Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - West Side Love Story

This was a cute and quick romance read, perfect for summer! As a Latina, I so appreciated the callbacks to our culture: the food, the music, the family dynamics. While I am not Mexican, there's so much overlap between Latinx cultures that I felt incredibly seen in the book. I also really loved the discussion around found family and the foster care system. When Priscilla came to speak to Bad Bitch Book Club, she told us how much research she did for this book and it definitely shows. There's also an interesting thread in the book about gentrification and how much is too much.

There are a couple things that I didn't love about the book, however. I'm not a fan of insta-love because I feel it's so unrealistic, but it was even more unbelievable in this book. Mariana and Angelo barely had a full conversation the night they first met and shared a kiss - I don't think this is enough to hold two people over for MONTHS. I could understand being a little hung up on the attractive person you made out with last week, but months ago? I don't buy it. Additionally, on the same train as insta-love, the whole story with Nina and her acclimation into the family was a little hard to digest. Per the story, Nina just joined the family six months prior and Mariana is already calling her a sister, expecting her to mesh with the rest of the family and acknowledge that she's a part of it too. I feel like that would be difficult for anyone to do in the best of circumstances; Nina has had a life of trauma and it felt disingenuous and unsympathetic to expect her to be grateful to be a part of the family and play the role.

If you're not a fan of steam or maybe are just dipping your toes in the romance pool, this is a great book to pick up! It is considered closed-door, which doesn't take away from the relationship at the center of this book at all. I think it's a great summer read with big heart!

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inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

If you loved West Side Story I think you're going to love all the little references throughout this book. Likewise if you're a Romeo and Juliet fan.

I loved the meet cute in this book. I loved how fate brought these two together but I also hated how a family fued kept them apart.

I loved the romance in this book. True to Oliveras' style it is mostly closed door but you definitely get a little more passion than some closed door books and she writes excellent kisses. But what I really loved in this particular book were the glimpses into mariachi culture, the importance of foster families and adoption, and the dangers of gentrification. Oliveras didn't shy away from anything.

I of course loved all the Spanish too, but if you don't speak Spanish Oliveras is one of the best Latinx authors at weaving the translations into her text.

Feuding families is not my favorite trope but I still really enjoyed this book. It definitely spends a lot of time setting up back story for Mariana's huge family, but it will be worth it when we get to read Cat's story next.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

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