their familial trauma together and develop a deep and vulnerable relationship with one another is the real highlight of the book. Overall this emotional connection made the romance feel real and well-rounded. There is sexual chemistry between the two of them but it accentuates the emotional connection between them.
Caña's writing is very good and the plot is heartwarming. I enjoyed this book, but the troupes were not my favourite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
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
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
Funny, sweet, and a little bit sexy, this book tells the love story of two helplessly stubborn people. I loved the characters even when they were making complete asses of themselves and the plot, while ridiculous, was amusing. The grandparents were a riot - I wanted to meet these old men. Also, I think the writing style is really beautiful. I had a hard time putting this book down once I started it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
fleur____'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer and Grief
Minor: Sexual content
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
allthebooks36's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent