This had everything that I want in a YA novel: the need for independence and finding yourself in the face of parental expectations, blossoming love, search for new experiences. When you add in the cooking competition, I am definitely hooked. Rubi is such a well-developed, fun character who you can’t help but root for. She wants to please everyone and is finding it is pretty difficult. I loved the mix of Cuban culture into everything she baked in the competition and how it is interwoven into the novel as well. This was such a fun, entertaining read and I loved everything about it

Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success is a YA debut that I didn't want to stop listening to!

Rubi is a high school senior trying to get into her parent's dream school: Alma. As a first generation college applier, her parents only want what's best for her, which does not include baking. Yet Rubi is drawn to the kitchen and enters a bake off contest as a secret. Rubi knows that she can prove that she can both bake and do well academically. Let the baking begin!

I could not reading Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success. Jessica Parra's writing style brought this story to life and made it seem like we were baking right alongside Rubi. I wanted cookies while flipping through the pages and couldn't stop rooting for Rubi to not let go of her passions. While this book may be a romantic YA, the romance wasn't featured throughout but rather Rubi's journey on loving herself. Overall, I cannot wait for what debut author Jessica Parra puts out next.

Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for my earc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars
I like books about kids with cooking ambitions!
Rubi’s passion in life is cooking, and she would love to work in her parents’ bakery. However, her parents have a very different ideas about what they expect Rubi to accomplish in life, and not a single one involves her being in a kitchen for a career!
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

This book was summer cute and everything a summer read should be! This story follows Rubi, a first-gen Afro-Cuban whose family owns bakeries in California. Rubi’s parents have set up this recipe for success that will ensure her future and have placed a ban on baking with some exceptions. Throughout the book, we see Rubi struggling to stick to this recipe and trying to figure out her future as she nears the end of her senior year. She also finds herself in a baking competition that makes her question everything.

I really enjoyed this book, it took me a few chapters to get into it but once I did I think I read it all in one go. Rubi’s relationship with her friends and family was sweet. I loved seeing her getting to know Ryan. I especially loved her bond with her dad and how they loved baking and creating together. I thought the ending was sweet, how she and her mother got what they wanted.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for a review

4 stars

The title may focus on Rubi's success, but this reader's takeaway is that this whole book is a real success for Jessica Parra. I'm officially a fan!

Rubi, the titular m.c., is extremely likeable. She's exactly the right combo of well intentioned, driven, rebellious, and kind, and it is impossible not to root for her. This alone makes for such an enjoyable read.

Fortunately, there's a lot more to love than just Rubi's headlining greatness. Readers need to either access this book on full stomachs or prepare for some serious sweet tooth related cravings. They are a fun guarantee! Folks who are familiar with the southern CA landscape - particularly Orange County - will find the setting quite authentically penned (for better or worse - there's a lot to love *and* find embarrassing here). And the storyline is engaging, age appropriate, and filled with important lessons without ever feeling didactic or patronizing.

Transparently, it was the colorful cover that drew me to this one, but the substance is what kept me reading enthusiastically. I can't wait to read more from Parra and to recommend that my students let Rubi bake her way into their hearts, too!

*When and where available, I recommend the audiobook. The narration adds a lot not only to Rubi's characterization but also to several side characters!

Such a cute read!! I wouldn’t ask anything more from this book. It was a very simple YA easy read.

Rubi being so in touch with her culture was by far my favorite part. Add in a cute boy crush, queer touches, and stressful family expectations and you have a story of a mostly typical teenager. I thought it was so well written!!

I also had the opportunity to listen to parts of the book being narrated and the way the narrator told the story was perfectly done. Didn’t take away from the story being told.

Thanks so much NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Thank you to the publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was super cute! A fun, easy read and I loved it!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Its all the covers fault. I am 100% the wrong reader for this book, but the cover is so beautiful I tried anyway. I've found myself not vibing with YA lately, and this book is very YA. The behavior of the characters, the themes, the writing - all YA. and like, young YA too, which is actually kind of odd since the MCs are seniors.

Setting aside my personal preference, I couldn't vibe with the writing style. It's not particularly unique, so that may seem like an odd comment, but it felt a teeny bit cringe to me. That's a mean thing to say, but in the first 8 pages there are multiple Capitalized Words For Dramatic Effect, two instances where the text is formatted like a recipe because the MC is a baker (get it?), six exclamation points, and the word "Omigawd." None of these things are inherently problematic and some readers might like the quirkier style, but they really distracted from the narrative. There's also a problem with talking head syndrome, and there's several moments where the author has characters say things purely for the sake of informing the reader.

Now don't get me wrong, the story is cute. Just not cute enough to make up for the issues I had with the storytelling. I do think plenty of readers will love it, and I'd be open to reading from the author again and seeing how she grows.

