Flirting with Fate follows the story of Ava who is afraid she has missed her blessing. Ava is the youngest of 3 sisters. The women in their family have been able to pass blessings along from generation to generation, but only on their deathbed. When their grandmother passes, Ava is not able to make it before she passes to collect her blessing. As Ava tries to find her blessing, she falls into an unexpected relationship with the boy who got her blessing by mistake.

This is a sweet YA romance, with ghosts/saints, and beautiful sister relationships.

I would consider this book more middle grade than young adult. It fell a little flat for me. I wasn't super into the plot and the characters didn't have enough substance for me. The romance was cute but underdeveloped and I didn't really fall in love with the characters. Ultimately, I think I'm just not the target for this novel.

**3.5 Stars**
Flirting with Fate was cute and very PG so great for the younger teen readers and anyone who likes clean YA romance, I just feel like the plot moved a little slowly. There was also a fairytale that was randomly inserted into the book, told to the main character when she was a child from her absentee mother, that was not needed and made the story even more slow since it did not add anything to the plot.

Overall this was a sweet YA romance with a touch of magic and an amazing family dynamic (the relationship between the sisters was relationship goals!) and I am sure other readers will just eat it up. I recommend this for younger YA readers since the story was very clean and had a great message about love and relationships that is beneficial to all ages. I would check out more books from this author in the future, and I guess this is the first in a series (most likely a companion novel since Flirting With Fate wrapped up nicely all on its own).

The comps of Jane the Virgin and Sisterhood of the Travleing Pants were what made me want to read this story, and are absolutely perfect for it! Such a sweet love story full of joy and warmth I absolutely loved this book!

This was a fun YA. It probably won't leave a lasting memory, but it was a fun read none the less. It definitely gave me Encanto vibes with the whole "blessing" story line. I also felt a bit of Drop Dead Diva vibes too with the ghosts just appearing out of no where!

The girls in Ava’s family receive unique blessings from their matriarchs when they pass away. Unfortunately, Ava doesn’t make it to her grandmother’s deathbed in time to receive her blessing. Instead, it goes to a stranger she bumps into on the night of her Nana’s death. Her Nana and a bumbling spirit guide come back as ghosts to help Ava try to retrieve her misplaced blessing.

I loved the portrayal of family in this book, particularly Ava’s relationship with her sisters. I felt that the characters were underdeveloped (although I liked Nana and her saint), but I enjoyed the relationships they had with one another.

I thought the flashback-plot of Ava’s mother distracted from the present story. It was conducted in a way that disrupted the flow of the book.

Some plot points of the book were predictable and clique, and the secondhand embarrassment I felt was palpable. I think with stronger characters and plot, this book would’ve been more to my taste. I would recommend this book more toward younger YA readers who enjoy magical realism.

I particularly enjoyed the romance in this book. Ava is guarded and initially is not open to forming a friendship with the strange boy who received her blessing. Her love interest is sweet and allows Ava a safe place to open up. He also has a cute nickname for her- “Nine,” which is the number of teeth that show when Ava smiles.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute story. I adored the characters and the plot. It was sweet and made my heart smile. I liked the concept and the characters - except Achilles, he was pretty much a dick through the whole book. But Rion, I adored him. And i LOVED the name, went on my future baby names list. LOL

This book gave the reader many aspects to find enjoyable. We have the amazing bond of sisters, grief, some magical realism, and romance. There is a great concept of understanding that often things can be different that you want, and that this can be an acceptable alternative.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers for this copy.

Flirting With Fate by J.C. Cervantes is a magical realism young adult story about a girl named Ava who unfortunately is about to lose her Nana. It turns out the women in Ava's family have a special supernatural ability. Upon their deathbed, they can bestow a blessing upon their female heirs. Sadly, Ava is at her internship and rushing home and is not able to make it in time. As it turns out, her blessing accidentally goes to someone else. In order for her Nana to be able to pass on to the afterlife and her soul to be at rest, Ava has to set things to rights. So, Ava has to get close with this boy she happened to have a fender bender with during a thunderstorm as he got her blessing.

