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Limitless Roads Cafe
Kinsey Fontana relies on lists to navigate the world as an autistic teen. #Goals list: win her dream event planning internship (she knows it’s an ironic dream); master the art of masking; and gain Mom’s approval. Instead, she works at a café hiring teens with disabilities. Although she loves the café and discounted macchiatos, she dreams of more than planning open mic nights.
She has an opportunity to shine by throwing a fundraiser to save the café. The catch: allow her ex-best friend Melissa Castillo to be her assistant and pretend they are friends again so Melissa’s parents respect her.
To-do list: plan the fundraiser with zero fundraising experience; work with the intimidating hotel planner who rejected her for the internship; and use every masking technique to charm rather than repel people from sponsors to a boy band. Although she needs unhealthy amounts of caffeine to handle autistic burnout, Kinsey reconsiders her #Goals list and realizes self-doubt belongs down the drain like incorrect orders.
She has an opportunity to shine by throwing a fundraiser to save the café. The catch: allow her ex-best friend Melissa Castillo to be her assistant and pretend they are friends again so Melissa’s parents respect her.
To-do list: plan the fundraiser with zero fundraising experience; work with the intimidating hotel planner who rejected her for the internship; and use every masking technique to charm rather than repel people from sponsors to a boy band. Although she needs unhealthy amounts of caffeine to handle autistic burnout, Kinsey reconsiders her #Goals list and realizes self-doubt belongs down the drain like incorrect orders.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2023
About the author
Samantha Picaro
3 books30 followersSamantha Picaro is the author of LIMITLESS ROADS CAFE and RECIPE FOR CONFIDENCE. When not writing or at her non-writing job, you can find her trying new coffee flavors, reading (of course), and volunteering for various causes. She lives in New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 30, 2023
I was diagnosed Nov 2022. I had not expected that.... there was no family history that I knew of. Somehow when I got the news...I wasn't completely surprised. It didn't take long to wrap my head around it but it did take me a bit before I did some research and followed some autistic creators.
The more I learned, the more at ease I felt. Past stuff in my life became more clear, the fog vanishing. Things I didn't know where related to being autistic and stuff I got teased for in the past... it was a lot to take in, but in a good way.
The more I think about it, two people in my family I'm pretty sure are autistic too and another family member told me she may be as well (she's gonna get tested).
Proudly neurodivergent :) Got a tattoo as one way to celebrate 🥳 it .
While I'm glad these books are out now, I do wish these had been around when I was growing up. It makes me happy though that these will help others so they'll feel less alone.
This was a wonderful novel. Everyone felt vibrant to me and the Cafe sounded wonderful. I wanted to drive to Limitless Roads and take in the atmosphere (I wouldn't have objected to working there)
Kinsey was so relatable, saw much of myself in her. Her growth throughout was wonderful ✨️ and you are so proud of her everytime she takes a chance even though she's scared.
I loved everyone but the one who made all those yummy sounding baked goods and Melissa were my other favorites.. shh! Don't tell ;-)
This is just a wonderful book, that'll make you smile, laugh, cry some and get exasperated with certain people.
Highly recommend!
The more I learned, the more at ease I felt. Past stuff in my life became more clear, the fog vanishing. Things I didn't know where related to being autistic and stuff I got teased for in the past... it was a lot to take in, but in a good way.
The more I think about it, two people in my family I'm pretty sure are autistic too and another family member told me she may be as well (she's gonna get tested).
Proudly neurodivergent :) Got a tattoo as one way to celebrate 🥳 it .
While I'm glad these books are out now, I do wish these had been around when I was growing up. It makes me happy though that these will help others so they'll feel less alone.
This was a wonderful novel. Everyone felt vibrant to me and the Cafe sounded wonderful. I wanted to drive to Limitless Roads and take in the atmosphere (I wouldn't have objected to working there)
Kinsey was so relatable, saw much of myself in her. Her growth throughout was wonderful ✨️ and you are so proud of her everytime she takes a chance even though she's scared.
I loved everyone but the one who made all those yummy sounding baked goods and Melissa were my other favorites.. shh! Don't tell ;-)
This is just a wonderful book, that'll make you smile, laugh, cry some and get exasperated with certain people.
Highly recommend!
