What do you think?
Rate this book
With Love, Echo Park
From the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, this novel follows two Cuban teens in LA’s Echo Park neighborhood who clash over their visions for the future, the secrets between their families…and the sparks flying between them.Seventeen-year-old Clary is set to inherit her family’s florist shop, La Rosa Blanca—one of the last remnants of the Cuban business district that once thrived in Los Angeles’s Echo Park neighborhood. Clary knows Echo Park is where she’ll leave a legacy, and nothing is more important to her than keeping the area’s unique history alive. Besides Clary’s florist shop, there’s only one other business left founded by Cuban immigrants fleeing Castro’s regime in the sixties and seventies. And Emilio, who’s supposed to take over Avalos Bicycle Works one day, is more flight risk than dependable successor. While others might find Emilio appealing, Clary can see him itching to leave now that he’s graduated, and she’ll never be charmed by a guy who doesn’t care if one more Echo Park business fades away. But then Clary is caught off guard when an unexpected visitor delivers a shocking message from someone she thought she’d left behind. Meanwhile, Emilio realizes leaving home won’t be so easy—and Clary, who has always been next door, is who he confides in. As the summer days unfold, they find there’s something stronger than local history tying them together.
Hardcover
First published August 27, 2024
About the author
Laura Taylor Namey
7 books1,044 followersLaura Taylor Namey is the New York Times and international bestselling author of young adult fiction including Reese's Book Club pick A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow. A proud Cuban-American, she can be found hunting for vintage treasures and wishing she was in London or Paris. She lives in San Diego with her husband and two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
Want to Read
February 4, 202203.02.2022 clap when you land meets gilmore girls sounds too good.
Read
May 22, 2024Felt like “In the Heights” meets a classic Sarah dessen summer love story.
January 10, 2026
Laura Taylor Namey writes the most gorgeous and multi-faceted stories and With Love, Echo Park is no exception.
Exploring culture, family, heritage and loyalty to both people and places, With Love, Echo Park is a story of love in a variety of forms. I completely fell for Clary and her passion and Emilio was an utter sweetheart. It was all too easy to root for them.
This is such a sweet and special story and one I’d happily return to.
Exploring culture, family, heritage and loyalty to both people and places, With Love, Echo Park is a story of love in a variety of forms. I completely fell for Clary and her passion and Emilio was an utter sweetheart. It was all too easy to root for them.
This is such a sweet and special story and one I’d happily return to.
February 1, 2025
A sweet romance with In the Heights vibes! I wasn’t sure I shipped Clary and Emilio at first but I did end up shipping them by the end, and I loved Clary and Jada’s relationship. Also, I learned so much about working at a florist, which was very cool!
September 6, 2024
this was beautiful and i love laura taylor namey.
’we stay so long, we grow roots in the lakefront grass. the sun peeks through, eavesdropping as we stretch out fully, kissing and kissing, touching and touching until all the leaving i’ve ever known with him dies like cut flowers and old photos. fades with all the things we used to believe.’
’we stay so long, we grow roots in the lakefront grass. the sun peeks through, eavesdropping as we stretch out fully, kissing and kissing, touching and touching until all the leaving i’ve ever known with him dies like cut flowers and old photos. fades with all the things we used to believe.’
August 5, 2024
With every new book she publishes, Laura Taylor Namey continues to cement herself as one of my favorite authors and “With Love, Echo Park” is no exception. While on the surface it may seem like a cute YA enemies to lovers book, Clary’s story is so much more than that. We see her struggle with learning new information about her past while her present seems to also be changing at a rapid pace, as she fights to prevent gentrification from changing the culturally vibrant neighborhood that has raised her. Namey expertly tackles very real issues that teenagers face, but aren’t necessarily represented in the YA genre (and that I wish had been more present when I was in that demographic). She also continues to focus on Latinx main characters and all the nuances that exist within their cultures. Stories that, once again, I wish were being told when I was a teenager who didn’t always see her Cuban heritage so beautifully showcased in literature. I always feel connected to Namey’s stories and characters, but this one in particular since my grandmother’s family had been florists in Havana before she came to the US. So, much like how an invisible string may have tied Clary to Emilio, I too feel like a single thread of gold has tied me to this book.
