Thursday, October 26, 2023

Book review - With or Without You

 

Title: With or Without You

Author: Eric Smith

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: If it Makes You Happy by Claire Kann

                      Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love by Jared Reck

Rating:

a cute take on a standard dynamic

Summary (provided by publisher): All’s fair in love and (food truck) war.
Everyone knows Jordan Plazas and Cindy Ortiz hate each other.
According to many viral videos of their public shouting matches, the Plazas and Ortiz families have a well-known food truck rivalry. Jordan and Cindy have spent all of high school making cheesesteaks and slinging insults at each other across their shared Philadelphia street.
But the truth? They’re in love, and it’s all just an act for the tourists.
When the fake feud lands them a reality tv show pilot, Jordan and Cindy find themselves having to lie on a much bigger scale. Trapped between pursuing their dreams or their love, can they find a way to have their cheesesteak and eat it too?

My opinion: We've all read the star-crossed lovers plot. This is especially common in teen fiction when cooking and restaurants are involved. This book looks at that plot from a new angle, giving us feuding families as a marketing ploy and how that tactic can backfire when it becomes all consuming. It asks us to consider how far a person can and should go to make a family business successful. As is also standard in teen fiction we're looking at family pressures, the drive to succeed and the definitions of success. While it's not a deep read, it is an entertaining one. A solid choice for a cozy weekend when the weather is unpleasant.

More information: With or Without You releases November  

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

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