Thank you to netgalley for the arc! truly sorry i didn't get the chance to review this for when it came out due to the lack of availability at the time :/ all that said, this was such a lovely and cutesy ya romance, with all the ingredients that just hit you in the feels! definitely can't wait to read more of these in the future!

Such a cute book and one worthy to have in a school library. I loved the story of a first generation American and her dreams and goals as she tries to figure out her path after school. The romance was cute and fun but wasn't the main part of the story. Of course, I always want more romance!

I adored Rubi Ramon's Recipe for Success. It was a quick and fun story and is perfect for teens and even middle grades. I appreciated how diverse the characters were and how they all developed during the novel. Do not read while hungry!! The vivid imagery made me want every item Rubi was making! Overall, this was fun!

I thought this was a really cute read! Rubi and Ryan were adorable and I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow. Would definitely recommend!

This novel was such a sweet read. Following your dreams, coming of age, and stick with your roots. I really enjoyed it. The food descriptions were sooo yummy.

This was a sweet YA book with great characters and even better sweets. I loved the background of a cooking competition just as much as I did the budding relationship between Rubi and Ryan. This book made me smile and hungry!

This is a lovely coming-of-age story about a Cuban-American teen who is torn between following her dream to be a baker and her mother's dream for her to be a lawyer. It's about familial sacrifice, familial bonds, teenage relationships, cultural bonds, being true to yourself, and what family history means to you. It's a moving and inspiring read.

Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success by Jessica Parra is a fun YA rom com. I am always a fan of books with a baking element, and Ramos delivers on this element. Rubi and Ryan have fun chemistry, and it's a book about figuring out your path in life when at a crossroads.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

I am currently supporting the boycott against St. Martin’s Press until they respond to influencer’s concerns about safety, inequality, systemic issues at hand and also meet the demands of the boycott. I am looking forward to leaving an updated review for this book once the demands are met ❤️

I read Parra’s debut novel because it looked like a fluffy romance. “Rubi Ramos Recipe for Sucess” does have an adorable and flirty romance, but Parra’s book is much more. Parra uses Rubi’s experience as a child of an immigrant to explore the difficulties of living up to your parents’ expectations. Rubi is trying to live her dreams and the dreams her parents’ projected onto her. It is that aspect of the book that makes it relatable. Teens can see themselves in Rubi’s struggle while being entertained by her humor and romance. The book is fast-paced and fun and is perfect for fans of teen romcoms.

Thank you NetGally, Publishers, and Jessica Parra for gifting me a copy of Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success in return for my honest opinion.

3.5/5 stars
Graduation is only a few months away, and so far Rubi Ramos’s recipe for success is on track.

*Step 1: Get into the prestigious Alma University.
*Step 2: Become incredibly successful lawyer.

But when Alma waitlists Rubi’s application, her plan is in jeopardy. Her parents–especially her mom, AKA the boss–have wanted this for her for years. In order to get off the waitlist without her parents knowing, she needs math tutoring from surfer-hottie math genius Ryan, lead the debate team to a championship–and remember the final step of the recipe.

*Step 3: Never break the ban on baking.

Rubi has always been obsessed with baking, daydreaming up new concoctions and taking shifts at her parents’ celebrated bakery. But her mother dismisses baking as a distraction–her parents didn’t leave Cuba so she could bake just like them.

But some recipes are begging to be tampered with…

When the First Annual Bake Off comes to town, Rubi’s passion for baking goes from a subtle simmer to full boil. She’s not sure if she has what it takes to become OC’s best amateur baker, and there’s only one way to find out--even though it means rejecting the ban on baking, and by extension, her parents. But life is what you bake it, and now Rubi must differentiate between the responsibility of unfulfilled dreams she holds, and finding the path she’s meant for.

This is a wonderful coming-of-age YA novel. Jessica Parra is such a wonderful author and I was surprised that this was her debut novel. Her writing is wonderful and I enjoyed the characters and her writing style it was simply wonderful.

Rubi was such a wonderful character to read about and her confusion and struggle with what to do was wonderfully believable. I felt for her with all of the pressure that her parents were putting on her when all she wanted to do was bake.

This is a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys YA novels about struggling with who you are and what you truly want, this is definitely a book I would recommend.

This was a sweet YA novel! I found the romance to be a lighter subplot, but it was cute nonetheless. I really enjoyed Rubi’s narration and the cooking competition was fun

Rubi was a loveable character, and I enjoyed watching her find herself and her voice throughout the book. A great message on expectations of family, cultural differences in families of first-generation Americans, and finding your path. I also loved all of the Cuban fusion baking that Rubi did, as well as the relationship between her and her dad.

I received this book for free for an honest unbiased review from Netgalley.

I wish more books were this well written. Characters were witty and the setting fantastic.

This was just okay for me. The romance didn’t feel real, there was no connection. The cooking kind of took over.

This YA novel is a sweet and delightful read with a charming protagonist, Rubi, navigating the challenges of pursuing her dream college amidst a backdrop of a fun cooking competition and a light romance. Packed with humor, resilience, and touching moments exploring the complex relationship between Rubi and her Cuban parents, the book delivers a message about adjusting dreams and staying true to oneself. With enjoyable food puns and a loyal friend group, "Rubi Ramo's Recipe for Success" is a recommended choice, especially for fans of Samantha Markum.

This was really cute!! I wasn’t super invested in the beginning but by the second half, I really loved it and couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen!

Super cute and definitely a snap shot of adolescent coming of age, first love, and all that goes with it. Looking forward to more from this author, and so grateful for the eARC!

As a woman in her late 30s, I’m not the target demographic for this book, but this was a cute YA story. I tend to get frustrated with stories that rely so heavily on “my parents don’t understand me” angst and sneaking around, but in this case, it worked. While this wasn’t a read that will stick with me, it was enjoyable escapism. If The Great British Bake Off combined with some teen angst appeals to you, pick this one up! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

As a college admission officer, this one hit a bit too close to home. I feel for the students who are waitlisted at their dream universities - but I would much prefer a story that shows them it all works out if they end up somewhere else - versus trying to maneuver their way into an admit letter.

With that being said, I did enjoy this book overall. I particularly loved the baking show element and description of the food! I will say there are definitely themes of inequality, legacy, and networking - but I do wish they were explored a bit more deeply, as I felt they were left lingering with little resolution or accountability.

Overall, this book is charming, a bit messy, and gives you a character to root for.