The Book:
The grandchildren of two rival Brazilian bakeries fall in love despite their families’ feud in this delicious debut rom-com perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Gloria Chao.Trust neither thin-bottomed frying pans nor Molinas.
Lari Ramires has always known this to be true. In Olinda, Brazil, her family’s bakery, Salt, has been at war with the Molinas’ bakery across the street, Sugar, for generations. But Lari’s world turns upside down when her beloved grandmother passes away. On top of that, a big supermarket chain has moved to town, forcing many of the small businesses to close.
Determined to protect her home, Lari does the unthinkable—she works together with Pedro Molina to save both of their bakeries. Lari realizes she might not know Pedro as well as she thought—and she maybe even likes what she learns—but the question remains: Can a Ramires and a Molina truly trust one another?
My Take:
I enjoyed this book about these two families that have had a decades-long feud between their two shops. The families hate each other very much, giving off a type of Romeo and Juliet type of battle between the families. I loved the baking stories, recipes, and descriptions. I felt the author really understood the nature of families.
What I didn't enjoy was the way the mom couldn't let go of HER dreams for her daughter. Wow, I was unaware that so many parents held on that fast to their dreams, so much that they wouldn't even listen to their own child's wishes. It became annoying and one of the reasons that I wanted the book to pick up speed.
In the end, I loved the way the author finally allowed this tension to resolve. I do recommend this book to others who enjoy family feuds, food based reading and the resolution of family conflict.
The Author:
Rebecca Carvalho is a Recifense writer based in Berkeley, California. She loves crafting stories filled with close-knit neighborhoods, Brazilian food, and telenovela-esque settings. When she is not writing, you can find her with her camera, gaming with her husband, or watching Star Trek for the hundredth time. Rebecca has a bachelor's degree in English from Lawrence University. Salt and Sugar is her debut novel, and it was inspired by her life in northeastern Brazil.
