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Birthright #3
In the Age of Love and Chocolate
From the bestselling author of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow comes the final futuristic thriller in the Birthright trilogy by Gabrielle Zevin.Reluctant mafia princess Anya Balanchine finds that against all odds the nightclub that she opened with her old nemesis, Charles Delacroix, is a huge success and she is on her way to shedding the constraints of her family's criminal past and finding a way to legalize the supplying of chocolate. But Anya has lost Win – the love of her life – as a result of her partnership with his father.In typical fashion Anya puts the loss of Win behind her, focusing instead on expanding her business. But soon a terrible misjudgement leaves her fighting for her life and for the first time Anya is forced to let people help her.Following on from All These Things I've Done and Because It Is My Blood, In the Age of Love and Chocolate showcases the best of Gabrielle Zevin's writing. Full of all the heart of Elsewhere and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow this is the perfect end to a brilliant romantic dystopian trilogy.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2013
62 people are currently reading
3761 people want to read
About the author
Gabrielle Zevin
25 books19.5k followersGABRIELLE ZEVIN is a New York Times best-selling novelist whose books have been translated into forty languages.
Her tenth novel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was published by Knopf in July of 2022 and was an instant New York Times Best Seller, a Sunday Times Best Seller, a USA Today Best Seller, a #1 National Indie Best Seller, and a selection of the Tonight Show’s Fallon Book Club. Maureen Corrigan of NPR’s Fresh Air called it, “a big beautifully written novel…that succeeds in being both serious art and immersive entertainment.” Following a twenty-five-bidder auction, the feature film rights to Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow were acquired by Temple Hill and Paramount Studios.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry spent many months on the New York Times Best Seller List, reached #1 on the National Indie Best Seller List, was a USA Today Best Seller, and has been a best seller all around the world. A.J. Fikry was honored with the Southern California Independent Booksellers Award for Fiction, the Japan Booksellers’ Prize, and was long listed for the International Dublin Literary Award, among other honors. To date, the book has sold over five-million copies worldwide. It is now a feature film with a screenplay by Zevin. Young Jane Young won the Southern Book Prize and was one of the Washington Post’s Fifty Notable Works of Fiction.
She is the screenwriter of Conversations with Other Women (Helena Bonham Carter) for which she received an Independent Spirit Award Nomination for Best First Screenplay. She has occasionally written criticism for the New York Times Book Review and NPR’s All Things Considered, and she began her writing career, at age fourteen, as a music critic for the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Zevin is a graduate of Harvard University. She lives in Los Angeles.
NOTE: Apologies, but Gabrielle doesn't reply to messages on Goodreads.
Her tenth novel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was published by Knopf in July of 2022 and was an instant New York Times Best Seller, a Sunday Times Best Seller, a USA Today Best Seller, a #1 National Indie Best Seller, and a selection of the Tonight Show’s Fallon Book Club. Maureen Corrigan of NPR’s Fresh Air called it, “a big beautifully written novel…that succeeds in being both serious art and immersive entertainment.” Following a twenty-five-bidder auction, the feature film rights to Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow were acquired by Temple Hill and Paramount Studios.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry spent many months on the New York Times Best Seller List, reached #1 on the National Indie Best Seller List, was a USA Today Best Seller, and has been a best seller all around the world. A.J. Fikry was honored with the Southern California Independent Booksellers Award for Fiction, the Japan Booksellers’ Prize, and was long listed for the International Dublin Literary Award, among other honors. To date, the book has sold over five-million copies worldwide. It is now a feature film with a screenplay by Zevin. Young Jane Young won the Southern Book Prize and was one of the Washington Post’s Fifty Notable Works of Fiction.
She is the screenwriter of Conversations with Other Women (Helena Bonham Carter) for which she received an Independent Spirit Award Nomination for Best First Screenplay. She has occasionally written criticism for the New York Times Book Review and NPR’s All Things Considered, and she began her writing career, at age fourteen, as a music critic for the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Zevin is a graduate of Harvard University. She lives in Los Angeles.
NOTE: Apologies, but Gabrielle doesn't reply to messages on Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 400 reviews
May 6, 2015
Read as digital ARC.
I can honestly say that if I had to choose one series to read for the rest of my life, Birthright would be in the running. Every time I pick one of these babies up, I know to check and make sure I have time, because I won't be putting it down until I'm finished.
This final book did not disappoint. I just spent a day crying my way through it, still crying, actually. In the Age of Love and Chocolate is just so insanely romantic and smart. The characters are so believable, the plot is so different and interesting and this book handles time differently than most books--speeding through years so that developments and outcomes really have weight--they matter.
I guess reading a book that mentions chocolate so much must have made me emotional. All I can say is, if you love romance, political games and a good story--read this book. It will grip you.
I can honestly say that if I had to choose one series to read for the rest of my life, Birthright would be in the running. Every time I pick one of these babies up, I know to check and make sure I have time, because I won't be putting it down until I'm finished.
This final book did not disappoint. I just spent a day crying my way through it, still crying, actually. In the Age of Love and Chocolate is just so insanely romantic and smart. The characters are so believable, the plot is so different and interesting and this book handles time differently than most books--speeding through years so that developments and outcomes really have weight--they matter.
I guess reading a book that mentions chocolate so much must have made me emotional. All I can say is, if you love romance, political games and a good story--read this book. It will grip you.
November 15, 2013
This is, hands down, one of the best series enders I have ever read. It had a satisfying amount of closure, but didn't resolve everything in a too-tidy way. There's not really any dramarama, like so many final books are full of, it's quiet and so appropriate for Anya and where she's at as a character. And the writing, now that I've read the entire series, is kind of a marvel. Zevin never breaks the memoir style to push the narrative forward, and it just works. Love, love, love this series.
I'll gather my thoughts and post more soonish.
I'll gather my thoughts and post more soonish.
