Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet

Laekan Zea Kemp (Goodreads Author)

4.48 · Rating details · 252 ratings · 101 reviews

I'm Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter meets Emergency Contact in this stunning story of first love, familial expectations, the power of food, and finding where you belong.

As an aspiring pastry chef, Penelope Prado has always dreamed of opening her own pastelería next to her father's restaurant, Nacho's Tacos. But her mom and dad have different plans -- leaving Pen to choos ...more

Get A Copy

Hardcover, 384 pages

Published April 6th 2021 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet

Lists with This Book

Wild Women and the Blues by Denny S. Bryce

The Most Beautiful Covers of 2021

99 books — 40 voters

Best books of April, 2021

46 books — 15 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.48 ·

Rating details

· 252 ratings · 101 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet

Jan 09, 2021 Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-ya-land, les-arcs-de-triomphes, poc-interracial

Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BITTER AND SWEET is a tough book to rate and I waffled between three and four stars because there were some things I really liked and some things that I didn't like quite as much. (For the record, three star reviews are the hardest to write because how do you say "yeah, I liked it, but I didn't REALLY like it and here's why?") This is the story of two Latinx teens with very different problems, who come together because ...more

flag 43 likes · Like · see review

Mar 04, 2021 Olivia (Stories For Coffee) added it · review of another edition

Shelves: latinx-mc, contemporary, foodie, audiobook

I absolutely loved this YA contemporary. It was so sweet and quick to read while also packing in some hard-hitting topics like being undocumented, moving out of your parent's house, struggling with a mental illness, dealing with strained familial relationships, and going after one's dreams.

I also loved how soft Xander and Penelope's romance was and how their aspirations and relationships with their families took center stage in this story rather than focusing solely on their budding relationshi ...more

flag 33 likes · Like · see review

Feb 16, 2021 Katie B rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, fiction, food, texas, read-in-2021, young-adult

3.5 stars

I'm not quite sure how to classify this YA read because it falls into more than one category. There's some romance but it's also a coming of age story. Regardless of how you want to label it, I enjoyed this book and was impressed with the different real world subjects the author was able to tackle in the story.

Penelope "Pen" Prado is an aspiring pastry chef and has worked in her father's restaurant, Nacho's Tacos, for years. Her dreams don't exactly match up with her parents' expectatio 3.5 stars

I'm not quite sure how to classify this YA read because it falls into more than one category. There's some romance but it's also a coming of age story. Regardless of how you want to label it, I enjoyed this book and was impressed with the different real world subjects the author was able to tackle in the story.

Penelope "Pen" Prado is an aspiring pastry chef and has worked in her father's restaurant, Nacho's Tacos, for years. Her dreams don't exactly match up with her parents' expectations and that leads to Pen taking a sink or swim course on this whole adulting thing.

Xander Amaro was raised by this grandfather after his father left him behind. Due to his immigration status Xander needs to fly under the radar and hopefully his new job at Nacho's Tacos will allow him to do so. Pen and Xander each have their own set of problems and after meeting, they form a connection. What could happen next?

The story alternates between Pen and Xander and I liked both characters. I do wish more time was spent on Pen's mental health issues as it could have been explored more in depth. Xander's storyline of wanting to search for his father did tug at the heartstrings as well as some other parts of the plot.

I received an uncorrected copy of this book and I do hope the derogatory term "bums" is edited out of the final version. It pops up in a conversation about potentially being homeless and people who dig cigarette butts out of public ashtrays. So much of the heart of the story is being a part of a community and helping others in need and it just did not make sense for the character to say it.

One other issue I had with the story is there were a few things that didn't seem realistic. The apartment was something I questioned for a couple different reasons. I also thought one of the plotlines wrapped up too nice and neat in regards to one of the characters. Trying to be vague so I don't give away spoilers.

Overall, this book is a pretty solid read as the cultural issues were fascinating and definitely underrepresented in ya fiction and really all genres.