November 6, 2024
The book was okay—not great, but not terrible. I appreciated it as a love letter to Cuban culture in Los Angeles, and I loved how the author wove in the area's history and the significance. However, the story had too many threads that felt scattered, and the romance plot was lackluster. The chemistry between the main characters felt forced, and the love interest wasn’t especially charming. Maybe I feel this way because I don’t typically read a lot of young adult realistic fiction, but overall, it was a decent read with some memorable elements.
July 26, 2026
Guys! This was so cute, genuinely one of my favourite books that I picked up this year. Laura Taylor Namey has done it again folks.
Clary’s family owns a flower shop that she is set to inherit in Echo Park, a flourishing Latino neighbourhood. Opposite their shop is Bicycle Works. Emilio, the owner’s son, and Clary can never see eye to eye but after an unexpected visitor turns Clary’s world upside down and Emilio’s family goes through something major, they find solace in one another and in Echo Park.
I loved A Cuban Girl’s Guide, it was the cutest most incredible ray of sunshine of a book and this one was too. I didn’t love A British Girl’s Guide, but that’s okay because this book was adorable. I know it took me a while to read but I was designing potential costumes for a play about a hypothetical tiger (if you know, you know).
One thing I hate about a Laura Taylor Namey book, the food references BECAUSE WHERE CAN I GET FOOD LIKE THAT, THE SANDWICHES AND HOSPITAL CINNAMON ROLLS, like actually stop it. I can’t. It makes me so mad because I’m hungry and can’t eat all the yummy food and the food state map as well as the fact that Emilio loves food so much had my heart. Also I would die for a Señor Clucks combo (Lourdes and I would probably be regulars there).
Okay, so I don’t live in America so these are me problems but:
1. I didn’t realise Echo Park was a real place (sorry, I have since fixed my ignorance people. It is a very cool place with very real swan boats [“what?! They really exist?!” I hear you say, and yes, yes they do and I would love to ride one]).
2. There is a very small Latino population in South Africa (where I reside) so I needed a lot of google to understand some of the words, foods and family members. I know who Papi, Abu and Mamita are to Clary now, don’t worry. I also totally did not google a swear word (yikes!).
So that’s my problems, back to the good stuff. The setting was amazing. I wanted to live in Echo Park with the sense of community, dominos, awesome murals and love and safety. The setting felt so real and actually so well made and the way the community functioned was the best. Genuinely jealous I didn’t live there and I could totally see myself living there.
Clary is a good protagonist. She does have a few flaws and acts out a bit impulsively, obviously she was shocked meeting Jada but the way she treated her kind of felt a bit unnecessary. Jada was the literal sweetest though and I am obsessed with her and her ability to conjure up parking spaces (my dad does that too, I find it very cool). She was chill and Her history was so sad but she was a total cutie. Lourdes was adorable as well. She was such a fiery ball of energy who really always stood by Clary, she was the best and her Señor Cluck addiction was so relatable.
Papi, Mamita and Abu were also so cute and rainbowls 🌈🥣, sign me up guys. Her family (even Tia Roxanne) were always rallying around her and protecting her. They just felt like a huge hug and were the kindest. Rocco was also the bestest boy out there and I love that he was in the whole book because I find authors tend to leave the pets behind at some point.
And Wheels! Or better known as Emilio, he was so cute! Him and Clary and their bickering was the best. They did have some really good chemistry, lots of spark AND THAT QUINCE SCENE, oh my gosh guys, I was squealing and giggling and kicking my feet. I loved how much he cared about her and knew how she didn’t like mayo in her sandwiches and and as mentioned before, the fact that he knew the whole state food map was such a flex honestly. He had the biggest heart and him and Clary were the best together. Also, Wheels and Thorn, they were meant for each other.
I also loved how marginalised communities were highlighted and Clary’s fight for her legacy was so important. I really loved how
Unfortunately this book had one very main problem IT WAS TOO SHORT! It was absolutely so fantastic but once her and Emilio finally get together, it kind of ends, we get a small bit of them but not much. That made me sad and also
But yeah, why is this book so underrated? Guys, get on the bandwagon now! It should be so popular, the setting, the vibes, the chemistry, the family and the food. Literally one of my new favourites. 🌈🎨🪻🚲🥪
Clary’s family owns a flower shop that she is set to inherit in Echo Park, a flourishing Latino neighbourhood. Opposite their shop is Bicycle Works. Emilio, the owner’s son, and Clary can never see eye to eye but after an unexpected visitor turns Clary’s world upside down and Emilio’s family goes through something major, they find solace in one another and in Echo Park.