September 15, 2013
It must be the year of finishing series, I swear! I’ve finished reading several series this year and on the whole I am pleased at how the whole slew of trilogies I have read are closing out. As a fan of the mob and gangsters, I had a special affinity for Gabrielle Zevin’s Birthright trilogy and am MORE THAN PLEASED with how In The Age Of Love And Chocolate wraps up the series. Now, I know there are some weirdos out there who just didn’t like Anya Ballanchine or this series and while that is totally fine and cool, I loved her and you need to know that bias upfront because it kind of plays into just how much I loved In The Age Of Love And Chocolate. Zevin’s final Birthright book is darkly romantic, one to be read with chocolate on hand for sure.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
October 9, 2020
--- Before reading ---
Coolest title ever.
--- After reading ---
UGH THEY ARE TOO CUTE.
4.5 stars? Maybe?
Coolest title ever.
--- After reading ---
UGH THEY ARE TOO CUTE.
4.5 stars? Maybe?
May 2, 2019
סיום הטרילוגיה הספק־דיסטופית. אניה מנסה להפוך את הקקאו לחוקי אבל עלולה לשלם על השאיפה ביוקר.
אניה היא עדיין דמות מעוררת הזדהות. למרבה הצער עבר המון זמן מאז שקראתי את הספר השני ועד הוצאת הספר הזה ולכן היה לי קצת קשה לעקוב אחרי העלילה.
לא אהבתי גם את העיצוב של הכריכה שלא דומה לספרים הקודמים.
אניה היא עדיין דמות מעוררת הזדהות. למרבה הצער עבר המון זמן מאז שקראתי את הספר השני ועד הוצאת הספר הזה ולכן היה לי קצת קשה לעקוב אחרי העלילה.
לא אהבתי גם את העיצוב של הכריכה שלא דומה לספרים הקודמים.
September 16, 2016
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Chocolate wars, love and death in the Age of Love and Chocolate!
Opening Sentence: “I hadn’t wanted to be a Godmother, but my best friend insisted.”
The Review:
Anya is back in the last book of the Birthright trilogy, and she is making moves to open her club, The Dark Room and to legalize some aspect of chocolate so that she can take care of her family! Wyn still refuses to understand or get over the choices she made in the second book. However, Anya sweeps into adulthood with her decisions and choices in this book. Anya faces sabotage while opening her club, she garners new business partners and makes even more difficult decisions. In the end, it all comes full circle!
Usually I talk a bit more about what happens in a book, but I just have so much to rave about in this review that I decided to keep that part short and just focus on the why I love this book! I really enjoyed the first book and to be honest I didn’t quite get why the series was called Birthright other than they talk a lot about her being a Balachine, but a main part of the first book was Wyn and he was a huge focus in book 2 as well. Honestly, I loved them in the first book. I was so rooting for that relationship, but by book 2 I was so over them and I felt like instead of focusing on chocolate and the birthright aspect of this series, we got a whole lot of Wyn and Anya and I was not happy. However, this book brought it full circle. It would be a spoiler to give what happens away but I will say that I was back on board with the romance in this book.
Oh yes, I didn’t say it was Wyn. I guess you will have to read and find out. My favorite thing about this series is Scarlet and Anya. I adore that friendship, in fact I think I envy that friendship! Scarlet is such a great friend and finally things start to go right for her. My second favorite thing in this series is Anya and her family! I love the relationship she has with Leo and Netty, and even Mr. Kipling. This book finally brought the birthright aspect home and nailed it. I finally felt that Anya got it and not only did she embrace and help her family, she was embraced in turn by them and it was amazing.
I will complain that certain aspects kind of felt unresolved, however that didn’t diminish my love of this book! Anya spent a lot of the first two books with bad things happening to her out of her control and just trying to do the best she could to fix and contain the situations, but in this book even when things happened she was still in charge and it was a thing of beauty to see her grow and change into a capable, intelligent, and loving adult! Bonus, I actually adored her relationship with Charles Delacroix. It was another full circle in the series.
This is was a great change from the normal dystopian. There wasn’t some evil government oppressing everyone, it was just simply illegal to drink coffee or eat chocolate. So refreshing and different! If you haven’t read this series, start with book 1, you won’t regret it. Anya is one of my favorite main characters of all time.
Notable Scene:
“Pip Balachine continued. “We ask you today what we should have asked you two years ago. Anya, will you lead the Balachine Family into the twenty-second century?”
I did not want to lead this family.
And yet…
As I looked down the long stone table at the pasty complexions and light eyes that recalled my father’s, my brother’s, and my own, and unfamiliar feeling began to stir within me.
Obligation.
I felt and obligation to those men (and women though mainly there were men) that I had been born a Balachine had been the defining circumstance of my life.”
FTC Advisory: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)/Macmillan provided me with a copy of In the Age of Love and Chocolate. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Chocolate wars, love and death in the Age of Love and Chocolate!
Opening Sentence: “I hadn’t wanted to be a Godmother, but my best friend insisted.”
The Review:
Anya is back in the last book of the Birthright trilogy, and she is making moves to open her club, The Dark Room and to legalize some aspect of chocolate so that she can take care of her family! Wyn still refuses to understand or get over the choices she made in the second book. However, Anya sweeps into adulthood with her decisions and choices in this book. Anya faces sabotage while opening her club, she garners new business partners and makes even more difficult decisions. In the end, it all comes full circle!
Usually I talk a bit more about what happens in a book, but I just have so much to rave about in this review that I decided to keep that part short and just focus on the why I love this book! I really enjoyed the first book and to be honest I didn’t quite get why the series was called Birthright other than they talk a lot about her being a Balachine, but a main part of the first book was Wyn and he was a huge focus in book 2 as well. Honestly, I loved them in the first book. I was so rooting for that relationship, but by book 2 I was so over them and I felt like instead of focusing on chocolate and the birthright aspect of this series, we got a whole lot of Wyn and Anya and I was not happy. However, this book brought it full circle. It would be a spoiler to give what happens away but I will say that I was back on board with the romance in this book.
