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fionamclary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
3.0
Ultimately a bit of a let-down due to how effusively I'd heard it recommended, but okay enough for me to want to see it through. I think it just wasn't the book for me.
Things I didn't like:
-The pacing. It was horribly uneven, with the first third of the book dragging and several aspects/scenes happening off-page. This includes Cora's character growth at the end, making the reunion somewhat dubious, and all but the first of Manuela and Cora's outings, which could have given us a chance to see their relationship developing more deeply beyond their attraction to each other.
-The instalove/instalust. It's something I often struggle with as a demisexual, but I know some of that is down to personal preference.
-Typos, errors, and fragments galore. Very frustrating.
-Verbiage in sex scenes that personally icks me out or makes me eyeroll. Examples include "seam," "furrow," "secret place"/"sacred place," "treasure," and demonstratives for days. As a lesbian I think I'm extra picky about the language in f/f sex scenes, so it might not be as bothersome to non-wlw readers.
-Basically the entirety of chapter 3 being a business meeting.
-The strong girlboss vibes of most of the book up until like the 80% mark.
-Zero acknowledgement of racial divisions and racism within the queer community.
-The focus on and sexualisation of Manuela's breasts. Listen, I love boobs as much as the next queer woman, but this made me uncomfortable. Maybe it's just because I too am a larger-chested lady and it's something I very much do not like about my body.
Things I liked:
-Manuela coming to understand fully how her parents had emotionally abused her (even though that language isn't directly used) and eventually freeing herself from their control, with the time and effort that it takes for her to reach that understanding feeling realistic.
-The eventual repudiation of girlboss feminism.
-Adriana Herrera's lack of fear of the word "clitoris" (huzzah!)
-Centering the importance of platonic love, both in Manuela's friendships with her Leonas and Cora's late husband having been her best friend.
-Latina lesbians getting to be happy and fully themselves.
-Middle-aged lesbian couples vibing and doing cool leftist shenanigans in the background.
Things I didn't like:
-The pacing. It was horribly uneven, with the first third of the book dragging and several aspects/scenes happening off-page. This includes Cora's character growth at the end, making the reunion somewhat dubious, and all but the first of Manuela and Cora's outings, which could have given us a chance to see their relationship developing more deeply beyond their attraction to each other.
-The instalove/instalust. It's something I often struggle with as a demisexual, but I know some of that is down to personal preference.
-Typos, errors, and fragments galore. Very frustrating.
-Verbiage in sex scenes that personally icks me out or makes me eyeroll. Examples include "seam," "furrow," "secret place"/"sacred place," "treasure," and demonstratives for days. As a lesbian I think I'm extra picky about the language in f/f sex scenes, so it might not be as bothersome to non-wlw readers.
-Basically the entirety of chapter 3 being a business meeting.
-The strong girlboss vibes of most of the book up until like the 80% mark.
-Zero acknowledgement of racial divisions and racism within the queer community.
-The focus on and sexualisation of Manuela's breasts. Listen, I love boobs as much as the next queer woman, but this made me uncomfortable. Maybe it's just because I too am a larger-chested lady and it's something I very much do not like about my body.
Things I liked:
-Manuela coming to understand fully how her parents had emotionally abused her (even though that language isn't directly used) and eventually freeing herself from their control, with the time and effort that it takes for her to reach that understanding feeling realistic.
-The eventual repudiation of girlboss feminism.
-Adriana Herrera's lack of fear of the word "clitoris" (huzzah!)
-Centering the importance of platonic love, both in Manuela's friendships with her Leonas and Cora's late husband having been her best friend.
-Latina lesbians getting to be happy and fully themselves.
-Middle-aged lesbian couples vibing and doing cool leftist shenanigans in the background.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence, Hate crime, Violence, and Grief
e_riahh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Grief, Lesbophobia, Colonisation, and Classism
crystalisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Infidelity and Grief
Minor: Death and Death of parent
Mention of death by aneurysmfromjuliereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! There were so many fantastic elements and I really love these characters. Las Leonas are so badass and amazing! You just want to be friends with all of them - and I'm jealous of this amazing friendship that they have together. They are so supportive of each other!
I loved this book about Manuela and figuring out what she wants for herself and her life. This is such a fantastic sapphic romance, and on top of that, this idea of subverting the social rules/ expectations is so prevalent in these books. I adore it. Seeing these strong women take hold of their lives, thwarting what is expected of them to find true happiness. Knowing that this was not an option for so many people in reality, but that there were some who lived their lives similar to these stories.
I highly recommend for a diverse sapphic romance!
I loved this book about Manuela and figuring out what she wants for herself and her life. This is such a fantastic sapphic romance, and on top of that, this idea of subverting the social rules/ expectations is so prevalent in these books. I adore it. Seeing these strong women take hold of their lives, thwarting what is expected of them to find true happiness. Knowing that this was not an option for so many people in reality, but that there were some who lived their lives similar to these stories.
I highly recommend for a diverse sapphic romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Grief, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent
Death of parent - brief mention, parent dies off pagecallidoralblack's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
takarakei's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.25
Wish we got more of the 'dates'/ nightlife experiences on page (as opposed to just being told about them) as that was the basis for Cora and Manuela's meeting.
🌶️4/5
🌶️4/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Racism
Minor: Toxic relationship and Violence
emfass's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
- 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
This one did not capture me as much as A Caribbean Heiress in Paris for whatever reason, but YES PLEASE to Adriana Herrera writing historicals and just anything, really. LOVED reading about a sapphic historical romance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Misogyny
Minor: Toxic relationship and Alcohol
lealovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol
kbairbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Adriana Herrera’s books are top tier. This is a brilliant queer historical romance and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to hear about Manuela’s story. The latine culture and history within these books are absolutely gorgeous, and truly they have been a wonderful addition to my library. Brava! Absolutely incredible. I’m pretty much speechless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Trafficking, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Classism
Moderate: Alcohol
this_momma_is_booked's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
Historical romance is really tricky for me and the first half of this book was definitely a struggle. I'm glad I kept going because I was rooting for Manuela and Cora by the end of it! I loved how they both gave as good as they got and never let the others just rest on their laurels. They pushed each other and expected the best in each other, a true partnership from the start.
I absolutely LOVED that Manuela didn't immediately go to Cora at the end of the book after Cora paid off her debt to Manuela's parents. I was so surprised because it undid the historical romance trope a bit, but I'm glad Manuela realized that Cora was essentially buying her just as Felix had.
Another win by Adriana Herrara!
Another win by Adriana Herrara!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Racism
Minor: Toxic relationship