Rubi is the daughter of Cuban immigrants who have worked really hard to succeed with their bakery (now two bakeries!) in wealthy Orange County, California. Rubi’s parents are firmly set on her going to college to become a lawyer (their American dream) and she has worked hard to make that happen. She’s gotten good grades, although she’s struggling with trigonometry, and is the captain of her school’s debate team. She shares a love of baking with her dad but her mother in particular is dead set against her following in her dad’s footsteps. In an extreme move, which honestly didn’t sit right with me, Rubi has been forbidden to bake at all. She tries hard to get around their rules, while helping in the prep area of their main bakery, but she’s really not the kind of girl who will flat-out disobey her parents. She’s very inventive, while still being true to her culinary heritage.

One day she notices an article in the newspaper about a local Bake-Off contest and she enters without telling her parents.

Will Rubi follow her heart or make her parents happy?

There’s a lot going on in this book, not just baking, although the food descriptions are mouth-watering. We have issues of haves and hove-nots, striving immigrant families and wealthy families who have been in the area for generations. We have academic competition, seasoned with a bit of “mean girl” action. We have prejudice and assumptions. But we also have wonderful friendships and a blossoming romance with Ryan, a red-headed surfer who is also a math wiz and tutors Rubi in trig. And of course, we have the exciting bake-off action!

A few things bothered me, in addition to the extreme Ban on Baking:
-How Rubi dealt with the wait-list letter - she acted impulsively (as many teens tend to do) and her lies had to get bigger
-One of her good friends came out to Rubi as gay but this subplot didn’t go anywhere at all
-The gorgeous cover was something that attracted me to the book in the first place but I think it gives the wrong idea of what the book is about. There’s romance and I liked the Ryan character but this book is really Rubi’s coming-of-age story, not a romance novel.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Karla Serrato. I loved hearing the Spanish words spoken with her wonderful accent. (While most of the words were not explicitly translated, you could always tell what they meant by the context.)

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Rubi Ramos has been raised by her parents with a clear plan for her future. She is banned from baking and following in their footsteps. Instead, she must attend an elite university and achieve the dreams they made in fleeing from Cuba. But the book begins with her being waitlisted at university and having an opportunity to pursue baking.

Told in the first person, Rubi was an excellent character Ramos was an excellent character. And I was so impressed with the description of her parents and their different reactions to immigrating to southern California. The book did a great job addressing racism and bias in ways that made sense for the story and characters.

But some of the other characters, especially Rubi's best friend, love interest, and nemesis fell a little flat. Additionally, I found the description of the admissions process for elite colleges took more suspension of disbelief than I would expect in a YA book.

My favorite aspects of this story were the amazing baked goods and the depiction of family. I didn't really feel the love interest added to the story and would have liked to see this just be a stronger coming-of-age tale.

Karla Serrato did an amazing job narrating. I had to double check it really was just a single narrator. She slipped seamlessly between Cuban, French, and other accents, and she handled a wide array of different voices and contexts. I was so impressed and will be looking for more of her audiobooks to listen to.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the advanced reader copy and to LibroFM for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Rounded up to 4 stars

I had to dnf at 15%

I love the young adult genre, it'll always have my heart but i really felt disconnected to this story, I wish I could relate to the characters but they were 17 years old and talking about college and I'm in my late twenties and could not relate to that at all anymore,

I absolutely love the cover and would def recommend this to anyone if they like ya and baking.

This was a cute coming-of-age story. I thought the cultural influences and differences really set this book apart. You can tell the lies Rubi tells is because she feels so much pressure from her parents who just want her to have a better life than them. I think there are a lot of parents out there like that so it’s good to see how to get through it and overcome that pressure. The romance was really sweet! I'm excited to see what this author writes in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This new YA book releases on the 16th of this month. There is a lot going on in Rubi’s life. She is a senior who got waitlisted to her only school, trying to measure up to her parents dreams for her, secretly entered into a baking contest, and also kinda has a thing for her math tutor. It was a cute fun fast read.

Looking for a fresh and inspiring YA read that'll have you cheering on the protagonist all the way to the top? Check out Rubi Ramos' Recipe for Success!

Bakery - Rubi’s parents are Cuban immigrants who run a bakery, which they named after her.
Law School - and as much as Rubi loves baking, her parents expect her to go to law school. But she gets waitlisted.
Cooking Competition - so she enters a baking competition and discovers that she may be able to use this to get herself off the waitlist
Decisions - She will need to decide if she need to concentrate on her parents dreams, or her own.