I loved A Cuban Girl’s Guide, it was the cutest most incredible ray of sunshine of a book and this one was too. I didn’t love A British Girl’s Guide, but that’s okay because this book was adorable. I know it took me a while to read but I was designing potential costumes for a play about a hypothetical tiger (if you know, you know).
One thing I hate about a Laura Taylor Namey book, the food references BECAUSE WHERE CAN I GET FOOD LIKE THAT, THE SANDWICHES AND HOSPITAL CINNAMON ROLLS, like actually stop it. I can’t. It makes me so mad because I’m hungry and can’t eat all the yummy food and the food state map as well as the fact that Emilio loves food so much had my heart. Also I would die for a Señor Clucks combo (Lourdes and I would probably be regulars there).
Okay, so I don’t live in America so these are me problems but:
1. I didn’t realise Echo Park was a real place (sorry, I have since fixed my ignorance people. It is a very cool place with very real swan boats [“what?! They really exist?!” I hear you say, and yes, yes they do and I would love to ride one]).
2. There is a very small Latino population in South Africa (where I reside) so I needed a lot of google to understand some of the words, foods and family members. I know who Papi, Abu and Mamita are to Clary now, don’t worry. I also totally did not google a swear word (yikes!).
So that’s my problems, back to the good stuff. The setting was amazing. I wanted to live in Echo Park with the sense of community, dominos, awesome murals and love and safety. The setting felt so real and actually so well made and the way the community functioned was the best. Genuinely jealous I didn’t live there and I could totally see myself living there.
Clary is a good protagonist. She does have a few flaws and acts out a bit impulsively, obviously she was shocked meeting Jada but the way she treated her kind of felt a bit unnecessary. Jada was the literal sweetest though and I am obsessed with her and her ability to conjure up parking spaces (my dad does that too, I find it very cool). She was chill and Her history was so sad but she was a total cutie. Lourdes was adorable as well. She was such a fiery ball of energy who really always stood by Clary, she was the best and her Señor Cluck addiction was so relatable.
Papi, Mamita and Abu were also so cute and rainbowls 🌈🥣, sign me up guys. Her family (even Tia Roxanne) were always rallying around her and protecting her. They just felt like a huge hug and were the kindest. Rocco was also the bestest boy out there and I love that he was in the whole book because I find authors tend to leave the pets behind at some point.
And Wheels! Or better known as Emilio, he was so cute! Him and Clary and their bickering was the best. They did have some really good chemistry, lots of spark AND THAT QUINCE SCENE, oh my gosh guys, I was squealing and giggling and kicking my feet. I loved how much he cared about her and knew how she didn’t like mayo in her sandwiches and and as mentioned before, the fact that he knew the whole state food map was such a flex honestly. He had the biggest heart and him and Clary were the best together. Also, Wheels and Thorn, they were meant for each other.
I also loved how marginalised communities were highlighted and Clary’s fight for her legacy was so important. I really loved how
Unfortunately this book had one very main problem IT WAS TOO SHORT! It was absolutely so fantastic but once her and Emilio finally get together, it kind of ends, we get a small bit of them but not much. That made me sad and also
But yeah, why is this book so underrated? Guys, get on the bandwagon now! It should be so popular, the setting, the vibes, the chemistry, the family and the food. Literally one of my new favourites. 🌈🎨🪻🚲🥪
September 13, 2024
I picked this up after another book that was really powerful and probably as a result I wound up finding this a bit slow to start. That said, I really liked the characters and as I got to know them better I enjoyed the story more. I landed at a solid 3.5 stars. I think I’m just not that into flowers :)
Clary works at her family’s flower shop and plans to inherit it someday. She’s sad that her neighborhood has changed so much. It was made up of other families that also came from Cuba and landed in Echo Park In California. Her whole business district used to be Cubans and now the only ones who remain are her family and Emiolio’s family’s bike store.
Clary kind of has a problem with Emilio because she knows he doesn’t want to keep his family’s business. He wants to see the world. He wants to go off and try the state food in every state.
Clary has roots and Emilio has wings. She kind of resents him for it.
