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Pemberley and Pastelitos
A Hot, Laugh-Out-Loud Pride and Prejudice-Inspired Story in Sunny Miami-Lizzie Benitez is Miami’s undisputed queen of efficiency. She’s this close to landing the career-defining project that will finally give her the financial security she’s worked her entire life for… until the infuriating, far-too-handsome Mr. Pemberley shows up to see if she's really worth it. He’s rude, condescending, and seems determined to undermine her at every turn. Lizzie’s confidence is unshakable—except now she’s counting down the days until she can escape his judgmental stares without causing her to lose the project or her mind.
Enter her chaotic Cuban her influencer sister who thinks every crisis needs a TikTok, her no-filter Abuela dropping truth bombs over cafecito, and the sudden appearance of charming Mr. Wick with his easy smile and confusing signals. As deadlines tighten, family meddling intensifies, and the holiday season arrives just in time to cause maximum mayhem, Lizzie begins to wonder if the biggest obstacle to her perfect life isn’t Pemberley at all… but her own stubborn heart. A modern, multicultural enemies-to-lovers romance packed with Spanglish banter, pastelitos-fueled chaos, workplace tension, over-the-top Cuban family love, and enough sazón to thaw the coldest professional pride with one bite.
Enter her chaotic Cuban her influencer sister who thinks every crisis needs a TikTok, her no-filter Abuela dropping truth bombs over cafecito, and the sudden appearance of charming Mr. Wick with his easy smile and confusing signals. As deadlines tighten, family meddling intensifies, and the holiday season arrives just in time to cause maximum mayhem, Lizzie begins to wonder if the biggest obstacle to her perfect life isn’t Pemberley at all… but her own stubborn heart. A modern, multicultural enemies-to-lovers romance packed with Spanglish banter, pastelitos-fueled chaos, workplace tension, over-the-top Cuban family love, and enough sazón to thaw the coldest professional pride with one bite.
- GenresRomance
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 23, 2026
Pemberley and Pastellitos is an absolute delight of a novel! As a fan of Pride and Prejudice, this Miami-set reimagining exceeded every expectation I had.
Giuliana Locay nailed the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Lizzie and Will. Their chemistry was electric, their banter felt so natural, and watching their relationship evolve was pure magic.
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What truly made this book special for me, though, was the heart and humor tied to the culture. Abuela completely stole the show. Giuliana captures her humor and traditional Cuban sayings so authentically that it instantly hit home for me. The vibrant Cuban culture shines through every scene, making the setting feel rich, warm, and deeply authentic.
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This was such an absolute pleasure to read!
If you love cozy re-imaginings, sizzling banter, and authentic representation, put this at the top of your TBR immediately!
Giuliana Locay nailed the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Lizzie and Will. Their chemistry was electric, their banter felt so natural, and watching their relationship evolve was pure magic.
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What truly made this book special for me, though, was the heart and humor tied to the culture. Abuela completely stole the show. Giuliana captures her humor and traditional Cuban sayings so authentically that it instantly hit home for me. The vibrant Cuban culture shines through every scene, making the setting feel rich, warm, and deeply authentic.
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This was such an absolute pleasure to read!
If you love cozy re-imaginings, sizzling banter, and authentic representation, put this at the top of your TBR immediately!
June 25, 2026
Necesito un café y un pastelito de guayaba. STAT.
This was such a fun read. I laughed from the first chapter, swore como si fuera Cubana, got hungry, smiled at the memories certain chapters gave me, yelled because Lidia and fell in love with Will Pemberly.
The cultural representation was with ought a doubt my favorite. Am I Cuban? No but I loved the similarities I saw and laughed because Abuela? She’s every Latinas abuela 😂
Lizzie is such a strong female character, she’s confident, determined, loyal, intelligent and most of all una mujer que no te puedes perder. Total Elizabeth Bennett. I also loved the fact that she said no, she put herself first and then realized her mistake 👀
Now Mr. William Pemberly ugh I love you. He was straight forward, an absolute d**** sometimes and knows how to make up for his mistakes. And the fact that he’s half Cuban is the cherry on top.
This was full of laughter, family drama, metiches , love that felt passionate and Latine representation. Oh & a Pride & Prejudice retelling. What more could you want from a book?
This was such a fun read. I laughed from the first chapter, swore como si fuera Cubana, got hungry, smiled at the memories certain chapters gave me, yelled because Lidia and fell in love with Will Pemberly.
The cultural representation was with ought a doubt my favorite. Am I Cuban? No but I loved the similarities I saw and laughed because Abuela? She’s every Latinas abuela 😂
Lizzie is such a strong female character, she’s confident, determined, loyal, intelligent and most of all una mujer que no te puedes perder. Total Elizabeth Bennett. I also loved the fact that she said no, she put herself first and then realized her mistake 👀
Now Mr. William Pemberly ugh I love you. He was straight forward, an absolute d**** sometimes and knows how to make up for his mistakes. And the fact that he’s half Cuban is the cherry on top.
