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Vizcaya

by Lina Rivera (Goodreads Author)

4.55 of 5 stars 4.55 · rating details · 11 ratings · 10 reviews

Nikki is a self-motivated teen whose life is exactly how she wants it, but that all changes when she goes to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens to work on a school project. There she meets a spoiled rich girl named Nelli who is only interested in one person - Nikki's boyfriend, Diego. In this coming of age novel, an unlikely friendship is born as the three teens embark togethe...more

Paperback, 326 pages

Published February 1st 2012 by CreateSpace

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Jun 12, 2012 Simcsa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-realistic-ya, read-in-english, read-in-2012, annoying-love-triangle

A month or two ago I was asked to review Vizcaya. I read the synopsis and found it kind of dull, so I opened the pdf I was sent to at least go over the first chapter. A little while later I was on chapter 4, desperate because I had to learn for my school leaving exams and I didn't have any time. Here I could tell you how I was forced to put off Vizcaya for ages, but I don't want you to doze off before I get to the point. Vizcaya is better than the synopsis indicates. Perhaps, it's not the best n...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Vanessa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, must-read, my-library, young-adult-contemporary-romance

As a whole, Vizcaya really captured my emotions as much as the nature captures and inspires Diego. I was left feeling a bit melancholic when the book has ended. A part of me wanted to read more, to find out if everything between Diego and Nikki had gone well or the otherwise, whereas another part simply wanted the story to end just the way it is. Nonetheless, all I can conclude about Vizcaya is it is captivating, worthwhile and truly a page-turner. Recommended to readers who adore a great YA con...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Maika Chery rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read an advance copy of this book and I was immediately captivated by the world of Vizcaya. The characters were funny, heartbreaking, beautiful, and frustrating all at once. I loved having access into various lead characters point of view, it just made it that much more engaging. Elvis is by far the unsung hero, and Nikki is perfect in an omgthisisamazinglikewhoa way. It's a great coming of age story, and the ending made the entire ride worth it. I'll be sure to find my way to vizcaya, figurat...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Deanna rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had nearly given up on the young adult genre before reading this book (I'm looking at you, Twilight), but after reading the very well-written Vizcaya, I have been drawn back in. This story delves into some hard-to-deal-with teenage issues, but it isn't gloomy or depressing.

Vizcaya does a wonderful job exploring the teenage experience. As an adult, reading this book was somewhat nostalgic for me. This book makes you chuckle about your first kiss, get angry all over again about your best friend...more

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May 25, 2012 John Egbert rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: youre-doin-it-right, finally-a-good-book

Spoilers ahead!

I put this book down and was satisfied. I thought, huh, now that was a good read.

Vizcaya is multi narrated by Nikki, Nelli and Diego. Nikki and Diego are going out, then Diego meets Nelli at Vizcaya while she's modelling and decides she's the best thing since sliced cheese. Naturally, being his girlfriend and all, Nikki gets pissed and after attempting to pull his attention back to only her with no avail she drops him like a hot potato. Nelli takes her chance here and starts dati...more Spoilers ahead!

I put this book down and was satisfied. I thought, huh, now that was a good read.

Vizcaya is multi narrated by Nikki, Nelli and Diego. Nikki and Diego are going out, then Diego meets Nelli at Vizcaya while she's modelling and decides she's the best thing since sliced cheese. Naturally, being his girlfriend and all, Nikki gets pissed and after attempting to pull his attention back to only her with no avail she drops him like a hot potato. Nelli takes her chance here and starts dating Diego, much to Nikki's dismay.

And it only goes up from there.

The thing I loved about Vizcaya was that, even though I felt it was a little long, it snagged and kept my attention. I was never bored. It was lovely.

I'm unsure who I like more between Nikki, Nelli and Diego but I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to go with Nelli. Diego, although I didn't outright dislike him, ticked me at times. I can understand that he didn't know which girl he liked more but he took too long to figure it out. And when he did it was pretty much too late to spare any hurt feelings, which was a pity. Nikki, although I had no major issues with her either, was pretty selfish. In the end it's nice that she got some sense and told Diego what needed to be said, but like Diego she took way too long. And I really don't like how it took her until the end to realize that she was pretty much on the same level as Nelli. As Elvis said, who is my second favorite character after Nelli, we are all a product of our environment. Which reminds me, Elvis was awesome.

It was like, Rivera managed to get the whole friendzoning thing that usually YA authors do so poorly exactly right. Elvis outright told Nikki that although he would want to be in a relationship with her, he was fine with just being friends and didn't want to lose that. And Nikki wasn't made out to be selfish for not being romantically interested in him even though he was always there for her. Common sense in action, people, common sense in action!