December 10, 2023
This was a such a wholesome and adorable read that also made me so emotional at times. To start, I loved the main character Kinsey. I love how passionate she is in her dream of becoming an event planner, how much she clearly cares for those around her, and how much she loves sweets and coffee. Also, she has absolutely amazing character development over the course of the book, learning to come out of her shell and accept the love and friendship of those around her, stand up to those that make her feel lesser, and especially accept herself for who she is. I was so unbelievably proud of her and everything she accomplished. I loved all the side characters as well, especially Kinsey’s dad, Tiffany, and Sarah. I struggled a bit with Melissa, but I liked her friendship with Kinsey. As for the setting of Limitless Roads Cafe, I always love cafe settings, and this was no exception. I loved the descriptions of the baked goods and my mouth was frequently watering as I read. And the ending of this story was just as sweet! I highly recommend!
April 25, 2023
I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.
Kinsey is an autistic teenager working at a coffee house for people with disabilities. Her dream job is to be an event planner but she didn't get the event planning internship at the local hotel. Then she finds out the coffee house is on its last leg and needs a miracle to survive, so she puts on her event planning hat and plans a fundraiser. Through all of this she learns more about herself and what she wants out of life.
This book is super sweet. I loved the main character Kinsey; she felt so real. I enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the book and so did some of the other characters as well. There aren't many books with autistic main characters and it's a breath of fresh air to have that in this book. I highly recommend this book for anyone that likes YA books and is looking for a sweet, feel-good story.
Kinsey is an autistic teenager working at a coffee house for people with disabilities. Her dream job is to be an event planner but she didn't get the event planning internship at the local hotel. Then she finds out the coffee house is on its last leg and needs a miracle to survive, so she puts on her event planning hat and plans a fundraiser. Through all of this she learns more about herself and what she wants out of life.
This book is super sweet. I loved the main character Kinsey; she felt so real. I enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the book and so did some of the other characters as well. There aren't many books with autistic main characters and it's a breath of fresh air to have that in this book. I highly recommend this book for anyone that likes YA books and is looking for a sweet, feel-good story.
Did Not Finish
January 17, 2024DNF - 28%
The writing style wasn't for me. Wasn't feeling a connection to the plot or the characters.
The writing style wasn't for me. Wasn't feeling a connection to the plot or the characters.
June 2, 2024
I don’t want to give this book a bad review cause I was genuinely rooting for it, but here goes.
Cons:
- Typos galore
- Too much exposition
- Plot felt low stakes
- I didn’t care about any of the characters
Pros:
- Lots of diversity
- Accurate representation
Cons:
- Typos galore
- Too much exposition
- Plot felt low stakes
- I didn’t care about any of the characters
Pros:
- Lots of diversity
- Accurate representation
October 24, 2023
Firstly, a big thank you to the lovely Samantha Picaro for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.
From the first page, this book pulled me in. From addressing the challenges faced by people with autism to making note of masking, stimming and autistic burnout, this is probably one of the most real representations of autism that I have read. Obviously it is different for every person, as the author makes sure to note at the end, but I think with so many aspects being covered there is almost certainly something that people will identify with, even if they don't experience it in the exact same way as Kinsey does. It is a book where those with autism can feel seen, and those without are offered the chance to better understand what it's like.
It is not just autism that is represented in the pages of this book either; several other disabilities are featured, with time taken to acknowledge the challenges each pose. The author never shies away from portraying the ups and downs. In all instances of disability rep within these pages however, we also get to see how the characters handle the obstacles in their way and realise their potential.
It is a beautiful story filled with a wonderful host of characters and some truly heartwarming moments. Definitely a recommendation from me!
From the first page, this book pulled me in. From addressing the challenges faced by people with autism to making note of masking, stimming and autistic burnout, this is probably one of the most real representations of autism that I have read. Obviously it is different for every person, as the author makes sure to note at the end, but I think with so many aspects being covered there is almost certainly something that people will identify with, even if they don't experience it in the exact same way as Kinsey does. It is a book where those with autism can feel seen, and those without are offered the chance to better understand what it's like.
It is not just autism that is represented in the pages of this book either; several other disabilities are featured, with time taken to acknowledge the challenges each pose. The author never shies away from portraying the ups and downs. In all instances of disability rep within these pages however, we also get to see how the characters handle the obstacles in their way and realise their potential.
