Don't Date Rosa Santos

Rosa Santos lives in Port Coral, a small Florida town where she helps at her grandmother's botanica while preparing for college. Her family carries a curse that causes all the Santos women to lose the men they love to the sea, making Rosa avoid both romance and the ocean. The arrival of Alex Aquino, a tattooed sailor working at the local marina, challenges Rosa's careful boundaries. As she works to save Port Coral's harbor from developers, Rosa must confront her family's past in Cuba and the curse that has shaped their lives. Rosa navigates her Cuban-American identity through her grandmother's traditional practices, her mother's absence, and her own search for connection to her roots. Her college applications and the town's preservation efforts add pressure as she tries to determine her future path. The story explores heritage, family mythology, and the weight of expectations through a blend of magical realism and contemporary coming-of-age elements. The novel examines how the past influences present choices and the courage required to forge one's own destiny.

Readers found this YA romance captured Cuban-American culture and family dynamics with authenticity. Many connected with Rosa's struggles between tradition and modern life, though some wanted deeper exploration of these themes. Liked: - Rich descriptions of Port Coral's small-town setting - Strong family relationships, especially grandmother-granddaughter bond - Integration of Cuban folklore and customs - Sweet romance development - Food descriptions Disliked: - Predictable plot points - Rushed ending - Some found Rosa's actions frustrating - Romance felt underdeveloped to some readers - Curse element needed more explanation Ratings: Goodreads: 3.89/5 (8,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (230+ ratings) BookishFirst: 4.3/5 Multiple reviewers praised the "atmospheric writing" and "vibrant setting." One common criticism noted on Goodreads was that the story "tried to tackle too many subplots without fully developing them."

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez A daughter of Mexican immigrants navigates family expectations, grief, and first love while uncovering her late sister's secrets.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo A teen mother balances her dreams of becoming a chef with family responsibilities and a budding romance in her Philadelphia neighborhood.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo A Dominican American teenager finds her voice through slam poetry while confronting cultural expectations and religious beliefs.

Love, Sugar, Magic: A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano A young Mexican American girl discovers her family's secret magical abilities through their traditional bakery.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas A transgender brujo seeks acceptance from his traditional Latinx family while solving a mystery involving spirits and unexpected romance.

🌺 Author Nina Moreno drew inspiration from her own Cuban-American heritage and growing up in a Florida port town while crafting Rosa Santos' story. 🚢 The book explores the concept of "la diaspora," the scattering of Cuban people from their homeland, through a contemporary lens and three generations of women. 🌊 Water and maritime themes play a significant role in the narrative, with a supposed family curse linked to the sea affecting all the Santos women. 🍪 Traditional Cuban pastries and foods featured in the book, like pastelitos and croquetas, reflect the author's authentic experiences with Cuban cuisine. 📚 The story incorporates elements of magical realism, a literary style often associated with Latin American literature, while maintaining a contemporary YA romance framework.