The Quince Project is such a cute book. It definitely feels more YA romance than adult fiction but it's a great starter to soft and clean romance. The book follows Po and Callie (who is wanting to become an event planner) try to secure an internship.

Perfect for teenage Disney fans, both those who like villains and those who like princesses.

I'm loving this coming-of-age book about a girl who's determined to give everyone else a happily ever after, all while avoiding her own grief. It's funny and fresh, with a cute romance at the heart of it!

After her mom died and her sister's awkward, haphazard quinceañera, Castillo Torres discovers a passion for planning the perfect party. After an influencer misunderstands and thinks she's already working at her dream party planning firm, Castillo finds herself planning an edgy, deconstructed quince for Paulina, whose aesthetic resembles that of a Sith Lord. But the party's a publicity stunt, and Cas and her sister Po find themselves pulled in different directions as the lies grow. Po has instant chemistry with Paulina, while Cas finds herself falling for Paulina's date, Javi.

Po's adorable as a teen who finds a lipstick color for every mood - coral for courage, purple for a good mood, and red for a bad mood. Paulina's intriguing as a Disney vlogger who prefers villain aesthetics. Javi's a sweetheart who has great banter with Cas and is up for anything, as long as she's there too.

Set against the background of Disneyland, this book has a lot to say about what goes into making memories magic. It also shows how grief can make a person forget about their own Happily Ever after.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you St Martin's and Wednesday books for the review copy of The Quince Project. This is a sweet YA story filled with some great themes on family and young romance and growing up and it is also a lot about grief and coping, what happens when you lose your mother as a teen. The themes on grief are gently handled as a thoughtful undercurrent to the main character's story.
Standouts
1. I love the movement towards culturally inclusive stories about adolescent rites of passage. The focus on quinceañeras was important. My one note is that I felt it was a shame that part of the story was how someone was using this rite of passage through an influencer/college app lens though that also amplified a bigger theme on the pressures young people are under to figure it all out and to do it on social media/through large events

2. family love and grief. I really liked Cas and Po's (sisters) relationship and how they were so close. Clearly they needed each other to cope with the loss of their mother but the relationship was caring and filled with respect and love.

3. inclusion. More and more YA books embrace diverse identities as simply part of a story and as part of a daily teen experience and I value that.

4. social media and college pressures. I don't think I fully understand how social media is so woven into teen life and this book did a good job capturing all of the gossip stuff and worries and DMs and the constancy of this. If you have a teen, please tell them it's ok to slow down, to not have their college major and careers figured out at 15. I teach college kids, they should not be this overwhelmed... being burnt out at 20 is not good.

Other thoughts
I have read a few other reviews that say this is a very YA book and I agree. that's not a bad thing, it means that this was a very relevant story to perhaps tweens and young teens but as an adult well removed from teen stuff, a lot of it felt hard to connect to after the basic story was set. Not that I didn't embrace the story and the grief theme but the challenges being faced outside of grief, the influencer and disneyland stuff just aren't themes I connect with and my GenX self did not experience adolescence this way. So I make this note for readers, embrace this as a very good story that captures today's teens and their pressures and social media lives, their confusion and uncertainty amplified through the chaos and agony of social media and constant DMs and all the things...

4 stars

Jessica Parra has another solid YA contemporary with this most recent effort.

Cas, the m.c., loves to plan. Have a list? She'll check the boxes. Have an event to plan? She'll make it sing (sort of - she's kind of known for hilarious mishaps, but the intention is there). Basically, Cas is doing whatever she can to impose some kind of apparent control over her life, which, like all of ours, is not fully ever within her control. These feelings and needs grow much stronger after Cas's mother dies (which happens prior to the start of the book). As her family tries to manage their grief and find their way both through and forward, Cas questions her own actions and makes some moderately shady moves in the process. Like all good YA, there are many lessons to be learned and so much growth for the m.c. to accomplish.

Because Cas's mom was a major Disney fan and they live locally to Disneyland, this book has many references to various Disney characters and motifs. There are also some clear, broader fairy tale references. Folks who are into this world will find this a charming addition, but those who are not may have a different response at times. It's not overwhelming, but the Disney vibe cannot be ignored.

Folks looking for a book that deals somewhat gently with the aftermath of losing a parent will be especially drawn to this one. It's a solid and engaging work and, for me, another win from Jessica Parra.

3.75/5 stars, rounded to 4!

this story was so sweet! it follows castillo torres as she works towards becoming a party planner extraordinaire, along with navigating a very tumultuous grief journey and new love on the way.

i loved the way that the story touched upon grief, it felt very palatable and accessible for a YA audience. i also adored the romance between her and javi- they were so sweet and i really enjoyed the way he helped her begin to work through her grief and stop ignoring it. i think latine culture has a huge issue with ignoring feelings, especially grief-centered ones, by working hard and “poniéndose las pilas” and watching cas leave behind that mentality was really special. watching her relationship with her sister and dad improve as well was so sweet :,)

i wasn’t super fond of all of the excessive disney references BUT i can understand that it might just have not been for me!! i did think it was a sweet unifying point for all/most of the characters in the story. overall, definitely recommend this story if you are looking for a magical story that feels like a hug!!

