Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno
Review by Lauren
Source: library copy; all opinions are my own
Official Summary: Rosa Santos is cursed by the sea-at least, that’s what they say. Dating her is bad news, especially if you’re a boy with a boat.
But Rosa feels more caught than cursed. Caught between cultures and choices. Between her abuela, a beloved healer and pillar of their community, and her mother, an artist who crashes in and out of her life like a hurricane. Between Port Coral, the quirky South Florida town they call home, and Cuba, the island her abuela refuses to talk about.
As her college decision looms, Rosa collides – literally – with Alex Aquino, the mysterious boy with tattoos of the ocean whose family owns the marina. With her heart, her family, and her future on the line, can Rosa break a curse and find her place beyond the horizon?
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Review: Don’t Date Rosa Santos was one of the 7 nominees for YA Fiction in the Cybils Awards. Personally, it was probably my least favorite of the seven. That doesn’t mean it was awful – I gave it three stars – but it just didn’t really hold my attention.
While reading, I realized the book reminds me of a mash-up between With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo and Love & Other Curses by Michael Thomas Ford – books about family, curses, first loves, food, and other countries and cultures. Rosa’s family isn’t great at communicating, so while they have this whole curse surrounding them, Rosa doesn’t actually know how it’s affected her mother and Abuela (grandmother), and it’s important for her to know these things. She lives her life under this cloud, of sorts, and yet she doesn’t feel like she can even talk to the people who would know best what that cloud feels like.
I really liked Rosa’s home in Port Coral. It sounded like a really lovely, friendly place, and I could empathize with her need to know more about Cuba and one day visit. She never thought she’d have the chance, but with Cuba opening up its borders more, it’s a dream she is secretly trying to make happen.
Don’t Date Rosa Santos is a good book, in general, but it wasn’t a great fit for me.
I actually enjoyed this book very much. I am always up for some messy family relationships and I love seeing so many generations share the page
Hmm! A book that both does and doesn’t appeal to me. That I’m always cautious of award nominated/winning books (all too often I find myself disappointed by them) isn’t helpful. That it was probably your least favourite of the seven books nominated does however make me think that this probably isn’t the read for me.
What an interesting story, I’ll check this out!
xoxo
Lovely
http://mynameislovely.com
I never make decisions about award-winning books because usually, those are subjective decisions. Many of the ones I’ve read haven’t been good, in my opinion. I’m sorry you didn’t connect with this one.
I don’t think I’ve heard of this one! Although, comparing it to Acevedo was all it took to make me want to read it. 😉
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? ?
I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s been on my TBR. Sorry it wasn’t a book that could hold your attention though!
It sounds interesting enough in the synopsis, but thanks for your review!
I think this one was on my TBR. Sorry it wasn’t a perfect fit for you. I don’t know when/if I’ll get to it either.
Aww I am sorry that you didn’t love this one! I have heard really good things about it so I’ll definitely still give it a go, but perhaps my expectations will be a little calmer now, so thanks for that!
Sorry to hear this wasn’t a great fit for you. I’ve seen some good reviews for it but haven’t decided if I want to try it yet. I will temper my expectations if I do though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.
I’m sorry this one didn’t work out for you —0 as good as it sounds sometimes it happens