Guava and Grudges

"Filled with decadent descriptions of food, bittersweet rivalries, and zesty romantic tension, Guava and Grudges will have you hungry for more from Alexis Castellanos. A deliciously sweet read!" -Ashley Poston, New York Times best-selling author of The Dead Romantics, The Seven Year Slip, and A Novel Love Story

A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow meets Tweet Cute in this YA romcom about two teens from rival Cuban bakeries who create a recipe for disaster when they start to fall for each other.

Ana Maria Ybarra dreams of becoming a pastry chef. She loves developing new and exciting Cuban-fusion treats in her family's bakery, but her dad refuses to change the menu created by her abuelo decades ago-meanwhile, the rival bakery across the street, Morales Bakery, is thriving with their Instagram-famous desserts.

Ana Maria's only hope to change her dad's mind and save up for culinary school is winning a recipe competition with a social media angle. But then the ultimate distraction shows up in her small town: Miguel, a boy she spent one magical day with six months ago, and who she never thought she'd see again. Ana Maria thinks maybe fate has brought them together again-until she learns the horrible truth. Miguel is a Morales.

An Ybarra cannot be associated with a Morales, let alone fall for one. But when she finds out Miguel is behind the Moraleses' viral success and he offers to help her with the competition, she is so desperate to win she can't turn him down. All she needs to do is keep Miguel at arm's length and make sure their families don't find out. After all, teaming up with Miguel is just business and nothing more...right?

Author: Alexis Castellanos
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Published: 09/03/2024
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.97lbs
Size: 8.48h x 5.90w x 1.13d
ISBN: 9781547613717
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 07/08/2024
Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2024
Horn Book Magazine 09/01/2024 pg. 71
Booklist 09/15/2024 pg. 61

About the Author
Alexis Castellanos was born and raised in Florida where she enjoyed sunny days, dramatic thunderstorms, and delicious Cuban food. After graduating from college, she moved to New York City and worked as a scenic artist, bringing theatrical sets to life with a little bit of paint and a whole lot of ingenuity. She currently works as a graphic designer by day and spends her nights dreaming up stories. She is the author of the graphic novel Isla to Island. Guava and Grudges is her debut YA. She lives in Los Angeles with her partner and two cats. Connect with her on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @alexisc_art and on her website alexiscastellanos.com.