Things get interesting for Clary when a relative she has never even heard of shows up on her doorstep and makes her an offer that might change her life.
A sweet story that got better as it went on. I especially loved Emilio. There’s a quote about cinnamon rolls towards the end of the book that’s so sweet I think it took my star rating from a 3 to a 3.5 :)
Clary works at her family’s flower shop and plans to inherit it someday. She’s sad that her neighborhood has changed so much. It was made up of other families that also came from Cuba and landed in Echo Park In California. Her whole business district used to be Cubans and now the only ones who remain are her family and Emiolio’s family’s bike store.
Clary kind of has a problem with Emilio because she knows he doesn’t want to keep his family’s business. He wants to see the world. He wants to go off and try the state food in every state.
Clary has roots and Emilio has wings. She kind of resents him for it.
Things get interesting for Clary when a relative she has never even heard of shows up on her doorstep and makes her an offer that might change her life.
A sweet story that got better as it went on. I especially loved Emilio. There’s a quote about cinnamon rolls towards the end of the book that’s so sweet I think it took my star rating from a 3 to a 3.5 :)
July 23, 2024
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
With Love, Echo Park is a story that is multi-faceted. On one hand, there's very much the swoony romantic story line about love in place we wouldn't expect. And on the other hand, there's a story about family secrets that hurt and heal. I came for the romance and ended up staying for the story about family. About family which should come with no strings attached, be unconditional love, and ends up being twisted with feelings of guilt. People who try to protect us and only end up hurting us. With Love, Echo Park is a story about community. Family, friends, and the history of our homes.
With Love, Echo Park is a story that is multi-faceted. On one hand, there's very much the swoony romantic story line about love in place we wouldn't expect. And on the other hand, there's a story about family secrets that hurt and heal. I came for the romance and ended up staying for the story about family. About family which should come with no strings attached, be unconditional love, and ends up being twisted with feelings of guilt. People who try to protect us and only end up hurting us. With Love, Echo Park is a story about community. Family, friends, and the history of our homes.
August 26, 2024
With love, Echo Park follows two Cuban teens in LA’s Echo Park neighborhood who clash over their visions for the future, the secrets between their families…and the sparks flying between them.
The novel was well paced and the characters were easy to relate to, I find that the books that touch my heart the most are with relatable characters. I love the focus on platonic relationships in this book that was probably my favourite part especially Clary and her sister’s relationship. The romance between Clary and Emilio could have been better in my opinion but the family aspect of the book made up for it. Laura definitely has a way with her words because a lot of things in this book just spoke to me. I will definitely pick up whatever Laura Taylor Namey will write next.
The novel was well paced and the characters were easy to relate to, I find that the books that touch my heart the most are with relatable characters. I love the focus on platonic relationships in this book that was probably my favourite part especially Clary and her sister’s relationship. The romance between Clary and Emilio could have been better in my opinion but the family aspect of the book made up for it. Laura definitely has a way with her words because a lot of things in this book just spoke to me. I will definitely pick up whatever Laura Taylor Namey will write next.
November 30, 2024
Another super cute read from this author. I loved that we got to explore so many different relationships - sisters, best friends, nemesis to lovers. I loved Clary and Emilio’s relationship - especially Emilio hehe. And I always love reading more about my Cuban heritage so this was another win for me.
October 21, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded up
It took me a little bit to get into it, but by the final scenes I was legit crying. (Don’t mind the crying lady on her walk, folks! Nothing to see here…) This book had a good plot, but it was how well Namey developed all of the characters that really got me.
It took me a little bit to get into it, but by the final scenes I was legit crying. (Don’t mind the crying lady on her walk, folks! Nothing to see here…) This book had a good plot, but it was how well Namey developed all of the characters that really got me.
February 25, 2025
This book was such a fun read! It was a little slow at times, but I loved this beautiful coming of age story of a young Cuban girl who is figuring out her own identity and future, learning about family secrets, and fighting to preserve her heritage and home among increasing gentrification...all while falling in love with the annoying but hot boy at the bike shop across the street.
This one didn't have much of the YA melodrama that annoys me as an adult reader sometimes. I thought it was very well done. Wholesome, sweet, and heartwarming--a pleasant respite from the world these days (while also keeping it very real)!
This one didn't have much of the YA melodrama that annoys me as an adult reader sometimes. I thought it was very well done. Wholesome, sweet, and heartwarming--a pleasant respite from the world these days (while also keeping it very real)!
