A debut young adult novel that’s Pride & Prejudice with a dash of magic, about a booksmart teen who spends the summer in Mexico City, meets two very cute boys, attempts to learn Spanish, and uncovers a family secret that changes her life forever.
Lola Espinoza is cursed in love. Well, maybe not actually cursed — magic isn't real, is it? When Lola goes to spend the summer with her grandmother in Mexico City and meets handsome, flirtatious Rio, she discovers the unbelievable truth: Magic is very real, and what she'd always written off as bad luck is actually, truly . . . a curse. If Lola ever wants to fall in love without suffering the consequences, she'll have to break the curse. She finds an unlikely curse-breaking companion in Javi, a seemingly stoic boy she meets while working in her cousin's restaurant. Javi is willing to help Lola look into this family curse of hers, and Lola needs all the help she can get. Over the course of one summer — filled with food, family, and two very different boys — Lola explores Mexico City while learning about herself, her heritage, and the magic around us all.
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Gr 9 Up—Readers will fall for Lola, a character who loves to read and adores adventure. Lola travels to Mexico City to spend time with her grandmother. While Lola is adventurous, she's frustrated and feels she's been cursed in the love department. At the same time, she feels like magic does not exist and hopes she will someday find someone special. While in Mexico City, she meets the flirty Rio, who makes her realize that there actually is a curse stopping her from falling in love. The story progresses as a love triangle blooms, especially when she meets Javi, a nice but quiet—even standoffish—boy, whom she meets while working in her cousin's restaurant. What follows is an adventure, full of dramatic moments, as Javi, a curse breaker, attempts to help Lola; readers will not only relate to Lola but also to the confusion from falling for two very different boys. VERDICT This debut novel is cute and warm; it will keep readers flipping through the pages and swooning over the romantic moments, as well as interested in the well-written and engaging story.—Aurora Dominguez