DNF @ 60%. I tried. I really, really tried. I just found myself so bored with the cooking show storyline and the completely unbelievable insta-romance. Maybe it makes more sense later, but I just wasn't feeling anything while I was reading. I wanted to love this, but just couldn't get invested. I know this is a debut author and I'd be willing to try another to see if it was the story or the writing.

Rubi has been working her whole life to achieve her parents’ dream of sending her to law school, but her dreams lie in the kitchen just as much as the courtroom. After receiving disappointing news from her dream school, Rubi attempts to shield her parents and figure out how to fix things all on her own. As if one secret wasn’t enough, she is also competing in a baking competition unbeknownst to her mom, which is in complete violation of the baking ban.

Enter a gorgeous surfer who happens to excel in math, one area where Rubi struggles. As their tutoring sessions ignite sparks that she doesn’t have time for, Rubi must juggle the love of her family, the siren call of her recipe book, and a potential romance.

I so enjoyed this book! It was a very well-executed YA romance, and the slow burn romance was so sweet. I really enjoyed the scenes of them studying together, especially when Ryan compared math and baking and you could see it click for Rubi.

My favorite part of this story was the family storyline. A lot of immigrant stories tend to present parents holding onto the past and children wanting to assimilate, but this book flipped that on its head. Instead we see Rubi’s parents fully embracing their life in America (example: Rubi’s dad at one point said the Cuba of his youth doesn’t exist anymore) and Rubi longing to connect to her Cuban roots. I appreciated that Rubi’s deception was out of genuine love for her family and wanting their dreams for her to become real. This story had so much heart, and I was so pleased by the ending.

I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves YA romance! This is a perfect summer love story.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for a gifted eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Rubi Ramos is the kind of character who embodies both universal and super specific themes.

I appreciated the peek into the world of a first-generation immigrant who feels pressure to set aside something they love to become something “more” for their parents, because that is outside my lived experience. And yet, that yearning to please taps into the collective adolescent experience of feeling like you have to live a certain way to please your parents. Throughout the story, Rubi is faced with decisions that will end up shaping her life, and doesn’t that just take you back to that time? When everything and nothing seemed possible?

I loved the ways in which author Jessica Parra creates a fully-realized story with characters who leap off the page. We need more protagonists like Rubi Ramos, please and thank you.

Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Rubi Ramos is a baker at heart. She loves it more than anything. But her parents, mainly her mum want her to go to university and be something better than just a baker.

Rubi enters a bake off and is trying to hide it from her parents. She is also a waiting on an acceptance letter from the university to study law. Then she gets a rejection letter... where can Ruby go from here?

This was such a cute summer read! It had everything you need delicious sounds bakes, a cute guy, family trouble and an arch nemesis. A throughly enjoyable read!!

Thanks to netgalley and Wednesday books for this arc!

“Hunched over my desk, I worked all afternoon. Each problem had a specific formula to untangle it. Exactly the way recipes did for bakes. Only for math there was no leeway for experimentation. Maybe it was a good thing because sticking to the right formula yielded one single answer.”
Rubi Ramos is a high school student, raised by Cuban immigrant parents who run a couple of successful Southern California bakeries. Rubi’s parents hope for her to attend college and become a lawyer, but Rubi loves baking so much that her mother has enacted a baking ban! When she’s waitlisted by her dream college, Rubi gets a math tutor (where sparks quickly fly!) and works to improve her resume to be offered admission. She also, without her parents' knowledge, enters a local Bake-Off competition. Filled with navigating familial expectations, coming-of-age, and plenty of baking puns, this is a book I had trouble setting down once I started it! An impressive debut, Rubi Ramos will be recommended to my students - as a high school math teacher, I especially enjoyed that the MC learns to appreciate math and see its applications beyond the classroom. My criticism is that the romance felt a bit too instantaneous to seem believable. On the other hand, I think the author did a great job balancing many different factors impacting current high school students - this felt very relatable and believable. The positive undertones left me with hope and joy after finishing.
Thanks to St Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the ARC widget via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I switched back and forth with the audiobook, and the narrator, Karla Serrato, does an excellent job. I definitely recommend this book for my friends who read YA - and even if you don’t read YA, the MC is mature enough that you might enjoy this one!

the biggest reason i wanted to read this amazing book if for the absolutely gorgeous cover and yet i ended up falling in love with the characters more. rubi ramos is so relatable. she’s all about pursuing her dreams no matter what her parents might think about them. i really enjoyed this book and i liked how rubi’s relationship with her parents was written.

Rubi’s parents didn’t leave Cuba for her to be a baker like they are. They have much bigger plans for her - but first she needs to get accepted into Alma University. When her application is waitlisted, Rubi is determined to get in without her parents ever finding out she was waitlisted and nothing will stop her. Until she gets accepted into a local baking competition - she’s always had a passion for baking, but her parents view it as a distraction. Can she enter the competition without them finding out, and will she be able to balance getting into Alma AND the Bake Off?

