I enjoyed the plot of the story and it was super fun.
It was a warm hearted romance: love, drama, and even teary eyed moments.
I recommend it to those who love reading about Disney, parties, young love and working though complex emotions.
Really enjoyed how Castillo Torres (Castle Towers) was able to go from a girl to a women, with life lessons.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me with this arc for my honest review.

'The Quince Project' by Jessica Parra will definitely be added to our high school library Romance collection. There is no doubt that YA readers will be drawn to Castillo's efforts to become a party planning intern while dealing with a multitude of other issues, especially the family issues. The use of Disneyland, LA, pop culture references, and her Cuban Heritage are excellent bait to draw the readers in using their imaginations. Thank You to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in arc form in return for a review. There is no doubt it will fly off the shelf.

Cas is an admirable character. Her growth is well incorporated into the plot of this story. First time I felt slighlty pulled out of a YA book by all the pop culture references. Still thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I will give my thoughts once SMP addresses their readers with an explanation. Until then, all my reviews will be withheld.

“The Quince Project” is an enjoyable coming-of-age story. The book follows Cas Torres, a determined young woman aspiring to be an event planner. In the story, we follow her journey as she tries to plan a quince for a popular YouTuber chasing the chance to land an internship program in hopes of saving her family. We see great character development in Cas as she and her family share in their grief of losing a family member. It’s great to see Cas experience many firsts like dances, kisses, and dates despite familial struggles.

Despite the great character developments, I thought there were WAY too many Disney references. The Disney references felt forced and excessive and so many on each page made it hard for me to keep reading. Pop culture references are great when reading a coming-of-age book but the amount of them on each page was not needed. I may just be getting older, but the cheesy references made it hard for me to relate to the book.

“The Quince Project” will be released on May 28, 2024. Pick it up for an entertaining read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! Castillo's dream of landing a party planning internship felt unique, and I loved following along as she planned quinceañeras and school events.

Cas is also coping with the loss of her mother and her family's avoidance of their grief. Her journey towards reconnecting with her father and learning to understand her sister ("Po") was heartwarming. I also loved the incorporation of Cas's Cuban heritage.

Her romance with the chambelán is super sweet and their first meeting was so much fun to read. I liked that they bonded over a shared experience and he felt like not just a romantic interest but also a good friend.

The plot hinges on party planning for a YouTuber and there are tons of pop culture references (and I mean TONS) throughout the book, mostly pertaining to Disney, Disneyland, Star Wars, and Southern California. I actually picked up this book *because* I'm a big fan of these topics and thought I would love it, but sometimes the constant references felt like too much even for me. Occasionally these insertions felt forced and resulted in clunky phrasing that took me out of the story.

I also wasn't fond of Po's little quirks, like the way she picks a lipstick color based on her mood and the way she always mixes up proverbs. Po is a great character but I felt that those specific "personality traits" were cartoonish in nature and unnecessary.

Otherwise, I can overlook these issues because the rest of the story is great! After the first few chapters I got really invested and finished this book in a couple sittings.

I loved the Latinx/Hispanic representation and the overall plot of the story was super fun. Loved the dash of magic and it just made me feel so happy reading it.

I would give this book more than five stars if I could. In the bustling streets of Los Angeles, where palm trees sway to the rhythm of dreams, Jessica Parra weaves a delightful tale in her novel, "The Quince Project." With a sprinkle of magic, a dash of romance, and a generous serving of quinceañera planning, this book invites readers into a world where dreams collide with reality. It’s a whimsical journey of loss, love, and fairytale moments.

Meet Castillo Torres. She is the Student Body Association, event chair, and a serial planner. Her life revolves around colour-coded schedules, sticky notes, and meticulous organization. But when her sister's quinceañera turns into a chaotic fiasco, Cas' perfectly laid plans crumble like a delicate pastry. She needs a fairy godmother, or at least an internship that will teach her the secrets to flawless event execution.

Enter the local lifestyle-guru-slash-party-planner, who opens up applications for an internship that promises to be the stuff of dreams. Cas sees this as her golden ticket because it’s a chance to learn every trick in the book and ensure that nothing ever goes awry again. There's just one tiny caveat: she needs more party planning experience before she can apply. Thus begins her quest to transform from a planner to a true participant in her own life.

