Romeo and Juliet vibes with a Brazilian bakery twist! I'm not usually the biggest fan of YA romances - at least not now that I'm in my 30s - but taking that at face value, my biggest problem with this book was just how young the characters felt, which is exactly where the target audience is. My age group is not the target audience so I can understand where my feelings toward that come from. Well written and enjoyable, just a little too young for me.

This book grew on me. Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho tells the story of star-crossed lovers—or rather, the grandchildren of two rival bakeries who reluctantly team up to save their family businesses from being overtaken by a big box store. Set against a vibrant Brazilian backdrop and filled with delicious food, this novel will leave you both satisfied and wanting more.

I’ll admit that I wasn’t a fan of the beginning. It felt quite juvenile, even for a young adult novel—almost like it belonged in the middle-grade category. However, about a quarter of the way through, I realized something I had missed initially. The exaggerated drama was intentional and crucial to the narrative, as Lari, the protagonist, frequently references her grandmother's love for telenovelas, comparing her own life to the melodrama of those shows. Once I recognized this, I was able to relax and fully enjoy the story.

The book opens on the day of Lari’s grandmother’s funeral, where she is engulfed in grief and anger. Her frustration intensifies when she returns to their bakery and sees the rival bakery across the street thriving. In a moment of rage, she storms over to confront them, only to trip and ruin the wedding cake that Pedro had been working on all morning. And thus, the drama unfolds.

Lari is a compelling character who feels emotions more intensely than most. Her grief over her grandmother’s passing and the fear of losing her home and bakery consume her. In her desperation, she makes a risky deal with her rival, Pedro.

Pedro turns out to be quite different from what Lari—and I—expected. While he can be harsh, influenced by the ongoing feud between their families, he also shows kindness and understanding toward Lari. He shares her fears, which creates a bond between them and opens the door to discovering that there might be something worth fighting for together.

The rivalry itself is filled with over-the-top drama, perfectly fitting for a telenovela. I appreciated the backstory provided, as it deepens our understanding of the feud and Lari’s journey. The developing relationship between Lari and Pedro is sweet, and I found myself rooting for them from early on.

Overall, I enjoyed Salt and Sugar. The Brazilian cultural elements were delightful to explore, and the abundance of food descriptions left me hungry and eager to try new recipes. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers stories or are looking for a charming YA contemporary read, I highly recommend this book.

this book is so detailed

the molina's and the ramires' have been feuding for decades. both families run separate bakeries across from each other. when lari ramires' grandmother passes away & a huge supermarket chain comes in to threaten local businesses, lari ramires & pedro molina find themselves in a situation they never thought they'd be in.

i love how strong the beginning was, it immediately captured my attention. there was so much going on & a lot to take in. i really like that it was written in a way that wasn't confusing or messy. there were a lot of characters introduced, a lot of events happening & it was written in such a beautiful & captivating way.

i love the chapters that go back in time & reflect & relate to what’s happening in the present. like when lari was being reminded of college applications in class & it took her back to a memory with her grandma. her grandma knew her really well & she didn’t want to study economics like her mom wanted her to. lari went over the pressure of possibly being the first ramires to go to college & how she didn’t want to be an accountant & she didn’t know how to tell her mom. her grandma gave her the advice to open up to her mom about how she felt. these moments between characters showed incredible family bonds. & throughout the book rebecca carvalho does an amazing job of illustrating family dynamics, hard conversations, overcoming challenges & following your dreams.

there’s such a strong connection to family in this book & it includes a lot of life lessons.

everything is not always as it seems. lari struggles with cooking despite her family running a bakery & pedro has dreams to grow with his culinary skills. the deeper i got into this book the more i realized that there were so many secrets from both families that came out at the perfect time.

