IT'S ALL LOVE

A collection of life lessons for teens from a 17-year-old actor.

Ortega’s debut compilation of motivational quotes and stories from her life includes themes of family, self-love, faith, and owning one’s story. The writing style is conversational and addresses readers as peers. Some of the life lessons communicate beliefs about love and light in a manner that may not appeal to all, but Ortega uses her personal stories to connect this philosophy to her lived experiences with sincerity. Some of the stories end fairly abruptly, leaving readers wanting to hear more about what happened next, and some feel repetitive. However, overall, the book speaks directly to Ortega’s teenage fan base, addressing topics that they may struggle with such as depression, jealousy, social media use, difficulties in school, and friendship conflict. The author also talks about the value of role models and the pride she feels in being a Latina in the public eye who can, in turn, inspire others. The book’s structure, with aphorisms in decorative frames separated by single pages of text, allows readers to work their way straight through or skip to random pages and still gain value from the tiny nuggets of wisdom. In Ortega’s words, “You are in charge of your story. Don’t let anybody else write it for you.”

Earnest and vulnerable.