GUAVA AND GRUDGES

A teen enlists help from an unlikely source to make her culinary dreams come true.

Rising senior Ana Maria Ybarra loves helping at her family’s Cuban bakery. Her dad wants her to take over the struggling business, but, dreaming of attending pastry school in Paris, she enters a scholarship competition for “Latin American students interested in furthering their food-related education.” Meanwhile, her mom wants her to attend a good college like UCLA, and it’s on a college tour in Los Angeles that Ana Maria meets handsome Cuban American Miguel Fuentes. They share one incredible day—and an unforgettable kiss—before parting, likely for forever. When Miguel suddenly appears at a party in Ana Maria’s small Washington state hometown, they have the same strong connection, but it’s ruined by the revelation that Miguel is a cousin of the Morales family, who run a nearby Cuban bakery that went viral with their dessert burritos. Thanks to a decades-old betrayal, the Ybarras don’t trust the Moraleses. Still, struggling with the social media aspect of the scholarship contest, Ana Maria secretly accepts help from talented aspiring cinematographer Miguel. Their chemistry is undeniable, but they’ll have to overcome their family feud if they want to be together. This fun, heartwarming story of star-crossed lovers centers on a relatable lead who’s struggling with her family’s expectations and her own desires. Cuban food, culture, and immigration stories are seamlessly woven throughout, enriching the characterization and setting.

A sweet and delectable love story.