This was full of laughter, family drama, metiches , love that felt passionate and Latine representation. Oh & a Pride & Prejudice retelling. What more could you want from a book?
July 11, 2026
Jane Austen's masterpiece, Pride and Prejudice, has always been one of my all-time favorite classics. So seeing its beloved characters brought back to life in the heart of the 21st century, with the story set in Miami and infused with the richness of Cuban Miami culture, absolutely made my day! Especially when it brings back memories of Abuela Y. So proud of you, Giuliana! ¡Qué ganas de ver en persona el escenario de tu historia!
August 31, 2026
This rom-com was so funny and made me feel connected to my Cuban roots. I mean, it had me craving pastelitos and coladas even more than I usually do. 🤣🤣🤣
July 3, 2026
This was the cutest love story!! The coordinates??!!! Loved it. I loved feeling like you were right there while the story was happening.
June 28, 2026
Picked this up at a local bookstore and do NOT regret it! This was such a cute contemporary Latine romance!
Set in Miami and the vibes are strong! (in the best way) Loved seeing local names that I know and could picture exactly what Guliana was talking about. Being PRican with plenty Cuban friends - the cultural aspects of the book were like a warm hug. The romance was so cute I mean our boy (Will) was down BAD for our Cuban business baddie (Lizzie) and she never let her haters see her sweat! I loved Lizzie so much!! Cute read - definitely pick it up if you want something quick and fun!
Set in Miami and the vibes are strong! (in the best way) Loved seeing local names that I know and could picture exactly what Guliana was talking about. Being PRican with plenty Cuban friends - the cultural aspects of the book were like a warm hug. The romance was so cute I mean our boy (Will) was down BAD for our Cuban business baddie (Lizzie) and she never let her haters see her sweat! I loved Lizzie so much!! Cute read - definitely pick it up if you want something quick and fun!
July 2, 2026
Cute quick ROM com def recommend
Cute ROM com stubborn office romance Latino back ground with the cute loving embarrassing abuela and self centered hermanita I enjoyed this read
Cute ROM com stubborn office romance Latino back ground with the cute loving embarrassing abuela and self centered hermanita I enjoyed this read
June 23, 2026
such a fun time
I was laughing and kicking my feet the whole time. Lizzie was hilarious and Will was perfectly down bad. The perfect modern pride and prejudice vibe!
I was laughing and kicking my feet the whole time. Lizzie was hilarious and Will was perfectly down bad. The perfect modern pride and prejudice vibe!
March 30, 2026
Grab a cafecito, you can't put this down!
A will-they-won't-they romance set to the rhythm of Miami's beat, this novel keeps you HOOKED! You will laugh, maybe cry a time or two, and laugh some more, especially at Abuela. Highly recommend!
A will-they-won't-they romance set to the rhythm of Miami's beat, this novel keeps you HOOKED! You will laugh, maybe cry a time or two, and laugh some more, especially at Abuela. Highly recommend!
March 22, 2026
Cute Story Quick Read
This book was delightful. Characters were relatable. Update on a classic that made sense in the new context. Funny characters and good villains.
This book was delightful. Characters were relatable. Update on a classic that made sense in the new context. Funny characters and good villains.
September 21, 2026
Did I think I would fall head over heels for an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with a wild and funny Cuban family? No! But did I? Yesssss!
First of all, I have to say thank you to the author Giuliana Locay for gifting me with this audible audinook. She is not only sweet and personable, but an incredible writer. Also, I found out that Andrea the narrator of the audiobook - this was the first narration for a book! Whoa!
Tropes:
🌸 Workplace Romance
🌸 Forbidden Romance
🌸 Fat/ Curvy Representation (mwah!)
🌸 Cuban Representation
🌸 Spanglish
CW: Degrading comments about body type, reference to blackmail due to sexually explicit images.
Notes: This was a fast listen and from Chapter 1 I was hooked. The characters blended so well with the pride and Prejudice plotline so well! I always picture Pride and Prejudice in my minds eye with the Kiera Knightly movie and I was so impressed with how the culture, comedy, and characters fit well within the contemporary setting in this adaptation.
The main character Lizzy is smart, warm, and likable. You feel instantly disgusted by Mr. Pemberly's attitude and comments about her. My jaw dropped after he made his appearance and I honestly wanted to slap the man. Locay's writing style is quick, sharp, and the banter was phenomenal. I love a great romantic comedy and this book delivered all of that in a short time.
The plot was gripping, especially since I knew in a general way what the plot would involve, but not exactly. It was refreshing to see this new adaptation create a strong cultural Latine connection for a contemporary audience.
I cannot wait to listen in to the next book in her series and this one will be an auto-buy listen for her future writing escapades.
Spice level: 2/5 (some open door romance elements - akin to Lynn Painter, but nothing too high on the spice scale)
First of all, I have to say thank you to the author Giuliana Locay for gifting me with this audible audinook. She is not only sweet and personable, but an incredible writer. Also, I found out that Andrea the narrator of the audiobook - this was the first narration for a book! Whoa!