Nelli and her family were one of my favorite parts about this book. Her father, especially. I took a strange delight when he pulled Diego aside and gave him that if-you-ever-hurt-my-daughter speech that we all know and love. (Except this speech had a nice refreshing threat of pulling out Diego's intestines and shoving them down his throat until he choked. Some YA dads just don't go far enough with the threats. *shakes head sadly*)

I think I could go on and on about this book, but I should probably stop now. It was surely a 5 star for me, because I could easily go back over the favorite parts I like and re-read them with just as much joy as the first time. I'd recommend wholeheartedly to any lovers of YA!(less)

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Aug 20, 2012 Laura Martinelli rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, young-adult

*An ebook copy was kindly provided to me by the author. Thank you so much!*

Mixed feelings. On the one hand, I generally liked the exploration of the relationship between Nikki, Diego and Nelli. I like that their own wants and desires get fully explored, and that their uncertainty about post-high school life really shines and comes into play. Unfortunately, what I didn’t like was Nelli and how her relationship and friendship with Diego and Nikki develops.

I liked that none of the three main char...more *An ebook copy was kindly provided to me by the author. Thank you so much!*

Mixed feelings. On the one hand, I generally liked the exploration of the relationship between Nikki, Diego and Nelli. I like that their own wants and desires get fully explored, and that their uncertainty about post-high school life really shines and comes into play. Unfortunately, what I didn’t like was Nelli and how her relationship and friendship with Diego and Nikki develops.

I liked that none of the three main characters has a definitive idea of what they want to do with their lives. Nikki and Diego know that they want to do something with art, but there’s a sense of aimlessness about their goals. I liked that Diego felt out of place at school and was really only scraping by until he could legally leave. I especially liked that even though he really wants to be an artist, Diego has to figure out about what to do with galleries and showings and training. Same with Nikki—I liked that even though she was driven, and that she had goals, she really had no idea of what she was going to major in college. I liked her growing fascination with shapes and architecture, and that she genuinely loves it. What makes all of this character development work is that we’re following Diego and Nikki around for three years—I can’t think of many standalone YA novels that take place over several years (flashbacks/forwards, prologues and epilogues excluded), much less the majority of high school. (Oh, and more Elvis in the book. He was awesome.)

So Nelli. I liked her in the beginning, where she had feelings for Diego, but sensibly backed away, and when she was trying to become friends with Nikki. I started losing my sympathy for her when she started chasing Diego because she “gets what [she] wants.” It’s shown throughout the whole book that Nelli is a spoiled rich girl, who every boy desires and no one ever says no to her. I just never see any growth on Nelli’s part into being a better person. We find out how her mother’s manipulated Nelli into fulfilling her failed dreams of stardom, and while Nelli acknowledges that she’s been manipulating Diego and Nikki, I didn’t really see her trying to atone for her mistakes.

And I hate girl jealousy with a passion. A lot of Nikki and Nelli’s plot is “I hate her, but I can’t be a bitch to her!” on both ends. I get the awkward teenage-ness of not being able to spit out one’s true feelings, but after having Nelli jerk her around for three years, I was hoping for Nikki to tell the other girl off. There is one good Nikki moment along these lines, when she realizes that she can’t be friends with Nelli, even on a superficial level, because of Diego. But mainly, can we please stop perpetuating the idea that all girls are natural enemies and out to steal everyone else’s boyfriends? Please?

The relationship building in this book is strong, and like I said, I liked that we actually get to see teens develop and grow over several years instead of weeks or months. However, the whole love triangle and my lack of sympathy for Nelli did lessen a lot of my enjoyment of this book.
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Feb 21, 2013 Marleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

One of my favorite things about reading this book is how alive Vizcaya in particular and Miami in general feel. Reading it made me want to get in my car and drive down south for some sun and much needed shopping. I also really appreciate a story about American kids of Latino heritage that didn't try hard to be a "Latino Book." These kids happen to be Latino, they happen to speak in Spanglish, but overall they are teenagers.

I will say that it reads a little long and that at time the dialogue fee...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Donna Broadway rated it 5 of 5 stars

Two chapters in, I thought "this is a good book," and it is. This book picks up right away and ends very well. All the characters are well rounded and well written. Even villaness Nelli becomes a sympathetic character at the end. I'll admit, I did think there would be some jaw-dropping twists but I'm glad there weren't because it would have been a different story-and not in a good way. This is a great book for the avid reader in your life.

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Mar 02, 2012 Jess rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved reading this book about four kids(never forget ELVIS) coming of age. I was drawn in with drama of it all, but there was nothing over the top or far fetched. Everything was so believable and relatable in this story and I think it ended perfectly with the journey they were on.

TWO THUMBS UP!

Read it for yourself and you'll love it like I do.

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May 23, 2012 Snem rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really found this book entertaining and felt that there was enough drama and strong writing that it could be a series. Some of the dialog between adults and the teens was a little weak, but it was like reading an episode of Gossip Girl and I liked that. Proud to read a young adult novel centered around Latinos!

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Shelves: own, e-book, review-books, own-haven-t-read-yet, will-finish-one-day

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Shelves: young-adult, freebie, romance

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May 18, 2012 Gina rated it 5 of 5 stars

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About Lina Rivera

Lina Rivera was raised in Orlando, Florida where she caught the writing bug early on in elementary school after her teacher showed her how to make her own book. Excited by this idea, she ran home and made her first picture book which she bound with yarn and read to her mom.

Lina attended the University of Southern California where she majored in Creative Writing and minored in Photography. After gr...more

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