Pretty cute coming of age story! The event-planning aspects, particularly around quinceañeras was fun.

I will say though that while it started off pretty strong for me, my interest sort of waned in the middle, and I can't really point my finger on why. I think it's nothing really about this book specifically, but just that I wasn't the target audience. I kind of wish there was less romance in this, as it felt like it detracted from the more emotional and heartfelt parts centered around the main character's relationship with her sister and her dad and their grief.

A girl who dreams about getting the internship at favorite party planner's company she seizes it... the only problem is that she has to get more experience before she can even apply and that means faking her experience for a publicity stunt for a popular influencer and things get out of hand, especially as she falls for the chambelán of said influencer's friend group. Castillo Torres loves everything being planned out. She's the event chair for the student body association as well as someone who dreams about making it as a party planner. Yet when her mother passes away suddenly, all her plans are thrown sideways. When a local lifestyle-guru-slash-party-planner opens up applications for the internship of her dreams, Cas is determined to do everything she can to get it... even if it mans doing a lot of lying. In order to apply for the internship she must have party planning experience... something she actually doesn't have. Yet when she runs into a popular influencer at Disney who takes a liking to her and asks her to plan a Star Wars themed quinceanera, Cas says yes. To her shock she also meets a cute guy... who just happens to be the chambelán of the quinceanera. Everything is going great...but her lies will begin to catch up to her and when the truth comes out she might lose it all. This was just a sweet read that dealt with grief, friends, and romance. Cas is going through a lot and trying to stay on her plan, but grief doesn't have a plan and she has to figure out how to face her own grief head on while growing. I definitely think if you are a big fan of Disney then this book is perfect for you, there are so so many references in it. It also would be a great read for younger YA ages I think and overall it was just a fun read that dealt with grief and growing.

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Release Date: May 28,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

I truly love YA novels as I feel like they truly speak to all of us.  This was a soft and clean romance.  A coming of age novel about a girl determined to give everyone their HEA while dealing with her own grief.
It was a quick fast-paced read that featured so many fun elements - Disneyland, party planning, family and social media.  
Having two daughters of my own I always swoon over sister relationships - Cas and Po were so sweet and supportive of each other.  
This was such a heartwarming story filled with gentle reminders that we are always healing and growing, it's never too late to change our plans and dreams, and that even in life's most challenging and heartbreaking moments, joy and hope can still be found.

Rating: 4/5
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this book about a young woman who is trying to make everything right in life with a list and making sure to follow them, but is it really making her life better? In this book you will get to watch Castillo branch out more in her life and get to see her start making decisions based on what makes her who she really is. You will shed a tear or two in this but that is only because you will love this book with its heartwarming scene, forgiveness at its finest, and see how dreams really do come true.

I enjoyed the author’s way with her words, the pace of the book is fast, but you won’t miss anything while reading it. I liked how as a reader you can see the growth that Castillo and her family take to move from grief and start learning how to live again. I really liked how Parra handled the parental loss and how life looks afterwards, the struggles that some go through, while others might be going through it differently. The romance in the book just made it a really sweet romcom, but you will see a lot of love throughout this book: love for family, friendships, your dreams of a child and more. It’s a book about healing and growth and learning that it’s never too late to change your plans or dreams. It’s about no matter the darkness you think you’re in, you can find joy and hope in life. The characters were likable and easy to connect with. I loved seeing Cas and Po (the sisters) throughout the book’s growth and the love that they had for each other, but it was the growth from their father that I loved the most in this book.

I loved the fairy godmother and Disneyland love throughout the book. It brought me joy and sprinkled me with some fairy godmother pixie dust. Overall, this is a great YA novel that has romance, love, healing, and growth. Oh yeah, and Disneyland love.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the opportunity to review this book.

