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“Castellanos crafts a sweet, delicious story that thoughtfully turns immigrant-parent stereotypes on their head and rightfully notes that ‘sometimes letting something go is the only way forward.’”

– Booklist, Starred Review

“The perfect combination of food, romance, and treachery. [R]omantics and foodies will clamor for this debut.”

– School Library Journal

“A sweet and delectable love story.”

– Kirkus Reviews

Guava and Grudges

Written by Alexis Castellanos
Published by Bloomsbury YA

Ana Maria Ybarra dreams of becoming a pastry chef. She loves developing new and exciting Cuban-fusion treats in her family’s bakery, but her dad refuses to change the menu created by her abuelo decades ago-meanwhile, the rival bakery across the street, Morales Bakery, is thriving with their Instagram-famous desserts.

Ana Maria’s only hope to change her dad’s mind and save up for culinary school is winning a recipe competition with a social media angle. But then the ultimate distraction shows up in her small town: Miguel, a boy she spent one magical day with six months ago, and who she never thought she’d see again. Ana Maria thinks maybe fate has brought them together again-until she learns the horrible truth. Miguel is a Morales.

An Ybarra cannot be associated with a Morales, let alone fall for one. But when she finds out Miguel is behind the Moraleses’ viral success and he offers to help her with the competition, she is so desperate to win she can’t turn him down. All she needs to do is keep Miguel at arm’s length and make sure their families don’t find out. After all, teaming up with Miguel is just business and nothing more…right?

Primary ISBN: 9781547613717
Publication Date: September 2024
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Young Adult, Age 12 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: United States (Washington)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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