Cover Image: Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity

Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity

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i thought this was a really fun story about two sisters who have different personalities and their views towards college. lulu is more of a type A girl, who knows what she wants and has to fight for it since her mom doesn't want her to go to college. and milagro's is this creative and smart girl, who keeps thinking she's not smart and shouldnt go to college.

it was funny, had great banter and family relationships, but wasn't an all time favourite of mine. i still recommend this book!

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Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity was such a wild and heartfelt read! As the girls are struggling with different components of their lives they embark on a road trip to help them figure out some of the answers. This takes them on side quests that force them into unfamiliar situations that cause them to learn new things about themselves. Lulu and Milagro's sister relationship displays that despite their differences, they have commonalities that unite them, which is an aspect I really enjoyed. I feel like that element felt true to my relationship with my own sister (however, we are more similar than Lulu and Milagro appeared). I like each girls' individuality and their perspectives were unique regarding the situations they were finding themselves in. I felt there were some parts that didn't feel like they fit into the story, but overall I really enjoyed this story and the characters.

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Thank you to HarperCollins/ Balzer + Bray and Netgalley for the e-ARC to read and review. I really enjoyed the storytelling of Lulu and Milagro's college tour trip together, and was most impressed by their characterizations. The distinct tones and point of view for each sister made them each come alive as unique individuals. I could almost hear them having their conversations aloud or thinking of their next moves, which is my favorite kind of story immersion.

I did occasionally struggle with keeping track of everything that was going on over the course of the story. In addition to the sisters' own ambitions and their family relationship, there were a lot of side characters coming in and out of the story, they were traveling to a lot of states, and there were so many one-off day trips and activities described that I sometimes felt distracted from the overarching story. I think readers who enjoy these types of side-quests (if you will!) will love it, since the book is filled with adventures to enjoy. I just kept getting caught up on which details would be important to the overall story arc, and what would stick out to Milagro and Lulu individually.

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Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity follows three sisters, Lulu, Milagro and Clara, who are all on different journeys. Clara is off to college and hasn’t really talked to either of her sisters. Meanwhile, Lulu is an overachieving, introverted girl who prefers being on her own and planning to save the environment. Lulu has her sights set on Stanford. Milagro is the exact opposite, not planning to go to college at all and more focused on losing her virginity than planning for the future. As Lulu and Milagro unexpectedly end up on the same road trip to visit colleges, things take a turn as they uncover why their oldest sister has been absent, why their mother wants them to stay close to home and most importantly, whether their differences can be overcome to unravel the complicated dynamics of sisterhood.

This was such an enjoyable story. Velez’s novel reminded me a lot of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in terms of tone—you get sucked into the narrative right away because of Lulu and Milagro’s intriguing viewpoints and their opposite dynamics. Though there are heavy moments, it’s somehow also a really light read that makes the pages fly by.

Velez really found a niche in the YA genre that I wish more novels would address: the anxieties, pressure and even guilt that come with leaving your family after you graduate high school. To see how the sisters’ mother dealt with one of her children going off to college and the fear she had for her other two daughters moving away was just so relatable. It really spoke to me how Lulu and Milagro (and even their sister who went off to college) responded to their mother’s “guilt trip” of making them promise to stay close to home for studying because I feel like we often get to see all the happiness, anticipation or fear of moving out from the teens but rarely from the parents, who essentially become empty nesters once their children go off to college. There’s so much at play when you’re moving away to study somewhere else and I loved how big a part this played in the story.

This novel also beautifully discusses the “one size does not fit all” prompt when it comes to college. Milagro initially doesn’t want to go to college because of the misconceptions she has amassed over the years. But as she gets to see more of what college can actually be like on her trip, she also realises that most of her stance was coloured by other peoples’ perceptions and opinions instead of her own desires for her future, which I thought was really cool. Similarly, Lulu basically has her career path mapped out for her but also becomes disillusioned with a lot of things she took for granted or let others ‘decide’ was right for her and having these narratives juxtaposed with finally learning why their oldest sister Clara has been so absent from their lives was really interesting.

Speaking of the sisters, I really liked their dynamic and the way their individual storylines showed how much pressure children of immigrants feel to be successful and prove to their parents that the choices they have made—that is, leaving their home country and moving to a new place for better opportunities for their children—are worth it. It’s such a powerful narrative seeing these sisters try their hardest to please their mother yet also live their lives the way they desire to and I think readers will feel the same way. I also adored the tidbits we got about Peruvian culture and the way their heritage has shaped Lulu, Milagro and Clara’s perception of the world. All in all, this is a super voice-driven novel that shows the ups and downs of sisterhood and how starting out as begrudging partners on a road trip can turn into steadfast bonds when you open your heart to the people around you.

Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity is a heartfelt coming-of-age story that beautifully explores sisterhood, the pressure to live up to your family’s expectations and growing into your own.

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This was a fantastic coming of age story as well as a beautiful story about sisterhood. I love books like this, that really connect with the reader and make them feel seen. I also love books with unique voices that are typically underrepresented in literature. This definitely hit all the marks for me and made for a fun and interesting read.

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I don’t read many YA novels however when I heard what this one was about during a book preview event, I knew I had to get my hands on it.

Lulu and Milagro Zavala have always lived in the shadow of their oldest sister, Clara. Clara has always done things right. Lulu and Milagro want to find their own way out of her shadow even though it would be a big challenge.

Milagro and Lulu end up going on a weeklong St.Agnes school trip together, coincidentally. Milagro was doing better than she thought in school and when the opportunity to go on the trip was presented to her she decided to go. Especially after how her relationship ended, nothing was holding her back.

Lulu has been counting down the days for the college visitation trip with nothing in her way. Well, except her mom who all of a sudden doesn’t want her to go out of state for college.

The sisters go on quite the adventure, meet some great guys, and figure out what sisterhood is to them. I felt connected to Lulu and Milagro as well as the pressures of figuring out what to do once high school was over. It was a great read!

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Oh, how I loved this book. I very much think that YA coming of age stories (like this and also Moon Fuentez) are something I missed out on reading as a teenager. But, I'm also grateful I get to read them now. Lulu and Milagro's relationship was very much a sibling dynamic - I say this specifically because sometimes you read books with siblings and it feels fake, but this book had none of that. They had their conflicting moments and you could see how the relationships with each of them and their mother trickled down to influence their lives. It was authentic and I loved how similar but also how different they are. They have their unique personalities and voices and it was evident in the dual-pov chapters. Seeing them go on campus tours kinda made me miss the magic I first felt when on campus. Anyway, I loved this book. I think if you liked How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe, you'll like this too.

Thank you to Netgalley and HCCFrenzy for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This YA story is about two sisters, Lulu and Milagro, who spend a week on their school’s college road trip. Lulu couldn’t be more excited; she dreams of going off to college like their big sister Clara, and she has a special interview at Stanford for a summer program. Her trip is ruined before it starts, though, when her Mami makes her promise she won’t go away for the summer. Milagro, meanwhile, wasn’t supposed to go on the trip at all, and is a last-minute addition due to her recently-improving GPA and another student getting sick. She’s still determined not to attend, and to spend her week as planned with her boyfriend - until she finds out he’s cheating on her. Now on the trip together, the two sisters each have their own agenda.

It took me a long time to get into this story. It was very slow moving, which may appeal to some readers, but didn’t work for me. The book was very character-driven, and I could definitely see some readers - especially teen readers - quickly identifying with Lulu or Milagro, but since I didn’t connect with either of them, I found it very difficult to become invested in the story. The story did pick up in the last part of the book, and I enjoyed this part more than the rest.

Lulu and Milagro’s struggles and motivations were both very believable and, at times, moving. Milagro feels like an academic failure compared to her sisters, and she’s shocked to discover that her GPA is high enough to go on the trip at all. She had tied up her goals entirely in her relationship with her boyfriend, so when that relationship ends, she isn’t sure how to feel or what to do with herself. Lulu, meanwhile, knows she’s smart, and she’s known what she’s wanted to do with her life since she was a child. The trip, and her strained relationship with Clara, make her doubt herself and her own abilities.

Overall, this book just wasn’t for me, but I think there are a lot of people who would enjoy it a lot more than I would and who it would really speak to.

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Such a fun read with a whole lot of heart! I love sister stories and road trip stories, and this book delivered on both. The characters really came to life, and I was rooting hard for both Lulu and Milagro. Highly recommended.

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Velez does an excellent job at capturing the voice and personality of each sister in this dual POV novel, where two very different sisters are trapped on a school tour of colleges together. I really loved the way their perspectives intertwined and crossed, as well as the way we got to hear each’s internal thoughts. The road trip to different colleges and the experiences at each will also likely appeal to many high schoolers who are wondering what college is and whether college is right for them. Funny, heart-filling, and with the just right amount of drama.