Oh yes, I didn’t say it was Wyn. I guess you will have to read and find out. My favorite thing about this series is Scarlet and Anya. I adore that friendship, in fact I think I envy that friendship! Scarlet is such a great friend and finally things start to go right for her. My second favorite thing in this series is Anya and her family! I love the relationship she has with Leo and Netty, and even Mr. Kipling. This book finally brought the birthright aspect home and nailed it. I finally felt that Anya got it and not only did she embrace and help her family, she was embraced in turn by them and it was amazing.
I will complain that certain aspects kind of felt unresolved, however that didn’t diminish my love of this book! Anya spent a lot of the first two books with bad things happening to her out of her control and just trying to do the best she could to fix and contain the situations, but in this book even when things happened she was still in charge and it was a thing of beauty to see her grow and change into a capable, intelligent, and loving adult! Bonus, I actually adored her relationship with Charles Delacroix. It was another full circle in the series.
This is was a great change from the normal dystopian. There wasn’t some evil government oppressing everyone, it was just simply illegal to drink coffee or eat chocolate. So refreshing and different! If you haven’t read this series, start with book 1, you won’t regret it. Anya is one of my favorite main characters of all time.
Notable Scene:
“Pip Balachine continued. “We ask you today what we should have asked you two years ago. Anya, will you lead the Balachine Family into the twenty-second century?”
I did not want to lead this family.
And yet…
As I looked down the long stone table at the pasty complexions and light eyes that recalled my father’s, my brother’s, and my own, and unfamiliar feeling began to stir within me.
Obligation.
I felt and obligation to those men (and women though mainly there were men) that I had been born a Balachine had been the defining circumstance of my life.”
FTC Advisory: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)/Macmillan provided me with a copy of In the Age of Love and Chocolate. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
October 25, 2013
Thank you Ksenia Winnicki for providing me with a finished copy for review! Thank you Gabrielle Zevin for such a wonderful end to this series!!
What I Loved: I have to say that I was afraid of how this would end. Like, legit scared I would end up in a corner somewhere mumbling about chocolate and coffee, which is why, I did something I rarely do - I read the last chapter first. Once I saw how it all ends I was able to take a breath and start at the beginning.
This is one of the best final books I've read this year. The character development is so good you feel as if you've taken this journey right along with them, especially Anya. We've seen her grow and mature over the course of three books and this one spans several years making her story feel that much more real.
Her struggles to make the right choices (the first time, all the time) for both herself as well as her family was often difficult to watch. She's so stubborn but she's also selfless, regularly putting the best interest and wants of others before her own. Her relationship with Win Delacriox matures too, and even though they spend the majority of this book separated by distance and circumstances, their emotional connection is always there. Their text messages were some of my favorite parts. I literally "LOL'd". The scene with the strawberries was one of the most heart-achingly beautiful things I've read! *clutches chest*
Anya finally learns it's okay to ask for help and to let yourself be loved and the ending was perfect.
What Left Me Wanting More: The only thing that could've made me happier (which is not the same as making the book better) is if Win Delacroix had been worked into every single scene. ;)
Final Verdict: Great end this series!
Favorite quote(s): "Because if you love someone, you love them all the way. You love them even when they make mistakes. That's what I think."
"So I will wait, because I would rather wait for you than waste my time with someone who isn't you."
What I Loved: I have to say that I was afraid of how this would end. Like, legit scared I would end up in a corner somewhere mumbling about chocolate and coffee, which is why, I did something I rarely do - I read the last chapter first. Once I saw how it all ends I was able to take a breath and start at the beginning.
This is one of the best final books I've read this year. The character development is so good you feel as if you've taken this journey right along with them, especially Anya. We've seen her grow and mature over the course of three books and this one spans several years making her story feel that much more real.
Her struggles to make the right choices (the first time, all the time) for both herself as well as her family was often difficult to watch. She's so stubborn but she's also selfless, regularly putting the best interest and wants of others before her own. Her relationship with Win Delacriox matures too, and even though they spend the majority of this book separated by distance and circumstances, their emotional connection is always there. Their text messages were some of my favorite parts. I literally "LOL'd". The scene with the strawberries was one of the most heart-achingly beautiful things I've read! *clutches chest*
Anya finally learns it's okay to ask for help and to let yourself be loved and the ending was perfect.
What Left Me Wanting More: The only thing that could've made me happier (which is not the same as making the book better) is if Win Delacroix had been worked into every single scene. ;)
Final Verdict: Great end this series!
Favorite quote(s): "Because if you love someone, you love them all the way. You love them even when they make mistakes. That's what I think."
"So I will wait, because I would rather wait for you than waste my time with someone who isn't you."
July 2, 2016
Hoewel In the age of love and chocolate weinig actie bevat en vooral de toekomst schetst van Anya Belanchine die we al in de eerdere boeken leerden kennen - kon ik toch niet stoppen met lezen. Dit sarcastische personage stal mijn hart, evenals de schrijfstijl.
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Oog op de Toekomst.
Mijn complete recensie lees je op Oog op de Toekomst.
December 9, 2013
I genuinely enjoyed reading this series, and going through Anya's spectacular development - as well as all those around her. I love that Gabrielle Zevin was brutally realistic in writing the stories, knowing exactly who she was going to leave us with and who she was going to eliminate, as well as taking us through a somewhat heart-wrenching experience with Anya and her family.
There were no rainbows and butterflies in this story, just a whole lot of struggle for survival and success. We go from meeting Anya as a 16 year old in highschool, to watching her become an adult, a successful 21 year old business woman.
We watch her relationship with several of the characters develop in many different ways, some of which would make you cringe with discomfort. Her relationship to Win is completely deteriorated since her partnership with his father, Charles - a man, which in this installment, I have come to love and respect.
This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. Anya comes off as such a strong woman, one who will do whatever it takes to look after her family, to survive, simultaneously attempting to do it the right (i.e. legal) way. She can come off as really obstinate at times, frustrating you as a reader, but she is also very loyal to those she loves. Even though Win was verbally abusive to her at times, she still made an effort to reconcile, to ask about him, to reach out to him when she had no one else to check on her sister Natty. Their interactions, although always separated by distance, were always heartfelt - at times awkwardly so.
I am really trying not to spoil the story here, but I will say that the last portion of the book, when Anya goes through her biggest struggle yet, I internally cheered for Zevin. I love that she went there, I love that she took the story there, and I love that she wasn't scared of imperfections. It was absolutely beautiful, and what followed was one of the most wonderfully, heart-aching scenes between Win and Anya...I'll say this much: it involves strawberries. Oh my Lord.
Great ending to the series. One of the best endings to any series I've read. Bravo Zevin.
There were no rainbows and butterflies in this story, just a whole lot of struggle for survival and success. We go from meeting Anya as a 16 year old in highschool, to watching her become an adult, a successful 21 year old business woman.
We watch her relationship with several of the characters develop in many different ways, some of which would make you cringe with discomfort. Her relationship to Win is completely deteriorated since her partnership with his father, Charles - a man, which in this installment, I have come to love and respect.
This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. Anya comes off as such a strong woman, one who will do whatever it takes to look after her family, to survive, simultaneously attempting to do it the right (i.e. legal) way. She can come off as really obstinate at times, frustrating you as a reader, but she is also very loyal to those she loves. Even though Win was verbally abusive to her at times, she still made an effort to reconcile, to ask about him, to reach out to him when she had no one else to check on her sister Natty. Their interactions, although always separated by distance, were always heartfelt - at times awkwardly so.
I am really trying not to spoil the story here, but I will say that the last portion of the book, when Anya goes through her biggest struggle yet, I internally cheered for Zevin. I love that she went there, I love that she took the story there, and I love that she wasn't scared of imperfections. It was absolutely beautiful, and what followed was one of the most wonderfully, heart-aching scenes between Win and Anya...I'll say this much: it involves strawberries. Oh my Lord.
Great ending to the series. One of the best endings to any series I've read. Bravo Zevin.
December 31, 2021
4 stars for Anya
2 stars for kooky pacing and dialogue
I love Anya Ballanchine. She's tough and unpredictable. She makes decisions I would never expect from a character in a YA novel. The scenes between Anya and Mr. Delacroix were my favorites. What a surprising relationship. More interesting than her relationship with Win. He could be sweet, I guess, but he was so so boring and judgmental. My least favorite love interest in a long time. I cheered for Teo and Yuji before Win.
I don't know if the author ever explained the premise of this book very well, that chocolate is illegal in the future (and coffee too—shudder!). But she still built her world around it pretty well. Anya is part of a crime family that deals in chocolate, although she puts a twist on that once she discovers a loophole with cacao. She even becomes a godmother twice in this last book of the trilogy, which I thought was a nice touch.
The plot, however, meandered—it was like a long description of what Anya's life was like once she opened the cacao clubs, covering many years and not a lot of action, peopled by many characters who annoyed me.
And there's a conspicuous dearth of contractions in this book. I don't know if that's the way they're supposed to talk in future, but it made the dialogue really weird.
I listened to this, and Ilyana Kadushin was an interesting narrator. She has a very deliberate style, which worked well with Anya's narration and not as well with dialogue between characters. The dialogue was already odd-sounding, so I can't really blame the reader.
The series as a whole was fine. It was an original idea and with an original heroine. I don't think it worked at every level, but overall it was a fun idea.
2 stars for kooky pacing and dialogue
I love Anya Ballanchine. She's tough and unpredictable. She makes decisions I would never expect from a character in a YA novel. The scenes between Anya and Mr. Delacroix were my favorites. What a surprising relationship. More interesting than her relationship with Win. He could be sweet, I guess, but he was so so boring and judgmental. My least favorite love interest in a long time. I cheered for Teo and Yuji before Win.
I don't know if the author ever explained the premise of this book very well, that chocolate is illegal in the future (and coffee too—shudder!). But she still built her world around it pretty well. Anya is part of a crime family that deals in chocolate, although she puts a twist on that once she discovers a loophole with cacao. She even becomes a godmother twice in this last book of the trilogy, which I thought was a nice touch.
The plot, however, meandered—it was like a long description of what Anya's life was like once she opened the cacao clubs, covering many years and not a lot of action, peopled by many characters who annoyed me.
And there's a conspicuous dearth of contractions in this book. I don't know if that's the way they're supposed to talk in future, but it made the dialogue really weird.
I listened to this, and Ilyana Kadushin was an interesting narrator. She has a very deliberate style, which worked well with Anya's narration and not as well with dialogue between characters. The dialogue was already odd-sounding, so I can't really blame the reader.
The series as a whole was fine. It was an original idea and with an original heroine. I don't think it worked at every level, but overall it was a fun idea.
December 29, 2014
Initial reaction:
DAMN. This series was great. Hands down favorite of the year. How will I cope now that it is over?
Review:
This book is different from what I expected, and probably different from what most people expected, and I am thankful for it because it really elevated the series (which I didn't know was possible).
Whereas the first two installments of this series focus on Anya in her last two years of high school, this one follows her through to her twenties, which really gave this novel a different feel - realer and harsher in many ways, because of all the hardships this allowed. This book really tears Anya apart; she is separated from everything she is familiar with and put into situations ranging from frustrating to desperate to freaking terrifying. You can feel her disconnect growing as the years pass and it really gave me anxiety about whether she would eventually put her pieces together.
I think that will be the most controversial aspect: her life isn't really interspersed with the same moments of happiness and love as the earlier ones. That said, this only worked to the book's advantage in my opinion as I was just more invested (like I said) in whether she could ever find the light in her ever darkening tunnel.
I also really enjoyed the writing (which was sometimes experimental in addressing the reader a little), all the twists, and just how damn manipulated I was. Zevin is really a top tier YA author in that her books are thoughtful, original and intense and she's not afraid to make big moves. It's a can't-put-downer for sure. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Can't even. Just.
DAMN. This series was great. Hands down favorite of the year. How will I cope now that it is over?