It is a beautiful story filled with a wonderful host of characters and some truly heartwarming moments. Definitely a recommendation from me!
June 15, 2023
A Story With Limitless Potential
Limitless Roads Cafe is a YA Fiction story about an autistic young woman dealing with a bunch of social and emotional difficulties. Kinsey is a teen with remarkable event planning skills and a quirky personality. When she has to face the reality of losing the cafe job where she is accepted and safe, she turns her considerable talents to saving the cafe. She has to face some of her past demons and her own internalized ableism on her way.
This story has a ton of heart. It is obviously written with love. I particularly like how the author handled mention of biases, disabilities, and various types of discrimination. The characters—particularly the main character—felt real. There are some minor issues with editing, some confusing dialogue, and a couple implausible situations. However, the lovely descriptions made up for the lack in other areas. The potential for greatness is here. 3.5 Stars ⭐️
Limitless Roads Cafe is a YA Fiction story about an autistic young woman dealing with a bunch of social and emotional difficulties. Kinsey is a teen with remarkable event planning skills and a quirky personality. When she has to face the reality of losing the cafe job where she is accepted and safe, she turns her considerable talents to saving the cafe. She has to face some of her past demons and her own internalized ableism on her way.
This story has a ton of heart. It is obviously written with love. I particularly like how the author handled mention of biases, disabilities, and various types of discrimination. The characters—particularly the main character—felt real. There are some minor issues with editing, some confusing dialogue, and a couple implausible situations. However, the lovely descriptions made up for the lack in other areas. The potential for greatness is here. 3.5 Stars ⭐️
May 13, 2023
"I can handle anything. Anything."
"Limitless Roads Café" is a novel by Samantha Picaro. The protagonist, Kinsey Fontana, relies on lists to navigate the world as an autistic teen. She works at a café hiring teens with disabilities. Although she loves the café and discounted macchiatos, she dreams of more than planning open mic nights. She has an opportunity to shine by throwing a fundraiser to save the café. The catch: allow her ex-best friend, Melissa Castillo, to be her assistant and pretend they are friends again so Melissa’s parents respect her.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and I loved the way the characters were plotted. This book describes the lives of people with disabilities and takes the reader on a journey with those exact people. "Limitless Roads Café" gave me a deeper insight into the problems created by society. Therefore, I really liked the way the book explored deep themes and left the reader to think about some important topics. I was moved by the emotional depth, and it left a lasting impact on me.
As I mentioned earlier, I loved the characters. The author's writing style made it easy to understand the characters and connect with them. The characters were so vividly portrayed, I felt like I knew them personally. I also really enjoyed the storyline. It had some interesting and relatable turns and twists.
Overall, this book was a delight to read, and I would highly recommend it to others.
"Limitless Roads Café" is a novel by Samantha Picaro. The protagonist, Kinsey Fontana, relies on lists to navigate the world as an autistic teen. She works at a café hiring teens with disabilities. Although she loves the café and discounted macchiatos, she dreams of more than planning open mic nights. She has an opportunity to shine by throwing a fundraiser to save the café. The catch: allow her ex-best friend, Melissa Castillo, to be her assistant and pretend they are friends again so Melissa’s parents respect her.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and I loved the way the characters were plotted. This book describes the lives of people with disabilities and takes the reader on a journey with those exact people. "Limitless Roads Café" gave me a deeper insight into the problems created by society. Therefore, I really liked the way the book explored deep themes and left the reader to think about some important topics. I was moved by the emotional depth, and it left a lasting impact on me.
As I mentioned earlier, I loved the characters. The author's writing style made it easy to understand the characters and connect with them. The characters were so vividly portrayed, I felt like I knew them personally. I also really enjoyed the storyline. It had some interesting and relatable turns and twists.
Overall, this book was a delight to read, and I would highly recommend it to others.
May 14, 2023
4/5⭐️ Thank you so much to the author for an ARC copy! I was excited to read this because of the disability rep and overall I thought this was a great read! I can’t speak personally for the autism rep, but overall in terms of disability rep as a whole, I thought it was done pretty well. I really liked how the author didn’t shy away from the ups and downs as well as the raw reality of having a disability. This book did a great job of addressing friendships/relationships as well and how being disabled can affect them. Kinsey is a very real character and she was presented as very raw and human, which I loved. I enjoyed Kinsey’s friendship with Melissa as well. This book also has a very diverse cast of characters(which we love to see)most of whom have various disabilities. Comes out May 15th!
Did Not Finish
December 3, 2023dnfed at 35%. bad writing i liked the idea but it was just awful. need to stop reading books with hardly any reviews hoping they will be good 🥲.
February 20, 2024
Kinsey is a smart and responsible teen, who also happens to have autism. She works at the Limitless Roads Cafe, a cafe who specifically hires teens with disabilities to teach them skills that will apply in other job situations.
I love how the cafe does monthly presentations and report cards to celebrate the gains the teens are making and to give them things they need to continue working on. Kinsey has to deal with a lot in this book. Limitless Roads may be forced to close and she is devastated. She and her team work hard to plan a fundraiser and try to save the cafe. Kinsey has to overcome a lot, and deals with her insecurities of what she thinks others think of her. She makes so much progress in the book and learns so much on her own about how to relate to others. I particularly love how Kinsey realized the different types of prejudice the people around her were experiencing. Early in the book she is focused on herself and ableism, and then she figures out what each of her coworkers is faced with, all unique challenges.
I love how the cafe does monthly presentations and report cards to celebrate the gains the teens are making and to give them things they need to continue working on. Kinsey has to deal with a lot in this book. Limitless Roads may be forced to close and she is devastated. She and her team work hard to plan a fundraiser and try to save the cafe. Kinsey has to overcome a lot, and deals with her insecurities of what she thinks others think of her. She makes so much progress in the book and learns so much on her own about how to relate to others. I particularly love how Kinsey realized the different types of prejudice the people around her were experiencing. Early in the book she is focused on herself and ableism, and then she figures out what each of her coworkers is faced with, all unique challenges.
December 10, 2024
In Limitless Roads Cafe, we follow the journey of Kinsey Fontana, an autistic teen with a #Goals list. As she tries to complete her #Goals and plan a fundraiser event, she has to navigate working life, friendships and family issues - will she complete her dream of getting an event planning internship or will life get in the way?
Okay. This book was not for me. At all. Whilst I did love the idea of the book and the overall storyline, unfortunately, the ball was completely dropped when it came to the editing (or lack thereof). I really tried to enjoy this, and whilst I normally would have DNFed a book like this, I kept going in case it got better. I honestly couldn’t enjoy a second of this, as it felt like every single page was full of inaccuracies- for example, saying Kinsey had ordered “a dark hot chocolate” and less than a page later she is drinking “an Iced Caramel Macchiato”. Another example - on the same page, Kinsey goes from wearing a dress to wearing jeans and a blouse. These inconsistencies are throughout the book, which is a huge shame because if it wasn’t for these and the typos (also, quite a few) I really would have enjoyed it. I thought Kinsey gave a great insight into how difficult it can be for someone on the autism spectrum to simply navigate the world and relationships, but sadly I don’t think the book did her character justice.
At 267 pages long, it took me three and a half hours to read. I recommend it to any YA readers, but please bear in mind that it needs an editor.
5/10
Okay. This book was not for me. At all. Whilst I did love the idea of the book and the overall storyline, unfortunately, the ball was completely dropped when it came to the editing (or lack thereof). I really tried to enjoy this, and whilst I normally would have DNFed a book like this, I kept going in case it got better. I honestly couldn’t enjoy a second of this, as it felt like every single page was full of inaccuracies- for example, saying Kinsey had ordered “a dark hot chocolate” and less than a page later she is drinking “an Iced Caramel Macchiato”. Another example - on the same page, Kinsey goes from wearing a dress to wearing jeans and a blouse. These inconsistencies are throughout the book, which is a huge shame because if it wasn’t for these and the typos (also, quite a few) I really would have enjoyed it. I thought Kinsey gave a great insight into how difficult it can be for someone on the autism spectrum to simply navigate the world and relationships, but sadly I don’t think the book did her character justice.
At 267 pages long, it took me three and a half hours to read. I recommend it to any YA readers, but please bear in mind that it needs an editor.
5/10
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews