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Quinceanera Club #2
Sisters, Strangers, and Starting Over
Sometimes the family you've lost can lead you to the family you need...
When Beatriz Sánchez-Milligan turned her back on her troubled sister, she ushered in a lifetime of regret. So when the niece Beatriz never knew she had appears on her doorstep--announcing that her mother has died--she can't help but see fourteen-year-old Celeste as a chance to redo the past . . . despite her own family's objections.
But Celeste is skittish around her new family. She can feel the tension radiating from her uncle and cousins and, despite her aunt's enthusiasm, is hesitant to share her dreams of the traditional quinceañera she and her mother had been planning. Overwhelmed, Celeste does what her mom did years ago: she vanishes. Terrified the past is repeating itself, Beatriz scrambles to uncover the mystery surrounding her sister's life and death?and build a future in which the niece she dearly loves is truly part of her family.
When Beatriz Sánchez-Milligan turned her back on her troubled sister, she ushered in a lifetime of regret. So when the niece Beatriz never knew she had appears on her doorstep--announcing that her mother has died--she can't help but see fourteen-year-old Celeste as a chance to redo the past . . . despite her own family's objections.
But Celeste is skittish around her new family. She can feel the tension radiating from her uncle and cousins and, despite her aunt's enthusiasm, is hesitant to share her dreams of the traditional quinceañera she and her mother had been planning. Overwhelmed, Celeste does what her mom did years ago: she vanishes. Terrified the past is repeating itself, Beatriz scrambles to uncover the mystery surrounding her sister's life and death?and build a future in which the niece she dearly loves is truly part of her family.
306 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 11, 2016
I picked this up at the library one visit and honestly, I don't remember much about it. :/ I did like it, but it just wasn't that memorable for me. I do remember that it had a lot of Spanish words mixed in, which I enjoyed. It made it seem more "real" if you know what I mean.
Beatriz is part of a large Hispanic family that has one dark secret in their past: her sister ran away from the family a long time ago and they don't hear anything else about her until her daughter suddenly turns up on Beatriz's doorstep needing answers and a place to live. This is a good book about family values and taking care of each other.
Blogged at SeeJennRead
Beatriz is part of a large Hispanic family that has one dark secret in their past: her sister ran away from the family a long time ago and they don't hear anything else about her until her daughter suddenly turns up on Beatriz's doorstep needing answers and a place to live. This is a good book about family values and taking care of each other.
Blogged at SeeJennRead
November 9, 2013
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I really liked the title but the story really doesn't fit the title. It isn't the sisters that start over but the aunt and her niece (the daughter of her estranged sister). Unfortunately the sister has died so Beatriz can't reconcile with her but she has an opportunity to get to know her niece and perhaps make up for turning her back on her sister when she needed help.
There is a lot going on in this story not just between Beatriz and her niece but also her husband and his sister and his sister's two kids and all their drama. Also Larry, the husband, is behaving badly over the situation with his wife and their niece. It's like a soap opera. Just warning you.
There is a lot going on in this story not just between Beatriz and her niece but also her husband and his sister and his sister's two kids and all their drama. Also Larry, the husband, is behaving badly over the situation with his wife and their niece. It's like a soap opera. Just warning you.
August 26, 2017
The characterization in this book was simply amazing. The characters acted like, talked like, and thought exactly like real people, which is a rare treasure in fiction.
I really enjoyed the story, sympathized with the characters' struggles, and was very happy for them when things went well. The only reason I knocked off one star was because the wrap-up seemed a little sudden, with all the pieces fitting together all at once.
I really enjoyed the story, sympathized with the characters' struggles, and was very happy for them when things went well. The only reason I knocked off one star was because the wrap-up seemed a little sudden, with all the pieces fitting together all at once.
April 4, 2011
My first Kindle read. Not the best literature out there, but an engaging story and quick read. For lovers of Latino fiction (especially Mexican), the Spanglish in this story will read like music to your ears. The characters and family situations in this story resembled my home life as a kid which is something I have never encountered in a story before. I look forward to reading more books in this series and other novels by Belinda Acosta.
