WITH LOVE, ECHO PARK

A teen florist in Los Angeles tries to preserve her community’s Cuban American heritage amid gentrification and surprise revelations.

Seventeen-year-old Clary Delgado is incredibly proud of being part of the historic Latino neighborhood of Echo Park. Raised by her beloved grandparents and single father (Clary’s birth mother abandoned her as a newborn), she’s grown up in a tight-knit community of Cuban American business owners; her family owns the local flower shop, where she works. The Avalos family owns the neighboring bike shop, where her handsome rival, Emilio, is the heir apparent. Ever since childhood, Clary and Emilio have been trying to “outsmart the other. Or out-annoy.” The summer before senior year, three events rock Clary’s steady foundations: A wise community patriarch dies, a trendy doughnut shop appears set to take over a recently closed storefront, destroying a historic mural, and someone shows up bearing startling revelations. Namey focuses on Clary’s character growth, from loyal and steadfast (but also stubborn and judgmental) to more empathetic, open-minded, and open-hearted. Some minor repetitive elements interfere with the pacing and characterization, but the third act delivers a satisfying blend of romance, social activism, and deep roots. Clary’s charming Boricua best friend, Lourdes, has scene-stealing main-character energy.

This earnest coming-of-age story is a tribute to family, culture, and resilience.