2022-03-16
Romeo and Juliet gets a fresh retelling through two rival San Antonio families and their dueling mariachi bands.
Mariana Capuleta is ready to put her career into high gear. She’s busy enough as an emergency room nurse, but she wants to transition to a physician's assistant program. She also plays in an all-female mariachi band with her sisters to raise money for her family’s community center. When the center is damaged and a balloon payment comes due, the Capuletas need a lot of cash, and fast. Mariana believes their solution lies in winning the local battle of the bands, which is offering a $50,000 prize. Also competing in the battle is Los Reyes, the reigning champion, which happens to be led by the Capuletas’ archrivals, the Montero family. The Capuletas and Monteros had a disastrous falling-out over the gentrification of the neighborhood—a rather big obstacle to overcome that doesn’t feel completely resolved by the end. Mariana is shocked to learn that the Monteros’ mariachi band is led by Angelo, the mysterious man she shared a sizzling New Year’s Eve kiss with earlier that year. As in many Oliveras romances, the cast consists of large and lively families, but this time they have more Shakespearean flair. Those familiar with the Bard will pick up on the little plot-related easter eggs Oliveras drops in, perhaps as harbingers of future books. There’s a lot going on with both the main characters, however, including their romance and the issues that plague their respective families. The narrative is stretched thin, and readers may find themselves wanting to simply spend more time with Mariana and Angelo without all the background noise.
An overstuffed plot tempers this passionate romance.
Karla Serrato's animated, upbeat voice enhances this charming enemies-to-lovers romance. Her moderately paced narration quickly picks up as a midnight kiss sparks an affair between Mariana and Angelo, mariachi musicians from rival bands.… Serrato's emotive performance evokes the forbidden passion that draws the pair together.… Serrato notably gives each band member a unique voice befitting their personality, and her use of Spanish and accent work highlights the musicians' community.” —AudioFile Magazine
“Romeo and Juliet gets a fresh retelling through two rival San Antonio families and their dueling mariachi bands.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A sparkling tribute to the rivalries of Romeo and Juliet, with none of the tragedy and all of the swoony romance.” —Library Journal
“Reading a Priscilla Oliveras book is like being wrapped in a warm hug, and West Side Love Story is no exception.” —Entertainment Weekly
“This romance is a delightful take on Romeo and Juliet that feels fresh and melodious.” —BuzzFeed
“Replace the gangs in West Side Story with competing mariachi bands from feuding families in gentrifying San Antonio, and you have this epic and uplifting tale. Love feels alive on each page, between not just the star-crossed lovers but also the tightly knit families.” —Woman’s Day
“A sweet romance and complicated family dynamics make this brilliantly executed Romeo and Juliet retelling a must-read. This is Priscilla Oliveras’s best yet!” —Farrah Rochon, USA Today bestselling author of The Dating Playbook
“West Side Love Story is the perfect harmony of love, familia, and fate. Priscilla Oliveras’s characters shine as much as her stories shine a light on issues facing real people and reading West Side Love Story is like dancing with your favorite person on a warm summer night.” —Denise Williams, author of How to Fail at Flirting and The Fastest Way to Fall
“Nothing is more romantic than forbidden love and this book pulls it off gorgeously. Priscilla Oliveras writes in musical prose about longing and passion and our duties and love for our families with great understanding. Bravo!” —Barbara O’Neal, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids
“Priscilla Oliveras charms with a story full of passion and heart that celebrates the treasure of families, whether found or biological.” —K.M. Jackson, USA Today bestselling author
“West Side Love Story captures the very best things about Latinx communities: fiercely loving families, passionate strivers, and joyfully embracing who we are. This delightful enemies-to-lovers romance is full of swoon-worthy moments and brimming with strong female characters. You will be rooting as hard for Mariana’s all-girl mariachi band as you will for the hard earned HEA.” —Adriana Herrera, USA Today bestselling author
“Priscilla Oliveras always writes with warmth and heart, and West Side Love Story is no exception. If you love a dreamy romance that is rooted in reality, put this book at the top of your to-be-read list. Not only will you enjoy a swoon-worthy star-crossed love story, but you will also experience the world of mariachi music, the real cost of gentrification, and the true meaning of family and loyalty. Can’t wait for the next in the series!” —Jamie Beck, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author
“This promises to be an epic story filled with delicious tension, bitter rivalries, and hard-fought redemption, and I’m confident that in Oliveras’s talented hands, we’ll get the satisfying happily-ever-after we deserve.” —Mia Sosa, bestselling author of The Worst Best Man, for Oprah Daily
