Guava and Grudges

Gr 10 Up–Star-crossed lovers whose embattled families have a history running competing Cuban bakeries take the figurative cake in an enemies-to-lovers romance. Salivating over the pastries is only the half of it. The discovery that Ana Maria and Miguel cannot be together is a new twist after Miguel moves to the area. His family’s last name wasn’t a topic of discussion when the two spent a decadent day together six months ago. Their secret collaboration for Ana Maria to win a recipe competition using Miguel’s photography will not only get them in trouble with their families but uncover the real traitor. The perfect combination of food, romance, and treachery is the hallmark of Castellanos’s book. Readers will be turning pages as the plot is a balance of sweet and sour notes but with expected swoon-worthy outcomes. Plus, the cast of secondary characters are as vividly realized as the main ones, including a hot-headed dad and a supportive best friend. Likewise, the serious treatment of baked goods enlivens the senses; this multisensory experience is the cornerstone of the romance subcategory that is yearned for and highlights, in this instance, the cultural intricacies of Cuban food with dazzling writing.