Since Christmas I’ve been going through a bit of a Latino phase. Busy rewatching the Santos series of West Wing, as well as the two fabulous series of Acapulco on Apple +. When this book popped up on my radar I knew that it would be perfect for my current mood!
Gabby Medina has had a rough time recently. She gave up her dream job working for one of the best chefs in town so that she could help look after her mother in her last days. At the funeral she meets her biological father, a man that she knows nothing about and who wants to be part of her life. Oh, and he wants to give her a house.
The trouble is that Gabby doesn’t want to leave Los Angeles and she doesn’t really want to get to know this unknown father. Unfortunately she doesn’t have a job or anywhere to live and the student loans are stacking up so she finally agrees to go and see it on the basis that she can get it done up to sell and pay off her debts.
It is a beautiful story that navigates through the problems of being in your late twenties and not having your future sewn up. Getting to know her father and his family provides a lot of poignant moments as Gabby realises where her love of food and flavours has come from and her place in the entire family history. The descriptions of the food, the locations and the characters make you want to relocate with Gabby. Particularly if the local mayor is like Diego!
Supplied by Net Galley and Montlake in exchange for an honest review.
UK publication date: Mar 21 2023. 297 pages.
Categories: 4 Stars Book Review
angelnet69
Prolific reader, enthusiastic theatre and movie-goer and ex-Olivier Awards judge who spent twenty years working in the music industry in London. Sharing my house with a gorgeous cockapoo called Harry who has taken over completely.
I love sharing my favourite books with friends - nearly always spoiler-free as I hate reading a synopsis of the whole book in other reviews.
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