September 1, 2021
Filipino American high school senior Lila Santos likes structure, checklists, and following the rules--and all this has worked well for her so far. She's been accepted to Syracuse University, her dream school, after all, but there is one rule Lila doesn't follow. Defying her parents' ban on social media, which stems from a traumatic doxxing incident, she secretly runs a book review blog. With winter break around the corner, Lila hopes to work additional shifts at her small New York town's popular holiday destination, the Bookworm Inn. Her hopes are dashed, however, when the boss's nephew, good-looking Filipino American college freshman Teddy Rivera, arrives and takes the hours she wanted. Despite her great annoyance, Lila agrees to train him--and quickly finds out he is her polar opposite. When they accidentally switch phones, Lila learns she isn't the only one with a secret. A friendship blossoms as they confide in one another, challenge each other to face their fears, and maybe even take a risk on love. The author balances realistic, culturally textured depictions of Filipino American family life with a fluffy, feel-good love story. Some of the dialogue is saccharine and may not feel authentic to contemporary teen readers, but overall, this is a delightful, lighthearted rom-com about two young people discovering that it's not too late to choose a different path. Charming and romantic. (Romance. 14-18)
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November 1, 2021
Gr 7 Up-Sounds like it belongs on a Hallmark Channel countdown? It does. High school student and book blogger Lila Santos is ready for winter break in her small town of Holly, New York. Her plans are upended when her boss's nephew Teddy becomes her coworker, and the two continually butt heads. One afternoon, Lila and Teddy accidentally switch phones and realize they've both been keeping secrets. While Lila navigates through her last year of high school in an almost perpetual Christmas town, there's a constant air of gingerbread lattes and candy canes that give college decisions, secrets from parents, and romance an extra layer of sweetness. Even in her most frustrated moments, she finds a cutesy-Christmasy way to convey her feelings, � la jumping jingle bells. Despite being a relatively light read, this work has themes of family, life decisions, and relationships woven into the plot, giving the book enough weight to carry through the holiday season. Though there isn't a ton of depth to the story, it's a charming, easy read that will broaden most reader's experiences. VERDICT The Filipino American main character and various supporting characters make this novel by a Filipina American an easy purchase for most high school libraries.-Samantha Hull, Ephrata H.S., PA
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