I received an advance uncorrected proof but was not obligated to post a review here. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion. ...more

flag 25 likes · Like · see review

Jan 09, 2021 Elysian Fields rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, favorites

Oh my heart!!! This story is AMAZING! Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet is a story (and it is a story, not just a book) full of beauty, real issues, heartfelt moments, and courageous characters among many other things. My favorite read of the year buy far! I am so in love with this story. 💜💜

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet is a breathtaking, emotional and heart warming coming of age story that doesn’t shy away from difficult issues or sugar coat life. The pages are filled with real and raw mo Oh my heart!!! This story is AMAZING! Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet is a story (and it is a story, not just a book) full of beauty, real issues, heartfelt moments, and courageous characters among many other things. My favorite read of the year buy far! I am so in love with this story. 💜💜

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet is a breathtaking, emotional and heart warming coming of age story that doesn’t shy away from difficult issues or sugar coat life. The pages are filled with real and raw moments, both lovely and agonizing, both personal and social. This is a must-read story for all, one that needs to be celebrated and shared repeatedly. (I could praise this book for pages and pages, hours, and days but I will do my best to be concise. LOL.)

Something Between Bitter and Sweet is an elegant story about two young people, a community, and people in general. Pan, a young adult, who is trying to find her place, not only in the world, but within her family and within herself. Xander, and undocumented young man, trying to find answers to life and family where he belongs and is wanted; as well as a community that might struggle at times, but at the heart knows how to respect and support each other.

The story shows readers both the favorable and the more difficult aspects of life and growing up but also what it is like for people trying to change their circumstances within the world, their community, their family roles and with in themselves (so, all of us). This is all accomplished around a taco restaurant, Nacho’s Tacos, that has been part of the community for years; and the restaurant is a formidable character itself.

Helping wherever they can and with the most universal way of gathering and supporting food. The myriad of dishes mentioned made me both hungry and nostalgic. This story highlights amazing dishes, desserts and the love that goes into every bite.

However, Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet is more than a YA story of first love and growing up. The issues mentioned in the story are universal and affect us all; ones that all readers can relate to on some level: mental health, family structure and expectations, cultural and social issues, and romantic and friendship relationships, among many others. I found myself relating to the characters, their struggles, wanting to help (and wishing I could slide me number to them so that we cold talk and support each other). As I was reading this story, I found this entire cast to be not only my friends but by the end, part of my family.

The beauty of this story is not only in the development of the characters, their hearts, and actions but also in the inspiration the community provides for each other. There is a moment within the story (an entire chapter, chapter 21 to be exact) where I want to join in, I want to celebrate, I want to live in that moment for a while. I want to experience what it is like and to gather strength and support from it. It is truly an outstanding moment and written with such heart and beauty.

The language, the culture, the heart and the joy, the pain and the fear and the uncertain moments, the community and the love, the struggles and the trust, the respect and the beauty all come together to make this a must-read experience. I really hope others read this story and I really hope this becomes a story, a book that is required reading for all students. There are so many wonderful lessons within these pages, it would truly be a loss to miss out on this read.
…
There were a few words that came to mind while reading: Family, friends, food, human, relatable, heart, courage, emotional, vivid, real, raw, engaging, hope, faith and community.

If you need one more push to check this story out, here it is, the quote that stood out to me, that I think really defines the “bones/heart” of this story is this:

“Because in life, sometimes the only way to move forward is to do the scary thing. Especially when it’s the right thing… Courage isn’t a currency, and claiming it isn’t a game. The things that scare us aren’t roadblocks but mirrors, and bravery isn’t about shattering our reflection, it’s about having the strength to look.”
See, pure beauty!

Check out this book for more here information or to pre-order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08F4ZTGHC/... ...more

flag 24 likes · Like · see review

Dec 27, 2020 Elena L. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

[4.5/5 stars]

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BITTER AND SWEET follows Pen, a young Latina who works at her father's Mexican restaurant Nacho's Tacos and has a dream of opening her own pastelería. However, her Mexican-American parents have different plans for her. When she meets a new hire at Nacho's, Xander, they navigate into a journey of self-discovery and belonging.