Reading this book felt like opening the door to the Disney vault and being wrapped in a blanket of magic, nostalgia, and love. As a huge Disney and Star Wars fan, I was so giddy over every movie and park reference. I also relished every callback to what I believe is JLo’s greatest role… Mary Fiore in The Wedding Planner. It was a brief dream of mine to be an event planner (let’s be honest… I really wanted the coveted headset), so getting to follow Castillo around on her event planning adventures was a true delight.

While this story had so much joy and laughter, there were also moments that were incredibly emotional and raw as Parra discusses parental loss and how life in the “after” looks different for everyone - no matter how long ago the loss happened, grief is not linear and healing is the journey, not the destination. Seeing Cas and Po grow and heal together left me teary and my heart so full, and I loved witnessing their bond as sisters strengthen. They complemented each other so well and it was so heartwarming seeing embrace, forgive, and dream together.

In a time where content is supreme and there is an emphasis on achieving the “perfect grid,” I was delighted to see Parra flip the script and remind all readers of the importance of living in the moment, away from the cameras, and celebrating the happily ever nows. Life is inherently messy and while we might strive for picture perfect moments, it is the imperfect, candid moments of joy and laughter that we will cling to and remember.

This was such a sweet story full of lovely reminders that we’re always healing and growing, it’s never too late to change your plans and dreams, and that even in life’s more challenging and heartbreaking moments, there is still joy and hope to be found.

The Quince Project is an endearing and heartfelt YA novel about grief and love. Castillo is determined to become an event planner. After she loses her mother it's all she feels like she has left. She throws herself into her plans to avoid the rest of her life that's falling apart. Along the way Castillo learns about her how to deal with her grief and how to find her way back. This story is full of cute Disney references too. The Quince Project does a great job at balancing the emotions of grief with a cute ya story.

Callisto Torres is obsessed with helping people have the perfect party which she believes will ultimately lead to a happily ever after. She can’t quite get over a typo that ruined her sisters quinceañera. The problem was absolutely the missing tilde in a banner and not the recent death of her mother. This family tragedy sent her father and sister into their own world of coping which are not to her liking but once she gets a internship with an Instagram part planner she well be able to set everything to rights. This was a true YA novel in content. It’s deal with grief, rights of passage and even some Disneyland. This novel will be great for its target audience. It came around from me in the rend but for most of the book I just wanted to send Callisto and her family to grief counselor. Overall an enjoyable book that felt lighthearted but still have some deeper substance behind it..

Cas feels like her family is falling apart after her mother's death: her dad goes to work and plays Star Wars video games, rarely sleeping or doing anything like parenting; her sister Po ("Mariposa") just brushes everything off; and Cas herself has a mom-shaped whole in her heart that she is desperately trying to fill with party planning. Cas is determined to land an internship with Mandy Whitmore, party planner extraordinaire, also known as a Fairy Godmother. She is sure that being mentored by Mandy will help her gain the skills she needs to get her family back on track to their own "Happily-Ever-Afters."

Cas is the event chair of her high school's Student Body Association and is an uber planner. An accident on the way to an event causes her to meet a sexy junior lifeguard named Javier and sparks fly. When they discover that they've both lost a beloved parent, they quickly bond, but will distraction keep Cas from landing the internship she needs to rescue her family's HEA?

One day Po convinces Cas to go to Disneyland, their mom's absolute favorite place on earth, even though Cas isn't sure it's a good idea. But, it's the first thing Po has invited her to do together since "after," so she goes. While they are there, they meet Paulina, a famous teen Disney Youtuber. When Paulina mistakenly assumes Cas works for Mandy Whitmore already, Po, who is crushing hard on Paulina, prevails upon Cas to let the assumption stand. Paulina hires Cas to help her plan her own quinceañera.

As you might guess, things don't always go according to plan and the miscommunication/discovering the lie trope is in full use here. Trope it is, but it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the book. The main characters are fleshed out and believable (Cas, Po, Paulina, & Javier), and the side characters are entertaining and real enough to serve their purpose. The plot moves along well, and you find yourself rooting for the characters HEA as much as Cas is. There's some great Cuban-American culture that's integral to the story, and totally natural. There's also a nice exploration of grief and its effects, as well as different ways of handling it.

This is a solidly enjoyable YA novel that includes romance, yes, but is so much deeper than that. It's also a story of family and hope and healing. I definitely recommend it!

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Quince Project by Jessica Parra is such a great book. I've never read the author's debut novel, so I went into this with no expectations. What I found is a book full of sadness, love, challenges, and joy.

The characters in this book are so interesting. Most of the characters are high school students. The main character is very focused on her dream career, so much so that she doesn't pay attention to much else. Other interesting characters include a Youtube star, a single father trying to navigate life after losing his wife, and a seemingly carefree boy who is more than what he seems. I really enjoyed reading about all of their experiences in this book.