The heart of the story lies in Cas' journey as she books a quinceañera for a teen Disneyland vlogger. At first, it seems like her plan is taking off but, as Cas discovers, reality is more complicated than a fairy tale. The quinceañera turns out to be a mere publicity stunt, and her feelings for the charming chambelán add an unexpected twist. Suddenly, her agenda veers off-script, and she's caught in a whirlwind of emotions.

Parra's writing dances between whimsy and authenticity. She captures the essence of quinceañeras from the vibrant dresses, to the jubilant music, and the sweet scent of tradition. As readers, we're transported to glittering ballrooms where tiaras gleam and hearts flutter. Beneath the tulle and confetti lies a deeper exploration of identity, family, and the magic that exists beyond the fairy tale endings.

The character development is a highlight. Her growth isn't linear; it's messy, like spilled glitter on a dance floor. She grapples with imperfections, learns to embrace spontaneity, and discovers that Happily Ever Afters aren't confined to Disney movies. The chambelán, with his enigmatic smile and hidden layers, adds just the right amount of intrigue.

The pacing is as lively as a salsa beat, propelling us through quinceañera preparations, unexpected revelations, and midnight confessions. Parra's prose is bursting with surprises, each sentence revealing a candy-coated truth. Los Angeles becomes a character itself, with the taco trucks, star-studded sidewalks, and sunsets that melt like sherbet.

A delightful whirlwind, "The Quince Project" is a love letter to Latinx culture, a celebration of resilience, and a reminder that sometimes, the best parties happen when you venture off-script.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Wednesday books, and Jessica Parra for providing me with an e-arc.

This book was everything I love in a warm hearted romance: love, drama, and even teary eyed moments. I highly recommend this book to those who love reading about Disney, parties, young love, and working through complex emotions.

Thank you so much for the publisher, the author and Netgalley for the earc of this title. My opinions are my own.

The Quince Project reads like the best Disney moie mashup mixed with latina energy and sass. I have absolutely loved its boldness, energy, fun moments and the raw unfiltered moments following Cass Torres as she navigates her life around losing a parent, keeping her family together and reaching for her dreams,

The book is full of with Disney easter-eggs, so if you are a hardcore animated movie lover (also Star Wars!!) and adore learning more about how a Quince is set up (allll the delish foods enolved and disasters followed :D) make sure to read this book!

Cass and Mariposa hae the most realistic sibling dynamic I have read in books: they bicker, they argue but they love the hardest way possible, always keeping each other the number one priority. Together in bad and worse, sharing the joy of living.
I have enjoyed how they purposely laneded a party-organizing job just because Po has a crush on the famous Youtuber and Cass happens to be the best, most creative planner who chases and internship program. Will the stars allign and they both have what they want? Or faking till they make it will actually work out? :)

Cannot recommend this delightful yet impactful story for everyone! I think everyone can find bits in this story that resonates with them, Jessica Parra is a genius writer, her stories are beautiful, encouraging and makes you feel whole!

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books / St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Quince Project" by Jessica Parra presents a charming and fun story centered around Cas, a determined young woman aspiring to become a party planner. The book focuses on grief as well as sisterly bonding as Cas and her sister learn to grow through their shared grief involving the loss of their mother. If you enjoy reading about sisterly bonds as well as well as if you have a love for all things Disney, you may find yourself obsessed with this book.

The strongest aspect of this book, to me, was the portrayal of Cas’s inner journey as she navigates the challenges of pursuing her dreams amidst familial struggles, especially when experiencing shared grief. The multicultural references and themes of friendship and self-discovery add depth to the story, making it relatable for high schoolers grappling with similar issues. Cas’s characterization felt really authentic throughout the book; she felt like an actual teenager (especially a teenager obsessed with Disney). While she sometimes acted immature or was especially naïve, Cas grows as a person throughout the book. You might not like her too much at the beginning (again, because she acts like an actual teen), but you really begin rooting for her as the plot progresses. I especially enjoyed the depiction of Cas and her sister, specifically in how their bond as sisters only grew stronger throughout the progression of the plot.

However, the abundance of Disney and Star Wars references throughout the story feels forced and excessive at times, sometimes even overshadowing the plot. I do enjoy pop culture references in books (though sometimes they don’t age very well), but there were just too many references thrown into the writing. There seemed to be a reference every page or so. I was at first excited to read a book with Disney references and even having a setting in Disneyland (I am a lover of Disney, and I will be going to Disneyworld this summer), but it just seemed to be too much, and all the references pulled me out of the book at times.