Review:
This book is different from what I expected, and probably different from what most people expected, and I am thankful for it because it really elevated the series (which I didn't know was possible).
Whereas the first two installments of this series focus on Anya in her last two years of high school, this one follows her through to her twenties, which really gave this novel a different feel - realer and harsher in many ways, because of all the hardships this allowed. This book really tears Anya apart; she is separated from everything she is familiar with and put into situations ranging from frustrating to desperate to freaking terrifying. You can feel her disconnect growing as the years pass and it really gave me anxiety about whether she would eventually put her pieces together.
I think that will be the most controversial aspect: her life isn't really interspersed with the same moments of happiness and love as the earlier ones. That said, this only worked to the book's advantage in my opinion as I was just more invested (like I said) in whether she could ever find the light in her ever darkening tunnel.
I also really enjoyed the writing (which was sometimes experimental in addressing the reader a little), all the twists, and just how damn manipulated I was. Zevin is really a top tier YA author in that her books are thoughtful, original and intense and she's not afraid to make big moves. It's a can't-put-downer for sure. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Can't even. Just.
October 29, 2013
This is a series that has steadily gone downhill for me. I loved the first with its original take on the idea of illegal chocolate and the struggles that Anya goes through to both rise above and take advantage of her family's criminal history. The second took an unnecessary detour to Mexico, introducing an equally unnecessary love interest, but I had hopes for the final installment. Unfortunately, this volume was my least favorite. The plotting moved along too swiftly through time to give space for the emotions of the characters to become fully realized. No sooner is Anya opening her first shop in NYC, then she is opening shops all over the country and the world. Huh? Same with her romance with Yuji, one of the more intriguing characters in the series. He definitely deserved better, and as a reader, so did I.
November 16, 2018
הספר השלישי בסדרה. קראתי את הראשון והשני לפני עידן ועידנים וממש אהבתי אותם. לספר הזה חיכיתי המון המון זמן עד שיצא, וגם על קיומו עליתי רק במקרה. הדמות של אניה מעולה כתמיד, והיא עוברת בספר הזה לא מעט, למרות ששום דבר לא מפתיע או בלתי צפוי. הוא עוסק בעיקר
בתקווה וביכולת שלנו להסתכל קדימה ולהתגבר על מצוקות העבר, גם אם עשינו בדרך החלטות שבזמנו נראו בעייתיות. מעניין שהסדרה הזו לא זכתה בארץ לפופולאריות שלה היא ראויה. אני אהבתי מאוד. ובכלל - גבריאל זווין היא סופרת מצוינת.
בתקווה וביכולת שלנו להסתכל קדימה ולהתגבר על מצוקות העבר, גם אם עשינו בדרך החלטות שבזמנו נראו בעייתיות. מעניין שהסדרה הזו לא זכתה בארץ לפופולאריות שלה היא ראויה. אני אהבתי מאוד. ובכלל - גבריאל זווין היא סופרת מצוינת.
September 21, 2022
Often a sweetness comes
as if on loan, stays just long enough
to make sense of what it means to be alive,
then returns to its dark
source. As for me, I don't care.
where it's been, or what bitter road
it's traveled
to come so far, to taste so good.
- Stephen Dunn, "Sweetness"
In the Age of Love and Chocolate is the final book in the Birthright Trilogy. While this installment holds the highest overall rating on Goodreads, it's my least favorite. I liked the story well enough, but I feel both All These Things I've Done and Because It Is My Blood are stronger novels.
Dedication
To the ones with porcupine hearts, who believe in love but can't stop wanting other things, too.
Favorite Passages:
What I mean to say is that you can make a choice, be reasonably satisfied with it, and still regret that which you did not choose. Maybe it's like ordering dessert. You have it narrowed down to either a warm peanut butter torte or strawberries jubilee. You choose the torte, and it's delicious. But you still wonder about those strawberries . . .
_______
"Please proceed in an orderly fashion to the nearest exit. If you have chocolate on your person, please surrender it to the trash cans by the door. Those displaying signs of chocolate intoxication should be prepared to show their prescriptions on their way out. Thank you for your cooperation."
as if on loan, stays just long enough
to make sense of what it means to be alive,
then returns to its dark
source. As for me, I don't care.
where it's been, or what bitter road
it's traveled
to come so far, to taste so good.
- Stephen Dunn, "Sweetness"
In the Age of Love and Chocolate is the final book in the Birthright Trilogy. While this installment holds the highest overall rating on Goodreads, it's my least favorite. I liked the story well enough, but I feel both All These Things I've Done and Because It Is My Blood are stronger novels.
Dedication
To the ones with porcupine hearts, who believe in love but can't stop wanting other things, too.
Favorite Passages:
What I mean to say is that you can make a choice, be reasonably satisfied with it, and still regret that which you did not choose. Maybe it's like ordering dessert. You have it narrowed down to either a warm peanut butter torte or strawberries jubilee. You choose the torte, and it's delicious. But you still wonder about those strawberries . . .
_______
"Please proceed in an orderly fashion to the nearest exit. If you have chocolate on your person, please surrender it to the trash cans by the door. Those displaying signs of chocolate intoxication should be prepared to show their prescriptions on their way out. Thank you for your cooperation."
April 12, 2017
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review posted with formatting on my blog.
For readers of this series, I believe most will be happy with this conclusion. What I like most about this series (and specifically this last book) is that we really see our characters grow as people. There is a chapter entitled "I AM WEAK; REFLECT ON THE TRANSFORMATIVE NATURE OF PAIN; DETERMINE THAT MY CHARACTER IS BUILT" that really shows how far Anya has come. At the end of this chapter, we have a conversation between Anya and Mr. Delacroix:
One thing that separates this series from others is the span of time the books cover. We follow Anya for six years. She starts off as a teenager (16 years) in All These Things I've Done and we stay with her until she really is a young adult - 22 years old. I enjoyed this, as I mentioned above - we are able to watch her grow as a person. Your teenager years up until you become an "adult" at 21 - these are your formative years. This was truly a coming-of-age story. (Because of the age of Anya in this book, I have classified this book as New Adult too).
