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Flirting With Fate #1
Flirting with Fate
Ava Granados will never forgive herself for being late to her beloved nana's deathbed. But due to a flash flood that left Ava in a fender bender with a mysterious boy, she missed her grandmother's mystical blessing--one that has been passed between the women of her family upon death for generations.
Then Nana's ghost appears with a challenge from beyond the grave. As it turns out, Nana did give Ava a blessing, but it missed its target, landing with the boy from the night of the storm instead. Was it fate? Ava refuses to believe so. With the help of her sisters and Nana's rather bumbling spiritual guide, she's determined to reclaim her share of the family magic and set Nana free.
For guarded Ava, befriending some random boy is the last thing she wants to do. She's gotten along just fine protecting her heart--keeping people at a distance is a great way to ensure no one ever hurts you. But as Ava embarks on her mission to retrieve the lost blessing, she starts to wonder if getting close to thunderstorm boy is worth the risk.
In her YA debut, J.C. Cervantes weaves a tale about family, fate, and finding love where you least expect it.
Then Nana's ghost appears with a challenge from beyond the grave. As it turns out, Nana did give Ava a blessing, but it missed its target, landing with the boy from the night of the storm instead. Was it fate? Ava refuses to believe so. With the help of her sisters and Nana's rather bumbling spiritual guide, she's determined to reclaim her share of the family magic and set Nana free.
For guarded Ava, befriending some random boy is the last thing she wants to do. She's gotten along just fine protecting her heart--keeping people at a distance is a great way to ensure no one ever hurts you. But as Ava embarks on her mission to retrieve the lost blessing, she starts to wonder if getting close to thunderstorm boy is worth the risk.
In her YA debut, J.C. Cervantes weaves a tale about family, fate, and finding love where you least expect it.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published April 19, 2022
67 people are currently reading
13533 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Cervantes
20 books842 followersJ.C. is a New York Times best-selling author. Her books have been published in more than twelve countries and have appeared on national lists, including the American Booksellers Association New Voices, Barnes and Noble’s Best Young Reader Books, and Amazon’s Best Books of the Month. She has earned multiple awards and recognitions, including the New Mexico Book Award and the Zia Book Award.
She currently resides in the Land of Enchantment with her family and spoiled pups, but keeps part of her heart in Southern California, where she was born and raised. When she isn’t writing, she is haunting bookstores and searching for magic in all corners of the world.
Author also writes under Jennifer Cervantes
She currently resides in the Land of Enchantment with her family and spoiled pups, but keeps part of her heart in Southern California, where she was born and raised. When she isn’t writing, she is haunting bookstores and searching for magic in all corners of the world.
Author also writes under Jennifer Cervantes
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews
April 4, 2022
Meteors, stars, 8:51. Collision. And the hummingbird.
Ava has just four weeks to complete a difficult task. Her blessing from her dying grandmother landed astray and Ava has to make it right. She has a little help from her grandmother's ghost, an obscure saint, and her two older sisters: Vivienne and Carmen. Some things I really loved about this book: 1) Clean romance. 2) Sisterhood. 3) Lovely connections between past and present and the time 8:51 pm. 4) Ava is worth rooting for. On the whole, though, this turned out to be a middle-of-the-road production for me. There was an ongoing piece of the narrative relating a fairy tale that Ava's mother had been telling her before leaving the family for good. For me, that piece was distracting. It seemed like we took way too long to get to the resolution and the identification of the five clues from Nana.
Thank you to Razorbill and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Ava has just four weeks to complete a difficult task. Her blessing from her dying grandmother landed astray and Ava has to make it right. She has a little help from her grandmother's ghost, an obscure saint, and her two older sisters: Vivienne and Carmen. Some things I really loved about this book: 1) Clean romance. 2) Sisterhood. 3) Lovely connections between past and present and the time 8:51 pm. 4) Ava is worth rooting for. On the whole, though, this turned out to be a middle-of-the-road production for me. There was an ongoing piece of the narrative relating a fairy tale that Ava's mother had been telling her before leaving the family for good. For me, that piece was distracting. It seemed like we took way too long to get to the resolution and the identification of the five clues from Nana.
Thank you to Razorbill and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2022
✨𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚’𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨, 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙛..✨
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯.
Flirting with Fate follows Ava Granados, who lost her chance of receiving magical powers from her grandmother. But as per her Nana's ghost, someone else received them and Ava must now correct this mistake to get them back and make her Nana move on to the afterlife.
With the help of her sisters and Nana's rather bumbling spiritual guide, Ava is determined to set Nana free and reclaim her share of the family magic. To do that, Ava must now get out of her comfort zone and befriend the mysterious boy with her magical powers.
But as Ava embarks on her mission, she starts to wonder if getting close to the thunderstorm boy is worth the risk...
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀.
It started with such a good base and was superrr funny, I looved the humour in this one. It was amazingly done.. But only till the 30-40% of the plot. After that everything was just dull.
This book lost all its initial charm mid-way and the plot was just dragged, and that too was cliché and predictable. I had to skip a large chunk of the story just to get to the point. There were so many unnecessary conversations going on and things took way too long than they should have taken.
And the ending was also underwhelming.. there was no excitement to know what happens at the end BUT what actually happened was sweet and heartwarming🥺
𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.
Ava. I have mixed feelings about her. At some points, I found her okay but at other times, she was unbearable. I was into her story but couldn't connect with her and her emotions. Plus, she was really judgemental because 'what's wrong with holding a balloon, Ava?
Rion was a considerate and caring character but then again I feel he was not that impactful and I couldn't connect to his side of the story as well. His character needed much more profound emotions than were shown.