I love books with baking competitions - the food descriptions always make me wish I could be there to taste test. Rubi’s creations sounded SO good! The real winner of this book was the message about family. Rubi’s relationship with her parents was definitely complicated, but as the book went on, it was clear they truly wanted everything for her. And the ending was everything I could have wanted. I wanted a bit more from the love interest though - I feel I never really got to know Ryan as much as I would have wanted to.
I love Karla Serrato’s narration of the audiobook. It was a book I could keep listening to for hours and her various accents and voices were incredible.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance copies.

Did not finish. It just wasn't grabbing my attention. I didn't feel like I couldn connect with the characters at all.

I love a coming of age story and I love it even more when it is set around a baking competition. I related a lot to Rubi and her struggle with balance and the pressure of parents who want you to be better than they were and who don't always think about the impact that has on their kid. First generation to go to college and the pressure was a lot but I turned out alright. I loved Rubi's friends and while I don't think the romance part was really needed, it didn't take away from the rest of the story. Can't wait to see what comes next from this author. Many thanks to Wednesday Books for a gifted ecopy.

I thought this was an adorable YA Novel! I loved how much this book discussed Cuban Culture! I think Rubi was such a fun & relatable character. The little pinch of romance was perfect. I think the cooking show brought a high stakes energy to the book that I really enjoyed. Overall was a great YA & will definitely be recommending it!

4 stars

Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success is the story of finding a balance between commemorating your parents’ sacrifices while pursuing your own dreams and aspirations. The core of this story is Rubi differentiating between her parent’s dreams for her and her own personal dreams. Rubi’s parents want her to pursue a more practical career as a lawyer, but she wants to become a baker inspired by her parents’ bakery. Parra does a brilliant job of encapsulating the struggles of familial expectations and aspirations, tying it to a delightfully fun baking metaphor.

Rubi’s perseverance and determination shine through this story as she fights to keep pursuing her passion for baking regardless of the baking ban her parents enforced. Her relationship with her parents is well written because it’s clear that Rubi’s parents want the best for her and do not struggle like they did when living in Cuba. All they want is the best for her, which is what Rubi strives for, but she wants to sacrifice her passions and relationships in the process.

The romance between Rubi and Ryan captured the fun nature of their first relationship but took an in-depth exploration of their developing relationship and their individual struggles. The secondary characters were wonderful additions that supported Rubi along her journey.

Baking is an outlook for Rubi to connect with her Cuban roots showing how each treat relates to both Rubi’s past and present. The descriptions of all the baked treats sounded absolutely delicious that made me wish I could have a bite. The bake-off is full of creative and intense challenges that will keep readers on their toes on what Rubi will bake.

Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success delves deeply into Cuban culture, parental expectations, and what it means to be a child of immigrants who only want the best for you. I really appreciated the journey that Rubi went on through this book and honestly, I loved that she was able to have her cake and eat it, too.

My favourite part of the story was near the end, when her parents began to accept their own dreams for themselves. As a parent myself, I know how much of yourself you lose as you guide your kids through life, and seeing Rubi help them to self-realization was really great. I hope her mom gets into Alma and her dad does Bake Off next year!!

The romance could have been further developed for me, but I don’t fault the author for not focusing on Rubi and Ryan’s relationship - Rubi had a lot going on and the focus on her journey was just right.

Jessica Parra’s debut novel stood out as a top of the line cookie in the midst of a lot of coming of age books, exploring the line between being a dutiful daughter and exploring one’s passion. Full of life lessons and great characters and just a little bit of romance, I enjoyed reading this lighthearted and heartwarming story as this one rose to the top, in a sense.

Rubi Ramos hasn’t been allowed to bake anything for the past four years, all in the pursuit of making sure she was the perfect candidate prestigious (and fictional) Alma University. Being a first generational American born from Cuban parents, her family’s sure this will forward her path to become a lawyer and make life better for her family. When she’s waitlisted by Alma and a chance to show her baking skills comes to pass, she’s jumping on it, juggling Trig homework, her hot new surfer tutor, debate team, and keeping baking a secret from her folks.

Rubi was super relatable, she’s a bit geeky and passionate about baking despite not being allowed to, and determined to get into her dream school at almost any price. She learns a lot through her many mistakes, and discovers a lot about herself, her family and heritage, and what’s important to her. I loved the great character depth of the entire cast; all but two characters had a good side, and there’s a hint that one of them might be able to turn it around given more time. Rubi’s family is well meaning, yet not perfect, with her Dad being her partner in crime and her Mama being the more serious of the two. Her school friends were all great, and everyone in the baking world was rather interesting. Part of me is glad that the romance between Rubi and her tutor turned boyfriend Ryan isn’t super big, and takes a backseat for a big chunk of the story as Rubi has other things to worry about, but there is resolution. There are a few cute moments and boyftu is now a thing.

