Reviews

West Side Love Story by Priscilla Oliveras

dolores_madil's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I didn't really like this one. I will say that the story itself was good and its retelling was good. This felt like a telenovela which is a Mexican soap opera and I personally don't like the theme. It was very dramatic and over the top like many telenovela's are.  I think this book and the story are good but it is just not the book for me and others will definitely have a better time then I did. 

lulubelle129's review

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

yesenia_a_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? No

5.0

pazthebookaholic's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

jenndunfee's review against another edition

4.0

Super cute fun retelling with a great Latinx twist. Priscilla in the past I think has held back on the Latinx or over explained it, where with this book it is at the forefront.

Super swoony. Not overtly spicy, if that is your thing!

practicingshelfcare's review against another edition

5.0

Fans of West Side Story will adore this feminist West Side Story/Romeo and Juliet retelling about Mariana, an ER nurse and member of an all-female mariachi band, who is falling for her father’s enemy’s nephew Angelo. Angelo’s uncle and Mariana’s dad had a falling out decades ago over a woman, and their mariachi band had to split up. Flash forward to the modern-day and Mariana and Angelo are in competition for a grand prize that Mariana needs to win to prove the greatness of all-female bands and save her family’s home and shelter. This book is filled with drama-- there are so many layers you will be completely engrossed waiting to see what happens next. I found myself quite literally on the edge of my seat at several points throughout the story and I know you will too. The beginning was a bit of exposition, but once you get into the heart of the story you won’t be able to put it down! I cannot wait for the next book in the series, Kiss Me, Catalina, which comes out in November. This book is perfect for fans of forbidden love, and feminist retellings of stories-- there is no helpless Maria or Juliet in this story! Thank you to Priscilla Oliveras and her team for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

gemi1y's review against another edition

funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

1.75

jessicawatson1008's review against another edition

2.0

The story line was good, but the writing style had me falling asleep every few pages. There was so much explaining and soooooooo many similes that it was exhausting. She spent so much time describing unnecessary things, that she didn't fully develop or address the rivalry.

luna_rondo's review against another edition

slow-paced

2.0

melbsreads's review

emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Content warnings: misogyny, grief, sexism, death of a parent (in the past), drug use, fire, abandonment, sexual assault, deportation

I wanted to love this but I just..........didn't. I think in part it's because the premise - Romeo and Juliet but they're in rival mariachi bands - just felt very YA to me, and yet this is an adult romance. And, like, it wasn't a BAD book. It's just that a lot of the tension felt very.....young? And yet the characters are very definitely in theirs 20s. 

Anyway. I wanted to love this. But I didn't. I honestly can't pinpoint why it didn't work for me other than that. It just....yeah. No. Aggressively mid for me.