Jessica Parra

"That's the trouble with bending. It was impossible to know how far to go before you broke."

Reading Rubi Ramos's Recipes for Success by Jassica Parra was the highlight of my week. It was witty, heartwarming, and overall a joy to experience. This is a debut novel that features stellar writing, larger than life characters and a whole lot of heart. I was so captivated by the story that I can't believe this is Parra's first novel.

Rubi Ramos is a protagonist I won't easily forget because I related so much to her issues. She's Afro-Latina, a daughter of immigrants dealing with racism, white saviorism in college admissions and at the same time carrying the heavy weight of her parents' expectations of the American Dream and her own feelings of imposter syndrome and FOMO. She has a strained relationship with her mother because of her rigid expectations and the unresolved trauma from Cuba. Rubi longs to connect to her Cuban roots through baking but her parents want her to pursue law instead as a way to avoid the struggle they had to go through to make ends meet. Rubi is afraid to chase her own dreams because of the guilt she feels about feeling indebted to her parents for their sacrifices. Parra did an amazing job showing how some immigrant parents value assimilation and education over creativity and arts and how the weight of trying to make independent choices for yourself can be paralyzing and anxiety provoking.

Although this one tackled heavy themes in Latinx culture, Parra managed to give us a sweet romance that didn't overpower the story, supportive teenage friendship and acceptance, lots of Cuban culture and lots of yummy food and baking. Do yourselves a favor treat yourself to the beauty that is this story. Parra is an author to keep your eye on in the future. Thanks to @wednesdaybooks for sending me a gifted copy.… (más)