This book was cute. It was basically everything I look for in a rom com but like.. something felt like it was missing. I don’t know if I fully connected to the characters for believes Ava’s desires. Also everything seemed to wrap up too quickly and neatly. I like a HEA but this seemed just a little forced IMO

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint.

Flirting With Fate follows the story of Ava and her sisters reeling after their grandmother’s death. Blessings have been passed down their family line for generations, except Ava is the only sibling to miss her chance at getting a gift. Soon she is visited by a ghostly version of her grandmother and Medardus (a saint) who is there to guide her on her journey. Will she be able to find the person who got her blessing before it’s too late?

While Ava tries to navigate through her quest to get her family’s blessing back she struggles with catching feelings for Rion (he somehow gets her blessing). When her emotions get tangled up in the situation it becomes increasingly harder for her to keep up the lie up. But this situation gives her time to connect with her grandma once again. Besides grief this novel tackles themes of fate and destiny. So many of us work hard to fulfill our dreams, but what if something else comes along the way that truly reignites our passion? Ava is set on journalism but deep into her internship, she realizes she doesn’t really enjoy it as much as she used to. The novel makes us question when certain unexpected things pop into our lives making us wonder if fate truly does exist:

“That is absolutely not the case,” Meda asserted. “I know what you’re thinking. That your heart is going to be some fragile flower, waiting to be stomped on. That it will be weak. But do you know how many humans go through life examining their hearts and minds and souls? Always unsure of who they are? What their passions are?” He smiled.“ Consider this a short- cut to a memorable, meaningful life.”

Another thing that struck me about reading this book is the strong familial ties. We see a heavy focus on her bond with her sisters. They often bicker with each other but care strongly and try to look out for each sibling. Though Ava is presented with a second chance to be with her grandmother there are mixed feelings of joy, regret, and grief that intertwine. Watching Ava’s journey of self-discovery was gratifying as she becomes a more open person and really decodes to make decisions on what makes her happy and not others.

This was such a fun read from beginning to end. I love the characters especially the bond between ava and her two sisters and how they try to grow on this journey. I thought the aspect of spirit guides was interesting as it ties into the overarching theme of fate. This book reminds us that some things do happen for a reason. The romantic development between Ava and Rion was so sweet. Filled with humor, young love, a self-discovery journey this is a book you should read!

I read about 20% of this book and was just not hooked. I had a hard time getting attached to the main character, and I think that's why I didn't continue with it. I don't know that it's necessarily a book I NEVER want to read, but I don't think it's for me right now. I feel wrong giving it a star rating since I didn't finish it, so I will leave it at 3 stars to keep it neutral.

This was so good! Full of magic and family and the sweetest romance ever, I'm obsessed! I loved the way the sisters were with each other, even when it got tough, and the way the magical realism fit in. I highly recommend this if you want a feel-good story

I loved how much this book harkens back to classic romance movies! The magical realism aspects of this book gave it so much heart and love. The family bonds were also so so special. Incredible book!

Flirting With Fate reminded me of the magic that I feel watching Sleepless in Seattle. The whole “we are meant to be together” concept sounds cheesy on paper but when it’s done well? I think it can make anyone believe in love.

We follow Ava Granado, a sister of three, whose family has a secret: right before their death, every woman in the Granado family has the power to pass on a blessing. In the middle of a freak hurricane, Ava gets the call that her grandmother is about to pass away. Unfortunately, due to the storm, she crashes her car into another guy’s on the way there and the blessing is then transferred to him. Now, Ava only has a few weeks to figure out to take her blessing back, so her grandmother can pass on peacefully.

“On July 7 at precisely 9:01 p.m., a boundless, unforeseen storm claimed one life, two hearts, and six destinies.”

I am absolutely floored by how much I enjoyed this story. Usually, I just sort of write my thoughts without any coherent outline (bad idea never do that) but I have no idea where to even start with this one. First of all, can we just please promote more and more diverse stories from diverse authors? J.C. Cervantes’s Mexican-American background shone so brightly through all the Spanish words, the food, and the culture. I also loved that they were just casually Catholic? It felt so well-integrated into the plot. I loved it.

AND THE SISTER SOLIDARITY! Ava has a beautiful relationship with both of her older sisters that isn’t, you know, full of drama just for the sake of drama*. Their little sister chats and inside jokes made me so happy! And each one has a unique personality. Also, this is irrelevant (I’m telling you, my reviews are just rambles) but Ava loves to bake and now I’m feeling inspired to bake??? Please pray for everyone who is at the mercy of this newfound whirlwind urge of mine.

And the romance was very slow-burn! The love interest (no spoilers) was complimentary to Ava in all the best ways. Ava is very facts-based, while he is not. And honestly? I adored their dynamic.

While some of the writing and dialogue is cheesy and even slightly cringey at times, I found myself smiling and even laughing at times. On the other hand, I also cried at certain points. There is just something special about a story with small moments that lead up to a beautiful, grand moment that can be cliche but is also heartwarming. When I finished this story, I felt like I had just watched a favorite comfort movie. I don’t know, this book just really clicked for me.

Flirting with Fate gives major Encanto vibes, and I am here for it! I love the sister relationship in this book, the good v. evil twin, and the silly, yet important family quest. The quirky characters were so fun, and I really enjoyed the emphasis on family. Such a sweet book!

