Early Reader Review: Julieta and the Romeos by Maria E. Andreu

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Julieta and the Romeos by Maria E. Andreu

Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date:  May 16, 2023

 

Format:Ebook

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

You've Got Mail meets a YA Beach Read with a bookish mystery at its heart in the newest rom-com from Maria E. Andreu. The ideal next read for fans of Emily Henry, Kasie West, and Jennifer E. Smith.

Julieta isn't looking for her Romeo--but she is writing about love. When her summer writing teacher encourages the class to publish their work online, the last thing she's expecting is to get a notification that her rom-com has a mysterious new contributor, Happily Ever Drafter. Julieta knows that happily ever afters aren't real. (Case in point: her parents' imploding marriage.) But then again, could this be her very own meet-cute?

As things start to heat up in her fiction, Julieta can't help but notice three boys in her real life: her best friend's brother (aka her nemesis), the boy next door (well, to her abuela), and her oldest friend (who is suddenly looking . . . hot?). Could one of them be her mysterious collaborator? But even if Julieta finds her Romeo, she'll have to remember that life is full of plot twists. . . .

From the author of Love in English comes a fresh take on love and romance, and a reminder to always be the author of your own life story.

Review: 

Julieta is a young writer with her heart set on a writing career post graduation and college. It is the summer and she was invited to a writing program in the city and her focus is being disturbed by boys. Oddly enough, this summer there are three boys on her radar and she isn't sure which one will give her the book-romance 'happily ever after'. That isn't the only thing going on this summer though, she also feels like something is going on with her best friend, her parents aren't as lovey as they used to be, and there seems to be downturn at their family restuarant. 

This book is set after the pandemic, and highlights a number of things that happened during that time. The isolation, the school from home, the hardship on families and locally owned small businesses. It did a really good job setting that stage if you lived through it as most of us have. I am not sure if it will be as applicable in later years but as a new release I think it will be received well. 

Jules is a good main character, albeit a bit dense and oblivious at times. I felt like there were a number of times that things were right in front of her and she was too naive to notice or just too dense to understand. She was very stubborn but had such strong focus for someone this age. She helped her family and took her schooling seriously. I think that for someone this age, these are strong qualities but I am not sure how relatable they are. I know very few teens that have this type of determination and drive. 

The story overall was cute. I think that the focus on the romance only to find out that not everything is picture/storybook- perfect is a wonderful thing to convey. I think at this age we all want happily ever after but that is often not the case, life is messy and things are not always as they seem. 

If you are looking for a good teen romance, with a lot of will-they/won't-they, this could be a fun book to pick up. It was cute and fun and it had me laughing and also slightly yelling at Jules for her stubborness, but overall it was a good read.