A book that had a really refreshing family dynamic. The pressure of family. The pressure of finishing high school and getting into college. Figuring out what you want to do with your life in the future. Yes it’s a YA book, but it’s about the transition from teenager to adult. I loved that the author takes our main character and shows the struggles of making decisions and dealing with the consequences of those choices. It was a very sweet and delicious book. I loved the inclusion of baking and the detail of some of the pastries. It’s a great debut novel.

You know when you read a book and it pulls you in from the first page, the kind of book that even when you aren’t reading you still think about? That’s Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for success.

You can't help but root for Rubi Ramos in this book. She tries hard to please her parents and get into a choice college. You will smile throughout this fun novel.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this title. Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success is just so good. I couldn't put it down! Though the romance hit a bit quickly, there were enough positives in terms of familial relationships, friendships, and coming to terms with who you are that they outweigh that sticking point. Though there is romance in this, it's not the focus of the story; it's just one facet of Rubi's growth. I also wish there were recipes to try at the end of the book or available somewhere for book club meetings or "dish and dish" programs.

THIS WAS SUPER CUTE. I think I can agree and understand Ruby's dreams and aspirations. There is a huge difference between what society wants to see and what you really want to do and mostly it is really hard to choose. I like it when I can relate myself to the main character. I remember my graduation and I was super excited about it and felt extremely stressful because it was a very important step in my life and in the life of any person. This YA romance is the debut romance and I wanna say that it was an amazing book! As Ruby's parents my parents are my example, how I need to live because they did everything for me and support me everyday. I found those connections with Ruby. Dreams and expectations that we have and real life sometimes are very different and cannot touch each other. It is really sad, however our life is not only one way that we can choose, there are plenty of highways and county roads, rocky ones and those through the fields, and we just need to try another one. Maybe your dream-way is the best way for you! There were a ton of emotional moments as fun as sensitive ones. And if you wanna see a hot math genius you choose the right book. I hope you will enjoy this book and I highly recommend it to you!

I enjoyed reading this book. THe characters were all really likable and really well-developed. The romance was also really nice to read about. I was entertained by this book so I would recommend it.

You know when you read a book and it pulls you in from the first page, the kind of book that even when you aren’t reading you still think about? That’s Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for success.
I absolutely loved this book, everything about it. The geeky, yet undeniably hot surfer love interest, the super supportive aspiring fashion designer best friend, all the different recipes and food descriptions. I loved it all.
Rubi Ramos is a baker, even if she is on a baking ban she loves it and creating her own recipes- so when she finds out about a baking contest happening near her she is immediately drawn to it and the possibility of it helping her out of the ban.
The issue is, her family can’t know about the contest- her parents may own bakeries but they do not want her distracted from the plan of getting Alma college, and being captain of the debate team. She has a lot of pressure on her as a second generation immigrant from Cuba, trying to find her Roots through food and living up to her family’s expectations.
Overall this was a beautifully written book, with an incredibly satisfying ending and I’m so thankful for netgalley for this ARC.

📖Review: Rubi Ramos’s Rules for Success by Jessica Parra

This deliciously delightful coming of age story is sure to warm your heart and tempt your tastebuds.

Rubi Ramos loves to bake, but her mom, nicknamed the boss, has instituted a ban on baking until Rubi can fulfill the Recipe for Success: get into Alma and become a lawyer. Despite the ban, Rubi is always doodling Cuban inspired recipes in the margins of her school notes. She secretly applies and participates in an opportunity to bake in the Orange County Bake-Off. Bending the ban, and being waitlisted at Alma, begins an avalanche of secrets, while she figures out how to navigate her parents’ plan for her life and her own.

Cheering on Rubi as she navigates her coming of age story is as easy as pie. She is a spunky, passionate protagonist, who stole my heart immediately with her smart remarks, love of her family, and smooth LOTR, Star Wars, and other pop culture references.

Her external struggle as a second generation immigrant to America from Cuba and her parents’ expectations for her future as well as prep school prejudice, are developed with care and highlight Rubi’s intricate identity and the struggles that she faces.

The secondary characters in the story are lovable and quirky. Her best friend Devon, her “boyftu” Ryan, and the staff at the bakery bring depth to the story and highlight Rubi’s amazing community of supporters.

Finally, the bake-off is intense with quirky elements that made me laugh - baking puns and Rubi’s smart retorts. I always love when cooking or baking is used in stories to demonstrate passion and character development. Rubi’s participation in the bake-off perfectly advances the plot causing me to constantly be cheering and hoping for Rubi as I read.

Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success comes out on May 16, and is a wonderful YA coming-of-age story that makes me look forward to Jessica Parra’s future novels.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and St Martin’s Press for this digital ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a really fun read. Rubi is talented in a lot of areas but has a hard time choosing herself. She wants to make her parents proud and has big dreams but loves baking with her family too. I loved all the Cuban recipes in this book and learning more about Rubi, her family and her culture.
I liked that she strived for all the things she wanted and found love along the way.
This is a fun YA read filled with family, food and love.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was such a well-developed, fully-realized story, with a relatable, heart-stealing heroine. The set-up of the baking competition was high-stakes, charming, and full of fun bits. A joyful, important read!

This book is unapologetically Cuban and filled with such yummy treats that I think that all YA romance fans will love this book! I enjoyed following Rubi navigate competing in a baking competition while managing her family's expectations of attending a prestigious university and carrying on her parent's American Dream. This is a struggle that so many children of immigrant parents experience, and Rubi's conflict to go on the path her parents wanted her to go on versus pursuing her passion was definitely relatable. While not a major part of the plot in my opinion, the romance was still sweet and a nice touch to this coming of age story.