What a beautiful debut YA novel! To begin with, I really loved the cultural aspects in this novel as I felt like swimming in a sea of Mexican [4.5/5 stars]

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BITTER AND SWEET follows Pen, a young Latina who works at her father's Mexican restaurant Nacho's Tacos and has a dream of opening her own pastelería. However, her Mexican-American parents have different plans for her. When she meets a new hire at Nacho's, Xander, they navigate into a journey of self-discovery and belonging.

What a beautiful debut YA novel! To begin with, I really loved the cultural aspects in this novel as I felt like swimming in a sea of Mexican culture - the authenticity of language plus portraying food as cultural identity and demonstration of love warmed my heart. Kemp dives deep into the theme of
familial expectations, which Pen has to choose between her own freedom to pursue her dreams or to fulfill her parents' unaccomplished whishes. I could relate at some degree to Pen's experience while being an immigrant and also daughter of immigrants - the struggles are real when it comes to decide the better choice to your life without failing your family.

In a different situation from Pen, Xander deals with sometimes harsh complexities of his undocumented status. I didn't need much effort to empathize with his relentless sentiment of being invisible in addition to the fear that daily haunts him. His interaction with Pen was organic and heartfelt; and I thought that we couldn't find a better supporter than Xander.
Although I wasn't invested in all the side characters, they felt like a big family and were well-built to complement the main characters.

From moments when Pen needs to find where she belongs to occasions which she/her family/Xander fights the helplessness, the story doesn't hold back showing us the many challenges that Chicanx community faces in the US. I was ultimately moved by their resilience and the last part of the book opened my eyes to a different perspective of how resilience works.
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BITTER AND SWEET is a contemporary Latinx story about first love, the power of food and the meaning of home.

[ I received an ARC from the publisher - Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - in exchange for an honest review ] ...more

flag 22 likes · Like · see review

Nov 04, 2020 Laekan Kemp rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

**INSTRUMENTAL SOUNDTRACK COMING SOON**
http://www.laekanzeakemp.com/music

PRE-ORDER: https://bit.ly/3639XEX
Enter the PRE-ORDER Campaign: http://www.laekanzeakemp.com/preorder

This story is a little piece of my heart & soul & a kaleidoscope view of so many important people & moments in my life.

Pen's mental health struggles mirror the mental health journey I've been on since my late teens & the conflict with her parents comes from those same late teen / early college years when my father was sick, m **INSTRUMENTAL SOUNDTRACK COMING SOON**
http://www.laekanzeakemp.com/music

PRE-ORDER: https://bit.ly/3639XEX
Enter the PRE-ORDER Campaign: http://www.laekanzeakemp.com/preorder

This story is a little piece of my heart & soul & a kaleidoscope view of so many important people & moments in my life.

Pen's mental health struggles mirror the mental health journey I've been on since my late teens & the conflict with her parents comes from those same late teen / early college years when my father was sick, my mother & I weren't getting along & it felt like my entire world was falling apart.

The setting of the restaurant has more joyful origins & was inspired by my partner's hilarious stories of working in a restaurant in our hometown. I loved all of their quirky traditions & inside jokes & wanted to use that environment to explore this idea of found families & belonging.

Then came Xander's character who is the embodiment of the resilience & bravery of my former students. I taught English as a Second Language for four years & got to see up close what it’s like for them & their families to navigate our ridiculous immigration system. I am in awe of their ability to persevere under those circumstances & I wanted Xander's character to capture their incessant hopefulness & endless compassion. They showed me what it really means to belong to & care for a community.

I hope that when people read this story they will see that the Mexican & Chicanx community is beautiful. That we are resilient, creative, powerful, loving, and proud. That we take care of each other. That we fight for each other. And that we will keep fighting together whether those battles are internal & require us to break down stigmas & talk about our heartbreak & trauma or those battles are coming from the outside world & require us to stand tall, to raise our voices, to lock arms & march. We deserve to take up space & we deserve to follow our dreams. This book being out in the world is one of mine & I can't wait to share it with all of you. ...more

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Aug 11, 2020 Laura H. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I am so excited for the release of this novel! I have several teenagers in my life that would benefit deeply from the discussions of passion, identity, and mental health. Penelope and Xander come across as incredibly relatable. Their struggle to deal with their emotional lives is taken with great care by the author, showing that fear and anxiety aren’t meant to be swallowed. Their relationship is a great example of how important it is to be willing to reach out, which is an awesome lesson in its ...more

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Aug 13, 2020 Ben Beach rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

In Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet, Kemp has managed to capture the way that "between-ness" is truly a part of our world. Life, love, family, friends, food - nothing is all sweet, all the time. Nor would we actually want it to be. Although we might at times wish for a little less of the bitter, reality often has other ideas.