Also, the sisters dynamics was amazing.. they were exactly just like how sisters should be, caring and loving, same yet different, having each other's back.
BUT, the monk, Meda was incredible and I loved his character and wanted more moments of him.. He must have his own book (a 5th-century monk exploring today's culture😂)
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Overall, Flirting with Fate is a sweet YA novel with magical elements woven around the concept of fate and destiny. With a dragged plot, you'll have to skip a lot to get to the point. But, it would keep you smiling with its humour and give you heartwarming moments as well.
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯.
Flirting with Fate follows Ava Granados, who lost her chance of receiving magical powers from her grandmother. But as per her Nana's ghost, someone else received them and Ava must now correct this mistake to get them back and make her Nana move on to the afterlife.
With the help of her sisters and Nana's rather bumbling spiritual guide, Ava is determined to set Nana free and reclaim her share of the family magic. To do that, Ava must now get out of her comfort zone and befriend the mysterious boy with her magical powers.
But as Ava embarks on her mission, she starts to wonder if getting close to the thunderstorm boy is worth the risk...
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀.
It started with such a good base and was superrr funny, I looved the humour in this one. It was amazingly done.. But only till the 30-40% of the plot. After that everything was just dull.
This book lost all its initial charm mid-way and the plot was just dragged, and that too was cliché and predictable. I had to skip a large chunk of the story just to get to the point. There were so many unnecessary conversations going on and things took way too long than they should have taken.
And the ending was also underwhelming.. there was no excitement to know what happens at the end BUT what actually happened was sweet and heartwarming🥺
𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.
Ava. I have mixed feelings about her. At some points, I found her okay but at other times, she was unbearable. I was into her story but couldn't connect with her and her emotions. Plus, she was really judgemental because 'what's wrong with holding a balloon, Ava?
Rion was a considerate and caring character but then again I feel he was not that impactful and I couldn't connect to his side of the story as well. His character needed much more profound emotions than were shown.
Also, the sisters dynamics was amazing.. they were exactly just like how sisters should be, caring and loving, same yet different, having each other's back.
BUT, the monk, Meda was incredible and I loved his character and wanted more moments of him.. He must have his own book (a 5th-century monk exploring today's culture😂)
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
Overall, Flirting with Fate is a sweet YA novel with magical elements woven around the concept of fate and destiny. With a dragged plot, you'll have to skip a lot to get to the point. But, it would keep you smiling with its humour and give you heartwarming moments as well.
September 10, 2022
My 200th book of the year was 4.5 ⭐️ and such a cute read 😊👍! This is contemporary ya romance with a bit of magical realism sprinkled into the plot as Ava realizes that a late night fender-bender with a cute boy named Orion is about to turn her world upside down. Or, rather, upside right ☝️🤠. Ava constantly puts her foot in her mouth (which made me laugh and cringe at all the right moments), Orion has the purest heart of gold, and her abuelita and sisters are the best kind of meddling ladies out there!
Honestly idk what to say other than it’s a very sweet story that gave me all of the tender, funny, and eye-brow raising moments I needed and wanted. I loved that their magic (blessings) were generational and I thought grief was brought up in different but careful ways between each character experiencing it. I’m excited to see what else J.C. Cervantes does in YA and will definitely pick anything else by them up because I genuinely enjoyed this easy-to-read writing style!!
Honestly idk what to say other than it’s a very sweet story that gave me all of the tender, funny, and eye-brow raising moments I needed and wanted. I loved that their magic (blessings) were generational and I thought grief was brought up in different but careful ways between each character experiencing it. I’m excited to see what else J.C. Cervantes does in YA and will definitely pick anything else by them up because I genuinely enjoyed this easy-to-read writing style!!
April 7, 2022
This was not the book I hoped it would be. It had a cool premise that combined some magic with a contemporary environment, similar to GLIMPSED, but it wasn't executed well.
The characters were my main issue with this book. I'm not even quite sure how to explain it, but I'm going to try. First, it felt like the book was setting some of the main characters up for bigger roles and then they just fell flat. It was really weird. Characters like Achilles and Grant felt like they were going to do something more than they did. Some of the confusion and mystery around them become clear towards the end of the book, but I was still left with a strange aftertaste in my mouth from them.
Then there was Rion. He was our lovely love interest, but I didn't love him. In fact, I was confused by him for the most of the book. He even gave off some creepy vibes at a couple of parts. There were a few scenes where I could see how he was supposed to appear sweet and caring and even swoony, but it just wasn't translating well for me. The main emotion I felt when he was around was confusion.
And Ava, our main character, wasn't much better. I'm not sure if this was how Ava was supposed to appear or if it was just poor writing, but Ava felt like she didn't have very many emotions. Or if she did, I felt like I didn't see them/they weren't described to me. There were scenes where I felt like I should be getting this detailed description of Ava's inner thoughts or something to tell me about an intense surge of emotions she was surely having and I got nothing.
Also, there was this deal with her mother that was weird and confusing. There are flashbacks all throughout this book of Ava's mother telling her a fairytale, but it's weird. I thought it was going to have some magical point to it, but no. It was just a story. I really could have lived without it and really wish it hadn't of been in this story.
I loved all the Spanglish in this book, but there are some Spanish words that aren't explained and could be frustrating to non-Spanish speakers. I speak Spanish so it wasn't a problem for me, but some of the words or phrases aren't translated and that could be annoying.
The reason I didn't DNF this book is because I thought there was going to be some great revelation to the all mysterious bits. Unfortunately, I was wrong. While everything was explained, it was a big let down.
