Up in Flames

by Hailey Alcaraz

Gorgeous, wealthy, and entitled, Ruby has just one single worry in her life—scheming to get the boy next door to finally realize they’re meant to be together. But when the California wildfires cause her privileged world to go up in flames, Ruby must struggle to find the grit and compassion to help her family and those less fortunate to rise from the ashes.

At eighteen, Ruby Ortega is an unapologetic flirt who balances her natural aptitude for economics with her skill in partying hard. But she couldn't care less about those messy college boys—it's her intense, brooding neighbor Ashton who she wants, and even followed to school. Even the fact that he has a girlfriend doesn't deter her . . . whatever Ruby wants, she eventually gets.

Her ruthless determination is tested when wildfires devastate her California hometown, destroying her parents' business and causing an unspeakable tragedy that shatters her to her core. Suddenly, Ruby is the head of the family and responsible for its survival, with no income or experience to rely on. Rebuilding seems hopeless, but with the help of unexpected allies—including a beguiling, dark-eyed boy who seems to understand her better than anyone—Ruby has to try. When she discovers that the fires also displaced many undocumented people in her town, it becomes even more imperative to help. And if she has to make hard choices along the way, can anyone blame her?

In her powerful debut novel, Mexican American author Hailey Alcaraz chronicles a riveting portrait of transformation, resilience, and love with an unlikely heroine who, when faced with unforeseen disaster, surprises everyone, especially herself.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, Retellings, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult Contemporary

384 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2023

About the author

Hailey began her writing career in the sixth grade as a kid reporter for Time for Kids magazine, and has been addicted to storytelling ever since. Born in California and raised in Arizona, she's a Southwest girl through and through who loves stories about fellow multicultural girls finding their way in the world.

She currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband, two daughters and precocious German Shepherd. Connect with her online at haileyalcaraz.comand @alcarazbooks on both TikTok and Instagram.

Reviews

[Hailey Alcaraz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi there -- popping in for a classic (beloved?) 5 star review from the book's author!
One of my least favorite terms in the book world is “unlikeable female character.” Why is this a thing? Why are girls who are “rough around the edges”--assertive, determined, complicated, the list goes on and on–so frequently labeled as “unlikeable?”
UP IN FLAMES was written, in large part, as an exploration of that.
Ruby Ortega is a white-passing Mexican American girl who comes from a privileged background. She’s driven. She’s selfish. She’s loyal. She’s smart. She is complex and flawed–and I hope you root for her anyway.
She embarks on a journey of both self discovery and social awakening as her hometown is destroyed by wildfires. She is forced to contend with her own racial identity, as well as the inequitable ways this disaster has impacted people in her community.
And she messes up a lot along the way. A lot.
UP IN FLAMES is a love letter to stubborn young people who get in their own ways, especially when it comes to love. To biracial people who often feel like they’re caught between two worlds, neither of which sees them fully. And to people doing the everyday work of social justice, learning and experiencing discomfort as they work to better understand the needs of those less privileged.
I am also a white-passing Latina who has, throughout her life, been at odds with my culture, my upbringing, and my experiences in the world. For me, this book is about learning from those around you. About embracing your mistakes and moving forward with lessons learned. About never being afraid to start again.

[Amanda at Bookish Brews]

explicitly!!! biracial!!! MC!!!!

in a loose but critical retelling of Gone with the Wind? I'm HERE for critical retellings.

[Patty (IheartYA311) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not connect with this one at all. The characters were too self-centered, whiney, and frustrating. There were parts where it felt like the story was going nowhere. I would have DNFed but I owned a copy. Giving 2 stars instead of 1 because I can tell the author really, really tried.

I used this book to match Your Adventure Awaits' September postcard (challenge).

[Flor Montiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up in Flames was such a heartachingly good read. It was impactful and emotional and hard-hitting. Within this story, themes of priveldge, devastation, grief, rebuilding, transformation, and hope were skillfully threaded.

What stands out the most was the not-so-easy-to like female main character. She is flawed, as we all are, and her naivity, her selfishness, and entitlement can make for a difficult reading experience. However, I found it extremely refreshing to read about a character who was not your typical quirky, endearing FMC. Ruby is a strong-willed girl who at times was extremely grating and frustrating to read, but also a character with lots of room to grow and flourish. I think it's important to have female main characters, especially BIPOC or biracial female characters who often have higher expectations placed on them, not having to dull their edges in order to be more palatable or digestible. They should be allowed to be flawed and multi-faceted and given the space to learn and mature.