One sentence summary: Planner extraordinaire, Cas, is determined to plan the perfect quinceañera and land an internship with her party planning ideal, but things go astray along the way.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. It is filled with Disney/Star Wars references galore! Cas’s sister, Po was my favorite character. I loved the sister relationship between these two. Javi was an adorable love interest. I also loved the appearance of Rubi (the MC from Parra’s previous book).

This book deals a lot with grief and while that can be a heavy topic that is difficult to read, I thought Parra handled it in a beautiful way.

I think I enjoyed Rubi Ramo’s Recipe for Success just a smidge more than this one, but it was a solid sophomore novel and I would recommend if you are a YA fan.

I jumped on the chance to read this after falling in love with Jessica Parra’s writing in her other book. I wanted to love this but that same magic wasn’t in this one. While I understand we all process grief differently, the characters in this one were not my favorite; both Cas and Po were relatable but annoying. The incessant Disney references were just as annoying and really took me out of the story. The book got better as they started to process their grief but even their serious fight and subsequent forgiveness scenes were sprinkled with so many Disney references that it was impossible to take it seriously. Recommended for Disney fans.

Castillo Torres (Cas) wants to be an events planner. She likes to plan and control everything. She is still in high school and plans events for her school. But now she wants a side hustle to plan events with the ultimate prize being an internship with an event planner to A-listers. When a Disneyland vlogger thinks she already works for the big events planner she books her Star Wars themed quinceanera with Cas. The vlogger also is a love interest for her sister Po who is a year older. But things of course don’t go smoothly. And it doesn’t help that the web of lies is catching up with her.

This is a very, sweet, wholesome (a few kisses) YA novel. It is also a story of Cas and her family still reeling from the death of her mother two years before. Grief is felt by each of them and it affects them individually. It is one of the reasons Cas seeks control in her life. There are a ton of Disney references, everything from movies, characters and Disneyland rides and foods. I love Disneyland and Disney but it was a little over the top for me. The Grief is handled well. As is the pressure on teens from social media. Recommend for middle schoolers and up. (3.5 Stars)

This is Cas’s story as a teenage event planner. She is a determined 16 years old who wants an internship with a renowned event planner. To do so, she has to plan more events and what’s better than to organize a quince for a Disneyland vlogger.

I found that the main character was a Disney stereotype at the same as a teenage overachiever stereotype. Missing parent, obsession with a particular goal, seriousness, finding love when you don’t expect it…

Even though I did not like this aspect of the book, it was a fun and easy read. You can binge read it in a day as it is a simple yet interesting story.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This book was so enjoyable to read!!! YA books have a special place in my heart because I feel they really speak to all of us. The past, the present, and the future.

Cas might not be the perfect princess but it's not for lack of trying. Poor thing puts everything into everything and ends up leaving nothing for herself. Hmmmm, sounds familiar.

I would definitely recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Jessica Parra knows how to tug at my heart strings with her Latina FMCs. I love the Spanglish here and there and I love the way she captures the essence of a Hispanic household, especially the Hispanic father. This follow up to her debut was just as good as her first. This one felt personal, though.

This was an easy, fast paced, nostalgic read, in my opinion. So many of my favorite things were in this book. Disneyland, family, party planning, social media, and STAR WARS. I think you’ll find someone in this book to connect with. Oh, and let’s not forget, a cute boy added to the mix. The way Jessica creates her characters feel very real, like you know one of every character in the book in real life. Castillo’s inner, and outer, conflicts didn’t feel unrealistic. As someone who was raised in a Hispanic home, her feelings were very relatable and valid. That’s why it felt personal.

Overall, a fantastic follow up to Rubi Ramos’ Recipe for success.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Wednesday books for the eARC!

This is a cute & heartfelt YA!

*Comical meet cute
*For Disney (especially Star Wars) fans
*Cas is trying to find her HEA in the hopes that she can heal her grieving family
*Loved the cameo by Rubi (from Jessica Parra's first book

3.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley Wednesday books and dreamscape media for the e-Arc and ALC. My opinion is being left voluntarily. I really enjoyed this book and reminded be of being in a friend's quincera it was such an honor. These characters were well developed and interesting.