pc, cintia & victor are cool characters. they're a great addition to the book. while i loved pedro & lari's characters as well i found there was something lacking about lari's character, she was the clumsy baker that didn't know how to cook, didn't want to tell anyone, but also had this anger about it. the way she snapped seemed out of character so it didn't really make sense as to why it seemed like it was part of her character. one thing i did like between pedro & lari was how much they complimented each other. pedro had this stern & serious demeanor but as he opened up there were layers, he was actually so kind & caring . i also saw this with lari, she was more unsure of herself at the beginning, but when she opened up to pedro you could see how intelligent, supportive & level headed she was. while i loved their connection i think lari's distrust in him lasted too long & i would've like to see more moments where pedro was being thoughtful & kind towards lari. there were some great moments for sure, but pedro spent too much time being jealous over victor & lari spent too much time not trusting pedro.

what i love about this book is how the school club cooks for organizations & people in the city who are in need. i like how it gives pedro more freedom in the kitchen while it gives lari the chance to learn how to cook. i love how lari proposed the club cook for vozes & how this was the first conversation lari & pedro had where they weren’t bickering. the part where the whole after school club actually goes to vosez and they have that moment with amandinha was so sweet

“a natural talent like yours is a sign of great things ahead. don’t ever let anyone doubt that .. & don’t you doubt yourself."

"don't turn your back to the ocean. you don't know when a wave will come & sweep you off your feet."

there are so many encouraging quotes like this throughout this book.

here are a few of my favourite chapters.

chapter 29 when alice hands dona eulaila the keys to her car so she can take her dad to the hospital was such a heartwarming moment. definitely a chapter that pulled on my heartstrings.

chapter 38 pedro & lari's first kiss was so magical. it was a nice moment for them.

ch 48 when lari & pedro are at the gastronomic society & their families all speak up & the truth comes out was so incredible.

Are Romeo and Juliet bakery retellings overdone? Yes.

Do I eat them up every time anyway? Also yes.

To be so very honest, I don't remember the fine details of this book, but I absolutely adored it when I read it. In a hyperspecific genre that's a little oversaturated, it does a wonderful job both at providing the reason for the family's feud, gradually developing the protagonists' friendship and relationship, and eventually providing a strong payoff, a place where Romeo and Juliet YA books sometimes falter.

I loved the Brazil setting—too few YA books published in the US are set elsewhere, and it was a really enjoyable read. The romance, family relationships, and plot are all strong, and I highly recommend this book. 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

3.5 stars. For the most part this was a fun YA romance that also dealt with a lot of real issues. Really, I just read this for the food descriptions. Kidding! But they were a huge plus. While I enjoyed my time reading this, there was a lot of drama between the two families that went on for just a bit too long for me.

A fun read for those of us who love to read about cooking and foods in books. For me, this was a winner from the first page! The cultural tie-in to Brazil was fun to explore, and all the food made me hungry and curious to try out some new recipes., I highly recommend it. The YA category was a bit of a stretch, some sex scenes.

I truly did not like this. However, this is due to the lack of maturity so someone who only reads YA would certainly enjoy this

Salt and Sugar at first glance is Romeo and Juliet in Brazil centered around baking, but it’s really so much more. Lari and Pedro both are juggling their final year in school, preparing for the next steps in their lives (studying economics at university or taking over the family bakery), continuing their families’ three-generations old feud, and the secrets their families don’t want them to know. Author Rebecca Carvalho deftly creates teenagers dealing with their worries and stresses without being whiney or unlikeable as they navigate closer to adulthood. Overall a fun, enjoyable rom-com great for any age.

This was such a fun enemies to lovers baking romance! I adored the tension and rivalry between the two leads, and the conclusion to their romance was so satisfying.

First off, I love that we're finally starting to see "mainstream" YA novels take place outside of America - this one is set in Brazil! Rebecca is a fantastic writer and I loved the setting and the juxtaposition of the sweet versus savory bakery resulting in a feud.

This is a well crafted enemies-to-lovers romance that doesn't feel trope-y (this is a good thing) and the problems that Lari and Pedro face is a fun reminder that family dramas are messy and can quickly turn into a cesspool over a couple of generations.

I don't want to spoil, but the reveal at the end about their grandparents wasn't too shocking to me as a reader, but I loved the reactions that Lari and Pedro had.

Overall, solid read.