Anya - I've already touched on her a bit with my "coming-of-age" talk. She certainly makes mistakes as a person, but what young person doesn't?? She learns from her mistakes and moves on. All that she has accomplished at such a young age - truly inspiring. She's very mature for her age and enjoyed her voice in this book (including the asides she includes to foreshadow for the reader).
Loved book 2's cover much better than this one:
Maybe they should have come up with a different cover for Because It Is My Blood since it relates more to this book anyway.
Now, I don't want to give anything away, so I'm not going to include spoilers in this review (until the timeline at the bottom). I must sound like a broken record - I just think almost all of the characters in this book have really grown up. Leo and his wife Noriko take over one of the clubs on the other side of the country and succeed. Little sister Natty even grows up (though there is that silly business with Win). Speaking of Win, man does he change. I was quite upset with him at the end of book 2 (Because It Is My Blood) and about the first half of this book. I couldn't get past his selfish ways in breaking Anya's heart and not supporting her. I have come to terms with this - they had to break up and go their separate ways in order to find themselves. Anya hardens herself and became an international successful businesswoman. More on Win to come.
Yuji's story was heartbreaking and Sophia is truly a sociopath. Poor Theo - I really liked him in book 2. Throughout this book I was rooting for him, but towards the end we don't see much of him (understandable given what happens...) but still sad because he is so lovable and I think he became jaded.
I think Anya made an excellent decision regarding The Family and Mouse. :)
One character I have come to really like is Mr. Delacroix. He is able to prove that people can change. His friendship/partnership with Anya is portrayed beautifully and even he gets a happy ending!
Now for the that half a star away from a perfect score......the relationship between Win and Anya. Just couldn't get over the about face Win does. Some people compared their relationship to Romeo & Juliet and being star-crossed lovers. I didn't really buy into that.
That quote describes the relationship better. To not give the ending away, I find that Win and Anya's interactions seemed unnatural and the ending doesn't really do justice to Anya. She deserves a strong man that is his own person and can meet her as an equal. I personally don't think that guy is Win.
One character I don't think we saw enough of was the best friend - Scarlet and her son Felix. Would have liked more on her struggle being a single mom and trying to make it as an actress to boot.
As everyone probably knows, chocolate is used as an euphemism for a certain illegal drug in our day and age. I personally think it was ingenious:
Sound familiar?? I'll let you draw your own conclusions.
A spoiler timeline of the series:
Review posted with formatting on my blog.
For readers of this series, I believe most will be happy with this conclusion. What I like most about this series (and specifically this last book) is that we really see our characters grow as people. There is a chapter entitled "I AM WEAK; REFLECT ON THE TRANSFORMATIVE NATURE OF PAIN; DETERMINE THAT MY CHARACTER IS BUILT" that really shows how far Anya has come. At the end of this chapter, we have a conversation between Anya and Mr. Delacroix:
"One year, I came close to going to Teen Crime Scene Summer, a program for budding criminologists in Washington, DC, but I struck a deal with the acting district attorney that landed me at Liberty Children's instead."
"I imagine the experience was character-building for you."
"Oh, it was. Enormously." I rolled my eyes. "Though I have had no shortage of character-building experiences in my life."
"At this point," he said, "I think we can safely consider your character built.”
- In the Age of Love and Chocolate, 219
One thing that separates this series from others is the span of time the books cover. We follow Anya for six years. She starts off as a teenager (16 years) in All These Things I've Done and we stay with her until she really is a young adult - 22 years old. I enjoyed this, as I mentioned above - we are able to watch her grow as a person. Your teenager years up until you become an "adult" at 21 - these are your formative years. This was truly a coming-of-age story. (Because of the age of Anya in this book, I have classified this book as New Adult too).
Anya - I've already touched on her a bit with my "coming-of-age" talk. She certainly makes mistakes as a person, but what young person doesn't?? She learns from her mistakes and moves on. All that she has accomplished at such a young age - truly inspiring. She's very mature for her age and enjoyed her voice in this book (including the asides she includes to foreshadow for the reader).
Loved book 2's cover much better than this one:
Maybe they should have come up with a different cover for Because It Is My Blood since it relates more to this book anyway.
Now, I don't want to give anything away, so I'm not going to include spoilers in this review (until the timeline at the bottom). I must sound like a broken record - I just think almost all of the characters in this book have really grown up. Leo and his wife Noriko take over one of the clubs on the other side of the country and succeed. Little sister Natty even grows up (though there is that silly business with Win). Speaking of Win, man does he change. I was quite upset with him at the end of book 2 (Because It Is My Blood) and about the first half of this book. I couldn't get past his selfish ways in breaking Anya's heart and not supporting her. I have come to terms with this - they had to break up and go their separate ways in order to find themselves. Anya hardens herself and became an international successful businesswoman. More on Win to come.
Yuji's story was heartbreaking and Sophia is truly a sociopath. Poor Theo - I really liked him in book 2. Throughout this book I was rooting for him, but towards the end we don't see much of him (understandable given what happens...) but still sad because he is so lovable and I think he became jaded.
I think Anya made an excellent decision regarding The Family and Mouse. :)
One character I have come to really like is Mr. Delacroix. He is able to prove that people can change. His friendship/partnership with Anya is portrayed beautifully and even he gets a happy ending!
Now for the that half a star away from a perfect score......the relationship between Win and Anya. Just couldn't get over the about face Win does. Some people compared their relationship to Romeo & Juliet and being star-crossed lovers. I didn't really buy into that.
Bad girl meets good boy. Ambitious father gets in the middle. Girl chooses business over boy. That kind of thing. - In the Age of Love and Chocolate, 157
That quote describes the relationship better. To not give the ending away, I find that Win and Anya's interactions seemed unnatural and the ending doesn't really do justice to Anya. She deserves a strong man that is his own person and can meet her as an equal. I personally don't think that guy is Win.