And so it is for Pen and Xander, as they face the bitter of real life and search for the sweet. They find just how unexpected it can be to encounter both. In the process, ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Apr 14, 2020 Sam Taylor rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

LOVED THIS. A marvelously well-written YA contemporary about family and becoming an adult and finding your place in the world. The food descriptions are phenomenal and the characters are well-developed and will carry you through their dreams. I was sucked right into the story from the start. Yet another outstanding book to watch for in 2021!

flag 13 likes · Like · see review

Jul 19, 2020 Jig rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet is a beautiful, “coming of age” love story. It is refreshing to read a story about a beautiful, young LATIN woman! One of the main characters, Pen, is struggling to find her true self. While, Xander is looking for a sense of belonging. I like how the author switches from Pen’s perspective to Xander’s. It allows the reader to dive deeply into each character and fully understand their internal conflicts. Additionally, the story helps the reader understand the man ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Aug 01, 2020 Keri Burns rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Every night that I picked up this book, the clock had hours pass before I could convince myself to finally put it down for sleep. The characters are so wonderful and strong and sincere that I had to know what would happen to them. I loved everything about this book but especially the dual POV. I want to be Pen! She is so brave and fierce and loving and honest and imperfect and real. I hope every girl finds her own Xander! He is selfless and gentle and strong and smart and lives with his heart wi ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Aug 03, 2020 Stephany Gaines rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This beautifully crafted story is told from the first-person perspectives of a female and male protagonist. Pen and Xander are both trying to navigate the transition between dependence and independence, adolescence and adulthood, and self-discovery with tight familial ties. Their stories stem from American born and immigrant experiences and an instant connection between their passion for food and culture. The author's masterful use of imagery brings the sights, tastes, sounds, and raw emotions t ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Sep 03, 2020 Halli Gomez rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I was very lucky to get an eARC of this book. It was such a wonderful read. Told in dual POVs, Pen and Xander, we learn what a family really is. This book is filled with heart and struggle as these two young adults fight against society, family, and themselves as they figure out what the future holds for them. Readers will be able to relate to both characters.

The characters in this story were well-developed and had such unique feelings and voices, yet they came together so beautifully. And the f ...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Feb 02, 2021 Toya (the reading chemist) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet is that book that transported me back to my restaurant worker days and being surrounded by the magic of the food in New Mexico.

I’ll be honest, I was not the biggest fan of Pen when the book started off. She’s hotheaded, impatient, and thrives off emasculating men. BUT, there’s more to her exterior shell...a deep passion for cooking and her family’s restaurant including everyone who works in it.

Unfortunately, Stella’s family doesn’t want her to bear the burden ...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Aug 09, 2020 Mn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Truly could relate to the Cultural aspects of the novel. The author's message resonate with me , as an Immigrant parent and wanted whats the best for my daughters. Then again , our children do have their own dream and aspiration, so an Immigrant parent at time we have to let go of our expectation of our children, but Remember and Respect that you are not living their life. Thry are , so what made them feel fulfilled, thats all you could Hope for.
So blessed to be part of this amazing journey wit ...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Jul 17, 2020 Barbara Ixba rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp is a story about finding love and expressing that love in unexpected and meaningful ways. This is a coming of age story for the 21st century. The characters are vibrant and relatable, and the storyline is engaging. I would highly recommend this book to my students.

I received an ARC of this work.

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 30, 2021 Hilda Burgos rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Kemps' characters feel so real that you can't help but sit on the edge of your seat and root for them. A must-read! ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Dec 23, 2020 SweetheartSeerBooks rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

4.5 rounded up.