I had such a wonderful time listening to Flirting With Fate by J.C. Cervantes. This was the perfect audiobook to wind down with. It is narrated by Victoria Villarreal. It is 11 hours and 18 minutes long. With my current self imposed pressure, I listened at 2x speed. I loved this. Villarreal is a superb narrator and made me just love Ava and her sisters -- who I would also like to have books of their own. The plotting and how everything plays out was just perfect. This book was so good -- I genuinely cannot recommend it highly enough -- if your taste is similar to mine.

Ava Granados is allergic to the word fate. She doesn’t believe that one has to succumb to the ways of life especially when life has smacked you up, down, and all around! Well, Ms. Fate shows up when she gets a call from one of her sisters, Carm (Carmen), that her Grandma is transitioning into the afterlife. In addition, her Grandma gives each of the granddaughters their individual blessings and she can’t miss that. Ava immediately leaves work and of course, there’s terrible weather. As she’s lost in her mind, she hits someone’s car and that interaction sparks of series of events.
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At her Grandma’s memorial, she thinks she’s dreaming when she sees her Grandma floating but she’s indeed seeing her matriarch as a ghost. Why is she a ghost? Well, her Grandma tried to send Ava’s blessing like sending live location except she gave it to the wrong person. (Insert Minion gasp)
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The story gives elements of mystery, romance, and the importance of sisterhood. I loved the aspect of the Granados sisters leaning on each other being that I’m the oldest of 3 girls. I wished the impact of her Mom’s absence (no she’s not dead) was expounded more because that caused A LOT of trauma for the sisters including their Mom’s individual version of a Princess story (Have to read the book to understand!) Lastly, Rion (Orion) is a smooth operator and I need a short story just on him.

This book was so cute and I loved it so much. The way this author writes is extremely easy to read and get into and I would definitely recommend.

I found the story intriguing. The fairy tale story in between chapters confused me a bit, I wasn't sure if it was leading anywhere to wrap up the main plot. Over all it was a sweet a story I wish we got more glimpses of the other 2 sisters. So crossing my fingers we get 2 more books with them being the main characters.
Thank you PenguinTeen for the earc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded down to 3.

This book fell a little flat for me.

Here’s what I enjoyed: the representation. The sister dynamic and how they were central to the story. The dynamic between the abuela and Ava. There is a lot of love between the women in the family and they support each other wholeheartedly. I liked that Ava had something that brought her joy (making food). There were some parts of the story that were written in a way that seemed truly magical. There was lots of good imagery.

I didn’t enjoy the mom’s part in the story. She causes some serious emotional damage and tbh, I think they all need therapy from her “princess story” (who tells that kind of stuff to children?) and her abandoning them. Ava is closed off for a reason and I hate to think of her issues getting downplayed of how everything ends. I also didn’t love that she called her dad Raul. Why didn’t she just call him Dad? Lastly, I thought the story was a little cheesy with all of the connections.

With all of that being said, I think this book will vibe well with a younger YA reader. Overall, it’s cute and cheesy and definitely a feel-good story.

3.5 Stars

Ava’s grandmother has the ability to pass on blessings to her female descendants, but in order to receive their blessings, they have to be present for her death. Ava gets caught in a storm and a fender bender the night of her Nana’s death, and she thinks that’s the end of it until her grandmother’s ghost appears. Turns out her grandmother did send out the blessing, but it hit someone else: the boy she got into the fender bender with. To get the blessing back she must form a genuine bond with him, or her grandmother will spend the rest of eternity stuck as a ghost.

Let’s first talk characters. Ava is your typical teenager, except for the fact her family has magical blessings that are passed through the matriarch (yes, love this). She is a very loveable character who reminded me of any normal teenager. She is family oriented and has a very close bond with her sisters, which I loved. Ava was, however, a very passive character. She took actions based on a necessity, or someone telling her to. It didn’t feel like she took an active role in the plot of this book.