This was a cute romance story. I love the dynamic between the two characters. It was sweet and believable. This was a quick and fun read

If High School Musical and A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow had a baby, it would be Rubi Ramos. Parra combines parental pressure, a high-achieving and butt-kicking female lead, and tons of amazing baked goods to create a fun and insightful debut. Do I have some minor quibbles? Yes, but overall, Rubi's story is amazing and makes me want to visit a Cuban bakery ASAP. Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success will leave your mouth watering and your heart gooey with all the sweet feels.

Graduation is only a few months away, and Rubi Ramos’s “recipe for success” to get into prestigious Alma University is already off track.

When Alma waitlists Rubi’s application, Rubi will need to be distraction-free to make the grade and keep her parents―who have wanted this for her for years―from finding out. Which means falling for her cute surfer-slash-math tutor, Ryan, definitely won’t work. And neither will breaking her mother’s ban on baking―her parents didn���t leave Cuba so she could bake just like them.

But some recipes are begging to be tampered with.

When the First Annual Bake Off comes to town, Rubi’s passion for baking goes from subtle simmer to full boil. Add to the mix her crush on Ryan may be turning into a full-fledged relationship and Rubi’s life is suddenly so different from what it was. She’s not sure if she has what it takes to win the Bake Off, or where the relationship with Ryan is going, but there’s only one way to find out―even if it means going against her parents’ priorities.

Now Rubi must differentiate between the responsibility of unfulfilled dreams she holds and finding the path she’s meant for.

A joyful novel of first romance, new possibilities, and the chance to define yourself, Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success is a novel that will find its way into your heart and never leave.

"My heart rooted for Rubi as she rose to each challenge―college admissions, falling in love, baking & debate contests, & of course, sharing her true self with her parents.” ―Romina Garber, author of Lobizona and Cazadora

Want the cozy vibes of The Great British Bake Off than read this book! Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success has heart and delicious bakes to make your mouth water.

Rubi enters a competition in OC despite her mother's ban on baking. She's supposed to focus on school and getting into Alma the college of her mother's dreams. As a fist gen there's a lot of pressure on her to be successful. In her mother's eyes baking won't bring the success that she wants for Rubi. Despite that Rubi can't stay away from baking.

I loved Rubi's passion for baking. Her desire to please her parents was so relatable as a first gen myself. Her heritage shined through in the bakes that she made.

I enjoyed reading the complicated relationship that she had with her parents. Through it all she held so much love for them.

Then there was the boy she met at the beach, Ryan. Their relationship was so sweet. Everytime they were together it put a smile on my face.

If you're a fan of baking competitions this is the book for you! Out May 15th 2023

Thanks netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, for allowing me to read Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success early.

I fell in love with the beautiful cover first and I'm happy to report that the book was as beautiful.

Thank you @wednesdaybooks for the e-arc of Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success!!

Here’s what I liked about this book:
• the baking was *chef’s kiss*
• the love interest was so charming
• honoring your heritage
• coming of age

I also really appreciated how family was showcased. While there were struggles as Rubi and her parents navigate this new time, it was always done so well. The parents weren’t made out to be dumb or stupid, but genuinely grew with and loved Rubi!

Steam: kisses
TW: none

A sugar-sweet romance that'll leave you craving more! Rubi is such a wonderful narrator, and I loved the development of her life, family, and friends in Pelican Point. Highly recommend for fans of A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow. Bonus points for all the incredible baking puns!

Best kind of sweet-swoon-soft reading with best kind of well crafted characters: such a dreamy combination for quick entertainment! If you look for feel good- entertaining- heart warming novel , Ruby Ramos’ recipe for success will absolutely fit with your expectations. Plus she’s best kind of super heroine you will easily resonate with.

She’s highly achieved debater, accomplished A-grader waiting for her Alma acceptance, hell of a baker, a Marvel heroine who can see through steel (her hot surfer math tutor thinks she can) : Ruby seems like she can manage anything at the same time to make her hard working parents proud. But sometimes she can cross her mother’s strait lines by applying baking competition which is banned as a distraction for her to be accepted by her dream college and become an aspiring lawyer.

Ruby has three secrets. Number 1:
She already learned that she’s waitlisted at Alma as her parents are still thinking she gets approval ( just a misunderstanding she doesn’t dare to correct)

Number 2: she’s one of four finalist of Baking Competition she secretly competes and she’s way too much excited to show her highly accomplished baking skills. ( thanks to her long shift at her family bakery)

Number 3: the hot surfer guy she recently met is now her math tutor to help her raise her grades for having a chance to leave the waitlist of Alma! ( she accepted those math lessons for only her college application. She’s not drooling over fiery hot Ryan, is she?)

But how long she can keep those secrets, making things right without breaking her boss mom’s heart?

I loved the bunch of amazing portrayed characters and sweet romance between Ryan and Rubi! This book put a permanent smile on my face, brightening my dark mood! It was definitely what I needed!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

This was a cute, Disney channel movie-esque teen rom com! I liked the way the author treated the humor, the characters, and the plot points, and definitely wanna give her credit for the idea of this book. I really loved the main girl, Rubi, but overall struggled with the whole book.

While I like some good cheesy stuff, it had a little TOO much cheese. And while the baking puns pop culture references were cute, there were a too many of them so it distracted from the story.

I also would’ve liked the book to be less long—it got a boring in the middle half. I think a lot of scenes could’ve been shortened to move the story along faster.

Overall tho, I’d recommend for a young teenage audience who are looking for a fun, cute read! It just wasn’t quite what I was looking for in a teen rom com.