Won a physical ARC.

This book was so good and the family dynamic was amazing.

I loved Pen and her actions during an interview with a rude person are what I feel most of us only wish we could have done during an interview at some point. Iconic!

I also liked how depression was included in being portrayed after medication as it seems I don't see that aspect much in literature.

Xander was such a sweet guy and I adored his Abuelo.

Chloe and Angel I was rooting for them, but we didn't reall ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2021 Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

If you want a delectable young adult contemporary romance that will not only pierce your heart and get your salivary glands working overtime, but will also challenge your thinking and give readers more than just your typical romance... well, you'll want to eat this one right up.

Pen and Xander are our main characters and you immediately grow to love and root for each of them. Pen is dealing with familial expectations vs her own dreams and Xander is undocumented and looking for his father, who doe ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Feb 10, 2021 Leslie - Shobizreads rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Thanks to @librofm for the gifted audio listening copy of this book.

Fans of YA like With Fire on High, I'm Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and We Are Not From Here will enjoy Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet.

This novel explores the story of undocumented immigrants in Austin, Texas. Penelope and Xander are brought together by working at a local restaurant, Nacho's Tacos. Pen's father owns Nacho's Tacos, where her older brother is the manager. In reality, Pen lives, eats and breathes Nacho's T ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 12, 2020 Effy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: giveaway-wins, 2020-read, home-library, ya

4.5 stars

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 28, 2021 Susan Ballard rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-on-other-apps, books-i-own

Penelope “Pen” Prado has big dreams. She works in her family’s restaurant, Nacho’s Tacos, but wants to open her own pasteleria one day. The problem is her parents want her to go to college.

Pen finally musters up the courage to tell her parents she hasn’t been going to classes, but she couldn’t have dreamed of their reaction. Her father fires her from the restaurant, the place where her heart lives.

As Pen is finishing her last shift, a new hire is being trained, Xander Amaro. Xander has been sea ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 09, 2021 Booksandcoffeepleasemx rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Thank you LibroFm and Hachette Audio for giving me this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This story stole my heart, I don’t know where to begin with what it made me feel.
A beautiful story about family, love, identity, culture and the power of food, Mexican food!🇲🇽🥳
This book was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. I loved it and I can’t wait to read more books from this author.

http://www.instagram.com/booksandcoff... ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 27, 2021 Pretty_x_bookish rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

FANTASTIC! This book was soooo good - the character work was superb.

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 13, 2021 Lindsay rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I received a free audiobook copy from the publisher.
This was a great YA story about family: how family hurts you, leaves you, loves you and supports you. A great cast of fun characters added some lightness to what is otherwise a pretty heavy story. Very touching and insightful, I greatly enjoyed this one!

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 04, 2021 Mary rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars

Such a feel good story!

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 17, 2021 Madison rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary

I love books about/that feature food. They are also slightly torturous because food and that makes me hungry. And this book had me serious hungry for Mexican flavours and culinary delights. Of course, what sits so beautifully alongside this story of passion for food and the love that goes into their cooking is a heartbreaking story of belonging.

Penelope Prado knows where she belongs. She dreams of running her own bakery, and building it right next to her family's restaurant. Her father disagree I love books about/that feature food. They are also slightly torturous because food and that makes me hungry. And this book had me serious hungry for Mexican flavours and culinary delights. Of course, what sits so beautifully alongside this story of passion for food and the love that goes into their cooking is a heartbreaking story of belonging.

Penelope Prado knows where she belongs. She dreams of running her own bakery, and building it right next to her family's restaurant. Her father disagrees, and when Pen finally tells her parents she has dropped out of school and walked away from the life they wanted for her, they refuse to speak to her and her father fires her from the restaurant. Pen is an incredibly strong character - and not just because the guys in the kitchen completely and utterly fear her (which is awesome, by the way). Pen has a history of depression, anxiety and self harm. With her future so uncertainly and her risking everything to chase what feels right, but not really sure how to actually move forward, Pen finds herself wrestling with her mental demons again.

