Book Review: A Cuban Girl´s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

I am easily convinced to read a book because of its popularity. I am experienced enough to know that there is always a risk to be just the victim of wise PR and communications campaigns, but no matter what, my curiosity is always stronger than any kind of reasonable explanations. You have me always at books´ buzz...

A Cuban Girl´s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, a YA novel with a multicultural background by Laura Taylor Namey, is my latest disappointment. Read it over the long Eastern weekend, it first caught my attention for the beautiful cover. Also the lettering choice is inspiring for the topic and age range it aims at.

Lila Reyes is 17, an active baker of Cuban origin in Miami. In just a couple of month, she experienced the sudden death of her dear abuela - grandmother, in Spanish - the break-up of her 3-year boyfriend (who needs a break to find himself) and the separation from her best friend, Stephanie. Worried, her parents are sending her on the other side of the pond, to join her aunt, living in the medievalesque city of Winchester. There, she will fell in love with a local guy named Orion and will decide to follow her destiny in the footpath of her sweet abuela. 

At the first sight, it sounds as a very cozy YA, the kind you may want to read in one sitting while sipping a cuppa or a coffee. But I may have a couple of observations and criticism on the book in its entirety.

Let´s start with the good things: I was really impressed by the way in which mental health issues were addressed in the book. Her triple incidents were a risk for her mental wellbeing, therefore the prompt decision of her parents to buy her a one-way ticket and sent her away from the causes of her heartbreak. It´s a topic less approached - if ever - in YA therefore it is worth outlining the approach in this case.

Another aspect that I appreciated is the fact that the Spanish words are scattered into the conversation. It makes the dialogues so authentic and creates the proper ambiance of a multicultural novel. From the same category, I loved the references to Cuban food, a chapter my information is very precarious. I love guavas and the thought of guava filled pastry has an instant mouthwatering effect. Hope to have the chance soon to try some Cuban delicacies.

But there are so many flaws into this story. For instance, most young characters are under 18 yo. Lila and Orion and her sister and Orion´s sister - which is only 15 - are assigned voices that are so serious and mature that one may think they are at least 30. Their drinking tastes are also so casual and mature as they started to drink alcohol mixed with their mother´s milk. 

Another weakness: the so-called love story between Lila and Orion is so awkward. Not because it is not romantic at all, but it starts as his invitation to keep her busy and bring her to events. Kind of charity companionship. Again, it does not suit the age expectations and the way of life in general.

A Cuban Girl´s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow started for me on a very optimistic note, but 80 pages into the book I got first annoyed and kept being more and disappointed every couple of pages. Reading the book was for me an exercise in literary analysis and criticism but wish it was more than that...

Rating: 2.5 stars