Overall, I loved the idea behind this book, but I was left confused and disappointed in the end. I wouldn't recommend and won't be reading the next books in the series.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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The characters were my main issue with this book. I'm not even quite sure how to explain it, but I'm going to try. First, it felt like the book was setting some of the main characters up for bigger roles and then they just fell flat. It was really weird. Characters like Achilles and Grant felt like they were going to do something more than they did. Some of the confusion and mystery around them become clear towards the end of the book, but I was still left with a strange aftertaste in my mouth from them.
Then there was Rion. He was our lovely love interest, but I didn't love him. In fact, I was confused by him for the most of the book. He even gave off some creepy vibes at a couple of parts. There were a few scenes where I could see how he was supposed to appear sweet and caring and even swoony, but it just wasn't translating well for me. The main emotion I felt when he was around was confusion.
And Ava, our main character, wasn't much better. I'm not sure if this was how Ava was supposed to appear or if it was just poor writing, but Ava felt like she didn't have very many emotions. Or if she did, I felt like I didn't see them/they weren't described to me. There were scenes where I felt like I should be getting this detailed description of Ava's inner thoughts or something to tell me about an intense surge of emotions she was surely having and I got nothing.
Also, there was this deal with her mother that was weird and confusing. There are flashbacks all throughout this book of Ava's mother telling her a fairytale, but it's weird. I thought it was going to have some magical point to it, but no. It was just a story. I really could have lived without it and really wish it hadn't of been in this story.
I loved all the Spanglish in this book, but there are some Spanish words that aren't explained and could be frustrating to non-Spanish speakers. I speak Spanish so it wasn't a problem for me, but some of the words or phrases aren't translated and that could be annoying.
The reason I didn't DNF this book is because I thought there was going to be some great revelation to the all mysterious bits. Unfortunately, I was wrong. While everything was explained, it was a big let down.
Overall, I loved the idea behind this book, but I was left confused and disappointed in the end. I wouldn't recommend and won't be reading the next books in the series.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a gifted and advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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April 20, 2022
Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Flirting with Fate follows Ava Grandos. For as long as she's known, the women in her family pass on blessings on their deathbeds. Ava's nana has had several close calls, but on the night she truly does pass, Ava is a couple minutes late thanks to a freak storm and a small fender bender with a mysterious boy. She thinks her blessing is gone, but when her nana reappears the next day as a ghost, Ava finds out her blessing has been misplaced. She only has a month to find the boy who has and get it back otherwise her family will never have blessings again.
This one was so enjoyable and fun!! I loved Ava's character and her grumpy attitude about fate. The way the family stories were entwined was so cute and this one made my heart happy. I loved her relationship with her sisters and how they always supported each other. Though Viv hiding her relationship was kind of weird, and the way Ava reacted to it was weird.
I'm eternally grateful that Achilles was not the love interest because I had an intense hate for him. He was such a pretentious entitled white boy and even though by the end he starts to work on his attitude, I still didn't like him. I loved Orion or Rion though. He was the sweetest cinnamon roll and I loved all his interactions with Ava. They were so cute together!
Rep: Mexican-American cishet female MC, Mexican-American side characters, white cishet male side characters, gay cis male side character.
CWs: Moderate: Car accident, classism, racism, xenophobia.
Flirting with Fate follows Ava Grandos. For as long as she's known, the women in her family pass on blessings on their deathbeds. Ava's nana has had several close calls, but on the night she truly does pass, Ava is a couple minutes late thanks to a freak storm and a small fender bender with a mysterious boy. She thinks her blessing is gone, but when her nana reappears the next day as a ghost, Ava finds out her blessing has been misplaced. She only has a month to find the boy who has and get it back otherwise her family will never have blessings again.
This one was so enjoyable and fun!! I loved Ava's character and her grumpy attitude about fate. The way the family stories were entwined was so cute and this one made my heart happy. I loved her relationship with her sisters and how they always supported each other. Though Viv hiding her relationship was kind of weird, and the way Ava reacted to it was weird.
I'm eternally grateful that Achilles was not the love interest because I had an intense hate for him. He was such a pretentious entitled white boy and even though by the end he starts to work on his attitude, I still didn't like him. I loved Orion or Rion though. He was the sweetest cinnamon roll and I loved all his interactions with Ava. They were so cute together!
Rep: Mexican-American cishet female MC, Mexican-American side characters, white cishet male side characters, gay cis male side character.
CWs: Moderate: Car accident, classism, racism, xenophobia.
May 24, 2022
A YA with heavy emphasis on the young less on the adult. I think this story is probably intended more for teenagers.
Girls in Ava's family get blessings when their matriarchs die. Unfortunately for Ava she is not at her grandmother's deathbed to recieve her miracle; she is getting into a fender bender down the street. Her miracle goes to the boy she bumped into instead by an act of fate. Ava is forced to pursue a friendship with the boy to regain her miracle and catches feelings for him in the process.
This story is and odd blend of catholicism, magical blessings, and fate (which apparently holds the reins of our lives, I think that was a lesson Ava had to learn?) I was interested in the premise but the execution didn't live up to the potential. I think I've outgrown YA, or this YA in particular just wasn't my style. I couldn't connect or engage with the story or the characters. They were just so... immature. I wound up skimming quite a bit.
Girls in Ava's family get blessings when their matriarchs die. Unfortunately for Ava she is not at her grandmother's deathbed to recieve her miracle; she is getting into a fender bender down the street. Her miracle goes to the boy she bumped into instead by an act of fate. Ava is forced to pursue a friendship with the boy to regain her miracle and catches feelings for him in the process.