Xander just wants to belong. He is undocumented and is constantly on edge and looking over his shoulder. He also wants to track down his father, who left his family and moved to the States, but doing so might break his Abuelo's heart. Xander is currently living with his Abuelo and starts working at Pen's family's restaurant. Xander doesn't see the hard exterior everyone else sees when they look at Pen. Instead, much to Pen's disgust, Xander sees her at a weak moment and admires her strength all the more for it. For Xander, the restaurant is a place to belong - even if it is among the crazy, constantly pranking (and puking, there is a serious amount of drug and gross puking in this book, just warning you) co-workers.

The romance between Xander and Pen is what I am going to describe as slow burn. But my gosh, do they understand and support each other, which is so incredibly sweet. Together, and with their community, they must stand up against horrible racial discrimination and exploitation.

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet is a beautiful, funny, uplifting story of family and belonging, food and the love that is poured into every mouthful.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 06, 2021 Olivia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: other-reviews

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BITTER AND SWEET is a highly devourable YA romance/contemporary fiction. The story follows two young adults, Pen and Xander. Pen works at her father's restaurant and one day dreams of opening her own bakery. Her parents have a different dream for her, and they have enrolled her in college - but it is not the future she wants. When she reveals the lie she has been telling her parents, she gets an ultimatum she never anticipated - but she is ready to rise from the ashes.

Xander is SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BITTER AND SWEET is a highly devourable YA romance/contemporary fiction. The story follows two young adults, Pen and Xander. Pen works at her father's restaurant and one day dreams of opening her own bakery. Her parents have a different dream for her, and they have enrolled her in college - but it is not the future she wants. When she reveals the lie she has been telling her parents, she gets an ultimatum she never anticipated - but she is ready to rise from the ashes.

Xander is undocumented and lives with his abuelo. He knows his father is somewhere in the United States but hasn't heard from him or seen him since he was little. He really wants to be able to find him, but it is difficult to find someone who does not seem to want to be found. When he is given an opportunity to work at Pen's father's restaurant, he is surprised at how much of a family the workers all are and the unexpected ways in which they serve the community.

As Xander and Pen collide, their worlds are certain to change.

What I loved: Although the romance is powerful and strong (a totally ship-worthy couple), the book really shines for its many critical and potent themes. There is a theme about mental illness that is handled fairly well, particularly in terms of insights into the way it must be culturally ignored but also in the strength of facing it and seeking treatments (in the past). There are also really strong themes about family - both blood and found families, and the importance of those relationships in life and for personal growth.

There are also some deeper themes around the fear and uncertainties with being undocumented. Xander must always keep this in mind, and it's a heavy weight. The book also touches on predatory lending and the inability of law enforcement to adequately protect the people it serves around these issues as well as the ability of the wealthy and powerful to stand above it all.

There is a lot of love in the book that really shines through. There is friend love, family love, romantic love, neighborly love, community love, and so many more threads that connect these characters to the people around them. I definitely fell in love with all of it. Xander and Pen felt so genuine and real, as well as those characters around them - this book really brought this world to life, and I loved every second spent in it.

This was a highly emotional read and gave me all the feels. It's difficult to express all of them here, but I really enjoyed the sorrow, the depth, and the happiness that I experienced throughout. On a lighter note, I also felt pretty hungry, because the food passion also shines through the characters.

Final verdict: A powerful, genuine, and touching read, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BITTER AND SWEET is a thought-provoking YA contemporary fiction that is positively unputdownable. Highly recommend for fans of TWEET CUTE, STAY SWEET, and NORTH OF HAPPY.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 06, 2021 Laura rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Penelope "Pen" Prado is a strong, fierce commanding presence at her father's restaurant. Everyone runs in fear of her but that is the image she projects to protect herself. She lies to her parents over a huge part of her life and they decide it's time she leaves the restaurant and their house.

Xander starts work at the restaurant on her last day. He's drawn to her and he keeps finding himself next to her. His search for his father his whole life has him living with his Abuelo. The restaurant is ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2021 Daphne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporaries, diverse, mental-health

I’d rate more as 3.75 stars.

