Yerba Buena

Nina LaCour's writing is beautiful, as always, but it could not save this book. To be fair, my opinion is probably impacted by the fact that I read it right after Pachinko, so I really just wasn't in the mood for another lots-of-bad-things-happen-in-a-row book. But like...it wasn't even *just* that. But throw in my mortal enemy instalove, and a bunch of weird, deep conversations and interactions like no one actually has, plus requiring an incredibly deep suspension of disbelief regarding Emilie's whole storyline...eh. Overall, very much a disappointment and a waste of a beautiful cover.

I tried to read this book to get out of my reader's block, I think it was not the best idea, the beginning of the book is somewhat dense, the construction of the story is through time jumps, narration changes and it becomes so real that It is painful, because at the end of the day life tries to be a little bitter, but with certain refreshing and even sweet moments. The family dynamics of both protagonists felt too familiar to me, so I really felt every part. I think this book feels like a breeze on a cold day, I enjoyed it, but I would have liked something warmer, I highly recommend it if you like to read something personal and too human in nature.