This story is and odd blend of catholicism, magical blessings, and fate (which apparently holds the reins of our lives, I think that was a lesson Ava had to learn?) I was interested in the premise but the execution didn't live up to the potential. I think I've outgrown YA, or this YA in particular just wasn't my style. I couldn't connect or engage with the story or the characters. They were just so... immature. I wound up skimming quite a bit.
January 30, 2024
I unexpectedly loved this story. Well written and paced, endearing story and characters. A solid 4 stars.
April 8, 2022
3.5 stars
rep: Mexican-American protagonist and side characters, bisexual side character; (Mexican-American author)
cw: death of a grandmother, mentions of parent abandonment and death of parents (due to a car accident)
When I first read the summary of this book, I was immediately intrigued. Mystical blessings and fated meetings? Count me in. Flirting with Fate was an adorable story about fated encounters, mystical blessings, and the strength of family bonds.
Ava Granados and her sisters Viv and Carmen have been waiting for their blessings bestowed by their grandmother on her deathbed. After a few false alarms, Ava arrives late to receive her own blessing after accidentally crashing into Rion‘s car. Her grandmother’s ghost, and her guide St. Medardus, later appear to her, telling her that her blessing was accidentally sent to the boy she hit that night — and that she must get it back lest her grandmother be cursed to wander forever in purgatory without her memories. Ava must then befriend Rion and figure out how to transfer the blessing back.
I really liked the concept of this book! Every matriarch bestows blessings to their daughters (or granddaughters in this case) on their deathbeds. Viv and Carmen get persuasive skills and perfect memory, respectively. Fate also plays an important role in this book, which you see in the first chapter and gradually throughout the entire story.
The characters were great; Ava is a bit guarded against love after her mother left their family years ago. She also does not believe in fate, but she has to get over all of this in order to befriend Rion. They gradually grow closer. I also liked her relationship with her sisters. The three of them are obviously so close and provide so much support for each other. She also has such a strong relationship with her grandmother.
The romance was cute! Ava and Rion clearly click from the beginning, and I really liked reading their conversations. The plan technically doesn’t require her to fall in love—just to form some bond with him—but she can’t help but fall in love with him over time.
Overall, Flirting with Fate was a cute story that details fate’s hand in the characters’ lives. I liked the characters and the romance, although I’m not sure what the second book will be about if Ava is still the protagonist. If you’re looking for a cute contemporary novel with a touch of magic and fate, you should check out Flirting with Fate!
this was cute!
read on my blog
rep: Mexican-American protagonist and side characters, bisexual side character; (Mexican-American author)
cw: death of a grandmother, mentions of parent abandonment and death of parents (due to a car accident)
**I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley (thank you, Penguin Teen!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
When I first read the summary of this book, I was immediately intrigued. Mystical blessings and fated meetings? Count me in. Flirting with Fate was an adorable story about fated encounters, mystical blessings, and the strength of family bonds.
Ava Granados and her sisters Viv and Carmen have been waiting for their blessings bestowed by their grandmother on her deathbed. After a few false alarms, Ava arrives late to receive her own blessing after accidentally crashing into Rion‘s car. Her grandmother’s ghost, and her guide St. Medardus, later appear to her, telling her that her blessing was accidentally sent to the boy she hit that night — and that she must get it back lest her grandmother be cursed to wander forever in purgatory without her memories. Ava must then befriend Rion and figure out how to transfer the blessing back.
I really liked the concept of this book! Every matriarch bestows blessings to their daughters (or granddaughters in this case) on their deathbeds. Viv and Carmen get persuasive skills and perfect memory, respectively. Fate also plays an important role in this book, which you see in the first chapter and gradually throughout the entire story.
The characters were great; Ava is a bit guarded against love after her mother left their family years ago. She also does not believe in fate, but she has to get over all of this in order to befriend Rion. They gradually grow closer. I also liked her relationship with her sisters. The three of them are obviously so close and provide so much support for each other. She also has such a strong relationship with her grandmother.
The romance was cute! Ava and Rion clearly click from the beginning, and I really liked reading their conversations. The plan technically doesn’t require her to fall in love—just to form some bond with him—but she can’t help but fall in love with him over time.
Overall, Flirting with Fate was a cute story that details fate’s hand in the characters’ lives. I liked the characters and the romance, although I’m not sure what the second book will be about if Ava is still the protagonist. If you’re looking for a cute contemporary novel with a touch of magic and fate, you should check out Flirting with Fate!
original review:
this was cute!
March 22, 2022
3.5 rounded up. Thank you PenguinTeen for an eARC of this book! All opinions are my own.
Ava's grandmother has the ability to pass on blessings to her female descendants, but in order to receive their blessings, they have to be present for her death. Ava gets caught in a storm and a fender bender the night of her grandmother's death, and she thinks that's the end of it until her grandmother's ghost appears. Turns out her grandmother did send out the blessing, but it hit someone else: the boy she got into the fender bender with. To get the blessing back she must form a genuine bond with him, or her grandmother will spend the rest of eternity stuck as a ghost.
I was torn between giving this book 3 or 4 stars, so I settled on 3.5. I thought this book was cute, but parts of it felt juvenile and abrupt. Rion, the love interest, doesn't feel like a fleshed out character, just someone who acts however the author wants him to based on what Ava, the mc's, needs to do. His twin brother, Achilles, also goes through the most rushed character development I've ever read, but I still understood where he was coming from and why he acted the way he did earlier in the book. The two sisters, Carmen and Viviana, were definitely the best characters in this book. I loved their relationship with Ava, they really made me feel like an only-child haha. The grandmother, or Nana, was also a really sweet character, and even her ghost/saint sidekick was pretty nice.