While there are a lot of things going on throughout the story and to some, it might feel like hopping back and forth, everything makes sense in that each element eventually comes together and bakes throughout the book to make a great and yummy treat. The prose was on point, easy to follow along. As a warning, do not read this book with an empty stomach, you will be hungry super fast with all the food descriptions. Also, there’s lots of food related puns and I giggled at a few of them. In addition, there were so many SoCal and Orange County references in this book (as it takes place in the OC), I did not expect the whole “LA Angels of Anaheim” bit to show up here. There are a few Spanish phrases, but it’s easy to understand due to the context. There was one nitpick I had about a contestant being allowed in the contest despite it being in progress, but this seems to be a common trope in these types of stories. And the consequences evened it out. The ending was heartwarming and satisfying in more ways than one.

If you’re looking for a tasty coming of age story with just a bit of romance, donut skip this one!

Rubi is from Cuban parents who own several bakeries in Southern California. She dreams of becoming a lawyer but also loves helping her parents bake in her free time. However, when she’s pushed into getting accepted into her number one choice of college and entering a brand new baking competition, she finally realizes that she might love baking more than she thought and that she might have to pick between her two worlds.

This book was okay. It didn’t keep me guessing or glued to the pages. It was more of a coming of age in an immigrant household type story than anything else. It definitely went in depth about having to uphold her parents expectations for her as well as figuring out what she truly wanted to do with her time.

Think Disney Channel Original Movie. This book is cute, has some good lessons, isn't too deep, has a romance side-plot, and centers a Cuban-American teen trying to follow her own dreams while also trying to live up to her parent's expectations. Classic.

As nice as the story was, it was also a little heavy-handed on the baking puns and general cliches, and some of the dialogue and internal thoughts felt a little unnatural. But overall, it's a sweet, short book, that I think would be good for YA readers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the e-ARC.

A wonderful coming of age type story about a first generation teenage girl trying to live up to her parents expectations and goals for her while also having a deep passion for baking that her parents disapprove off.

Rubi is a fantastic character and the book perfectly balances the pressure she feels from her parents while acknowledging why her parents push her so hard and not villainizing them for wanting a different life for her.

The book has a great pace, the story is easy to sink into and is definitely a great addition to the YA genre. There is romance but the book definitely isn’t a romance novel and it’s not a central part of the story. It is a little insta-lovey which isn’t particularly something I enjoy and it did feel like it was that way because the romance wasn’t a central part of the storyline.

Overall though, a great book and I enjoyed reading it.

If you know someone who loves YA Contemporary grab this one for them.
I love stories about cooking, baking and of course family & friends.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A very cute read that I had a fun time reading. Rubi was a character I liked and the story had an easy flow that made it hard to put down. I’d definitely recommend checking this book out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for this e-arc in return for an honest review!

Sometimes being on the waitlist is an opportunity to rise to the occasion! :)

I love a layered YA story that gives us the fluff, the teenage angst, the parental dilemma and the mean girls that push us to resilience at a young age! Rubi's story offered us all that in this delicious dilemma of taking a chance on one's self despite the odds. Despite the challenges that was presented both at home and at school Rubi was determined to embrace her why with a dose of unabashed passion. Rubi navigates the challenges of pleasing her parents, following her hidden dreams and standing up to those who feel threatened by her culture and presence. Rubi discovered that running from what’s within you is not an option. Even if those around you cannot see it. There is a connection and pull towards baking that Rubi cannot deny. Ideas come easy and she is always intent on bringing aspects of her culture into the recipes she creates.

Rubi reminds me of the rebellion of youth that can be purposeful in the face of following and finding one's path that also lead to the discovery of so much more. This story also engages our senses with some delicious recipes and baking lingo you will sure to remember. It was a win win ending I can get behind!

Happy reading!

THIS BOOK GAVE ME ALL THE FEELS!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in return for my honest review.

This is a story about Rubi - a first generation Afro-Cuban American. Her parents have given her a list of ingredients that will lead her to a successful life:

Ingredient List:
Captain of the Debate Club.
Bring the team to Success (after three years of defeat)
Member of FLOC (Future Leaders of Orange County)
Get into Alma
Attend pre-law
then attend law school
become a lawyer.

Ingredients off-limits:
Baking
Entering a baking competition
Going to Cuba

This is the story about a high school senior who needs to decide if her parents recipe for success is HER recipe for success. Rubi is not only navigating life as a teen, but her life feels like its in a pressure cooker. By following her heart, she knows she going to disappoint her parents. But by ignoring a part of herself, she hurts herself.

This is a LOVELY story - well written (Jessica Parra - you did good!), full of angst and loads of baking puns. The baking puns are reminiscent of old school British Bake Off (hosts Mel and Sue). It also reminded me a little of Rachel Lynn Solomon's "Today Tonight Tomorrow" and Talia Hibbert's "Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute."

This book is about more than just baking - it really highlights the pressures first generation kids feel to be successful because of all the sacrifices made for them by their parents. It doesn't shy away from racism and microaggressive comments, or classist comments.

I enjoyed this read and would totally recommend it.