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.
*Step 3: Never break the ban on baking.

Rubi's recipe for success definitely resonates with my 18-year-old self. Her parents want her to do something other than baking because they don't deem this a successful path for their daughter. She then meets the Irish-American surfer, Ryan, who she feels she can confide in just like she does her best friend, Devon. I believe Jessica Parra wrote a beautiful story about a girl and her dreams and what she will do to make those dreams come true. Also, I believe that Rubi's story, while it includes a meet-cute, is way more than what could be with Ryan. I am so glad that Rubi has the support of Ryan and her best friend throughout the story because it definitely helped her.

I do wish that Parra showed more of Rubi's relationship with her parents, specifically her mother. Other than that, I believe this was a cute YA story about a girl and her dream of baking with an incredibly satisfying ending.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for this ARC.

I flew through this book. Everything about it, the plot development, the pacing, the baking puns, went together so smoothly and created a really great coming-of-age story. Rubi was so strong and dedicated to her passion, her family, and her heritage. I loved how everyone got their happily ever after at the end. The writing in this was so beautiful and detailed that I could basically taste Rubi’s creations on my tongue. This book didn’t come across as a debut to me because Parra’s talent with story-telling and relatable characters was very powerful right off the bat. I am so thankful for @wednesdaybooks for the change to read this ARC.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up

YA is very quickly becoming one of my favourite genres. Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success got my attention because of the CUTE cover. Who doesn't love a book about a cute surfer and a baker?

What I loved about this book was Rubi's character development. When we meet our main character, Rubi, she is trying to live up to the life her parents, Cuban immigrants, sacrificed so much for. Throughout the story, we watch her lean into her own passions and dreams. The way Rubi learns to live for herself and communicate that desire to her parents was beautiful!

Speaking of beautiful... Ryan, Rubi's math tutor surfer boy, enters the scene. I would have loved to see more between these two characters as it felt very brief. However, he played his role and there were some cute moments!

I appreciated Jessica Parra's writing but it was quite cheesy sometimes. I still really recommend this book but go into it knowing it will be a light read mainly focused on family conflict.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review 💖

After finishing this absolutely adorable romance, the first thing I did was look up “Cuban bakeries near me” and I was absolutely gutted to discover there were none. Rest assured I will be scouting the internet for recipes of all the amazing baked goods in this book.

Rubi Ramos’s Recipe For Success is easily one of my favorite YA romances of the year. Rubi is one of the most lovable protagonists I’ve read in a while; her love for food is contagious, and I couldn’t help but root for her. Ryan (or O-Ryan) was a phenomenal love interest. But I think Rubi’s complex relationship with her parents was what really drove the story.

I highly recommend this one for fans of Emma Lord and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow (or literally any romance that centers around a love for food). What I do not recommend is reading this on an empty stomach.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC! All views reflected are my own.

I loved pretty much everything about this debut YA novel! Gorgeous cover, reality baking competition, a sweet romance and great Cuban American daughter of immigrants rep. Great on audio narrated by Karla Serrato and perfect for fans of A Cuban girl's guide to tea and tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early audio and digital copies of this book in exchange for my honest review! This book is guaranteed to make you hungry and feel all the feels!

The perfect summer YA read. A quick read that has romance, cooking and surfing. I really enjoyed getting to know Rubi. Her family and her story is so great. I’d recommend it to anyone. She’s just a girl looking to follow her dreams and figuring out along the way.

Graduation is only a few months away, and Rubi Ramos’s “recipe for success” to get into prestigious Alma University is already off track.

When Alma waitlists Rubi’s application, Rubi will need to be distraction-free to make the grade and keep her parents—who have wanted this for her for years—from finding out. Which means falling for her cute surfer-slash-math tutor, Ryan, definitely won’t work. And neither will breaking her mother’s ban on baking—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 subtle simmer to full boil. Add to the mix her crush on Ryan may be turning into a full-fledged relationship and Rubi’s life is suddenly so different from what it was. She’s not sure if she has what it takes to win the Bake Off, or where the relationship with Ryan is going, but there’s only one way to find out—even if it means going against her parents’ priorities. 

Now Rubi must differentiate between the responsibility of unfulfilled dreams she holds and finding the path she’s meant for.

A joyful novel of first romance, new possibilities, and the chance to define yourself, Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success will find its way into your heart. 


Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

You got to prepare yourself with this one. You were going to feel a lot of emotions. The cover makes it look like it’s just gonna be this cute little YA romance but it will make you feel things. So many things.

oh my heart.

stories about family and the experience of being a first gen kid are always so complex and touching and a guarantee that a tear or two will be shed.

rubi ramos’s recipe for success is such a fun, well-rounded book. i loved rubi’s passion for baking and her perseverance. she did make some typical teenage mistakes along the way that made me wanna shake some sense into her but she only had good intentions. i also loved her parents’ dynamic, and the fact that bits and pieces of their stories were shared only humanized them more.

that being said, the romance happened very quickly before taking a backseat to the college and competition subplots, and as a result 1) it wasn’t very convincing (imo) and 2) i ended up forgetting that rubi had a boyfriend at some point. but honestly that’s my only (sort of) complaint—her boyfriend was very sweet, so i didn’t dislike the romance entirely.

i’ll be looking forward to the author’s next releases <3

thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 💗✨

This book was so, so YA; I wasn’t mentally prepared for that. Nonetheless, it was a fun read! It’s rich with culture, character, and most of all, sweet treats.

I loved Rubi as a character. She’s your typical high school girl with some very high school problems: boys, geometry, college, you name it. Her struggle with balancing what she wants with what her parents want was very real and portrayed very well. She’s also got some not-so-high-school problems: like the blatant racism from one of her classmates. Which is also handled tastefully. This book does a wonderful job of portraying an overachieving high school student with familial pressures.

I had a lot of respect for her for kicking it into high gear and doing what needs to get done while also balancing baking.

Speaking of baking, wowowow this book had my mouth watering for every single treat. They sounded so delicious. And the creativity that must’ve gone into customizing these recipes, amazing!

This book wasn't without its flaws. My biggest issue was with the romance, considering on Goodreads it's classified as one and on the cover you've got... a shirtless boy. This book is most definitely not a romance. It's a YA contemporary with afterthoughts of romance. So if you're going into this expecting a romantic focus with a developed relationship, this book isn't for you.

Overall, this is a sweet (figuratively and literally), uplifting read with lots of YA fun and while it’s not my most favorite YA read, it’s one that I’d recommend! And I think it’d actually be a really good read for those who are fans of Encanto, The Ice Princess, High School Musical, and Another Cinderella Story. This book pulls little bits and pieces/themes from each movie that you mayyyyy be able to spot.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Wednesday Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The perfect summer YA read. A quick read that has rooting for Rubi and against her nemesis Madeleine. I wanted to keep reading to find out if Rubi finds success.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday books for an ARC

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this electronic galley. All opinions expressed are my own

I chose this YA book because of the cover. Because it was beautiful and bright and reminded me of the flashy colors my Barbies used to wear.

Rubi Ramos is a relatable protagonist, her dreams might differ from the ones that her parents, Cuban immigrants to America have laid out. As the last months of senior high school finish, Rubi keeps from her parents that she has been waitlisted at university and is entering a local baking competition. The latter fits more with Rubi's dreams. But how will her parents deal when they find out?

This was a highly entertaining story. The strongest part is the storyline with Rubi and her parents. The cover and description hint at romance and Rubi does meet a fiery-haired Irish-American surfer boy, Ryan O'Reilly. It's a meet-cute type of love but it's the type of story where a reader just knows that these two are going to be really great friends. Ryan shares his struggles with Rubi as does Rubi's best friend, Devon. It shows that all teens have their struggles in finding who they are/who they want to be. In that way, Rubi meeting Ryan is important to the book but don't go looking for a straight-up romance. As the book ends, I think Rubi is about to meet her first real love. The person that probably will break her heart.🤣 Yes, I am 41 years old and I straight-up wrote fanfiction in my head after finishing this last night.


Expected Publication Date 16/05/23
Goodreads Review Published 11/04/23

This was a cute book with a lot of talk about following your dreams and how much pressure is put on college.

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Rubi. She has been helping at her parents’ bakery while going to school and trying to figure out what her future has in store for her. Rubi gets devastating news that her number one college pick has waitlisted her and this starts a lot of change and reworking a few things to try and make herself looking better, the bake-off being one of them.

Rubi is a character I have seen a lot recently. A teen just trying to get into a good college and not wanting to disappoint her family. I totally get feeling like a failure. It’s something I can understand while being an adult and I am sure teens will be able to relate to her too. Baking is something that she enjoys and her parents don’t see it as a good thing. They want her to go to college and pursue something more. I like that Rubi showed her parents she can have two loves and that it doesn’t take away from her future. While being the captain of the debate team she has to deal with a real dillweed who wants the title for herself. I was so thrilled when Rubi put her in her place!

The book have a bit of romance and it involves a surfer who is also a mathlete. He was a nice character and I did like them but I felt that their relationship was pretty flat. It was my least favorite plotline because it felt very much like insta-love. The main focus on the book is not this and so it just felt like this lacked the development it needed.

Overall, this was a nice read about a girl trying to make everything work. She learns to talk to her parents and do what she loves.

Rating: 3.5 stars