Overall, this book was a cute and quick read, not serious enough to require a huge time commitment, but grounded enough with its messages.
Ava's grandmother has the ability to pass on blessings to her female descendants, but in order to receive their blessings, they have to be present for her death. Ava gets caught in a storm and a fender bender the night of her grandmother's death, and she thinks that's the end of it until her grandmother's ghost appears. Turns out her grandmother did send out the blessing, but it hit someone else: the boy she got into the fender bender with. To get the blessing back she must form a genuine bond with him, or her grandmother will spend the rest of eternity stuck as a ghost.
I was torn between giving this book 3 or 4 stars, so I settled on 3.5. I thought this book was cute, but parts of it felt juvenile and abrupt. Rion, the love interest, doesn't feel like a fleshed out character, just someone who acts however the author wants him to based on what Ava, the mc's, needs to do. His twin brother, Achilles, also goes through the most rushed character development I've ever read, but I still understood where he was coming from and why he acted the way he did earlier in the book. The two sisters, Carmen and Viviana, were definitely the best characters in this book. I loved their relationship with Ava, they really made me feel like an only-child haha. The grandmother, or Nana, was also a really sweet character, and even her ghost/saint sidekick was pretty nice.
Overall, this book was a cute and quick read, not serious enough to require a huge time commitment, but grounded enough with its messages.
April 24, 2022
I was very intrigued when I read the blurb and even the first look, but this book fell a little flat for me. I didn’t think the characters were very well developed (although I did like Nana and Tres). I found the story to be ok, but it wasn’t gripping and I found myself having to push myself to finishing this one. Ava is rushing to get to her grandmother’s death bed so that she can receive a blessing which runs between the women in their family. She bumps her car into a stranger’s and is too late. But soon she’s haunted by her Nana and a lesser known saint who tell her she has to get her blessing back or her family loses their ability to pass blessings on at all. The book is sprinkled with “fairy fails” that Ava’s mother told her before she ran away and I felt like these were a little distracting. I thought there were more of them than were needed to hammer the point home. Overall I thought this one was ok, but it’s listed as a series on Goodreads and I don’t think I’ll be looking for book two.
April 21, 2022
A sweet summer romance with a hint of magic. I was super excited for this book because I loved the cover, but mainly the Mexican American representation!
I’ve been debating for days on what to rate this one. I thought this was a cute book and really liked the plot. I can’t say that I loved the characters though. There was something about Ava that I just didn’t like. Please don’t get me started on the sisters either.
I also didn’t love the mom flashbacks, they honestly just confused me more than anything. Felt very pointless.
What I did love was the family dynamics. Absolutely loved the relationship the women had with each other.
Overall I liked the book enough but I didn’t love it . I would recommend this to the younger YA crowd.
I’ve been debating for days on what to rate this one. I thought this was a cute book and really liked the plot. I can’t say that I loved the characters though. There was something about Ava that I just didn’t like. Please don’t get me started on the sisters either.
I also didn’t love the mom flashbacks, they honestly just confused me more than anything. Felt very pointless.
What I did love was the family dynamics. Absolutely loved the relationship the women had with each other.
Overall I liked the book enough but I didn’t love it . I would recommend this to the younger YA crowd.
December 22, 2022
This book was a very unexpected five star read. It’s a story full of magic and opening up and trusting the ones around you. Within the first 100 pages, I was absolutely hooked. Cervantes has some sort of magic in her writing. I swear. I wasn’t expecting to give this book more than 3.5 stars. It was supposed to be a fun, quick read.
But wow…did it ever suck me in.
But wow…did it ever suck me in.
May 11, 2022
TITLE: Flirting with Fate
AUTHOR: J. C. Cervantes
PUB DATE: 04.19.2022 Now Available
Flirting with Fate is such a cute read about families and sisterhood, with a bit of magic and romance.
Set in my hometown of Southern California, Ava Granados gets into a fender bender during a storm, causing her to miss her Nana’s blessing passed on to the women on their deathbed, and the blessing was passed on to someone else instead. Ava is destined to make this right, with the help of her sisters and Nana’s ghostly spirit.
Super cute and an overall enjoyable quick read!
AUTHOR: J. C. Cervantes
PUB DATE: 04.19.2022 Now Available
Flirting with Fate is such a cute read about families and sisterhood, with a bit of magic and romance.
Set in my hometown of Southern California, Ava Granados gets into a fender bender during a storm, causing her to miss her Nana’s blessing passed on to the women on their deathbed, and the blessing was passed on to someone else instead. Ava is destined to make this right, with the help of her sisters and Nana’s ghostly spirit.
Super cute and an overall enjoyable quick read!
February 9, 2022
this was the perfect book to read about near Valentine’s Day because wow the Sleepless in Seattle vibes are real. full rtc :)
thank you penguin teen for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
thank you penguin teen for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
January 20, 2023
read this in one day, this was seriously such a cute read! full review soon
August 8, 2022
If you take Jane the Virgin added a dash of Encanto and a pinch of Cemetery Boys’ mystery minus the murder you’d get this book. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Full review coming soon.
dnf
April 6, 2022DNF at 40%. I was really intrigued by the blurb, but sadly the story just isn’t hooking me. I love the sister relationship between Ava, Carmen, and Vivienne, but I don’t feel invested enough in the conflict and mystery to continue. The writing is good, so this could definitely be an it’s me, not you situation, but I’ve decided to put this one down for now.
