Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Rival mariachi families take center stage in this overstuffed Latinx retelling of Romeo and Juliet from Oliveras (the Keys of Love series). ER nurse Mariana Capuleta struggles to balance her hectic job with playing in Las Nubes, her and her sisters' all-female mariachi band, but she's determined to win the Battle of the Mariachi Bands and use the prize money to ease her adoptive parents' financial woes as they face down gentrification in their San Antonio, Tex., neighborhood. To win, they'll have to beat Hugo Montero, her father's archnemesis, and his band, Los Reyes. Mariana is mortified when she encounters Los Reyes and discovers that the sexy stranger she kissed on New Year's Eve is Angelo Montero, Hugo's nephew. Despite their families' rivalry, the couple can't deny their connection and decide to pursue a relationship, hoping their love might bring an end to the decades-long feud. Unfortunately, this cute central romance is mired in subplots about the families' dynamics and the local community center. Still, the focus on mariachi adds wonderful color, and when the couple are allowed their chance in the spotlight, their chemistry is palpable. It's not perfect, but sass and banter carry it through the narrative brambles. Agent: Rebecca Strauss, DeFiore & Co. (May)
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Review by Library Journal Review
In fair San Antonio two star-crossed strangers share a kiss on a New Year's Eve, only to discover they are rivals when they cross paths at a quinceañera. Angelo Montero and his fellow mariachi bandmate only party-crashed to observe their biggest competition, the all-woman mariachi band made up of the adopted daughters of Casa Capuleta. He didn't expect to discover that one of the members is Mariana Capuleta, his mystery New Year's Eve kiss. Mariana is struggling to balance her work as an ER nurse; applying for the physician's assistant program; and trying to win the prize money from the Battle of the Mariachi Band competition so she can help solve her adoptive parents' financial woes--which Mariana believes are created by Angelo's uncle. Mariana has no time for a romance with her family's enemy, but as the competition wears on, their attraction only grows, straining both their hearts and their dedication to their families. VERDICT A sparkling tribute to the rivalries of Romeo and Juliet, with none of the tragedy and all of the swoony romance. Oliveras (Island Affair) paints with lush prose a lively mariachi scene and the community of the Capuletas' and Monteros' San Antonio. With its large cast of fun supporting characters, this should launch a continuing contemporary romance series.--Elizabeth Gabriel
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Romeo and Juliet gets a fresh retelling through two rival San Antonio families and their dueling mariachi bands. Mariana Capuleta is ready to put her career into high gear. She's busy enough as an emergency room nurse, but she wants to transition to a physician's assistant program. She also plays in an all-female mariachi band with her sisters to raise money for her family's community center. When the center is damaged and a balloon payment comes due, the Capuletas need a lot of cash, and fast. Mariana believes their solution lies in winning the local battle of the bands, which is offering a $50,000 prize. Also competing in the battle is Los Reyes, the reigning champion, which happens to be led by the Capuletas' archrivals, the Montero family. The Capuletas and Monteros had a disastrous falling-out over the gentrification of the neighborhood--a rather big obstacle to overcome that doesn't feel completely resolved by the end. Mariana is shocked to learn that the Monteros' mariachi band is led by Angelo, the mysterious man she shared a sizzling New Year's Eve kiss with earlier that year. As in many Oliveras romances, the cast consists of large and lively families, but this time they have more Shakespearean flair. Those familiar with the Bard will pick up on the little plot-related easter eggs Oliveras drops in, perhaps as harbingers of future books. There's a lot going on with both the main characters, however, including their romance and the issues that plague their respective families. The narrative is stretched thin, and readers may find themselves wanting to simply spend more time with Mariana and Angelo without all the background noise. An overstuffed plot tempers this passionate romance. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