One character I don't think we saw enough of was the best friend - Scarlet and her son Felix. Would have liked more on her struggle being a single mom and trying to make it as an actress to boot.
As everyone probably knows, chocolate is used as an euphemism for a certain illegal drug in our day and age. I personally think it was ingenious:
a bit of chocolate never hurt a soul, and I'll sign my name to that on as many prescriptions as you want...Cacao could be used to treat everything from fatigue to headaches, from anxiety to dull skin." - In the Age of Love and Chocolate, 37
Sound familiar?? I'll let you draw your own conclusions.
A spoiler timeline of the series:
February 23, 2018
Solid ending to a unique series in a world where a Russian mafia daughter strives to make illegal chocolate legal again.
July 21, 2018
3.5 stars
March 31, 2021
זה הספר השלישי לסדרה, סדרה יפה שקראתי כמה וכמה פעמים.
ממליצה
ממליצה
November 11, 2013
Zevin-san, doushite? Naze koushita no desuka?
I’ve been thinking about it for days and I’m still not sure about it. Rationally speaking, it was actually a nice conclusion. I loved how it portrayed Anya’s growth from being this naïve girl thrown to the wolves (enemies, responsibilities), to the one of the most known person in the cacao business. I’m glad that it showed, magnificently I may add, Anya’s transition. So what’s pulling me back from giving a well-deserved rating than the one I gave? One character: Yuji Ono.
I was thrilled when Ms. Zevin not only linked my review for Because It Is My Blood but she said that there were going to be lots of Yuji I can’t handle. Oh, there were that, she wasn’t lying and as a matter of fact I couldn’t handle it. And not because he had so many page time, it was because of how things turned out for him. And in the words of my sister, In the Age of Love and Chocolate is bitter and it was all thanks to Sophia (who has appropriate last name: Bitter).
I didn’t hide my overflowing affection to Yuji and it made me love him even more when I found out about things he had done for Anya. And while his motivation wasn’t exactly crystal clear at the beginning, I still think the end result matters most. I just hoped that Anya didn’t think of what she had done for him was a mistake. I think he deserved a bit of sincerity and love even as a friend. It showed how he trusted Anya to continue the legacy and as well as redefining the business. I think what he saw most on Anya was her resiliency, her strength to face her problems.
Honestly, my review would most likely filled with regrets and agony if I don’t stop right now. So I’m stopping my Yuji centric rant now, but as my final piece, I didn’t like it. I don’t hate it and I’m not going to go berserk about it. It just happened and while I firmly believe that it was unnecessary and I’m still thinking if there was a purpose behind the decision, I’m going to accept it. I don’t think it has something to do with her moving forward and saw things differently in life, and her position, but let me pretend that there was so I can move on and see things accordingly.
I guess I didn’t like the romance. I think it was undeveloped and lacked thrill than the one I’m rooting for. But even after all that, I’m still happy that I’m rewarded with few stolen moments with them, even though it was sort of short. I still saw how she took care of him and with that I’m still contended. But in more important things, I’m really happy for Anya that in the end she may not like chocolates but she sure knows now that bitterness in chocolate is now what people see in it. It is the velvety sweetness that made it appealing. I guess, she will apply that symbolism in real life context.
PS: I’m curious on how different In the Age of Love and Chocolate from In the Age of Death and Chocolate. And what did happen in there that made the author revised it. I guess we will never know.
3.5/5
March 9, 2016
I had to finish the series, for the sake of the ending. The entire trilogy was getting on my nerves, but I kept reading because I couldn't live with a pure conscience without knowing how everything ended. All in all, it was an alright ending, pretty average, somewhat satisfying, but I absolutely and utterly refuse to give In the Age of Love and Chocolate more than three stars, and that's because there's one thing that REALLY, REALLY, messed the entire book up for me: a little character named Yuji Ono.
Yuji was introduced in the first book, and was actually one of the more bearable and interesting characters. And, plus, I haven't come across a YA crime novel with a mysterious Japanese mafia heir in it. His presence in the series grew as it went on, an Yuji's relationship with Anya develops—like when he proposed to her in Mexico during Because it is My Blood and even earlier in the novel, accidentally kissed her, which was fanservice epitomized.
By the look of things, it seemed Gabrielle Zevin was setting up a bona-fide intermafia romance, and when I caught a whiff of Yuji Ono's name in this book, I was ecstatic. And when Yuji and Anya get married (for business) and the not-so-subtle passage where Yuji mentions he would in fact sleep with Anya, I was frantic with the thought that Anya might actually do us a favor and move on from Win, despite the fact that Yuji's character had been poisoned and was slated to up and die at any moment.
I thought that maybe Gabrielle Zevin would spare us fans and have Yuji miraculously recover so we could have our sweet cliché romance moment, but it didn't work out that way. Yuji dies, basically wasted away, and the thing that pissed me off wasn't that Yuji died, it was the way he was treated by Anya.
Anya is portrayed as a formidable, touch teenager when runs a mafia, and I think that the Japan arc was supposed to highlight this in the shadow of Yuji's illness. I think it only made her seem a bit less humane. She professes that she has no platonic feelings towards Yuji whatsoever, and, to add insult to injury, didn't try, even after all he did for the Balanchine family (i.e., save Leo's behind and helped him fake his death, encouraged and supported Anya whenever she needed it).
In the end, he was less of a person in Anya's world and more of a plot device. Maybe, if Yuji had been treated better, not even saved from death, the book could have been a bit better.
Yuji was introduced in the first book, and was actually one of the more bearable and interesting characters. And, plus, I haven't come across a YA crime novel with a mysterious Japanese mafia heir in it. His presence in the series grew as it went on, an Yuji's relationship with Anya develops—like when he proposed to her in Mexico during Because it is My Blood and even earlier in the novel, accidentally kissed her, which was fanservice epitomized.
By the look of things, it seemed Gabrielle Zevin was setting up a bona-fide intermafia romance, and when I caught a whiff of Yuji Ono's name in this book, I was ecstatic. And when Yuji and Anya get married (for business) and the not-so-subtle passage where Yuji mentions he would in fact sleep with Anya, I was frantic with the thought that Anya might actually do us a favor and move on from Win, despite the fact that Yuji's character had been poisoned and was slated to up and die at any moment.
