To bake or not to bake, that is the question.

For most people, that’s a straight forward question. But for Rubi Ramos it’s a little more complicated. Her parents started a chain of bakeries to save for Rubi’s future. And while she loves to bake, Rubi has been banned from the kitchen and ordered to focus on her future as a lawyer.


Plot: 4/5
The plot is pretty straightforward and follows a classic ya contemporary story arc. The addition of two different kinds of competition did really well.

Characters: 4/5
Rubi is a complex character who loves baking, debate, and starwars references. I loved her passion for baking but also how much she enjoyed debate and the idea of being a lawyer. While she preferred baking, the prospect of law wasn’t something forced on her.

While there is a romantic plot, I saw it more as a subplot. It’s very much young love with love/attraction at first sight. Which isn’t really my cup of tea because I need there to be a little ✨tension✨ but it was still pretty cute.

Writing: 3/5
Parra’s writing was bingeable and easy to read. But I did find it pretty corny at time and her metaphors were a little much. I think this book shows a lot of talent though so I’m for sure invested in Parra’s career.


Overall: 4/5

4 stars

The title may focus on Rubi's success, but this reader's takeaway is that this whole book is a real success for Jessica Parra. I'm officially a fan!

Rubi, the titular m.c., is extremely likeable. She's exactly the right combo of well intentioned, driven, rebellious, and kind, and it is impossible not to root for her. This alone makes for such an enjoyable read.

Fortunately, there's a lot more to love than just Rubi's headlining greatness. Readers need to either access this book on full stomachs or prepare for some serious sweet tooth related cravings. They are a fun guarantee! Folks who are familiar with the southern CA landscape - particularly Orange County - will find the setting quite authentically penned (for better or worse - there's a lot to love *and* find embarrassing here). And the storyline is engaging, age appropriate, and filled with important lessons without ever feeling didactic or patronizing.

Transparently, it was the colorful cover that drew me to this one, but the substance is what kept me reading enthusiastically. I can't wait to read more from Parra and to recommend that my students let Rubi bake her way into their hearts, too!

*When and where available, I recommend the audiobook. The narration adds a lot not only to Rubi's characterization but also to several side characters!

This was a very cute and lighthearted read. It did resemble some other young adult books that I have read recently, so it didn't necessarily stand out. But I think this will be easily enjoyed by teens and YA fans alike. Also, the narrator did a great job!

Such a cute read!! I wouldn’t ask anything more from this book. It was a very simple YA easy read. Having being able to to read along list. I think the way narrator told the story was perfectly done. Didn’t take away from the story being told.

Rubi being so in touch with her culture was by far my favorite part. Add in a cute boy crush, queer touches, and stressful family expectations and you have a story of a mostly typical teenager. I thought it was so well written!!

Thanks so much NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the ARC!

This book was such a brilliant and successful debut novel. I adored Rubi as a character and how strong-willed and set on her goals she was. I love baking so I especially enjoyed all of the baking scenes and how nerdy Rubi was when it came to that aspect. Although I desperately wanted to love the romance it all just happened so quickly and wasn't very convincing for me. I didn't hate him in any I just kind of forgot about him ,,, oops. With that being my only complaint I absolutely cannot wait for Parras next release.
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thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Warning! Do not read this book on an empty stomach! This sweet YA novel has our protagonist Rubi, entering a baking competion in secret because her immigrant parents who own two bakeries want her to go to college and not have tobake for a living as they do. The foods descritions are wonderful. As is Rubi's story of meeting her parents expectaions and her following her passion.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape media for the advanced listener copy. The narrator Karla Serrato did a great job.

Thank you Net Galley for an audio copy of Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success by Jessica Parra. This is the cutest story! This is a character driven, Success driven book and I loved it!

Rubi’s had a recipe for success her entire life. This begins with attending Alma University as a pre-law major … so much so she has been banned from baking by her mother. Rubi loves baking … baking runs in her family. She does her best to keep baking part of her life, including the only time she allowed to bake, which is when working at her parents bakery. It isn’t enough though.

One day, Rubi sees there will be an amateur baking competition nearby. Rubi has to apply. The day she finds out she was waitlisted at Alma, she hears she made the cut for the competition. How will Rubi balance school, working at the bakery, the competition, and all the extra work she needs to do to get off the waitlist and into Alma? Can Rubi pull off the impossible?

This book was adorable. It had a likeable main character, a sweet love interest, great friends, amazing pop culture references, baking judges similar to another famous baking show, amazing puns, and more. I could have lived without the quintessential school bully, but I understand why it was needed.

I loved that I learned a lot about Cuban baking, too. Some of Rubi’s baked goods sounded amazing.

This was a solid debut from the author and I look forward to reading Parra’s next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an arc of this audiobook. I apologize if misspelled any names or locations, I read this via the audio narration. Thanks for the wonderful narration, Karla Serrato!

Thank you NetGalley Dreamscape media for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review. What an incredible YA book filled with friendahip family and love. My heart was breaking for the family and our FMC and MMC as they navigated their parents hopes and dreams and find a way to have their own dreams come true. I wanted to reach through the book and hug evetyone. Love it

FLEW through this excellent, incredible book. Tightly written, earnest, laugh-out-loud funny at several parts—one of the best YA books I've read in ages.

Narrator was so energetic and fun, she was perfect.

I loved pretty much everything about this debut YA novel! Gorgeous cover, reality baking competition, a sweet romance and great Cuban American daughter of immigrants rep. Great on audio narrated by Karla Serrato and perfect for fans of A Cuban girl's guide to tea and tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early audio and digital copies of this book in exchange for my honest review! This book is guaranteed to make you hungry and feel all the feels!