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
April 7, 2022
Enjoyable, adorable, and lovable! This book is definitely reminiscent of Encanto, except with the sweetest romance plot added in. I loved watching Ava and Orion fall for each other, especially with all of the antics of Meda, Nana, and her sisters thrown in. The small sparks of magic in her sister's gifts bring elements of magical realism to the book, and it's lovely seeing their bond play out on the pages. The title of the book really says it all - it's full of flirting and acts of fate! It is a bit predictable, but makes up for it in the pure cuteness.
*Thank you to Razorbill and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*
*Thank you to Razorbill and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*
April 23, 2022
3.5 stars.
This was an incredibly sweet story. It follows Ava, a teenage girl who misses her chance to receive a deathbed blessing from her grandmother; when a stranger accidentally ends up with her blessing, she tracks him down and has to figure out how to get the blessing back.
I enjoyed getting to watch Ava's journey; the plot and the other characters were interesting in their own right, but her growth and self-discovery were the most enjoyable parts of the story to me. I also really liked the closeness of all three sisters and their ability to own up to mistakes, apologize, and move forward.
The writing itself wasn't quite my cup of tea; it occasionally came across as juvenile and trying too hard to be hip. I recognize it's a YA book, but I don't usually notice or mind the writing style quite so much. Still, I did like the book overall, and enjoyed how everything got wrapped up at the end.
Thanks to BookishFirst for providing this advanced copy.
This was an incredibly sweet story. It follows Ava, a teenage girl who misses her chance to receive a deathbed blessing from her grandmother; when a stranger accidentally ends up with her blessing, she tracks him down and has to figure out how to get the blessing back.
I enjoyed getting to watch Ava's journey; the plot and the other characters were interesting in their own right, but her growth and self-discovery were the most enjoyable parts of the story to me. I also really liked the closeness of all three sisters and their ability to own up to mistakes, apologize, and move forward.
The writing itself wasn't quite my cup of tea; it occasionally came across as juvenile and trying too hard to be hip. I recognize it's a YA book, but I don't usually notice or mind the writing style quite so much. Still, I did like the book overall, and enjoyed how everything got wrapped up at the end.
Thanks to BookishFirst for providing this advanced copy.
March 30, 2022
3.5 rounded down to 3.
This book fell a little flat for me.
Here’s what I enjoyed: the representation. The sister dynamic and how they were central to the story. The dynamic between the abuela and Ava. There is a lot of love between the women in the family and they support each other wholeheartedly. I liked that Ava had something that brought her joy (making food). There were some parts of the story that were written in a way that seemed truly magical. There was lots of good imagery.
I didn’t enjoy the mom’s part in the story. She causes some serious emotional damage and tbh, I think they all need therapy from her “princess story” (who tells that kind of stuff to children?) and her abandoning them. Ava is closed off for a reason and I hate to think of her issues getting downplayed of how everything ends. I also didn’t love that she called her dad Raul. Why didn’t she just call him Dad? Lastly, I thought the story was a little cheesy with all of the connections.
With all of that being said, I think this book will vibe well with a younger YA reader. Overall, it’s cute and cheesy and definitely a feel-good story.
Thank you PenguinTeen and NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC!
This book fell a little flat for me.
Here’s what I enjoyed: the representation. The sister dynamic and how they were central to the story. The dynamic between the abuela and Ava. There is a lot of love between the women in the family and they support each other wholeheartedly. I liked that Ava had something that brought her joy (making food). There were some parts of the story that were written in a way that seemed truly magical. There was lots of good imagery.
I didn’t enjoy the mom’s part in the story. She causes some serious emotional damage and tbh, I think they all need therapy from her “princess story” (who tells that kind of stuff to children?) and her abandoning them. Ava is closed off for a reason and I hate to think of her issues getting downplayed of how everything ends. I also didn’t love that she called her dad Raul. Why didn’t she just call him Dad? Lastly, I thought the story was a little cheesy with all of the connections.
With all of that being said, I think this book will vibe well with a younger YA reader. Overall, it’s cute and cheesy and definitely a feel-good story.
Thank you PenguinTeen and NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC!
April 25, 2022
I was really excited for this book, because the idea seemed very fun, a semi-dramatic meet cute along with some familial love and puzzles.
The issue i had with it, was that it felt like a lot of telling instead of showing, the story itself was very predictable within the first 10 pages, which i don't mind for most books, but i do when it's so formulaic that it's boring. I've read lots of books that have a predictable storyline, but written in a way that has made me feel connected to the characters, the story itself, the banter, etc. I felt like this one didn't do that and i just wanted the characters to hurry up and move along so we could get to the end. The romantic part left something to be desired, it was more of a footnote than anything.
The magic part was the only part that made me kind of like it. It wasn't super boring to where i wanted to DNF it, but enough where i just felt like it was a one and done. 3/5 ,it was just "okay"
The issue i had with it, was that it felt like a lot of telling instead of showing, the story itself was very predictable within the first 10 pages, which i don't mind for most books, but i do when it's so formulaic that it's boring. I've read lots of books that have a predictable storyline, but written in a way that has made me feel connected to the characters, the story itself, the banter, etc. I felt like this one didn't do that and i just wanted the characters to hurry up and move along so we could get to the end. The romantic part left something to be desired, it was more of a footnote than anything.
The magic part was the only part that made me kind of like it. It wasn't super boring to where i wanted to DNF it, but enough where i just felt like it was a one and done. 3/5 ,it was just "okay"
April 10, 2022
Meteors, stars, 8:51. Collision. And the hummingbird.
