Sweet Latinx romance that'll have you heading straight to Key West!
I thoroughly enjoyed Priscilla Oliveras’s second book in her Keys to Love series, Anchored Hearts. When I received my ARC from Kensington Books through BookishFirst, I did not realize the book was the second in a series, but I was excited to read it even without having read the first. (Note: there are certain illusions and references to some of the secondary characters’ backstories that didn’t quite make sense to me, but nothing that really impacted my ability to follow the story of this book’s leads.)
I loved the Latinx representation in this book. The Spanish language and Cuban culture made the book more than just a cute beach read. The meddling Cuban mamis and the focus on family, heritage, and community (and even the passing criticism of the machismo common in the culture), made Anchored Hearts feel significant in 2021.
The characters were well written and they interacted in authentic ways. Anamaría felt like a real person to me. Her connection to her family—the deep attachment and love she felt for them and her willingness to do whatever they needed—was her greatest strength. But in a very relatable way, it also became her crutch. Alejandro’s relationship with his father was also realistically depicted. I could feel the animosity and hurt between the two characters whenever they spoke. Enrique and Señora Miranda were my favorite secondary characters.
The plot was well paced, and I was eagerly awaiting the next time Anamaría and Alejandro would be thrown together. The dialogue was believable for the most part, once you get past the repetition of reading the Spanish words again in English (although if you don’t know Spanish, I imagine this is helpful). The descriptions of the Key West setting made me immediately want to book a flight down to the island, and the descriptions of Victor Miranda’s food had me Googling the nearest Cuban restaurant.
My only real complaint about this book is that the ending felt too rushed. If ever a book called for an epilogue, it’s this one. I understand the book is part of a series, and maybe the author is planning to address some of the loose ends of Anamaría and Alejandro’s story in a third book. But, the issues that were left unresolved seem extremely germane to the central conflicts of this book (i.e. how Anamaría and Alejandro will make their relationship work despite their demanding careers and the fate of Victor Miranda’s restaurant) and, in my opinion, should have been wrapped up a little more in Anchored Hearts.
All in all, I enjoyed the time I spent reading this book. And I feel like I learned a little Cuban history—and a few Spanish curse words—too.
I loved the Latinx representation in this book. The Spanish language and Cuban culture made the book more than just a cute beach read. The meddling Cuban mamis and the focus on family, heritage, and community (and even the passing criticism of the machismo common in the culture), made Anchored Hearts feel significant in 2021.
The characters were well written and they interacted in authentic ways. Anamaría felt like a real person to me. Her connection to her family—the deep attachment and love she felt for them and her willingness to do whatever they needed—was her greatest strength. But in a very relatable way, it also became her crutch. Alejandro’s relationship with his father was also realistically depicted. I could feel the animosity and hurt between the two characters whenever they spoke. Enrique and Señora Miranda were my favorite secondary characters.
The plot was well paced, and I was eagerly awaiting the next time Anamaría and Alejandro would be thrown together. The dialogue was believable for the most part, once you get past the repetition of reading the Spanish words again in English (although if you don’t know Spanish, I imagine this is helpful). The descriptions of the Key West setting made me immediately want to book a flight down to the island, and the descriptions of Victor Miranda’s food had me Googling the nearest Cuban restaurant.
My only real complaint about this book is that the ending felt too rushed. If ever a book called for an epilogue, it’s this one. I understand the book is part of a series, and maybe the author is planning to address some of the loose ends of Anamaría and Alejandro’s story in a third book. But, the issues that were left unresolved seem extremely germane to the central conflicts of this book (i.e. how Anamaría and Alejandro will make their relationship work despite their demanding careers and the fate of Victor Miranda’s restaurant) and, in my opinion, should have been wrapped up a little more in Anchored Hearts.
All in all, I enjoyed the time I spent reading this book. And I feel like I learned a little Cuban history—and a few Spanish curse words—too.