This story also had a romance subplot that I found myself incredibly invested it. At times it made me swoon, at other times it made my heart race, and sometimes it made me want to hurl the book across the room.

Up in Flames had me experiencing the entire spectrum of emotions and I know this is a story that will stick with me for a very very long time.

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

opening line was 'Ruby Ortega always got what she wanted.
However, Ruby Ortega also frequently wanted what she couldn’t have.' but what i got from reading it til the end is that REMY is the one who would not stay still til he got what he wanted. ruby sucked at making good decisions, don't get me wrong, i mean starting with ashton who was useless and couldn't do anything right and then there was a racist frank whew she had it bad from the beginning, but remy was the Real Gaslighter. he was mad at her the whole time for not falling in love with HIM and blamed her for not reciprocating tf??? you can't force feelings. and when everyone left, ruby had no choice left but him lmao suddenly she couldn't stay away. she said 'sigh guess I'll have you then' even he was disgusted. ending sucked too bc wdym years later she went Back to him after he was a bitch to her? goodness

[Ellen O'Clover · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of one fierce girl’s journey to rebuild her community in the wake of disaster. I loved fiery, unstoppable Ruby Ortega ❤️

[Mella aka Maron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve learned something about myself in my reading recently.

The books I love, the books that consume my whole soul, are also the ones that rip my heart to pieces and put it back together again.

I cannot express how much this book just HITS - all the right notes, the tones, the ups and downs and woes and my goodness - just makes you appreciate LIFE in all its painful moments and bright light.

Ruby is an unlikeable protagonist who grows in this book, but from the moment you meet her, you see this passion inside her that lights up others. She’s unstoppable and it’s so breathtakingly beautiful. And Remy was this snarky and loyal man who saw Ruby for exactly who she is. He wanted to fight for others and implored Ruby to fight too. The two of them made this beautifully messed up relationship and I hung on every single word they exchanged.

I cannot believe this book doesn’t have more ratings because just think it is stunning. I hope that more and more people, especially young adults, can pick this up and read it. Sometimes I feel like the really good books don’t get to be seen - and this one deserves to be shouted from the rooftops, displayed on all the billboards. I can’t wait to push this book onto people I’ve never met.

[Markie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Up in Flames" by Hailey Alcaraz is a captivating debut novel that follows the journey of Ruby Ortega, a charming and affluent young woman. Ruby's focus on winning the heart of her brooding neighbor, Ashton, takes a back seat when California wildfires bring her privileged life crashing down. The tragedy forces Ruby to step up as the family's head, navigating challenges and forging unexpected alliances. The story delves into Ruby's transformation from a carefree flirt to a resilient and compassionate leader. Set against the backdrop of adversity and displacement caused by the fires, the novel highlights Ruby's determination to rebuild not only her family's life but also to aid the undocumented community affected. Hailey Alcaraz skillfully weaves a tale of resilience, love, and personal growth, painting Ruby as an unlikely yet inspiring heroine.

[Kristen C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a special read! Loved the character development throughout and especially the ending. It was a mix of heavy social justice and traumatic issues as well as fun and playful too.

[Jenn Harmon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ruby grows up next to the boy next door that she has a crush on. Ruby follows the boy next door to college even though he has a girlfriend. Ruby, the boy next door and the girlfriend go home when they find that their homes are near fires and are devastated to find that his home is no longer standing and her mom has passed and a lot of her home has gone. During this time she does a lot of growing up but never really seems to find her path in life. The writing is lack luster, the ending makes me wish I never picked up the book and there were several times that I prayed that it would get better but it never did.

[kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I will admit I am reviewing my best friend’s book, and inevitably was going to say I loved it, what I think is most special about it is that—even having read an early draft of the book—I stayed up and read the whole, glorious thing until 1am. That honor is reserved for a very special type of story.

Seeing this book transformed from an inkling of an idea to MANY different drafts to the final, gorgeous published work has been incredibly inspiring. Up in Flames engages with so many incredibly difficult and deep themes — around racism and inequity, privilege and power, and how those intersect with natural disasters, AND around what it means to grow up and grapple with two cultures and identities. The messages about family, home, and the legacy that lives on long past death still make me cry.

I love so much about this story and its beautiful, complex characters—especially my ride-or-die since v1, Millie, the ultimate hype girl 🫡 I couldn’t more highly recommend this book to all YA lovers.

𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦:
🔥 contemporary YA
🔥 coming-of-age stories
🔥 biracial latinx representation
🔥 complex, ruthless FMCS
🔥 social justice themes
🔥 love triangles (but with one clearly superior pick 🥵 let’s be honest)
🔥 MMCs you can’t help but fall in love with (REMY!!!!)