3.5/5☆

The Quince Project is such a cute book. It definitely feels more YA romance than adult fiction but it's a great starter to soft and clean romance. The book follows Po and Callie (who is wanting to become an event planner) try to secure an internship.

Perfect for teenage Disney fans, both those who like villains and those who like princesses.

I'm loving this coming-of-age book about a girl who's determined to give everyone else a happily ever after, all while avoiding her own grief. It's funny and fresh, with a cute romance at the heart of it!

After her mom died and her sister's awkward, haphazard quinceañera, Castillo Torres discovers a passion for planning the perfect party. After an influencer misunderstands and thinks she's already working at her dream party planning firm, Castillo finds herself planning an edgy, deconstructed quince for Paulina, whose aesthetic resembles that of a Sith Lord. But the party's a publicity stunt, and Cas and her sister Po find themselves pulled in different directions as the lies grow. Po has instant chemistry with Paulina, while Cas finds herself falling for Paulina's date, Javi.

Po's adorable as a teen who finds a lipstick color for every mood - coral for courage, purple for a good mood, and red for a bad mood. Paulina's intriguing as a Disney vlogger who prefers villain aesthetics. Javi's a sweetheart who has great banter with Cas and is up for anything, as long as she's there too.

Set against the background of Disneyland, this book has a lot to say about what goes into making memories magic. It also shows how grief can make a person forget about their own Happily Ever after.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you St Martin's and Wednesday books for the review copy of The Quince Project. This is a sweet YA story filled with some great themes on family and young romance and growing up and it is also a lot about grief and coping, what happens when you lose your mother as a teen. The themes on grief are gently handled as a thoughtful undercurrent to the main character's story.
Standouts
1. I love the movement towards culturally inclusive stories about adolescent rites of passage. The focus on quinceañeras was important. My one note is that I felt it was a shame that part of the story was how someone was using this rite of passage through an influencer/college app lens though that also amplified a bigger theme on the pressures young people are under to figure it all out and to do it on social media/through large events

2. family love and grief. I really liked Cas and Po's (sisters) relationship and how they were so close. Clearly they needed each other to cope with the loss of their mother but the relationship was caring and filled with respect and love.

3. inclusion. More and more YA books embrace diverse identities as simply part of a story and as part of a daily teen experience and I value that.

4. social media and college pressures. I don't think I fully understand how social media is so woven into teen life and this book did a good job capturing all of the gossip stuff and worries and DMs and the constancy of this. If you have a teen, please tell them it's ok to slow down, to not have their college major and careers figured out at 15. I teach college kids, they should not be this overwhelmed... being burnt out at 20 is not good.

Other thoughts
I have read a few other reviews that say this is a very YA book and I agree. that's not a bad thing, it means that this was a very relevant story to perhaps tweens and young teens but as an adult well removed from teen stuff, a lot of it felt hard to connect to after the basic story was set. Not that I didn't embrace the story and the grief theme but the challenges being faced outside of grief, the influencer and disneyland stuff just aren't themes I connect with and my GenX self did not experience adolescence this way. So I make this note for readers, embrace this as a very good story that captures today's teens and their pressures and social media lives, their confusion and uncertainty amplified through the chaos and agony of social media and constant DMs and all the things...

4 stars

Jessica Parra has another solid YA contemporary with this most recent effort.

Cas, the m.c., loves to plan. Have a list? She'll check the boxes. Have an event to plan? She'll make it sing (sort of - she's kind of known for hilarious mishaps, but the intention is there). Basically, Cas is doing whatever she can to impose some kind of apparent control over her life, which, like all of ours, is not fully ever within her control. These feelings and needs grow much stronger after Cas's mother dies (which happens prior to the start of the book). As her family tries to manage their grief and find their way both through and forward, Cas questions her own actions and makes some moderately shady moves in the process. Like all good YA, there are many lessons to be learned and so much growth for the m.c. to accomplish.