I received an ARC from TheNovl for an honest review.

This was my first book by this author and it caught my attention because of the interesting synopsis and that food is involved- I’ll always be interested if there’s promise of food. I loved the Latinx representation, and the food made me so hungry while reading. The book is written in the dual POVs of Pen (Penelope) Prado + Xander (Alejandro) Amaro, and the story is set in Texas, but firmly focused on their local c I’d rate more as 3.75 stars.

I received an ARC from TheNovl for an honest review.

This was my first book by this author and it caught my attention because of the interesting synopsis and that food is involved- I’ll always be interested if there’s promise of food. I loved the Latinx representation, and the food made me so hungry while reading. The book is written in the dual POVs of Pen (Penelope) Prado + Xander (Alejandro) Amaro, and the story is set in Texas, but firmly focused on their local community. Both main characters face difficulties in their personal lives, and their paths cross when Xander starts working at Pen’s father’s restaurant, Nacho’s Tacos.

Pen loves cooking, specifically baking, and hopes to open up her own pastelería in the future. She cares deeply for the restaurant, loves it, yet her parents don’t want that life for her. Her and her parents’ differing visions for her future causes a wedge between them, and she’s thrown into a new direction of life early on in the book, forced to make “adult” decisions for herself because of that. Pen struggles with self-doubt, insecurity, and depression, and mental health is one of the main topics covered by the book. It was hard, reading of her feelings of hurt and betrayal caused by her parents’ decision, and that extremely “tough love” mentality, especially from her father. Pen is stronger than she knows though, and resilient despite her inner doubts. She tries to act tough and takes no nonsense from anyone else, but is secretly vulnerable, and I rooted for her through the difficult times she faced.

Xander felt like a calmer presence compared to Pen, and is sweet and considerate. He’s searching for his father and hasn’t had any answers or closure as to why his father disappeared years ago. He lives with his abuelo, but is in the country illegally, so has to continuously live with that fear of being discovered by law enforcement. His parts in the book are mainly about his search for his father, that fear of deportation, and his interactions with Pen and his newfound family from his workplace.

The book kind of throws you into the thick of things from the beginning, what with the chaotic energy of the restaurant, the introduction of the messy family made up of Nacho’s Tacos employees, and Pen’s roiling thoughts. It was a little disorienting at first, and the writing a bit weird to me in the beginning, but it seemed to flow more smoothly later on. As for the romance, it ended up being sweet, but the way the two characters fell for one another didn’t feel organic/natural the way romances that are written well do. It wasn’t bad, but I felt like it was missing something. For me, the highlights of the book were the feelings of community and togetherness from all the interactions between the main characters and the more minor characters— all the myriad personalities and their presence and function in their tight-knit community, and the way Pen and Xander grow as people and overcome their problems.

On top of both of the MCs’ individual issues was the threat of JP/ El Martillo, who is a danger to their community and a man without conscience. He brings a layer of drama to story. The book ends in a way that still has uncertainties and doubts to the future even though it ends satisfyingly enough, which made things feel more realistic. It’s not all magically wrapped up in a completely perfect solution. The book is about the struggles and difficulties of growing up, changes to your evolving self and the world around you, and of family, love, community, and covers two instances of Latinx experiences growing up in the U.S. Overall, a great diverse read, and full of quotable lines that hit you in the feels. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Young Adult

59 users

Contemporary

54 users

Romance

35 users

Young Adult > Young Adult Contemporary

14 users

Audiobook

12 users

Fiction

11 users

Health > Mental Health

9 users

Realistic Fiction

7 users

Young Adult > Young Adult Romance

4 users

Young Adult > Teen

4 users

See top shelves…

About Laekan Zea Kemp

Laekan Zea Kemp

419 followers

Laekan Zea Kemp is a writer living in Austin, Texas. She received her B.A. in Creative Writing from Texas Tech University and her M.F.A. in Teaching from the University of North Texas. She’s the author of the paranormal romance series, The Girl In Between, and the forthcoming young adult novel, Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet. When she’s not writing she’s religiously re-watching Buffy the Vampi ...more