The bond that Ava shares with her sisters is so sweet and so real. I could genuinely tell that the author has a good relationship with her siblings. It wasn’t like an author trying to write about the sibling relationship without having siblings themselves. The three sisters are always there for one another and build each other up to be their best selves. Any scene with the three of them always had me smiling.

The place that this book fell short for me was that even though it was YA, it felt very juvenile and the writing was very simple. The writing was more “tell” instead of show, which at times I found boring. Even in YA books, authors can let the readers read between the lines, but I didn’t feel any of that happening here, which kept me from feeling completely invested in the book.

I do love a good romance and it was very cute watching Ava and Rion develop feelings for each other throughout the book. My favorite part about this book was the way the two of them interacted. Young love is very sweet and cute. Cervantes did a great job writing what was new love. When I was reading it, I could picture my crushes and partners from high school. I hadn’t been able to do that in any other YA romance, so I was thrilled with the way Cervantes wrote about young love.

Flirting with Fate had a really cute concept and love story. If you love books like The Selection by Kiera Cass or To All The Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han, you would absolutely adore Flirting with Fate.

I always love a fun romance and Flirting with Fate has such an interesting premise that definitely caught my attention. With a sprinkle of magic, I had a lot of hope for this story.

The premise didn’t disappoint, the magic was interesting and helped push the plot along. I also really enjoyed the character dynamics, especially the relationship between the sisters.​

While I still enjoyed this story, I think it’s a story best read in 1 or 2 sittings. I read it in multiple sittings and I honestly found the story a little difficult to follow.​ So while I leave the story a bit hazy on the details, I still leave it with a general feeling of enjoyment and satisfaction.

I was so excited about the representation and premise of this one, but ended up just not loving it. I even went back to it after putting it down for a bit, thinking it may just be my mood but ultimately it just wasn't my favorite.

While I enjoyed how Ava interacted with her family, and their magical powers but the flashbacks and everything going on made it hard to connect with for me.

Thank you Penguin Teen for the advance copy to read and review, I hope those who enjoy a bit of magic and teenage love fall for this one!

Ava Granados always planned to be at her nana’s side when she was on her deathbed, but fate had different plans. Now Ava has missed her nana’s mystical blessing, one that has been passed from generation to generation of women in her family. Ava thinks all is lost until Nana’s ghost appears to her with a message. She must get the blessing back in order or the family’s ability to give blessings will be gone forever.

Told entirely in the third person, Flirting with Fate is a thoroughly charming story. It’s the perfect mix of magical realism, romance, and family.

I loved Ava’s relationship with her two sisters, Vivienne and Carmen. They are so supportive of one another, yet have so much great banter between the three. Nana, who shows up as a ghost, is also quite a hoot. It was so special getting to see Ava get more time with someone who meant so much to her while she was grieving.

This is such a sweet story. I highly recommend it to fans of magical realism and family dramas!

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the review copy! All opinions are my own.

Flirting with Fate is the perfect poolside summer read. The story is so sweet and the characters are relatable and fun. I absolutely adored the relationship that Ava and her sisters have and how important family is in this story. There are moments in this book that will leave you laughing and crying along with the characters. The story flows nicely from beginning to end. Orion is such a cinnamon roll and the way both his and Ava's stories are tied together was the cherry on top of this story.

As a second-generation Mexican-American and someone whose grandmother passed away less than a year ago, I felt connected to Ava and her family. It is not often that I can see a bit of myself in a character so I think that really added to the book for me.

4.5/5 stars.

A cute ya romcom. The beginning hooked me in and it was adorable to read. Loved the sister dynamics and enjoyed the romance. Such a fun, adorable read!

This book was super cute and interesting read. I like the fated aspect of it. In the middle of the book I found myself getting a little bored and wanted the story to wrap up but over all It's a solid three star read. I saw that this will be book one in the series. I'm not sure I will be reading the second book but I'm interested to see where the author takes this work of art.