July 9, 2026
Audiobook time with my girl. Such a fun listen! Always down for an enemy to lovers trope, add some Cuban culture makes this a W!!
November 12, 2024
Oh I am so not going to complete my reading challenge this year, but it's fine 😅
September 1, 2024
This is more than a frenemies-to-lovers young adult novel. It’s also a loving tribute to the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles and the immigrants who settled there starting in the early 1900s. In this story, the focus is on the Cuban families who fled after Castro took power and how their history is slowly but steadily being forgotten and painted over due to gentrification.
Clary Delgado’s family runs a florist shop that, thanks to a high-profile celebrity wedding, does a booming business. Her childhood nemesis Emilio Avalos’s family owns the bike shop across the street. They’re part of a handful of original Cuban businesses that still exist, and Clary has made it her mission to try to get a historical designation for the Sunset business district “to preserve the area and honor its role in fostering Cuban culture on the west coast.” Author Namey, who is half Cuban and a SoCal resident, pays homage to the artists who created the numerous colorful murals that decorate the neighborhood and feature strongly in Clary’s life. Sadly, many of them have been painted over by new business owners, but others have been restored. In the book, Clary learns that there is no mention of the Cubans’ contribution to the neighborhood on the local historical society website (which doesn’t surprise me given that I live nearby and have witnessed the whitewashing of the neighborhood and entitlement of the newer, white NIMBY residents). She is committed to honoring those memories and ensuring that those that came before her aren’t forgotten.
The slow burn romance between Clary and Emilio is very sweet, but the family relationships are equally central to the story. Namey does a wonderful job of describing the value that they place on their culture (through music, food, celebration and more) as well as the loyalty and devotion they have for each other. A few years ago, I invited Namey to visit our school library where we served Cuban pastries from Porto’s Bakery, so I got a kick out of reading about the characters in this book enjoying them as well. I highly recommend this poignant and, at times, poetic story.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Atheneum Books for Young Readers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
Clary Delgado’s family runs a florist shop that, thanks to a high-profile celebrity wedding, does a booming business. Her childhood nemesis Emilio Avalos’s family owns the bike shop across the street. They’re part of a handful of original Cuban businesses that still exist, and Clary has made it her mission to try to get a historical designation for the Sunset business district “to preserve the area and honor its role in fostering Cuban culture on the west coast.” Author Namey, who is half Cuban and a SoCal resident, pays homage to the artists who created the numerous colorful murals that decorate the neighborhood and feature strongly in Clary’s life. Sadly, many of them have been painted over by new business owners, but others have been restored. In the book, Clary learns that there is no mention of the Cubans’ contribution to the neighborhood on the local historical society website (which doesn’t surprise me given that I live nearby and have witnessed the whitewashing of the neighborhood and entitlement of the newer, white NIMBY residents). She is committed to honoring those memories and ensuring that those that came before her aren’t forgotten.
The slow burn romance between Clary and Emilio is very sweet, but the family relationships are equally central to the story. Namey does a wonderful job of describing the value that they place on their culture (through music, food, celebration and more) as well as the loyalty and devotion they have for each other. A few years ago, I invited Namey to visit our school library where we served Cuban pastries from Porto’s Bakery, so I got a kick out of reading about the characters in this book enjoying them as well. I highly recommend this poignant and, at times, poetic story.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Atheneum Books for Young Readers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
June 7, 2024
4.5!! super cute.
- thank you to netgalley/the publisher for the e-arc!!
- thank you to netgalley/the publisher for the e-arc!!
June 18, 2024
I received an eARC as part of being on the author's street team and am leaving an honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Life takes an unexpected turn for Clary after a beloved figure in her community passes away. What happens next takes the teen on the summer of her life as she tries to come to terms with new information about her biological mother, tries to protect her neighborhood, and realizes there’s something more between her and the guy next door, Emilio.
Clary is such an interesting character to be in the mind of, not only because of her dedication and commitment to her neighborhood and her people, but because she lets others help her with it. I think everyone struggles with taking help as needed, or reaching out for it, and it was nice to watch a teen character not completely crack under that pressure. It was a breath of fresh air compared to other YA stories I’ve read.