I also really liked reading about the tradition of the quinceanera. I'm not Hispanic, so have always been interested in learning about various things from that culture. Own Voices books are so special for that reason - it allows the reader to learn things about other cultures that they may not have been exposed to otherwise.

The story is very well written and flows well. I liked how it wasn't all fun and games, there was also some heartbreak and friction that brought a perfect balance. It does bring up a death that takes place before the events in the book which might trigger some, but I think that it added a needed source of tragedy for the characters to work through.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I will definitely read books by Jessica Parra again!

This YA novel about a high-school student who overplans everything and has banked her hopes for an education and future career on an internship with a social media-star event planning firm. She takes on the project of a quinceañera for a schoolmate who’s a well-known Disney influencer, lying to her and others that she’s already an intern with the famous firm. But Cas’s project doesn’t go as planned, and she’s left to wonder what’s real, what’s not, and why she feels the need to live her life according to her ever-present planner. I don’t know that the YA audience would read this as a cautionary tale, but parents definitely should. (Netgalley review; releases 5/28).

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

Summery:
The Quince Project is about Castillo Torres as she trains to be a prefect party planner. She’s aiming towards landing an internship at the prestigious party planning company of Mandy Whitmore. Castillo is obsessed with happily ever afters or as she likes to call them HEA’s. One day her and her sister Po go to Disneyland and run into famous Disney blogger Paulina, after a little white lie told by Po Castillo is now in charge of Paulina’s Very Merry Unquince.

Thoughts:
I personally was a bit confused at the very beginning of the book when we are introduced to all a bunch of characters. For a while I didn’t know the main characters name until someone finally called on her. The first few chapters are a bit slow but things do pick up. If you’re a Disney fan read this because almost every page has a Disney reference and I thought it was super cute! I really adore the dynamic of the sisters together it was nice to see such a nice bond. I really enjoyed the romance in this as well it was very sweet and adorable, I definitely felt what Castillo was feeling for her very first crush. We also get a lot of serious topics about grief and how to choose what you do after it and how everyone processes differently.

Closing Thoughts:
Overall I enjoyed this book and thought it was very cute. The dynamic all the main characters had with each other was super nice as well. The only thing I didn’t like was there was two loose ends that didn’t get answered but that’s ok. Overall 3/5 stars highly recommend if you’re a Disney fan.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Review: The Quince Project by Jessica Parra

There may not be any talking animals, but The Quince project is full of Disney princesses taking hold of their Happily Ever Nows.

Cas Torres is organized. Cas Torres has it together. Cast Torres has her, and her sister’s and dad’s, perfect HEA (happily ever after) planned out and on schedule. She is determined to take her planning skills to the next level and become a fairy godmother’s apprentice. But first, she needs to land the perfect high profile party for her portfolio. Then she does, a Disneyland YouTuber… but there’s a catch, she has to lie about having her internship already.

You know what they say about perfectly laid plans, don’t you? As Cas’s world begins to unravel, like a string in Cinderella’s frock, she learns the importance of honesty, family, and letting things get a little bit messy.

I would have read this just because Jessica Parra wrote it, and it is no secret that I love her debut novel, Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success. But then, she also gave me Star Wars references, vicarious Disney visits, and another beautiful coming of age novel. This book is a lot of fun as well as beautiful exploration of grief and how we can become who we are meant to be even when the people so pivotal to our life are missing.

The Wedding planner but make it for teens & she plans quinceñeras.

This is a perfect book for Disney obsessed teen! So many I mean soooo many movies & Disney characters mentioned.

Cas the main character has a goal to become a party planner and she gets a big break to plan a party for a YouTube Disney influencer. She’s planning a Star Wars themed party but she ends up liking the chambelan 🤭

This is a very YA book but only trigger I can see is grieving.
The main character & her family are grieving the loss of their mother.
Dealing with grief is hard at any age.

Big the wedding planner vibes and since I was obsessed with that movie as a kid this book hit all the right notes for me. I was also really impressed with how deftly it handled grief, really loved this book

Very slow star, I almost DNF several times. Nice little story if you can stick it out. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

The Quince Project is the best book I've read in a while it was about Grief and Self-Discovery, Second Chances, and Sisterly Bonds.

Do you remember that movie where the woman has never been married but always wanted to so instead she plans peoples wedding and/or becomes the bridesmaid or maid of honor and has a ton of different dresses and stuff.. I don't know why but this gave me that vibe. It's not a bad thing!!! I really enjoyed it. I think I am falling out of my YA era because the characters bugged me every now and again and the story lulled for a bit but it was still a good book just not for me. I think other teens will definitely love this light hearted story. A great one to read!

If you need/want a lighter read that feels magical, funny and still approaches a topic as serious a grief, you will enjoy this book. The story follows Castillo Torres, a teen in California who felt like she had to carry her family after a tremendous loss, and you meet a series of characters along the way who are truly unique and represent the diversity of the Latine community and beyond without feeling too forced.