CWs: racism/xenophobia, family death

★★★★★

[Ricki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminds us all that we are imperfect, and we won’t always make the right choices. Ruby’s story is set in a backdrop of the California wildfires. The book includes richly realized themes, and I particularly appreciated the ways in which Author Hailey Alcaraz interrogated the intersections of race and class. I was invested in Ruby's story and rooting for her from the beginning to end. She is certainly flawed (as we all are), and she felt very real to me. I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it. (The audiobook is excellent!)

Full review with teaching tools: https://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=...

[Chris Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great read. The author flawlessly pulls off introducing a tough societal topic while still being a fun page turner. When it comes to the characters, the dynamics between them seemed like real relationships in many friend groups at that age rather than unrelatable characters that are overly perfect or evil. I particularly enjoyed that each character seemed to have dominate trait/personality type but the more you scratched below the surface the more complicated they became.

I have to admit I’m a bit confused at some of the lower ratings because the reader “didn’t like” Ruby. To me that shows incredible talent by the author to evoke such strong feelings about a character. Like, have you ever read The Sun Also Rises? Can’t say any of those characters were “likable” and that’s considered a literary classic. Rating it lower because of that seems to say more about the reader than the book itself.

10/10!!

[Ashlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it involves a little bit of romance while also adding in some plot twists!

[Hamna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Laura Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! So well written, but my goodness there were times that Ruby was just so immature and unlikeable!!

I loved the development of characters and am impressed with the happy ending not being what a reader might expect!

[Leticia Cortes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Ruby! She had a strong voice that pulled me in and kept my attention. I loved her confidence and her determination.

As a first Gen Mexican American and college student I really related to her. I'm also from California but I lived in Arizona for two years so we have a lot in common.

I loved her chemistry with Remy. I wasn't a big fan of her going after a man who had a girlfriend though.

I really enjoyed this story and would recommend to anyone who likes romance.

Thanks netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicole Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis: Gorgeous, wealthy, and entitled, Ruby has just one single worry in her life—scheming to get the boy next door to finally realize they’re meant to be together. But when the California wildfires cause her privileged world to go up in flames, Ruby must struggle to find the grit and compassion to help her family and those less fortunate to rise from the ashes.

I will admit that when I first started this book I really disliked the protagonist, Ruby. She seemed spoiled, entitled, used to getting what she wanted, and did not care if she used other people to get what she wanted. After finishing the book, I think this may have been intentional. The journey she made from that girl to the woman at the end of the book was incredible to read. The author did a wonderful job in writing her character growth in a natural way. I truly admire the Ruby Ortega I came to know by the end of the book, through all of her mistakes, struggles, determination, and hard work. I wasn't expecting to like her or her story, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Additionally, the sort of love triangle she ended up in was so refreshing and different from what I'm used to. Without giving too much away, Ruby starts out the book being in love with her childhood friend and neighbor Ashton. She meets Remy shortly after the book starts and he's immediately intrigued by her, though she is so blinded by her love for Ashton that she sees Remy as no more than a fun time. Both of her relationships have trials and tribulations that test them and teach Ruby a lot about herself. I particularly enjoyed how open the ending of the book was in the romance aspect (and Ruby's future, really).

I really enjoyed reading about Ruby's journey and would recommend it to other readers. I anticipate her story resonating with many readers in several different ways.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for a review. All thoughts are my own.

[TheGeekishBrunette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one because the cover is gorgeous and eye-catching and the blurb sounded very interesting. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the main character and wasn’t a fan of some of the twists.

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Ruby Ortega. She has just graduated high school and is getting ready to start college. She is also interested in her neighbor and he doesn’t even know it. There is also a fire coming towards her family’s home and it causes a lot of turmoil in her life. Ruby definitely has a lot going on in her life.

I personally didn’t like her as a character. She was messy when it came to romance. I get not making the best decisions in the love department. Spoilers start here! I was there once way back when, but never did I try to break someone up. There was also a brief kiss between her and that guy and that is cheating, no matter how small. I do not like any aspect of cheating so this was a hard no for me. She was also befriending the girlfriend even if she didn’t actually want to. End of spoilers! Guys kept falling over too and it created a lot of chaos that I wasn’t interested in. The guy she ends up with was okay but I feel like there was so much going on you actually don’t get to know him well. Plus, he has a facade.

