Sadly not my favorite R&J retelling, and I love the forbidden romance trope! I really liked the premise, dueling mariachi bands with an old family feud and two people from the warring families falling in love despite the animosity between their parents & in this case, the uncle. But the execution sadly fell flat for me.

I loved the Latinx spin on this well-known tale, and reading about the culture and family dynamics by an author of that same background. I wished there wasn’t always a translation after most of the Spanish phrases…I felt like that slowed down the story a bit (I don’t mind looking up words and phrases I don’t understand). I also liked Mariana’s character a lot and could really relate to her need for putting others above herself and eventually learning to bring down her walls for Angelo. And I truly adored the tale of sisterly love between her adopted family!

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Angelo. I felt like he had no real personality outside of being the perfect man with zero flaws. The generations-long family feud was resolved so quickly and too easily. The story seemed like it couldn’t decide what direction to go in - to focus on the mariachi band competition or the family dynamics, or the family feud. As a result, there was a mix of all three. I was also really confused what was going on with Angelo and his uncle and the whole financial situation with the Capuletas. Maybe I missed something crucial somewhere.

The writing was also heavyhanded and very telly many times and drew me out of the story.

But my biggest gripe was that I didn’t feel anything when I read this story. I wanted to root for Mariana and Angelo to fight for their love and push through their and their families’ differences to be together. I wanted to feel the tension between the two families. And I wanted to feel anger at the Monteros for what they did to the Capuletas. Sadly, I didn’t feel any sort of tension or a fear that they would be found out when they were together, that *I* also wanted to appreciate the stolen moments they had, and I wanted so badly to feel that.

3 stars overall - I finished the book, but it just wasn’t for me. ( )

A vibrant and interesting romance
4 stars

I always enjoy reading what Priscilla Oliveras writes. She manages to weave her romances with such a vibrant sense of the Latinx community and family - I never fail to become engrossed in the world she creates for her books.

In this tale we get a modern re-telling of Romeo and Juliet. Just take out the death and destruction - and add in mariachi music! Hell yeah! Why have we not had other books set around a battle of the bands, mariachi style? Well, since this is the start of a new series, I guess we do now!

Our heroine is Mariana - the eldest Capuleta daughter and leader of Mariachi Las Nubes. After her younger sister enters the group into a battle of the bands, Mariana is determined to win and give back to the parents who gave so much to her and her adopted sisters. She’s more of a sensible sort but I liked her from the first. Especially since she found herself throwing her sensible-ness out the window when she meets - and kisses - a delicious stranger on New Year’s Eve. I saw a lot of myself in her and liked that she was the person in our couple who needed a little more convincing to take a chance on love.

Angelo is one of my favourite types of heroes in that he’s the one that’s more of a smitten kitten and so wants Mariana to give them a chance. I liked that he was loyal to his family but not ignorant to their faults. He was a sweetheart - but a deliciously hot one. He was fab.

While there was a chemistry between our couple, and some nice smooching, the steamy scenes with this story are very much behind closed doors. That seems to suit the feel of the book but I do tend to prefer a bit more sex in the book.

I loved the parallels to Romeo and Juliet in the story - but only the non-tragic bits, obviously! Making the animosity come to a head with the battle of the bands was a stroke of genius and I loved hearing all about that - as well as the importance and history of it.

I was slightly overwhelmed by the number of characters, names and the setting of the scene that went on with the story. Understandable in the first of a series but it was the main reason that I dropped a star. I fully expect that not to be a problem in the next book in the series, Kiss Me, Catalina which features Mariana’s sister, Cat, and Patricio Galán. I can’t wait to go back and meet this rowdy rabble once again for another happily ever after. ( )