It seems like this year seems to have a lot of these tropes coming out. Main character wants to do something and their parents don’t listen, so they do something secretly behind their back, and then they also have a tutor to help them with that thing their parents are forcing them to do. This take was super fun because I love a cooking competition, and the Cuban recipes were so delicious sounded. Definitely a quick YA read.
If you're looking for a captivating and empowering YA read, I highly recommend checking out this book!

I couldn’t put this book down, I loved the Cuban culture representation, the loveable characters, it was a breath of fresh air, and I love the baking/cooking phrases used in this book. Rubi has a recipe for success, everything she needs to achieve that is set in stone, but she has something else she loves, which is baking and that’s banned from the Recipe. But when her best friend tells her she should join Bake-Off, Rubi was hesitant, but there is a shift in her plans to attend her dream college, so she goes for it. Did I add the fact that she also found love??????. This is a great coming of age read, Rubi was really inspirational. Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

The dough felt right in her hands. Solid, yet moldable, a piece of her life that felt like it belonged. The smells of the kitchen formed a solid hug around her as she worked on her creation. Baking was an extension of herself, she just hoped it wouldn’t be ripped out from under her and burned.

Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success is a YA romance following Rubi who has dreams of baking and experiencing her Cuban culture, but her parents see her future in a very different way.

This book is labeled as a YA romance, but it is definitely more YA contemporary… not much romance. Anyway, the story was very sweet, yet predictable. I knew where the storylines were going, but it still was a refreshing read. I enjoyed the Cuban culture throughout the pages and reading about baking and the competition. Overall a cute book!

If you’re looking for a lighthearted YA with baking and competition elements, then I’d recommend trying this one.

Very sweet, debut YA novel. Rubi Ramo’s is first generation American and her Cuban parents have big dreams for her. It includes getting into the nearby prestigious Alma University. She is waitlisted with encouragement to improve her grades, extracurriculars and have an in person interview. In the middle of all that she meets cute guy Ryan who is a math wiz and can tutor her in her only weak subject. The other major part of the story is a baking competition that is partly sponsored by Alma as well. Rubi has grown up in her parents bakery and loves it and how it connects her Cuban heritage. Her mother has banned her from baking wanting her to focus on school so that she can have a professional career.

Being first generation American brings a lot of extra pressure on Rubi to fulfill the American dream of a life better than her parents. I love all the Cuban food references and there are a lot. (Usually when cultural foods are mentioned I will Google them to know what is being described. There were so many in this book I only chose ones that sounded extra interesting.) The Bake Off has a lot of symbolism in the story and takes up more of the book than I expected. I’ve read lots of books featuring cooking competitions so this is fun for me. But the plot is almost too full. I got lost a little in trying to keep up with the lies Rubi tells and who is knows the truth. Also I didn’t like the addition of a villain in the form of a fellow student on the debate team. It wasn’t necessary, the girl has already gotten into her college and Rubi being on the waitlist should guarantee she gets to interview with the school without the girls maneuverings.

Overall a wholesome story, clean for and language with some kissing scenes. And the cute cover fits the story. This is a good read for middle school and up. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success is the joyful and heartfelt tale of Rubi. Captain of the debate team, baker at her parent’s bakeries, and soon to be a first-generation college student- Rubi does it all. Then she’s unexpectedly waitlisted for her first choice college. When her parents overhear a phone call and misunderstand, suddenly everyone thinks that she got in and celebrates. To avoid disappointing them, Rubi must do as much as she can to clear the wait list. Luckily, she has a gorgeous math tutor, a Bake-Off competition, and loyal friends to help her achieve her dreams.

I loved this book! Rubi is so charming and I loved reading about her adventures as she tries to get into her first choice college. The romance was sweet and delightful! I loved all the food puns, Rubi’s resilience, and the complicated love between Rubi and her parents. Rubi’s Cuban parents are set on Rubi not following in their baking footsteps, as they sacrificed so much for her. It was amazing to see Rubi learn more about their relationship with Cuba and discover her own dreams. Rubi has a loyal friend group, especially Devon and Ryan! Rubi Ramo’s Recipe for Success was a sweet and delectable read and you definitely dough not want to miss it. (Had to make Rubi proud with the food puns!)

Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success carries the message that it’s never too late to adjust your dreams and that you should always be true to yourself. It is filled with joy, baking puns, and a sweet romance. I highly recommend it and also make sure to have delicious snacks available while reading! Readers who enjoy Samantha Markum (You Wouldn’t Dare), Jonny Garza Villa (Ander & Santi Were Here), and Laura Taylor Namey (A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow) should check this book out.

Thank you so much to Jessica Parra, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

Oh Rubi! Her parents want her to be an attorney and she wants to be a baker like they are. Things come to a head when she's waitlisted at the prestigious Alma University and accepted into a baking competition. Rubi makes a deal with Madeline, who claims she can get Rubi off the wait list, but then there's an inflection point - interview or bake? Parra has smoothly incorporated the challenges Rubi faces as the daughter of Afro-Carribean and Cuban immigrants to the US, from micro aggressions to dealing with parental hopes and dreams. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's a good read.

All Rubi Ramos wants to do is bake. All her mother wants is for her to go to an elite college and become a lawyer. Is there any way for both to get what they want?

This book is beyond adorable & the description of the food made me so hungry. Of all the books I’ve read lately I think Rubi is one of the most likable main characters. And even her mother wasn’t terrible, she was written in such a way that I could honestly say I saw where she was coming from (although banning baking is just a little bit to much.)

I 100% recommend this book & I wouldn’t be surprised if it lands on my 2023 favorite books list.

This was such a sweet, easy read!

For a YA novel marketed as a romance, the romance was a subplot, which I didn’t entirely mind. Rubi’s narration was relatable—a bit dramatic, a bit impulsive, but not excessive—and her struggles will certainly be relatable for a large audience.

I liked Parra’s writing style, especially considering this is her debut. Her descriptions of various baked goods made me ravenous—the dining halls at colleges simply can’t come close!—and added to the believability of Rubi’s passion and expertise. Throughout the story, I always had a solid understanding of Rubi’s motivations, relationships, and internal conflicts, though the secondary characters felt flat.

For instance, Devon struggles alongside Rubi, though Rubi never seems to notice. This is understandable because Rubi has a lot on her own plate, but I think exploring Devon’s background would have improved her character’s connection to Rubi. Likewise, Madeline, despite being one of the antagonists, switches between being condescending and being almost helpful. Again, this could be very realistic for a teenage character, but without deeper insight into her life, I didn’t fully believe it.

That said, the baking competition was an effective plot device. It created tension between Rubi’s two goals as well as tension—and heartwarming moments—between her, her parents, and her new boyfriend. I also particularly liked that Rubi wasn’t entirely successful; she worked hard and made progress, but realistically, those aren’t always enough.

An absolutely darling YA contemporary about finding your place, following your dreams, and bring true to yourself. I really liked Rubi a lot. Hardworking, determined, and doing everything she can to follow the recipe for success and get into Alma University. I love that she found support from friends and family as she navigated her challenges and the end of senior year while still making time for her love of baking! The audio is well done as well! Just prepare yourself for plenty of baking puns!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary e-arc of this book. All opinions here are my own.

Warning: this will make you crave Cuban pastries

Absolutely wonderful coming-of-age story about the daughter of Cuban immigrants trying to balance her desires for her own future with her parents' desires for her and trying to stay connected with her Cuban heritage through baking.

Rubi's journey and her relationship with her parents was so touching, and I think it will be relatable to many readers.

I read that the author's parents were also bakers, which makes this story even more special.

Standout YA which I absolutely loved!

This felt “just ok” to me. I was sure I’d like it, as I love reading about food (especially the puns!) and the cultural nuances are always a win in a story for me. But while I respect Rubi’s character, I felt something was missing…it just felt underbaked (ironically). Nothing quite hits.

What a wonderful book! Our heroine has always followed the rules, but when the rules involved her stepping away from baking, it was too much. Now she is trying to find a way to follow her dreams and keep her parents happy, too.
Excellent coming of age novel! #NetGalley

I absolutely love cooking competitions in YA Novels! Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success by Jessica Parra did not disappoint! It delivered on the cooking competition, delightful descriptions of Cuban cuisine, and of course some drama with friends and family. Bonus, there is a lot of debate featured in this novel both on stage and off.