August 21, 2015
I really liked this book. This is the second book I have had the pleasure of reading by this author. I look forward to more books in the future. There were a lot of interesting and important factors that were part of the storyline of this books. Highly recommend.
July 29, 2010
Read review at www.SententiaVera.com
December 7, 2010
I enjoyed reading this book. The story held my attention and felt believable.
January 11, 2011
It is a touching story, however a bit slow at times. The intertwined family relationships were realistic and familiar. I am looking forward to reading the next story by Belinda Acosta.
April 18, 2013
I liked this one a lot more than the first one.
June 24, 2014
Vacation read.
September 4, 2014
Loquats!
August 1, 2019
Once again, Belinda Acosta dazzles us with her unique writing style, which exudes a raw eloquence dripping with vibrant resonance.
Although complete opposites, Larry and Beatriz have an undivided love between them. Larry is the type of guy who would be there for Beatriz and would do anything for her—very rare in a man. When this strange, little girl shows up, he steps up, assuming the role of “the man.”
My heart goes out to all the characters, especially Celeste, whose world was turned upside down with being tossed into the street like garbage after the sudden death of her mom and then having to live with a horde of strangers—most of them boys.
The families were a constant reminder of my own, particularly the part where all the women were gossiping about the newcomer while the men were standing outside in silence, eating and drinking. I’d so much rather be outside.
Full of mysterious secrets you can’t wait to unravel, and everyone had secrets that tore at them like razor claws. The characters were well-drawn as they lure you into an emotional whirl of drama and sinking turmoil. What I found most interesting was that nearly everyone faced the decision of choosing sides—between the one they love and the familia (their blood.)
I did find it a bit cliché that there had to be a quinceañera, but, then again, this was a quinceañera novel. I would’ve liked it better if Beatriz or the reporter had tried to probe the mysterious death of her sister, Perla. She didn’t even try to find out who killed her (I would’ve liked to have known.) But I guess this novel was more concentrated on the drama rather than the suspense, otherwise it would be a thriller, right?
Nonetheless, this was a Mexican fiesta of words. Acosta mixes the traditional and the non-traditional in a powerful, insightful story.
Although complete opposites, Larry and Beatriz have an undivided love between them. Larry is the type of guy who would be there for Beatriz and would do anything for her—very rare in a man. When this strange, little girl shows up, he steps up, assuming the role of “the man.”
My heart goes out to all the characters, especially Celeste, whose world was turned upside down with being tossed into the street like garbage after the sudden death of her mom and then having to live with a horde of strangers—most of them boys.
The families were a constant reminder of my own, particularly the part where all the women were gossiping about the newcomer while the men were standing outside in silence, eating and drinking. I’d so much rather be outside.
Full of mysterious secrets you can’t wait to unravel, and everyone had secrets that tore at them like razor claws. The characters were well-drawn as they lure you into an emotional whirl of drama and sinking turmoil. What I found most interesting was that nearly everyone faced the decision of choosing sides—between the one they love and the familia (their blood.)
I did find it a bit cliché that there had to be a quinceañera, but, then again, this was a quinceañera novel. I would’ve liked it better if Beatriz or the reporter had tried to probe the mysterious death of her sister, Perla. She didn’t even try to find out who killed her (I would’ve liked to have known.) But I guess this novel was more concentrated on the drama rather than the suspense, otherwise it would be a thriller, right?
Nonetheless, this was a Mexican fiesta of words. Acosta mixes the traditional and the non-traditional in a powerful, insightful story.
November 5, 2022
I loved how the author made it realistic, of course the plot wouldn't happen to everyone but the character's feelings felt so real and understandable. Nothing in the book felt forced to me, the author didn't introduce any unnecessary plot twists and everything had a great ending to it. Although there wasn't any attempt to find out more about Perla's murder, this book wasn't about that, it's more about what happened after and how it affected her family. I will be honest, there were some parts I got frustrated at the characters because they were selfish but they way the author wrote it helped me understand their behaviours (except Lucy's, I didn't like her).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews