Like Water for Chocalate

by Laura Esquivel

Genres: Fiction

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1822

About the author

Laura Esquivel is a Mexican novelist, screenwriter, and former politician best known for her internationally acclaimed debut novel Like Water for Chocolate (Como agua para chocolate). Blending magical realism with deep cultural roots, the novel became a bestseller in Mexico and the United States and was adapted into a successful film that received multiple international awards. Originally trained in education and theater, Esquivel began her career writing for children’s television and later moved into cinema and literature, often weaving food, family, and emotion into her stories.
Esquivel’s fiction is known for its lyrical style and its exploration of love, tradition, and identity, frequently drawing on Mexican history and folklore. Her other novels include The Law of Love, Swift as Desire, and Malinche, which reimagines the story of the controversial historical figure linked to Hernán Cortés. She has also published essays on food and culture in Between Two Fires and returned to her most beloved character in El diario de Tita.
In addition to her literary work, Esquivel served as a deputy in the Mexican Congress for the Morena Party and has been active in cultural and environmental policy. Her writing continues to inspire discussions on gender, power, and the enduring bonds of heritage.

Reviews

[Seven · Rating 2 out of 5]

what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck. genuinely the most batshit book i've ever read and that's not even the reason for the two stars. i don't think it was translated that well but i haven't read the original. it gets two stars because i thought some of the themes were quite interesting. it reminds me of the great gatsby in a way i don't care to elaborate on because i literally can't describe it any further than that.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. This book touches on life, duty, love and sacrifice. Also this book really pissed me off. Sometimes-luck is the last thing on our side.






“My grandmother had a very interesting theory; she said that each of us is born with a box of matches inside us but we can't strike them all by ourselves; just as in the experiment, we need oxygen and a candle to help. In this case, the oxygen, for example, would come from the breath of the person you love; the candle could be any kind of food, music, caress, word, or sound that engenders the explosion that lights one of the matches. For a moment we are dazzled by an intense emotion. A pleasant warmth grows within us, fading slowly as time goes by, until a new explosion comes along to revive it.”

[Jessica Soltero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the Magic Realism with food and love.

[duda · Rating 4 out of 5]

ai q guria burra alguém bate; quem q escolheria o chato do pedro ao invés do fofíssimo do john

[Rebekah Byson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I kept looking for the "jump to recipe" button. Honestly, not the greatest example of magical realism I've ever read. The supernatural or magical aspects felt absurd and had no metaphor, symbology or allusion to events in the text that readers expect from the genre. The love triangle (square?) was difficult to get interested in due to the questionable ages and near incestuous nature of it. The chronology kept jumping suddenly, and whole years and lifetimes would pass with near zero character development for any person in this family. The format of naming the 12 chapters as months of a year made no sense, considering there was no connection or continuity in the timeframes. The ending revealing a narrator that was never mentioned throughout reading from a cookbook felt like a cop-out from the author. This read more as bad early version of a food blog.

[Sofi · Rating 3 out of 5]

El final lo odieeee, mientras yo siga viva Pedro siempre tendrá alguien que lo odie , el estúpido no valía tanto, la única que le daba valor al estúpido era Tita , nunca hizo nada por titaaa , nadaaaaaaa que con unas rosas ya la querías tener , además estando casado le imponía a tota que no se casará , que se cree el imbécil con imponerle cosas, no vale la pena en cambio el doctor que hizo todo y le trajo de vuelta a su felicidad y nunca la presiono para nada y cuando supo que Tita eligió a pedro solo se alejo ,sin nada mas , ademas los villanos no se mueren a si , estúpidos , fan número 1 de Gertrudis y el doctor, ademas Pedro solo debía cumplir con su deber nupcial una vez si tanto amaba a tita.
Odio a Pedro.ni plata tenía el estúpido.

[Larae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful re-read. Magic realism at its finest.

[Maya Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars

Like Water for Chocolate is a captivating novel filled with drama, romance, family conflict, betrayal, and long buried secrets. From the opening chapters, I was drawn into Tita's world and invested in her struggle against tradition, duty, and the controlling influence of her mother. The story combines emotional family drama with magical realism in a way that feels both imaginative and deeply personal.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its use of food as a form of emotional expression. Each chapter begins with one of Tita's favorite recipes, and her cooking becomes a powerful extension of her inner life. The most memorable example is the famous quail in rose petal sauce. Tita pours her passion and longing for Pedro into the dish, and everyone who eats it experiences the intensity of those emotions. These moments make the magical elements feel meaningful rather than random, since they reveal feelings that the characters cannot openly express.

The symbolism of heat in Tita's kitchen is especially effective. Heat represents desire, creativity, and emotional intensity throughout the novel. The kitchen is where Tita feels most alive and most powerful. As she cooks, the warmth of the stove mirrors the passion she carries within herself. Heat also symbolizes transformation, since ingredients change through cooking just as Tita changes through love, heartbreak, and self discovery. The kitchen becomes a space where she can resist the restrictions placed on her and create something entirely her own.

Characterization is another strength of the novel. Tita is sympathetic and easy to root for, while the supporting characters add complexity to the story. Gertrudis stands out as a particularly interesting character. She embraces her sexuality without shame and refuses to conform to the expectations placed upon women. In many ways, she can be viewed as a sex positive feminist figure whose independence contrasts sharply with the limitations imposed on Tita. Her storyline highlights themes of freedom, self expression, and personal agency.

The pacing is brisk, which makes the novel a quick and enjoyable read despite covering many years of the characters' lives. The chapters move smoothly from one major event to the next, keeping the story engaging without feeling rushed. There is always another secret, conflict, or emotional revelation waiting around the corner.

My main criticism is the English translation, which occasionally feels awkward and clunky. Some sentences lack the elegance and flow that I suspect are present in the original Spanish text. Even so, the story remains compelling enough that these issues never significantly slowed my enjoyment.

Overall, Like Water for Chocolate is a vivid and entertaining novel that kept me invested in Tita's fate from beginning to end. The mix of romance, family conflict, and magical realism gives the story a unique charm, and the emotional stakes remain high throughout. While the translation is not always smooth, the novel's memorable scenes and compelling characters make it well worth reading.

[Jayem · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the more unique traits about this book is that it intertwines recipes to each chapter and how that specific recipe delivers the emotional distress of the main character. At first I didn’t understand the necessity of explaining the actual process of the recipes until the very end but regardless, I didn’t mind it because I feel like it didn’t get too distracting from the story and I’m now inspired to attempt some of them.

I really enjoyed the tone and it’s beautifully written. It’s a quick read; took me about 6hours. I feel that you can’t take the book too seriously because there are some moments that are absurd (not that that’s a bad thing). But there is an important message to take away from all of it and I don’t think it’s about true love but rather the importance to challenge tradition and practice personal choice.

[Holly Granquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not think this is just a love story. While I think love is in the center point I ultimately think it’s a story of choosing yourself and who you surround yourself with. I wish I could understand the translations better. I love that in the end Tita chose who and what she really wanted. Even though this broke the tradition that instilled in her. I loved the characters, the symbolisms, and the themes explored through the recipes. What better way to pass on through love.

I do wish Tita had chosen differently, but it is not my story. Justice for Dr Brown!

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You must take care to light the matches one at a time. If a powerful emotion should ignite them all at once, they would produce a splendor so dazzling that it would illuminate far beyond what we can normally see; and then a brilliant tunnel would appear before our eyes, revealing the path we forgot the moment we were born, and summoning us to regain the divine origins we had lost. The soul ever longs to return to the place from which it came, leaving the body lifeless.”

[Kianna Hendricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded down. Very unique and well written

[Stephania Cas · Rating 3 out of 5]

No me gustó, los odio Pedro y Tita✊🏻

[Berenisse Blanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Codorniz en pétalos de rosa 💖

[Warspite · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a prime example of magical realism. I also live the way they described the recipes.

[Maddy Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

death by orgasm was an amazing way to end this book

[Zandy Poo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style was not my favorite, but the story was beautiful.

[Bella Boo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book in a Little Free Library, and I'm glad I picked it up and read it. Such a lovely and sad story all at the same time. I really liked the movie too; the actress from "Bottle Rocket" plays the main character.