Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp

Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet

by Laekan Zea Kemp

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 choose between disappointing her traditional Mexican-American parents or following her own path. When she confesses a secret she's been keeping, her world is sent into a tailspin. But then she meets a cute new hire at Nacho's who sees through her hard exterior and asks the questions she's been too afraid to ask herself.

Xander Amaro has been searching for home since he was a little boy. For him, a job at Nacho's is an opportunity for just that -- a chance at a normal life, to settle in at his abuelo's, and to find the father who left him behind. But when both the restaurant and Xander's immigrant status are threatened, he will do whatever it takes to protect his new found family and himself.

Together, Pen and Xander must navigate first love and discovering where they belong -- both within their families and their fiercely loyal Chicanx community -- in order to save the place they all call home.

Reviewed by Joséphine on

4 of 5 stars

Share
Initial thoughts: This is a book with heart. Pen's drive and desire only pushes her into one direction but also makes her blind to other people's feelings, especially her family. I thought her character development from beginning to end was really strong. It took me a while to warm up to her but I think that was the point because she always put on a front to appear strong in front of others. Xander's story arc wasn't as developed as Pen's but I was still rooting for him, and for things to turn out well, what with the loss of his parents at a young age, and his fear of being discovered as an undocumented immigrant.

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • 23 August, 2021: Started reading
  • 24 August, 2021: Finished reading
  • 24 August, 2021: Reviewed