Because Cas's mom was a major Disney fan and they live locally to Disneyland, this book has many references to various Disney characters and motifs. There are also some clear, broader fairy tale references. Folks who are into this world will find this a charming addition, but those who are not may have a different response at times. It's not overwhelming, but the Disney vibe cannot be ignored.

Folks looking for a book that deals somewhat gently with the aftermath of losing a parent will be especially drawn to this one. It's a solid and engaging work and, for me, another win from Jessica Parra.

3.75/5 stars, rounded to 4!

this story was so sweet! it follows castillo torres as she works towards becoming a party planner extraordinaire, along with navigating a very tumultuous grief journey and new love on the way.

i loved the way that the story touched upon grief, it felt very palatable and accessible for a YA audience. i also adored the romance between her and javi- they were so sweet and i really enjoyed the way he helped her begin to work through her grief and stop ignoring it. i think latine culture has a huge issue with ignoring feelings, especially grief-centered ones, by working hard and “poniéndose las pilas” and watching cas leave behind that mentality was really special. watching her relationship with her sister and dad improve as well was so sweet :,)

i wasn’t super fond of all of the excessive disney references BUT i can understand that it might just have not been for me!! i did think it was a sweet unifying point for all/most of the characters in the story. overall, definitely recommend this story if you are looking for a magical story that feels like a hug!!

Reading this book felt like opening the door to the Disney vault and being wrapped in a blanket of magic, nostalgia, and love. As a huge Disney and Star Wars fan, I was so giddy over every movie and park reference. I also relished every callback to what I believe is JLo’s greatest role… Mary Fiore in The Wedding Planner. It was a brief dream of mine to be an event planner (let’s be honest… I really wanted the coveted headset), so getting to follow Castillo around on her event planning adventures was a true delight.

While this story had so much joy and laughter, there were also moments that were incredibly emotional and raw as Parra discusses parental loss and how life in the “after” looks different for everyone - no matter how long ago the loss happened, grief is not linear and healing is the journey, not the destination. Seeing Cas and Po grow and heal together left me teary and my heart so full, and I loved witnessing their bond as sisters strengthen. They complemented each other so well and it was so heartwarming seeing embrace, forgive, and dream together.

In a time where content is supreme and there is an emphasis on achieving the “perfect grid,” I was delighted to see Parra flip the script and remind all readers of the importance of living in the moment, away from the cameras, and celebrating the happily ever nows. Life is inherently messy and while we might strive for picture perfect moments, it is the imperfect, candid moments of joy and laughter that we will cling to and remember.

This was such a sweet story full of lovely reminders that we’re always healing and growing, it’s never too late to change your plans and dreams, and that even in life’s more challenging and heartbreaking moments, there is still joy and hope to be found.

The Quince Project is an endearing and heartfelt YA novel about grief and love. Castillo is determined to become an event planner. After she loses her mother it's all she feels like she has left. She throws herself into her plans to avoid the rest of her life that's falling apart. Along the way Castillo learns about her how to deal with her grief and how to find her way back. This story is full of cute Disney references too. The Quince Project does a great job at balancing the emotions of grief with a cute ya story.

Callisto Torres is obsessed with helping people have the perfect party which she believes will ultimately lead to a happily ever after. She can’t quite get over a typo that ruined her sisters quinceañera. The problem was absolutely the missing tilde in a banner and not the recent death of her mother. This family tragedy sent her father and sister into their own world of coping which are not to her liking but once she gets a internship with an Instagram part planner she well be able to set everything to rights. This was a true YA novel in content. It’s deal with grief, rights of passage and even some Disneyland. This novel will be great for its target audience. It came around from me in the rend but for most of the book I just wanted to send Callisto and her family to grief counselor. Overall an enjoyable book that felt lighthearted but still have some deeper substance behind it..