When it came to the rest of the plot I did like the talk about immigration and what happens in the US. It was informative enough to get the main picture. It also covers wildfires as well which we have seen run rampant in the US as well as Canada this year. The fires rip apart lives for many. A lot of the plot twists felt rushed and didn’t give the impact I was looking for emotionally.

Overall, this was okay. It had its good parts but I didn’t like the main character and that ultimately made it hard to enjoy the book.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a complimentary earc to review! All opinions are my own.

[Alyssa Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Up in Flames. The last hundred or so pages I read straight through because I couldn’t put the book down. The author had me guessing until the very last page about what would happen between Remy and Ruby. I enjoyed the story, the writing style, the characters, everything about it. What an enjoyable experience it was to witness Ruby’s journey!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retelling a saga like “Gone with the Wind” is quite an ambitious (and I imagine daunting) undertaking. I’ve read several retellings and it’s always interesting to see where the author falls on the spectrum between being true to the source material and creating something entirely new inspired by the source material.

I’ll be honest that I haven’t read GWTW or seen the movie in years, not since I was a teenager. I didn’t remember the entire story so I found the Cliffs Notes out of curiosity. This is a pretty faithful retelling. There was plenty of content that made it feel modern, but at the same time there was something about it that felt a little old-fashioned too.

As someone who grew up in Southern California then headed to Arizona State after high school, I of course identified with that aspect of Ruby’s story. Some of the other aspects were less familiar to me, but that made them even more interesting.

There were a few timing issues in the plot that I think came from translating twelve years in GWTW into just a year in this book, which also created some issues with Ruby’s age-appropriateness. I was able to get past those, though, and enjoyed the characters and the story overall.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Audrey Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I loved this book so much. No spoilers. But if you’ve ever made decisions that other people didn’t “get” but you knew were right, you will understand Ruby. I laughed, I cried (twice), I got annoyed recalling what it was like dating in teens/early twenties. I usually read thrillers and I wasn’t sure that a book from this genre could maintain my interest but I enjoyed it so much that I dragged it out as long as I could. The narrator for the audiobook is fantastic and totally swept me away in the story.

[Karisa Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝐔𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬” 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

A coming-of-age loose retelling of “Gone with the Wind”.

𝘎𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴, 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘙𝘶𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦—𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘙𝘶𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴.

This was a great YA read. The FMC, Ruby, is complicated and headstrong and pretty frustrating in the beginning but I really enjoyed her character arc and her growth and I think she’s going to be an FMC a lot of readers connect with. The love triangle is a tricky trope to tackle (say that five times fast) but I think, in this case, it was very well done. Overall this was a great young story and I definitely recommend.

Thank you so much to @penguinteen for my review copy! Up in Flames by @alcarazbooks is out October 3, 2023!

[Runa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, let’s be real. Our main girl was insufferable in the beginning, which of course made it all the more satisfying when she grew into her own. She didn’t became the most delicate and gentle female character ever, which I thought it was great.
She was compared to the wildfires, something I totally agree on. She was still imposing, a bit harsh, direct and all too practical even while she did the right thing and helped people, staying true to her essence.
But I gotta say. Her pining towards the dullest guy ever became a bit too much for me, nothing changed their dynamic (which was more or less one sided in the same measure throughout the book).
If this had no romance I’d be satisfied and happy reading it. I think our girl didn’t need any man.

[Jordan Holt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet debut this is! We follow Ruby who is oftentimes selfish and stubborn, but wonderfully flawed in the best and realest ways. I loved reading the journey through her eyes, and I was rooting for her all the way through the book. Sometimes the romance aspects felt a little awkward, and I was much more interested in Ruby’s coming-of-age story. Remy wasn’t a totally convincing love interest because I found him callous and flaky. Overall, this was a wonderful story and weaved together grief, family, growing up, and social awareness beautifully.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one just didn’t really stand out too much to me, if I’m being totally honest.

I was not Ruby’s biggest fan at the beginning of the book. Her obsession with Ashton just felt so immature and she just acted like a spoiled baby who didn’t get her way. She had so much growth though and by the end of the book I loved her.

[Ariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been so hard for me to read YA contemporary books lately but this book was an easy draw back into the genre. There were times Ruby was immature and I didn't like Remy as much as I'd hoped and the characters weren't as engaging but it was a nice read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Adelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not my favorite. I like the concept of the story and was excited to read it, but I didn't really like the writing style and couldn't get into it.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

At her sister Elena's quinceañera, Ruby Ortega has just one goal; to reconnect with Ashton, the neighbor boy she has always had a crush on. She has been waiting for him to return from college so she can use her wiles on him, but is devastated to find out that he has brought home his girlfriend, Millie, to their idyllic hometown on Buena Valley, California. It's too late to change the college she is going to because of Ashton, so the two are soon both at the University of Arizona, where they see each other from time to time. Ruby is also being pursued by Remy Bustillos, who works for her father's property management company, which include the bed and breakfast that the family runs. He visits her in Arizona, and when wildfires strike near Buena Valley, Remy is the one Ruby calls to take her home. Ashton has already dropped out of college, and has taken a job fighting the fires, so Millie returns as well. The Ortega property has suffered some damage, but worst of all, Ruby's mother has died. Her father is gravely injured, so she must take over the running of the business herself. She still holds a torch for Ashton, and suffers Remy's attention, but also starts dating Frank, whose father runs a construction company that is helping repair the damage in Buena Valley. Remy is arrested for fighting with the police when ICE come to arrest undocumented citizens in the midst of the fire, but Ruby still finds him interesting, even though she is involved with Frank. When Frank turns out to be a horrible racist, and his father's company is found to be abusing immigrant workers, Ruby dumps him. Will she be able to reconnect with either Ashton or Remy as she labors to keep the family business running?

It wasn't until I read other reviews of this that I realized it is a loose retelling of Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, but once you know this, it's so easy to see the parallels. Ruby is Scarlett, and even starts the book in a green dress! I'm not sure how many teens will be aware of this 1936 book, or even the 1939 movie, and the story certainly holds up without this knowledge.

Ruby is a girl who has it all; good looks, supportive family, and significant financial resources. Still, she's not happy when she can't have Ashton, even though suitors are not in short supply. She hasn't really worked very much, but does step up to help out her family when they need it. Like many young adults, she is essentially self centered, but can be brought out of herself in an emergency.

There's a fair amount of Latine culture in this one, and Remy's involvement with the immgrant worker community is interesting. The treatment of undocumented laborers is something that is very important but not much discussed. This reminded me a bit of Marqardt's Dream Things True due to the inclusion of this topic.

While middle grade authors love to retell Burnett's The Secret Garden and A Little Princess, young adult writers go a little further afield. There's Flinn's Love, Jacaranda, a retelling of Webster's Daddy Long-Legs, Stohl and de la Cruz's Jo & Laurie, an adaptation of Little Women, and Watson's reimaging of Austen's Emma, Off Script. Teen readers who really like classics, or want to ease into them with books that embrace the general concept, will also love Ruby's dramatic story.

[hobbithopeful · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Penguin for this ARC
A powerful read about leaving your bubble of privilege, and how undocumented immigrants are affected by natural disasters.
I very much enjoy how Ruby knows how to best use her appearance and beauty to her advantage. The way she dealt with Frank made my heart break a bit for her, but at the end of the day she was doing what was needed to survive.
Ruby grows a lot in this story, and watching a very spoiled character realize there is more to the world then just what she is dealing with is always a thought-provoking read. She really had to step up for her family, and even though she starts off ignorant, by the end of the book she really is a different person.
I am always wary to read a Latine book regarding topics of immigration and ICE because of the large amount published compared to more "cozy" stories. It does push a certain societal narrative and stereotype around our culture, and I do feel the need to mention publishers choosing certain themes to publish over others. I do like how it was handled here, even though it was almost a bit too rainbows and sunshine with how everything worked out perfectly for the undocumented immigrants. (An unrealistic portrayal to be frank)
I did find this book extremely prose heavy, the only reason this isn't a five star book for me. There are so many inner monologues and summaries, and just it reads very fast-paced at times. Every time I thought we were going to have a scene or conversation, instead sometimes it will go for pages of just inner monologue or summarizing with no dialogue or anything else whatsoever. I do think I would have liked it if it was longer and spent more time showing the dialogue instead of just summarizing character interactions.
I do think I enjoyed the first half of the book a lot more then the second.
The ending was fine? I was very confused by some of the characters. Remy seems to alternate between being mature and smart, to being incredibly immature especially for someone of his age and responsibilities. Ambiguous endings can work in certain situations, but it seems that Ruby is just chasing after another guy so I didn't quite enjoy that fact. (Though hey I am super happy to see a BIPOC character not end up with the white guy!)
I did feel like certain men were forgiven too easily by other characters, I almost wish the woman each had a bit more self respect in how they were treated. Or at least came to the realization that IT'S OKAY TO BE ALONE!
I would recommend this book, and I would read more from Hailey Alcaraz. This is her debut novel and I am excited to see more from her.