I thought that maybe Gabrielle Zevin would spare us fans and have Yuji miraculously recover so we could have our sweet cliché romance moment, but it didn't work out that way. Yuji dies, basically wasted away, and the thing that pissed me off wasn't that Yuji died, it was the way he was treated by Anya.
Anya is portrayed as a formidable, touch teenager when runs a mafia, and I think that the Japan arc was supposed to highlight this in the shadow of Yuji's illness. I think it only made her seem a bit less humane. She professes that she has no platonic feelings towards Yuji whatsoever, and, to add insult to injury, didn't try, even after all he did for the Balanchine family (i.e., save Leo's behind and helped him fake his death, encouraged and supported Anya whenever she needed it).
In the end, he was less of a person in Anya's world and more of a plot device. Maybe, if Yuji had been treated better, not even saved from death, the book could have been a bit better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2013
My favorite part of this book is Anya and Win's relationship. So much tension and yearning. I was actually going crazy while reading this book wanting to know what happens to them. I really liked Win in the first two books, but I fell in love with him in this book. He is just so perfect and his actions toward Anya are just so ::Swoon:: I really could not stop swooning and squeeing during the Anya and Win scenes. Especially the time they spend at Win's mother's farm. So beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time! Seriously, I was disappointed that Win is not a bigger part of this book. And the whole thing with Natty made me really scared that this was going to end up being a Laurie/Amy thing a la Little Women. Thank goodness that did not happen. I think I was a tad bit too invested into Anya and Win's relationship, but it could not be helped.
Besides Win, I also really liked seeing Anya's development. She really has come a long way since the first book. The first half of the book focused on her running her business and continues with her personality of running things and being in control. But what I really loved was the Anya in the second half of the book, where she learns to give up control to other people and have other people take care of her for once. Definitely not an easy thing to do for a person who is used to being in control and caring for others instead of herself. This is a way more vulnerable Anya. She is still headstrong and stubborn and independent, which I also love about her. The Yuji Ono plot line made me grrrrr. I can't believed that happened. I also thought that some of the loose ends were tied about a little to quickly and perfectly, but eh. All in all, great ending to a great series.
Besides Win, I also really liked seeing Anya's development. She really has come a long way since the first book. The first half of the book focused on her running her business and continues with her personality of running things and being in control. But what I really loved was the Anya in the second half of the book, where she learns to give up control to other people and have other people take care of her for once. Definitely not an easy thing to do for a person who is used to being in control and caring for others instead of herself. This is a way more vulnerable Anya. She is still headstrong and stubborn and independent, which I also love about her. The Yuji Ono plot line made me grrrrr. I can't believed that happened. I also thought that some of the loose ends were tied about a little to quickly and perfectly, but eh. All in all, great ending to a great series.
March 8, 2015
3.5 stars.
I liked this. I'd forgotten (because I didn't reread books 1 or 2 prior to reading book 3) how formal the narrative comes across, and while it's a bit distracting (to be honest), it's not a deal breaker. I really like the way this ended - imperfect enough to make it feel 'real.' This series is the only portion of Zevin's collection I've read and I'm happy to have read it. Also, every time I think about this story, I think I should use my interest in Russian everything to write a book of my own.
Good ending to an interesting series.
I liked this. I'd forgotten (because I didn't reread books 1 or 2 prior to reading book 3) how formal the narrative comes across, and while it's a bit distracting (to be honest), it's not a deal breaker. I really like the way this ended - imperfect enough to make it feel 'real.' This series is the only portion of Zevin's collection I've read and I'm happy to have read it. Also, every time I think about this story, I think I should use my interest in Russian everything to write a book of my own.
Good ending to an interesting series.
June 11, 2015
Wonderful book. I loved the character development and the resolutions. I loved how even though the ending wasn't action packed and full of drama, it seemed so appropriate for the development and conclusion of the series. The writing in this book is engaging and personable and makes it easy to connect.
December 21, 2017
Okay, this surprised me. I put off reading this book for so long because the second in the series had disappointed me so much. But I enjoyed the storytelling and characters a lot more in this one. It was easy to read and get invested again.
Looking back, this series offers a great female main character and an epic story of crime and love and friendship. Glad I finally picked it up.
Looking back, this series offers a great female main character and an epic story of crime and love and friendship. Glad I finally picked it up.
September 9, 2023
This is the culmination of 3 dystopian novels. I liked this level of dystopia more than comparable young adult fiction - is more realistic to our future 50 years from now.
The author has elegant descriptions of scenery, situations, and characters. I also like her vocabulary.
I was hoping this final novel in the series left female readers with a strong sense of self but it mistook synacism with independence and strength. Great identification with the emotions of that age group (I'm 40-something woman dabbling in young adult after a friend's rating of this series).
The author has elegant descriptions of scenery, situations, and characters. I also like her vocabulary.
I was hoping this final novel in the series left female readers with a strong sense of self but it mistook synacism with independence and strength. Great identification with the emotions of that age group (I'm 40-something woman dabbling in young adult after a friend's rating of this series).
April 3, 2024
A delightful end to this trilogy. Our Anya expands business (legally), married and is widowed within a short time, and survives a vicious physical assault. But really this book is about friendship and love and, of course, chocolate.
May 6, 2024
Well this one was my favorite. This is a rare case where continuing on with the series the books just get better and better. I was fully invested in our main characters' overall well being and this book kept me on my toes despite at times being simple. We had a really cool element introduced with the chocolate aspect as well. Excellent ending.
May 9, 2021
(3.5⭐)
November 15, 2023
Read this out of obligation to finish the trilogy, I suspect the author wrote it for the same reason.
Read
February 5, 2018this book was really interesting and the characters were so round and Anya growing up is very interesting I really liked this book I recommend it to anyone who likes action and a book with a lot pf twists a turns
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