Salt and Sugar was a cute read but I struggled to completely get into the world. I found it the adults in the story to be immature. Overall it was a good premise but not the story for me!

Salt and Sugar is a enjoyable take on the enemies to lover trope. Add in the mixture of generational feuds and a bit of teen romance and you have a fun read.

Lari and Pedro are fiercely loyal to their respective families' bakeries. In a feud that has carried on for decades, the two sides do not see eye to eye. That is until a large grocery store comes to town and threatens both establishments. Now the teens must work together in order to save both families legacies in the town.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the chance to read this delicious and sweet YA novel.

This was a cute, lighthearted romance about two teens whose families both owned bakeries in the same town. Those families were rivals and they were definitely not allowed to be friends, let alone date. Through their connection the families were able to work out some of their issues. I thought this was really fun and also highlighted diverse characters by featuring Brazilian families.

Salt and Sugar is a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in rival bakeries. While parts of the book are really good other parts read as kind of childish. I didn't enjoy the childish name calling and bullying. I also couldn't stand Lari's mother she came off more harsh than I think was intended. It seemed like she never accepted that Lari was grieving as well. The middle of the book felt slow to me but I felt that it ended strong. Overall it was a just okay read.

"Salt and Sugar" by Rebecca Carvalho is a compelling and thought-provoking young adult novel that delves into themes of identity, friendship, and the challenges of navigating the complexities of adolescence. Carvalho's storytelling prowess shines as she crafts a tale of self-discovery, resilience, and the power of human connections. The book's relatable characters and engaging plot create an immersive reading experience that resonates with teens and young adults. Carvalho skillfully explores the emotions of growing up, questioning one's place in the world, and the importance of embracing authenticity, adding depth to the narrative. "Salt and Sugar" is a poignant reminder that finding one's voice and sense of belonging is a journey worth taking, leaving readers with a sense of empowerment and a warm appreciation for stories that capture the challenges and triumphs of youth.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. This wasn't my favorite enemies to lovers romance out there. Yes, it's YA and there is more focus on the romance, than anything physical which is a huge plus, but it just seemed to take forever for anything to happen plot-wise. Adults acted more like children and basic life-skills were looked down on, like actually cooking for oneself. The premise was so appealing, but the execution fell flat for me.

This book had me laughing out loud and feeling all the feels throughout reading. When the 'Romeo & Juliet' style story starts, Lari Ramires' grandmother had suddenly passed away and her mother is now responsible for managing the bakery by herself. But they still have to compete with the bakery across the road - see the Ramires family only makes savory bakes, while the Molinas make sweet bakes.

But with this shift in management, the Molina family decided they had enough of the bakery truce that was once called, and start making savory bakes as well. This caused a lot of tension and fighting between these two families.

Lari's clumsy ways make her a disaster in the kitchen, which almost results in her getting banned from inside the bakery forever. But when Lari joins a school baking group and starts baking with her rival, Pedro Molina, she learns a lot about herself, their family fued and what it takes to save both families. Falling in love was not at all part of the plan.

The food mentioned will have your mouth watering. The story is entertaining, with this enemies to lovers trope at the forefront. Lari and Pedro feel like the kinds of genuine characters that can easily be real people. Their chemistry is palpable an the more they try to resist, the further they fall for each other.

I’m looking forward to read more works of the author!

Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me. I am happy to provide my honest opinion for this book!

A cute story with food and romance. Definitely a fun read. It made me hungry as I was reading. Fast read

This book was so adorable. I loved the rivals to lovers concept and how it was tied in with the families bakeries.

Going in all I knew was "The grandchildren of two rival Brazilian bakeries fall in love despite their families’ feud." and I knew I wanted to read this. It was super cute! I once again love books based around food, I like the play of rival bakeries, I found it neat the push and pull of the business side, the personal side, the trust and rumors of everything; it's all so well written. Rebecca does such an excellent job of the unsureness of what will happen while making you wish and hopes that Lari and Pedro are teaming up with work. If you like cooking-themed books, mixed with family drama, rival families, and love blooming then you will probably like this one.