Viva Lola Espinoza!

Lola Espinoza studies hard, but when she receives a 'C' in Spanish, her father sends her to Mexico City to be with her family to learn the language. While there Lola encounters all the family drama and even learns about a family curse. Add to this she's drawn to two very different boys-handsome Rio and his more serious friend Javi. Lola works in one of her family's restaurants and learns much more than the language but that magic might in fact be around us all.

What worked: I loved this contemporary romance set in Mexico City. It's like a telenovela filled with chisma, family conflict, a curse, and two very different cute boys.

This story is much more than romance. It's a story of a teen learning not only about her Mexican heritage, but the power of family and her own path in life. Lola learns to think outside of the box and to take chances. Something the very studious side of her struggled with in the States.

I loved how the author shares not only the language, (kudos for not putting the language in italics), but also the rich culture, heritage, and foods. Lola's discovery of her own Mexican background is one I know will resonate with readers.

Engaging and fast-paced. The dialogue is authentic and adds to the richness of this story.

And finally, I liked the added touch of how Lola searched for how to break the family curse and what she learned along the way.

Heart-warming coming-of-age story. A love story shout-out to Mexico City, and finding your own place.