While "The Quince Project" had a bit too many Disney references, I still enjoyed the book. It was very sweet and entertaining. I would recommend this book to Disney fans as well as fans of cute, cheesy YA books.

Jessica Parra has done it AGAIN...I absolutely enjoyed reading another heartwarming, comical, and fun read about a young high schooler trying to recover from a previous loss of a parent, multitask, be a supportive daughter/sister, and win a prestigious internship. Cas and Po are the dynamic duo leaving me wishing that my siblings and I were just as close and supportive of each other as these two sisters. The Disney and Star Wars references added to the story along with the food references. I am a JP reader and fan who looks forward to her next book!!!

I had high hopes for this one, but the writing didn't work for me. The Quince Project was an adorable teen book. So many people will love this. I personally loved the Quince stuff and the sister/dad bonding aspect but unfortunately I feel like I'm a little too old for this one.

There was an excessive amount of Disneyland/Disney references CONSTANTLY. Which I completely understand why but it was almost too much. I liked a few of the star wars references they were funny.

That being said this is the first Jessica Parra book I've read, so maybe I'll give another one a try. I would recommend this book to the teenage/younger readers

this book was so beautifully written. but i just couldnt get into it. i feel like if i would have known more before going into this book than maybe i would have better understanded it and enjoyed it. it had such great culture to it but not understanding it just made it so hard for me to read.

My sweet 16 with a splash of Romance and a dash of latin spice. Where could it go wrong. I will say as someone who had a quince theyre not for the faint of heart and I could never imagine that being my first event lol. I absolutely loved this book so much and I need a copy of it for my library. It kept my attention because it was just really sweet and funny.

THE QUINCE PROJECT- JESSICA PARRA
3.5 rounded up to a 4

Thanks to the publisher for an e-arc for an honest review.
The Quince Project is about Cas, as she tries to reach her dream of becoming a party planner. When she finally gets a big break, she thinks her life will be easy. Many problems get in her way, including a crush.
This book, at some times, was very funny and enjoyable. I'm a target for cute cheesy YA books, so I'm not surprised I fell for this books charm. I also enjoyed the representation and the sisters growing closer. My main problem with this book, though, is the constant disney references. I get why. It's a theme in the story, BUT I had to stop reading at some point because it got THAT bad.

3.5

I didn’t love this as much as Parra’s first book. It was a good story, but has lots of pop culture references which don’t always hold up well or resonate with all readers. I typically do enjoy YA contemporary but I think this one is geered too young for me as well.

I started off engaged but as the story moved along I struggled to keep reading. It was too much YA teen drama with too much Disney princess Star Wars theme going on. If Disney and Star Wars is not your thing, you'll struggle with this book. The premise is good but the Disney theme got old quick

Pretty cover and a good story. I didn't love the entire book, but overall it entertained me for most of it. I love the idea of the cultural Quince celebration, so that was what attracted me to the book.

Oh man I really wanted to like this one, but the writing really did not work for me. The Quince Project was such a good idea for a cute teen book, and I want to give the author credit for that. I loved the quince stuff and the sister bonding. However, the cons on this book far outweighed the pros for me:

There was an abundance of cheesy stuff that exists only in old Disney channel movies. For example, the sister changing her lipstick every day/hour depending on her mood? Nobody does that. And her sister always sharing these cheesy cliche phrases "wrong," as if that's some type of personality trait. 

There was also way too many Disneyland/Disney references CONSTANTLY. Don't get me wrong, I love a few good artfully-placed pop culture references. But on every single page? Not needed. For example, while the FMC is at Disneyland: "I rushed forward like the White Rabbit." Why is there a need to add that? It's too corny. Also, the Dad in the story is a major Star Wars nerd, so there's lines like "Apparently, Dad couldn't veer too far away from his favorite galaxy. Still. It felt good to know he was capable of making some pit stops in this one." Again, too corny.

This is the second Jessica Parra book I've read, and I'm thinking her stuff is not for me. Too many things annoy me in the stories, and the writing feels like a 13-yr-old on Wattpad. I feel bad because, again, the premise was good and the author has some creative ideas for sure. I just had the worst time trying to read The Quince Project. Not one I'd recommend.