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4.5 stars

2022 is looking like it's going to be another great year for YA!

Lulu and Milagro - two (of a total of three) hilarious sisters - alternate perspectives before, during, and very briefly after a school-based road trip for students who are academically high achieving. Before the trip begins, the sisters are clearly set up as different from each other, with Lulu - the younger of the two - playing a more traditionally studious and rule following role and Milagro (in many ways a classic middle child) being more interested in romance (also lust) and fun than in anything that adults find appropriate for her. But neither sister is as basic as these points of misdirection suggest, and both characters and readers win as a result.

Despite a few moments early in the road trip where I had the traditional fleeting thought (i.e., Are we there yet?), the pacing, action, and character growth all come together nicely as the novel evolves. The oldest sister - Clara - plays a critical role in the younger sisters' titular search for clarity, and she is a great foil. Various ancillary characters also add texture to the events. While some of these side plots are romantic (or sexual, at least), the m.c.s are never fully sidetracked by dudes, and I *LOVE* this aspect of the novel. The search for clarity is about the m.c.s, their family, and their individual growth; partners are on the side (and sometimes to the left). I appreciate this feature in most novels but especially YA.

I am admittedly a sucker for a great YA cover, and while that's what drew me to this novel originally, I was thrilled to find that the content was even better than the fantastic packaging hinted. With this novel, Velez has staked a claim on my you-write-it-and-I'll-immediately-request/read-it list. This is a great YA contemporary novel, and I'll be recommending it to students and other audiences for the long haul.

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Lulu & Milargo’s Search For Clarity is a dual-pov ya coming of age novel that folllows 2 sisters through their evolution as students during a school trip. (Note: Their 3rd sister is in college & also evolves in the book, but none of the chapters are in her pov.) Honestly, its marketing, which describes it as Booksmart meets never have I ever, sets it up for failure. Unfortunately, it set the bar too high & the book fell short. I wanted to like this book, but in the end it was not for me.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an early copy.

I, in general, love stories about siblings. Lulu and Milagro's bond was everything I could have asked for in a book. I loved how much it grew throughout the story.

Their personalities were very distinct, and I really enjoyed reading about them. Sometimes I find authors who write very similar siblings, and I only enjoy that when it's done well. If they are to similar, I don't enjoy reading that type of relationship, and Lulu and Milagro was not that. I wish I had a relationship like theirs.

I would have liked the pacing to be a little faster or a little slower at times. There were some scenes I felt were unnecessary when I first read it, but it all made sense in the end.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book. I always seek out books with sisterhood being a main theme, and I felt this book did really well.

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I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and found myself really rooting for the characters!

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The Zavala sisters are well-known at St. Agnes. Older sister Clara is the golden child - off at college with the intention of being a doctor. Troublemaking Milagro is mostly into fashion, her friend Carmen and boyfriend Pablo. She secretly makes good grades but also gets detention often. Younger sister Lulu is super interested in science and very awkward around people. When their mother goes on a pray retreat during their school break, both Milagro and Lulu are excited. Lulu has a school trip to visit colleges, while Milagro plans on spending time with Pablo while her mother and Lulu are away. When a spot on the college trip opens up, their mom signs up Milagro to accompany Lulu. Milagro reluctantly goes after finding out that Pablo is cheating on her. Milagro and Lulu have unexpected experiences on the trip that help them realize new things about themselves and each other.
The book was entertaining and is similar in tone to To All the Boys I've Loved Before. Occasionally the main characters were somewhat annoying as they could be self-centered and overly dramatic in their reactions to situations.

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What a lovely coming of age story. This book tells us the story of lulu, milagros, and Clara, three sisters that are all going through different journeys. The book switches back and forth between Lulu and Milagros but as that story unfolds you also learn about Clara. This book portrayed the complicated dynamics of sisterhood and I loved that so much. The three sisters have a complicated relationship with each other. While there are beautiful moments you also see the pressure they each feel to fit this mold set by their older siblings. I think the author also does a great job portraying the pressure children of immigrants feel to please and be perfect because you want to prove your parents didn’t sacrifice everything they knew for nothing. This really hit home for me. The imperfections of each character made each sister more lovable. A great Read I wish I had when I was young and never saw Peruvian folks in my literature.

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I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. Sisterhood! Family! Road trips!
I related to Lulu so much through this story. That drive and overachiever quality was me through and through in high school. I really loved how different each family member was and how that was reflected through this story.

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