this_momma_is_booked's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
When I first read Nina Moreno's debut novel, Don't Date Rosa Santos, I felt so incredibly seen and heard in a way I hadn't many times before. I had high expectations for this book and, for the most part, it met them all.
I love second-chance romance books, but I was hesitant about how it would play out in a YA book where the characters were 17-18 years old. I mean, they're so young...how do we get to second chances already? However, Nina did a great job establishing that the second chances were because of childish insecurities and lack of communication skills when the characters were 12-13, so it really did seem believable.
Nina has spoken at length about how she initially started this book with the intention of making it funny and light-hearted and a fun summer romance - and she did in a lot of ways. The cast of characters were funny, reading about Lou and Sam struggling through their interactions and communicating like typical teenagers made me chuckle, and being back in Port Coral, a town that is so deeply rooted in family (both the birth and chosen kind) made my heart happy. But, as many of us know, grief has a funny way of sneaking up when we least expect it, and that's how it was for Nina - which means that's how it was for Sam and, to some extent, Lou.
I loved the depth of this book - the discussions of anxiety, expectations, grief, love, neurodiversity and friendship. I clearly remember being the age of these characters and being told the world is so vast, the opportunities are endless, and yet feeling like I am stuck in my city, in my family, in my mind. Teenagers have an unbelievable amount of pressure thrust onto them but are not often given the tools to handle that pressure. I appreciate that this book revolved around that, around figuring out not who they are (because they're 18, there's a lifetime to live first) but who they want to be right now.
And to have all of these themes tied up with the Latinx bow? All the mentions of UF (Go Gators!) and Miami and, as Nina likes to say, living in the hyphen (in my case, Cuban-American)? It really did make this Cuban woman so happy.
I love second-chance romance books, but I was hesitant about how it would play out in a YA book where the characters were 17-18 years old. I mean, they're so young...how do we get to second chances already? However, Nina did a great job establishing that the second chances were because of childish insecurities and lack of communication skills when the characters were 12-13, so it really did seem believable.
Nina has spoken at length about how she initially started this book with the intention of making it funny and light-hearted and a fun summer romance - and she did in a lot of ways. The cast of characters were funny, reading about Lou and Sam struggling through their interactions and communicating like typical teenagers made me chuckle, and being back in Port Coral, a town that is so deeply rooted in family (both the birth and chosen kind) made my heart happy. But, as many of us know, grief has a funny way of sneaking up when we least expect it, and that's how it was for Nina - which means that's how it was for Sam and, to some extent, Lou.
I loved the depth of this book - the discussions of anxiety, expectations, grief, love, neurodiversity and friendship. I clearly remember being the age of these characters and being told the world is so vast, the opportunities are endless, and yet feeling like I am stuck in my city, in my family, in my mind. Teenagers have an unbelievable amount of pressure thrust onto them but are not often given the tools to handle that pressure. I appreciate that this book revolved around that, around figuring out not who they are (because they're 18, there's a lifetime to live first) but who they want to be right now.
And to have all of these themes tied up with the Latinx bow? All the mentions of UF (Go Gators!) and Miami and, as Nina likes to say, living in the hyphen (in my case, Cuban-American)? It really did make this Cuban woman so happy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Cancer, and Pregnancy
Minor: Car accident and Injury/Injury detail
nytephoenyx's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
3.75
As much as I complain about romance books, I’m a sucker for the-boy-next-door trope. Throw in a sprinkle of the-one-that-got-away, and I’ll be absolutely hooked. A quick glance at the book’s description and the cover design and it would seem Our Way Back to Always is out of my normal reading realm. In fact, I was dragging my feet getting to this book because I thought I wouldn’t like it. Thank you Past Me for knowing better, pre-ordering this, and making sure I read it. It was a great book to escape into.
Like so many YA contemporaries, Our Way Back to Always starts the summer before senior year. We meet Lou - Luisa - who is struggling to fulfill her own high expectations and trying to get into an elite college. We also meet Sam, whose future plans have been scrambled by his father’s recent death. Both POV characters struggle under the weight of expectation, whether it be the world’s or their own. Both characters are likable, and I appreciated the internal and external struggles that motivated them. The romance was well-founded, and I really enjoyed watching an old friendship rekindle.
Where Moreno excelled in building her protagonists, her supporting characters were a bit less enticing. Both Rocky and Benny were functional characters at best, existing only to help Sam and Lou along their journey. Sam’s family serves in a similar manner, as does most of Lou’s. The only supporting character who had depth and purpose was Elena, Lou’s older sister. After finishing Our Way Back to Always, I learned this is the second book in Marino‘s contemporary universe. If she were to write a third book, I would want to know Elena’s story.
The plot moves at a steady pace, with plenty of landmarks and side quests to keep things interesting. If anything, there was a little bit too much going on and sections felt rushed or underdeveloped. As somebody who is interested in coding and female coders, I was disappointed we didn’t delve further into Lou’s app. Similarly, marching band is described as one of Sam’s joys early in the book, but fades into the background as he takes a different path (except the fact he plays drums - that stays relevant). I liked that the little bits and pieces of the bucket list kept the story moving, but Moreno relies on the reader getting caught up in the adventure and not noticing how shallow some aspects of the plot are.
Stylistic criticisms aside, I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. I liked the complicated emotions and I think Moreno did an excellent job relaying the experience of somebody who fell in love with their best friend. I liked that Our Way Back to Always encouraged folks to take a less traditionally celebrated road to success. Our culture is extremely determined to enforce a rigid set of expectations upon young adults, but we need to recognize these expectations are not the only stepping stones to a good life. Moreno reminds us of that in her story and I adored it.
This book made me smile, made me sad, made me wish I had a private swimming pool, and made me want to build a treasure hunt. Our Way Back to Always is more than a light, fun beach read. In the guise of YA romance, this contemporary novel explores themes of familial responsibility, grief, and self acceptance. I really liked it, and I can certainly see myself reading it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Pregnancy
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