Not everyone believes in fate or destiny. Some believe you have a choice and what you choose brings you the result. Ava Granados, never believed in it while everyone around her did. But during one fateful storm, her Nana was on her deathbed. So, she raced home to get her blessing and say goodbye to the woman she loved. But with one little slip, her blessing ends up with someone else. No one knew the damage of what would happen in their blessing ended up in another body, but Ava wasn’t expecting her Nana’s ghost to appear with a Saint. They gave her four weeks to get her blessing back or else her Nana won’t be able to cross over and will lose all her memories. With so much at stake she gets helps from her older sisters to get back what is rightfully hers. What she wasn’t expecting was the boy who held her blessing.
I’ll be honest I held back on reading this after the first chapter didn’t catch my attention right away, so I put it aside, but I am so glad I picked it up again. This story was better than I imagined it could have ever been! Especially since this story isn’t the usual type I read. I read it in a day and I don’t regret it! This story follows along Ava beautifully and while reading it you can feel her conflict of what she used to believe and what she is starting to. This story also shows great sister relationship, which as someone who’s a middle child I always love any type of sibling relationship in a story! We also get to follow along young, sweet love, in a few different forms. Get to see the point of view of Ava who watches how her sister and a corporate love in their lives. I would like to mention at first the fairytale that her mother tells is quite distracting and confusing but in the end it does make much more sense. It also shows why the daughters love the way they do. It shows how different people corporate the same story.
I truly do recommend this to anyone who is interested in a sweet story that focus on love, not just romantic love but mainly love of a family!
Thank you PenguinTeen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Not everyone believes in fate or destiny. Some believe you have a choice and what you choose brings you the result. Ava Granados, never believed in it while everyone around her did. But during one fateful storm, her Nana was on her deathbed. So, she raced home to get her blessing and say goodbye to the woman she loved. But with one little slip, her blessing ends up with someone else. No one knew the damage of what would happen in their blessing ended up in another body, but Ava wasn’t expecting her Nana’s ghost to appear with a Saint. They gave her four weeks to get her blessing back or else her Nana won’t be able to cross over and will lose all her memories. With so much at stake she gets helps from her older sisters to get back what is rightfully hers. What she wasn’t expecting was the boy who held her blessing.
I’ll be honest I held back on reading this after the first chapter didn’t catch my attention right away, so I put it aside, but I am so glad I picked it up again. This story was better than I imagined it could have ever been! Especially since this story isn’t the usual type I read. I read it in a day and I don’t regret it! This story follows along Ava beautifully and while reading it you can feel her conflict of what she used to believe and what she is starting to. This story also shows great sister relationship, which as someone who’s a middle child I always love any type of sibling relationship in a story! We also get to follow along young, sweet love, in a few different forms. Get to see the point of view of Ava who watches how her sister and a corporate love in their lives. I would like to mention at first the fairytale that her mother tells is quite distracting and confusing but in the end it does make much more sense. It also shows why the daughters love the way they do. It shows how different people corporate the same story.
I truly do recommend this to anyone who is interested in a sweet story that focus on love, not just romantic love but mainly love of a family!
Thank you PenguinTeen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 30, 2022
actual rating: 3.5 stars
ava doesn’t believe in fate, so fate naturally has its own comeback. getting to a car accident on a rainy night meant that ava was late for her nana’s deathbed. everyone thought that nana couldn’t bless ava because of this, but when she suddenly appeared in front ava, she reveals the opposite. however, nana couldn't actually remember what the blessing was. only that it was granted to someone, and that someone happens to be the guy ava got into a fender bender. ava will have to befriend the dude and get back her blessing.
i liked the budding friendship between orion and ava, but truthfully that mysterious, unsolved side romance was my favorite. nothing is complicated between them, except for the fact that ava is weirdly into knocking into orion so that the transfer can happen.
it was fun. i’ve never read anything from j.c. cervantes before but i can say that i’ll be following her YA romances from now.
ava doesn’t believe in fate, so fate naturally has its own comeback. getting to a car accident on a rainy night meant that ava was late for her nana’s deathbed. everyone thought that nana couldn’t bless ava because of this, but when she suddenly appeared in front ava, she reveals the opposite. however, nana couldn't actually remember what the blessing was. only that it was granted to someone, and that someone happens to be the guy ava got into a fender bender. ava will have to befriend the dude and get back her blessing.
i liked the budding friendship between orion and ava, but truthfully that mysterious, unsolved side romance was my favorite. nothing is complicated between them, except for the fact that ava is weirdly into knocking into orion so that the transfer can happen.
it was fun. i’ve never read anything from j.c. cervantes before but i can say that i’ll be following her YA romances from now.
November 28, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Razorbill for sending me a copy of this book! All opinions are my own!
This book was SO CUTE!! From the very start, it hooks the reader and doesn't let go! I could have read it all in one sitting if life hadn't gotten in the way. It has this way of keeping you on your toes and making sure that you absolutely need to know what's coming next.
I loved the characters and how much they had to learn and grow throughout the story. It made things matter so much more and made me that much more invested in what was going to happen to them. It was balanced so well with the humor and sweetness of the book. The romance was also so well balanced with familial and sisterly love, and there was so much depth to each part of it.
The one thing is that the bigger reveals of the book were something I was able to predict, which doesn't often happen for me. That made it a little less impactful, but the story itself was still so sweet and endearing.
If you love romcoms and are looking for a diverse one, this is the book for you!
This book was SO CUTE!! From the very start, it hooks the reader and doesn't let go! I could have read it all in one sitting if life hadn't gotten in the way. It has this way of keeping you on your toes and making sure that you absolutely need to know what's coming next.
