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Once Upon a Quinceanera Kindle Edition

by Monica Gomez-Hira (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 116 ratings
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Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Jane the Virgin, this immediately accessible and irresistibly fun rom-com debut will spin readers into an unforgettable summer of late-night dancing, broken hearts, second chances, and telenovela twists.

Carmen Aguilar just wants to make her happily ever after come true. Except apparently “happily ever after” for Carmen involves being stuck in an unpaid summer internship. Now she has to perform as a party princess! In a ball gown. During the summer. In Miami.

Fine. Except that’s only the first misfortune in what’s turning out to be a summer of Utter Disaster. 

But if Carmen can manage dancing in the blistering heat, fending off an oh-so-unfortunately attractive ex, and stopping her spoiled cousin from ruining her own quinceañera—Carmen might just get that happily ever after—after all.

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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    12 - 18 years
  2. Print length
    432 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    6 - 12
  5. Publisher
    HarperTeen
  6. Publication date
    March 2, 2021
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  11. ISBN-13
    978-0062996831
  12. See all details
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From the Publisher

Jenny Han, Jane the Virgin, rom-com, romance, debut, fun, light, latina
HEA, Happily Ever After, telenovela, fifteen, teen, rom-com

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-When Carmen Aguilar starts her summer internship at Dreams Come True, she is dreading the long days ahead dressing up as a party princess. Quitting is not an option since she needs the internship to graduate high school, so she does her best to play the part. No matter how bad she expected it to be, she did not imagine that her ex-boyfriend, Mauro, would be one of her co-workers, and her dance partner. As if things couldn't get worse, Carmen learns that the company has been hired by her younger cousin, Ariana, for her quinceañera. After a recent family argument left the two estranged, Carmen finds it almost impossible to face Ariana and her overpowering parents. As the Miami summer unrolls, Carmen struggles with her unresolved feelings toward Mauro, while also trying to handle the dysfunction that plagues her extended family. Gomez-Hira makes Miami come alive with her descriptions of clubs, sunsets, and Latinx culture. The characters, most of whom are Latin American, blend their culture into their dialogue, lending the book authenticity. Though there are times when the teenage romance drama seems a bit overdone, many readers will likely enjoy the emotional outbursts and over-the-top passion. The scenes between Carmen and Mauro, a few of which contain sexual content, often are cliched, but readers looking for mushy sweet talk won't mind. VERDICT A charming novel that will appeal to teens looking for a love story.-Karin Greenberg, Manhasset H.S., NYα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

"Compelling relationships and characters dazzle like a quinceañera tiara."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B089GTQJVC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperTeen (March 2, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 2, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2584 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 116 ratings

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
116 global ratings
Fun Read, Full of Heart, & Latine Rep🤎
5 Stars
Fun Read, Full of Heart, & Latine Rep🤎
This book hit. The author did a beautiful job of balancing humor with deeper and heavier topics like what it can really be like within Latine(o,x) families when you deal with family members who aren’t doing their own inner work to heal and behave in hurtful and toxic ways. My heart hurt throughout this book reading how the main character was consistently being gaslighted and told to just forgive, let go, and move on and at the same time was so validating to read about her standing up for herself and refusing to believe that narrative or continue to allow those family members to define who she truly was. I have family members similar to the tia and prima so this really hit close for me. I resonated with this story so much and it definitely helped my inner-niña heal. I lived for the quince tea because that can 100% be real, like we don’t play when it comes to quinceañeras lol. I loved the plot, because it’s so different from anything I’ve ever read, the Beaty and the beast element was also super cute. I love that this was deeper than just a romance, because don’t get me wrong the dialogue was so freaking good, I was eating it up. I wish we could’ve known more at the end when it came to Carmen’s future but I love that estrangement for the sake of healthy boundaries and self-love is being normalized within our culture, thanks to stories like this. Highly recommend!
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Top reviews from the United States