Tropes:
🌸 Workplace Romance
🌸 Forbidden Romance
🌸 Fat/ Curvy Representation (mwah!)
🌸 Cuban Representation
🌸 Spanglish
CW: Degrading comments about body type, reference to blackmail due to sexually explicit images.
Notes: This was a fast listen and from Chapter 1 I was hooked. The characters blended so well with the pride and Prejudice plotline so well! I always picture Pride and Prejudice in my minds eye with the Kiera Knightly movie and I was so impressed with how the culture, comedy, and characters fit well within the contemporary setting in this adaptation.
The main character Lizzy is smart, warm, and likable. You feel instantly disgusted by Mr. Pemberly's attitude and comments about her. My jaw dropped after he made his appearance and I honestly wanted to slap the man. Locay's writing style is quick, sharp, and the banter was phenomenal. I love a great romantic comedy and this book delivered all of that in a short time.
The plot was gripping, especially since I knew in a general way what the plot would involve, but not exactly. It was refreshing to see this new adaptation create a strong cultural Latine connection for a contemporary audience.
I cannot wait to listen in to the next book in her series and this one will be an auto-buy listen for her future writing escapades.
Spice level: 2/5 (some open door romance elements - akin to Lynn Painter, but nothing too high on the spice scale)
October 3, 2026
Pride and Prejudice is my favorite novel of all times so it was a no brainer to support a Latina author with her debut book. I enjoyed the humor and the family dynamics. Lidia continues to be the worst sister ever and Abuela was fantastic.
I have two reasons for not giving it 5 stars::
1. The good read description starts off with "Hot" this is maybe a 0.5 🌶 level of spice. And only at the very end. I'm ok with it because that's the way the story flowed. However, let's not pretend that this is at all spicy.
2. The constant explanations of words and the culture really took away from the story for me. I understand wanting non Spanish speakers or those outside of the Latinx community to understand our culture, but it felt a bit too academic/preachy and not necessary. I don't think it's needed to explain all the ins and outs but definitely show it. People will either get it through context clues or they'll do their own research if they really care to learn.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and would like to read her second book as well.
Sidenote:: I met the author at a book event... she was really nice!
I have two reasons for not giving it 5 stars::
1. The good read description starts off with "Hot" this is maybe a 0.5 🌶 level of spice. And only at the very end. I'm ok with it because that's the way the story flowed. However, let's not pretend that this is at all spicy.
2. The constant explanations of words and the culture really took away from the story for me. I understand wanting non Spanish speakers or those outside of the Latinx community to understand our culture, but it felt a bit too academic/preachy and not necessary. I don't think it's needed to explain all the ins and outs but definitely show it. People will either get it through context clues or they'll do their own research if they really care to learn.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and would like to read her second book as well.
Sidenote:: I met the author at a book event... she was really nice!
August 20, 2026
Pride and Prejudice but make it Cuban
How can you NOT enjoy a book that’s basically Pride and Prejudice… but make it Cuban?! 🇨🇺❤️
Ugh, Lizzie and Will in ANY version will always have my heart. 😭 From the beginning, to the middle, to the ending… I loved every single second of this story!
Give me a little Cuban culture, a little family drama, a little romance, and that delicious Pride and Prejudice foundation, and I’m SOLD. 🥹
Lizzie + Will forever. ❤️📚
How can you NOT enjoy a book that’s basically Pride and Prejudice… but make it Cuban?! 🇨🇺❤️
Ugh, Lizzie and Will in ANY version will always have my heart. 😭 From the beginning, to the middle, to the ending… I loved every single second of this story!
Give me a little Cuban culture, a little family drama, a little romance, and that delicious Pride and Prejudice foundation, and I’m SOLD. 🥹
Lizzie + Will forever. ❤️📚
August 16, 2026
I love how short and sweet this book was. Sometimes you just need a book that is feel good and allows You to take a break from the world and serve as a pallet cleanser for other stories. But what I like about this one is that it still brings up relevant themes of our day-to-day life. Definitely would recommend.
September 22, 2026
Format: Audiobook
This was a cute rom-com full of chaos when it came to family. The imagery in the book was well done and it felt like I was there or watching what I was listening to! Abuela might have been my favorite character with her lack of filter, being a little chismosa, but was so full of love and wisdom.
This was a cute rom-com full of chaos when it came to family. The imagery in the book was well done and it felt like I was there or watching what I was listening to! Abuela might have been my favorite character with her lack of filter, being a little chismosa, but was so full of love and wisdom.
August 26, 2026
Super cute read! I have to be honest - I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice before 🙈, but now I really want to. It was such a cool cultural spin on a classic. I was giddy the entire time I read the book - Lizzie and Will’s relationship buildup kept me going to the very end! Another great read from Guiliana!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews