Title: Viva Lola Espinoza
Author: Ella Cerón
Publisher: Kokila
Publication Date: April 11, 2023
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:
A debut young adult novel that’s BOOKSMART with a dash of magic, about a Mexican American teen who spends the summer in Mexico City, meets two very cute boys, attempts to learn Spanish, and uncovers a family secret that changes her life forever.
Lola Espinoza is cursed in love. Well, maybe not actually cursed — magic isn’t real, is it? When Lola goes to spend the summer with her grandmother in Mexico City and meets handsome, flirtatious Rio, she discovers the unbelievable truth: Magic is very real, and what she’d always written off as bad luck is actually, truly . . . a curse.
If Lola ever wants to fall in love without suffering the consequences, she’ll have to break the curse. She finds an unlikely curse-breaking companion in Javi, a seemingly stoic boy she meets while working in her cousin’s restaurant. Javi is willing to help Lola look into this family curse of hers, and Lola needs all the help she can get. Over the course of one summer — filled with food, family, and two very different boys — Lola explores Mexico City while learning about herself, her heritage, and the magic around us all.
Book links:
Goodreads, Blackwells, Amazon, Book Depository, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop
Why Should You Read This?
Viva Lola Espinoza is a charming and heartwarming novel that follows the journey of Lola Espinoza, a Mexican-American teenager who navigates life in Ohio while trying to find her place in the world.
The book opens with Lola, a straight A student score a C in Spanish. She is reprimanded by her parents and is sent to Mexico by her Papi. As Lola tries to come to terms with her new reality, she finds comfort in her family and her community, who offer her support and love.
What makes Viva Lola Espinoza so special is its ability to capture the essence of the Mexican-American experience in a way that feels authentic and relatable. The novel explores themes such as identity, family, love, and community, and does so with sensitivity and depth.
One of the strengths of the book is its cast of characters. From Lola’s quirky and loving family to her friends, each character is unique and memorable. The interactions between them are often hilarious and heartwarming, and the book does an excellent job of showcasing the importance of relationships in our lives.
Overall, Viva Lola Espinoza is a delightful and uplifting novel that will leave readers feeling inspired and hopeful. It is a must-read for anyone who loves stories about family, community, and the search for identity.