Deyanira
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read, Full of Heart, & Latine Rep🤎
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
This book hit. The author did a beautiful job of balancing humor with deeper and heavier topics like what it can really be like within Latine(o,x) families when you deal with family members who aren’t doing their own inner work to heal and behave in hurtful and toxic ways. My heart hurt throughout this book reading how the main character was consistently being gaslighted and told to just forgive, let go, and move on and at the same time was so validating to read about her standing up for herself and refusing to believe that narrative or continue to allow those family members to define who she truly was. I have family members similar to the tia and prima so this really hit close for me. I resonated with this story so much and it definitely helped my inner-niña heal. I lived for the quince tea because that can 100% be real, like we don’t play when it comes to quinceañeras lol. I loved the plot, because it’s so different from anything I’ve ever read, the Beaty and the beast element was also super cute. I love that this was deeper than just a romance, because don’t get me wrong the dialogue was so freaking good, I was eating it up. I wish we could’ve known more at the end when it came to Carmen’s future but I love that estrangement for the sake of healthy boundaries and self-love is being normalized within our culture, thanks to stories like this. Highly recommend!
Customer image
Deyanira
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read, Full of Heart, & Latine Rep🤎
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2023
This book hit. The author did a beautiful job of balancing humor with deeper and heavier topics like what it can really be like within Latine(o,x) families when you deal with family members who aren’t doing their own inner work to heal and behave in hurtful and toxic ways. My heart hurt throughout this book reading how the main character was consistently being gaslighted and told to just forgive, let go, and move on and at the same time was so validating to read about her standing up for herself and refusing to believe that narrative or continue to allow those family members to define who she truly was. I have family members similar to the tia and prima so this really hit close for me. I resonated with this story so much and it definitely helped my inner-niña heal. I lived for the quince tea because that can 100% be real, like we don’t play when it comes to quinceañeras lol. I loved the plot, because it’s so different from anything I’ve ever read, the Beaty and the beast element was also super cute. I love that this was deeper than just a romance, because don’t get me wrong the dialogue was so freaking good, I was eating it up. I wish we could’ve known more at the end when it came to Carmen’s future but I love that estrangement for the sake of healthy boundaries and self-love is being normalized within our culture, thanks to stories like this. Highly recommend!
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Monkey
4.0 out of 5 stars Hit me hard
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2024
Honestly, I don't relate to most novels in latinos pov, even tho I'm latina. But this one.....hit me hard.
I may not have the same issues as Carmen, but I related to how she felt belittled by others, including family.
Because of ONE thing in her past, her classmates wrote her off ad "easy" and "gold digger" so to speak. She took it in stride and tried not to show how much it hurt her. Her own aunt treated her like she was the spawn of Satan instead of realizing her own daughter was no saint.
I hated how others let her take the fall for things THEY did! While I liked the message of forgiveness, moving on, letting go, healing and accepting other....I honestly think those that hurt Carmen owed her apologies and then some. That's the reason for the one star deduction.
Other than that. I loved it. It made me tear up how she fought to be accepted as herself. She had a hard time letting others in due to broken trust. Her love life was the sweetest second chance romance I've come across in a while. They had so much to grow and loved reading through their journey.
Loved Carmen's no nonsense attitude and how strong she was. Overall just really enjoyed this much more than I thought. Not for the drama but for Carmen's inner growth and romance. 😍
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amazonfan
5.0 out of 5 stars A great detour from my usual reading list
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2021
Verified Purchase
I’ve never been a party princess like this book’s main character, Carmen, but I have volunteered as a dress up foam character at a children’s party (once). It ain’t a cake walk.

This work is light and accessible in its approach, but the content is heavier upon closer inspection. Carmen’s dramatic setup feels almost artificial, but that’s hardly the point - the emotions of the teenage experiences feel real, especially as expressed through an authentic voice penned by the author. And this is a hard feat to achieve, if you can understand that most adults like us have lost ourselves in the never-ending grind of being grown up.

Occasionally, the supporting cast of characters around Carmen can feel downright mean spirited, insensitive, or even broken. And they can both directly or indirectly (subconsciously) mistreat her. But the story isn’t about them. Nor is it about Carmen. The story may just as well be about any of us, no matter how mundane or ridiculous our environment, situation, or the players within are. The story is about growth and development: as much about how we press back against the negativity around us, as it is regarding how we embrace the nourishment of the positives forces.

Not my usual read, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. Looking forward to Monica’s next work.
2 people found this helpful
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Tala Campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book, as described, thank you!
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
Good book, as described, thank you!
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alyssayuri
3.0 out of 5 stars good book
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2021
Quinceneras have been a tradition that has been so new to me when I got here in America. I find it adorable how it's pretty much a big birthday party.

The story is like a teen telenovela. It has familial drama unlike any other. It also has an adorable second chance romance. And just a whole lot of drama in a good way.

I really like the characters too. Carmen is so feisty. And Mauro is smooth and sweet. I just really like the chemistry they have. And the slow-burn is so exciting to see from them.

The main kicker of this thing is definitely the family drama. I really like Carmen's character development here and the lessons that we can get as readers.

If anything, I do wish there was a background of what a Quincenera is. I heard that religion also plays a part in it, but it was not mentioned here. There's also a tendency where there's a cycle in the book. It's not actually repetative but there are some aspects that it can be like that.

Overall, it was a good book. I really liked the story, I liked the romance, and the characters.
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F. Colley
5.0 out of 5 stars Swoony Teen Romance in a Different Venue
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2021
Verified Purchase
I loved this book. 1.) It's not a dystopian YA with stupid or absent parents. That's a unicorn in YA fiction. 2.) It's not set in New York City, which seems to be the dominant location if the book is not dystopian. Refreshing. 3.) I learned about some Latino culture I didn't know much about (quinceneras) and enjoyed the detail provided for the setting in Miami. 4.) The heroine was not the usual 'nerdy smart girl who gets makeover' or 'nerdy girl in love with jock' which seems to be high percentage of YA books. She is beautiful but not particularly studious or book smart. 5.) The family dynamic/drama is HYSTERICAL. Telenovia at its finest. I recommend this book highly.
One person found this helpful
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