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thenovelmaura's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I wanted to love this book and I'm kind of surprised that I didn't! Can I say before starting out that I'm obsessed with this book cover? Setting aside my review, props to the designer because it is gorgeous.
There were a lot of well-done and lovely elements to this story: the complicated relationships between Rosa and her mother and her grandmother, her grandmother's mixed feelings about her homeland of Cuba, Rosa's need to live up to everyone's expectations while struggling with her identity, grief and how we honor the memories of our loved ones, and the power of a supportive community. Spanish is used throughout the book without a side-by-side English translation, and all the food described here sounded delicious.
My two biggest problems were the pacing and the way the "curse" is never addressed. The Santos women constantly alluded to the curse but no one ever laid out what it is and what it meant to them. My understanding was that any men they fell in love with would end up drowning? But that didn't explain why Rosa herself hadn't gone to the beach in her 17 years of life, despite growing up in a port city in Florida. What's more, she just randomly decided to start going to the boardwalk (even before she falls for Alex) and everyone in town was shocked, but no one explained why it would be an issue. The pacing was all over the place; at first, too many characters were introduced too quickly, Rosa agreed to plan an entire wedding for two people she didn't seem to know that well, and the story dragged in the middle and end.
Maybe another reader could overlook these issues and enjoy this lighthearted story, but I found them too distracting! I do own another book by Moreno so I plan to give her another try at some point.
There were a lot of well-done and lovely elements to this story: the complicated relationships between Rosa and her mother and her grandmother, her grandmother's mixed feelings about her homeland of Cuba, Rosa's need to live up to everyone's expectations while struggling with her identity, grief and how we honor the memories of our loved ones, and the power of a supportive community. Spanish is used throughout the book without a side-by-side English translation, and all the food described here sounded delicious.
My two biggest problems were the pacing and the way the "curse" is never addressed. The Santos women constantly alluded to the curse but no one ever laid out what it is and what it meant to them. My understanding was that any men they fell in love with would end up drowning? But that didn't explain why Rosa herself hadn't gone to the beach in her 17 years of life, despite growing up in a port city in Florida. What's more, she just randomly decided to start going to the boardwalk (even before she falls for Alex) and everyone in town was shocked, but no one explained why it would be an issue. The pacing was all over the place; at first, too many characters were introduced too quickly, Rosa agreed to plan an entire wedding for two people she didn't seem to know that well, and the story dragged in the middle and end.
Maybe another reader could overlook these issues and enjoy this lighthearted story, but I found them too distracting! I do own another book by Moreno so I plan to give her another try at some point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
cozy_kendall's review against another edition
emotional
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
robinks's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.75
A beautiful story about family and diasporic connection. I loved getting to dive into Port Coral and the Cuban-American experience through Rosa’s eyes. There was so much magic and romance throughout the story, and I even teared up towards the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Medical content and Pregnancy
riella_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was such a cute read! Like some other reviews said, it had big Jane the Virgin vibes and Gilmore Girls, and I love both of those shows. I loved the whole premise of saving your small hometown, and this book was full of culture and adventure. This was also written beautifully. It was written very similar to With The Fire On High, so if you like the way that was written I think you'd enjoy this one as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
laprismaluna's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cw: death of a family member, past references to death & drowning
the vibes are just really soft and delightful with Port Coral. It's a place that's romantic in all the right places, cheesy at the best of times, and just takes the playful aspect of romcoms and puffers it through family and friends. I love the neighborhood, I love rosa and her bujo antics, i love this book's reflection on immigration and tying so much trauma to the sea (there it is again, my favorite aspect of latinx stories, where we share our joy & misery in the same space).
i don't know what it is about it, but once i embraced the atmosphere i just vibed with all the corny experiences and the giggles between ppl who've known each other for years. i loved the community's dynamic; it was refreshing to see a neighborhood so in tune with everybody and who they are and where they come from. it's a mixed balance of knowing your home and the people in it, good and bad, but the story is a hopeful one that centers on healing with the people around u
some golden turtles, hurricane season, brujeria, some pastelitos--it's the making of a bright sunny day down by the port :>
the vibes are just really soft and delightful with Port Coral. It's a place that's romantic in all the right places, cheesy at the best of times, and just takes the playful aspect of romcoms and puffers it through family and friends. I love the neighborhood, I love rosa and her bujo antics, i love this book's reflection on immigration and tying so much trauma to the sea (there it is again, my favorite aspect of latinx stories, where we share our joy & misery in the same space).
i don't know what it is about it, but once i embraced the atmosphere i just vibed with all the corny experiences and the giggles between ppl who've known each other for years. i loved the community's dynamic; it was refreshing to see a neighborhood so in tune with everybody and who they are and where they come from. it's a mixed balance of knowing your home and the people in it, good and bad, but the story is a hopeful one that centers on healing with the people around u
some golden turtles, hurricane season, brujeria, some pastelitos--it's the making of a bright sunny day down by the port :>
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death