Here's what I loved the most. Rubi is trying to figure out how to tell her family that their dream for her isn't hers. That's tremendously hard to do, especially when you know someone has sacrificed a lot for you. Rubi has this beautiful passion for cooking and everyone around her sees it, including her parents. The Boss (aka Rubi's mom) has put a ban on her spending time in their family restaurant to bake, because she wants her daughter's only focus to be getting accepted to Alma for college. The tension in this book is relatable; family obligation and personal satisfaction often butt heads and Rubi is a teenager. So, lots of her actions are a bit clunky and muddled, but her heart is pure.

If you like YA books, this one is a must read. It's got.fun romance sprinkled in too!

We all know how much I love cooking and baking and books that center around food. I was drawn to Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success just from the title.

Rubi finds out that she got waitlisted at Alma, and due to a misunderstanding, her parents believe she got in. Of course, for the plot of the story, this needs to happen, but it felt a little contrived to me. It also made me lose respect for Rubi pretty quickly when she didn’t correct the assumptions of her parents. Of course, her parents put a lot of pressure on her, but they still deserve the truth about something as important as college acceptances. (I also felt this way when Seth Cohen lied to his parents about getting into Brown on The OC).

Maybe it’s a sign that I’ve gotten old, but I was more fascinated by Rubi’s parents’ story than Rubi’s. Her mom is presented as an obstacle to Rubi’s dreams, but she clearly is also a smart and driven businesswoman. She cares deeply about her daughter and wants her to live a successful life. I would read a spinoff novel from Ms. Ramos’s perspective any day. It made me sad that Rubi and her father go behind Ms. Ramos’s back so often throughout the story. She at least deserves better than that from her husband.

I was impressed that Rubi doesn’t take the opportunities she’s offered for granted. She finds herself sitting across from the Dean of Admissions at Alma, and she finds herself in an uncomfortable position.

"She wanted to know how much I’d scaled to get here. If she should extend her bejeweled hand and give me one last pull up"

Rubi feels as though the Dean is just interested in being a white savior and is not interested in what Rubi has in common with her prospective future classmates. However, instead of letting this bother her, she allows herself to be fueled by it.

"I wanted Alma more than ever. There was no bottom to how much I wanted it. Not just for my sake, or my parents’. But because one day, I wanted to be the person sitting where Addison sat, perched atop the highest peak in all of Pelican Point, across from a person who, like me, needed a hand on the way up."

I was impressed with Rubi’s determination and strength in the face of someone treating her in a condescending and problematic way. Rubi finally won me over in this moment.

Predicatably one of my favorite parts of this book was the descriptions of the delicious treats Rubi bakes. She is thoughtful and creative in her bakes. Her croncha, a mix between a croissant and conchas (a Hispanic sweet bread), sounds absolutely delicious. I also love how she realizes how connected baking and math are and uses her baking knowledge to improve her math skills.

Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success is as sweet as one of Rubi’s bakes, but it doesn’t have the emotional impact I was hoping for.

This book wasn’t originally on my radar, but I’m so glad that I picked it up! RUBI RAMOS is a heartfelt and fun coming-of–age story that looks at ideas around identity, love (in many forms), and living for yourself vs. others. The story felt fairly authentic for a teenager without being overburdened by pop culture references, and had descriptions of recipes so good that my mouth is watering just thinking about them. For me, it blends the elements of a YA contemporary with a dash of romance and some other plot points well, making a story that is uniquely about Rubi but also allows for the world around her. And I couldn’t recommend it enough!

The best part of this book in my opinion was Rubi herself, both her character and her story. She felt well developed without coming off as too old, or like she was above being a real human character. Her worries, struggles, and triumphs were all woven so well into the story that the only time I felt even slightly taken out of the story was with the cliché third-act breakup (although thankfully it wasn’t as big of a deal as it could have been). I wanted Rubi to win, if not in her various competitions, then in life.

While the romance certainly wasn’t the biggest aspect of the book, I overall thought it was pretty cute and straddled the line of young relationships just being young relationships. The question isn’t whether Rubi and Ryan are forever, but them right now, and I enjoyed getting to watch them fall for each other.

And while I can’t personally comment on Rubi’s family relationships, they felt like they were written so well and with such love and care. The relationships in this book are multi-faceted, and I appreciated seeing the way they grew, broke, and developed because of and despite outside influences.

This book was definitely well worth the read, and I can’t wait to see what else Jessica Parra writes in the future!