I liked this book.

Did I originally request this book because of the cover...? yes.

Was it a cute read? sure

But this felt extremely YA and maybe more of a Middle Grade read (to me)

I'm not sure if I will continue the series but It does have a super cool premise and the magical realism was interesting to read, but something just didn't connect with me through my read, I would definitely recommend this to my younger cousins.

Perfect for fans of Sisterhood of the traveling pants!! This book is so cute and the romance is swoon-worthy!!! I highly recommend picking this up.

When I first read the summary of this book, I was immediately intrigued. Mystical blessings and fated meetings? Count me in. Flirting with Fate was an adorable story about fated encounters, mystical blessings, and the strength of family bonds.

Ava Granados and her sisters Viv and Carmen have been waiting for their blessings bestowed by their grandmother on her deathbed. After a few false alarms, Ava arrives late to receive her own blessing after accidentally crashing into Rion‘s car. Her grandmother’s ghost, and her guide St. Medardus, later appear to her, telling her that her blessing was accidentally sent to the boy she hit that night — and that she must get it back lest her grandmother be cursed to wander forever in purgatory without her memories. Ava must then befriend Rion and figure out how to transfer the blessing back.

I really liked the concept of this book! Every matriarch bestows blessings to their daughters (or granddaughters in this case) on their deathbeds. Viv and Carmen get persuasive skills and perfect memory, respectively. Fate also plays an important role in this book, which you see in the first chapter and gradually throughout the entire story.

The characters were great; Ava is a bit guarded against love after her mother left their family years ago. She also does not believe in fate, but she has to get over all of this in order to befriend Rion. They gradually grow closer. I also liked her relationship with her sisters. The three of them are obviously so close and provide so much support for each other. She also has such a strong relationship with her grandmother.

The romance was cute! Ava and Rion clearly click from the beginning, and I really liked reading their conversations. The plan technically doesn’t require her to fall in love—just to form some bond with him—but she can’t help but fall in love with him over time.

Overall, Flirting with Fate was a cute story that details fate’s hand in the characters’ lives. I liked the characters and the romance, although I’m not sure what the second book will be about if Ava is still the protagonist. If you’re looking for a cute contemporary novel with a touch of magic and fate, you should check out Flirting with Fate!

Flirting With Fate has all of the components that make up a perfect Young Adult Contemporary Romance, and so much more. This book was hard to get into– the first half moved fairly slowly, and it took too long for the story to get going. Once the plot picked up, however, I couldn’t put it down. I loved reading Ava’s interactions with her sisters, Nana, and Rion. There were wonderful elements of young love, family, and fate tied into a plot that younger teens will surely enjoy. The many plot twists at the end were great surprises, although I think that they would have been more engaging had the book been shorter and had a faster pace.

This was not the book I hoped it would be. It had a cool premise that combined some magic with a contemporary environment, similar to GLIMPSED, but it wasn't executed well.

The characters were my main issue with this book. I'm not even quite sure how to explain it, but I'm going to try. First, it felt like the book was setting some of the main characters up for bigger roles and then they just fell flat. It was really weird. Characters like Achilles and Grant felt like they were going to do something more than they did. Some of the confusion and mystery around them become clear towards the end of the book, but I was still left with a strange aftertaste in my mouth from them.

Then there was Rion. He was our lovely love interest, but I didn't love him. In fact, I was confused by him for the most of the book. He even gave off some creepy vibes at a couple of parts. There were a few scenes where I could see how he was supposed to appear sweet and caring and even swoony, but it just wasn't translating well for me. The main emotion I felt when he was around was confusion.

And Ava, our main character, wasn't much better. I'm not sure if this was how Ava was supposed to appear or if it was just poor writing, but Ava felt like she didn't have very many emotions. Or if she did, I felt like I didn't see them/they weren't described to me. There were scenes where I felt like I should be getting this detailed description of Ava's inner thoughts or something to tell me about an intense surge of emotions she was surely having and I got nothing.

Also, there was this deal with her mother that was weird and confusing. There are flashbacks all throughout this book of Ava's mother telling her a fairytale, but it's weird. I thought it was going to have some magical point to it, but no. It was just a story. I really could have lived without it and really wish it hadn't of been in this story.

I loved all the Spanglish in this book, but there are some Spanish words that aren't explained and could be frustrating to non-Spanish speakers. I speak Spanish so it wasn't a problem for me, but some of the words or phrases aren't translated and that could be annoying.

The reason I didn't DNF this book is because I thought there was going to be some great revelation to the all mysterious bits. Unfortunately, I was wrong. While everything was explained, it was a big let down.

Overall, I loved the idea behind this book, but I was left confused and disappointed in the end. I wouldn't recommend and won't be reading the next books in the series.

3 stars ⭐

I can definitely see similarities between Jane the Virgin and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants but it was just ok for me.

I didn't really connect with it until the 30% mark and there is some parts I absolutely inhaled and adored but overall at least for now it's just 3 stars.

I really did love Ava's character and how she was so interesting and I may continue on with the sequel we shall see. I'm also obsessed with the cover

Jane the Virgin meets Sisterhood of the traveling pants???? YES! ALWAYS YES! this was such a wonderful story and really stole my heart!