I loved the characters and how much they had to learn and grow throughout the story. It made things matter so much more and made me that much more invested in what was going to happen to them. It was balanced so well with the humor and sweetness of the book. The romance was also so well balanced with familial and sisterly love, and there was so much depth to each part of it.
The one thing is that the bigger reveals of the book were something I was able to predict, which doesn't often happen for me. That made it a little less impactful, but the story itself was still so sweet and endearing.
If you love romcoms and are looking for a diverse one, this is the book for you!
February 11, 2023
1.5
This book has such a cute idea but it was very poorly executed. There were so many flaws that I can’t even begin to articulate.
One of my biggest issues with this book was that the author would introduce new rules to the storyline out of nowhere to conveniently drive the plot exactly where she wanted it to go.
The reveal was also extremely predictable, which doesn’t always bother me, but in conjunction with everything else I didn’t like was just another reason to be annoyed by it all.
The MC wasn’t very likable and her logic regarding falling for the guy with her blessing vs trying to get the blessing from him made no sense. These two things were not mutually exclusive but she acted like they were the whole time, which, if you read the story, you’d know how dumb that sounds.
The love was also kind of bland and not at all swoon worthy.
There was this part where the love interest nicknames the MC “Nine” and when she asks why, he says, “it’s bc it’s the number of your teeth that show when you smile” ….idk about you, but that is NOT cute. Did the author want that to be cute? I love love, but gosh if that wasn’t the most cringey thing I’ve read in a while…idk what is.
This book has such a cute idea but it was very poorly executed. There were so many flaws that I can’t even begin to articulate.
One of my biggest issues with this book was that the author would introduce new rules to the storyline out of nowhere to conveniently drive the plot exactly where she wanted it to go.
The reveal was also extremely predictable, which doesn’t always bother me, but in conjunction with everything else I didn’t like was just another reason to be annoyed by it all.
The MC wasn’t very likable and her logic regarding falling for the guy with her blessing vs trying to get the blessing from him made no sense. These two things were not mutually exclusive but she acted like they were the whole time, which, if you read the story, you’d know how dumb that sounds.
The love was also kind of bland and not at all swoon worthy.
There was this part where the love interest nicknames the MC “Nine” and when she asks why, he says, “it’s bc it’s the number of your teeth that show when you smile” ….idk about you, but that is NOT cute. Did the author want that to be cute? I love love, but gosh if that wasn’t the most cringey thing I’ve read in a while…idk what is.
June 14, 2022
something about this book is that it was never predictable. things that would be so easy in a romcom was never easy in this book. she was faced with problems on top of problems and nothing worked out for her like it would in a cheesy movie or book. my favorite thing was how EVERYTHING came full circle and landed exactly where…. where fate intended it.
March 23, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙑𝙞𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙔𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙅.𝘾. 𝘾𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙨'𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙔𝘼 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙩.
🪄 This book was absolutely breathtaking! I really enjoyed this author’s writing style and can’t believe it’s a debut. I’ll will always read a book with a Mexican-American character and story! The representation of our MC was just so wonderfully done. This was a delightful read and I’m so honored to have been able to read this book a bit earlier than the release date.
👻 Normally I struggle with YA romcoms but I actually really enjoyed this one. These characters were very well detailed to the point where you just have to like them. I really enjoyed the magical realism aspect here too! I always gravitate towards stories that have a strong family bond and surely this one was one of them. It added so many more elements to the story itself and made it much more compelling.
🪄 Flirting With Fate releases April 19 and it was definitely a stunning read! These characters will make you absolutely enjoy this story and this author sure knows how to grab the reader’s attention. It’s one of those quicker reads that just has you flipping pages. It was so fun - but also serious - and is the perfect read to take you on a magical ride!! Two of my favorite movies are Coco and Encanto… with that being said this book gave me those vibes! Such a fun read - highly recommend!
✨Thank you Penguin Teen for sending me a review copy in exchange for my honest review✨
𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙑𝙞𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙔𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙅.𝘾. 𝘾𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙨'𝙨 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙔𝘼 𝙙𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙩.
🪄 This book was absolutely breathtaking! I really enjoyed this author’s writing style and can’t believe it’s a debut. I’ll will always read a book with a Mexican-American character and story! The representation of our MC was just so wonderfully done. This was a delightful read and I’m so honored to have been able to read this book a bit earlier than the release date.
👻 Normally I struggle with YA romcoms but I actually really enjoyed this one. These characters were very well detailed to the point where you just have to like them. I really enjoyed the magical realism aspect here too! I always gravitate towards stories that have a strong family bond and surely this one was one of them. It added so many more elements to the story itself and made it much more compelling.
🪄 Flirting With Fate releases April 19 and it was definitely a stunning read! These characters will make you absolutely enjoy this story and this author sure knows how to grab the reader’s attention. It’s one of those quicker reads that just has you flipping pages. It was so fun - but also serious - and is the perfect read to take you on a magical ride!! Two of my favorite movies are Coco and Encanto… with that being said this book gave me those vibes! Such a fun read - highly recommend!
✨Thank you Penguin Teen for sending me a review copy in exchange for my honest review✨
April 26, 2022
Sweet, swoony, and heartwarming. An amazing debut!
May 25, 2022
Cover is so cute! Finally, long dark hair like mine!
July 10, 2022
3 ⭐
*Audio version*
A little predictable, but extremely sweet and lovely, an easy listen.
This story could easily be adapted to a film, or short TV series.
🍊❄☄
*Audio version*
A little predictable, but extremely sweet and lovely, an easy listen.
This story could easily be adapted to a film, or short TV series.
🍊❄☄
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