As someone who also has a complicated relationship with my biological mother, I feel for how Clary handles the different information she discovers. Sometimes, just when it feels like you know everything there is to know, another detail emerges, and that’s difficult to come to terms with. Like with other events in the story, it would’ve been incredibly easy for Clary to disappear into herself. I cannot compliment the author enough for showing a teen that deals with her emotions by throwing herself into things she’s passionate about as someone that does the same thing.
Everything I love about a Laura Taylor Namey book was on full display and squeezing my heart while I read With Love, Echo Park. The food, the family, the art, the boy. I now wish I had a bike elf as a child, especially if it was someone as kind and thoughtful as Emilio.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Life takes an unexpected turn for Clary after a beloved figure in her community passes away. What happens next takes the teen on the summer of her life as she tries to come to terms with new information about her biological mother, tries to protect her neighborhood, and realizes there’s something more between her and the guy next door, Emilio.
Clary is such an interesting character to be in the mind of, not only because of her dedication and commitment to her neighborhood and her people, but because she lets others help her with it. I think everyone struggles with taking help as needed, or reaching out for it, and it was nice to watch a teen character not completely crack under that pressure. It was a breath of fresh air compared to other YA stories I’ve read.
As someone who also has a complicated relationship with my biological mother, I feel for how Clary handles the different information she discovers. Sometimes, just when it feels like you know everything there is to know, another detail emerges, and that’s difficult to come to terms with. Like with other events in the story, it would’ve been incredibly easy for Clary to disappear into herself. I cannot compliment the author enough for showing a teen that deals with her emotions by throwing herself into things she’s passionate about as someone that does the same thing.
Everything I love about a Laura Taylor Namey book was on full display and squeezing my heart while I read With Love, Echo Park. The food, the family, the art, the boy. I now wish I had a bike elf as a child, especially if it was someone as kind and thoughtful as Emilio.
August 15, 2024
Laura Taylor Namey’s latest YA novel is true to its title, in that it’s full of love and full of Echo Park. Within the vibrant Los Angeles neighborhood is our FMC Clary, who works in her family flower shop and plans to stay there for the rest of her life. She carries some deep abandonment issues because of her runaway birth mother, so she clings to her home and the people in it. The golden-haired neighborhood boy Emilio, however, wants to sever ties with their home and explore the world. And here we have our opposites who eventually attract.
Namey has a lot of strong suits — bringing a setting to life, expressing her love for Cuban culture — but her strongest is hands down establishing friendships between characters. Clary’s heart is already filled to the brim thanks to her family and best friend, and then along comes Emilio. Freaking Emilio with his smartass comments and his sweet bike ride lessons (ah, those bike scenes were romcom perfection). Even though their romance is definitely a slowburn, it doesn’t feel as slow when you get to see their friendship blossom.
I also enjoyed the friendship that developed with Clary’s surprise visitor. With this visitor and Emilio, Clary’s personal journey unfolds beautifully. That said, I didn’t get as much impact as I did with Namey’s When We Were Them or as much squee as I did with A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow. Still a fantastic read — was just missing that extra oomph I wanted.
**Much thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. With Love, Echo Park will be released on August 27.
Namey has a lot of strong suits — bringing a setting to life, expressing her love for Cuban culture — but her strongest is hands down establishing friendships between characters. Clary’s heart is already filled to the brim thanks to her family and best friend, and then along comes Emilio. Freaking Emilio with his smartass comments and his sweet bike ride lessons (ah, those bike scenes were romcom perfection). Even though their romance is definitely a slowburn, it doesn’t feel as slow when you get to see their friendship blossom.
I also enjoyed the friendship that developed with Clary’s surprise visitor. With this visitor and Emilio, Clary’s personal journey unfolds beautifully. That said, I didn’t get as much impact as I did with Namey’s When We Were Them or as much squee as I did with A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow. Still a fantastic read — was just missing that extra oomph I wanted.
**Much thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. With Love, Echo Park will be released on August 27.
July 21, 2026
This seemed to throw more and more ideas into the mix as if to pad or stretch out the novel, like Clary getting bicycle lessons, her friendship hitting a bump for flimsy reasons, there’s an extensive session of dominoes, etc. There was a tendency to dip into areas that didn’t feel entirely relevant or compelling rather than digging deeper into Clary’s relationships with her parents and grandparents, or showing her putting actual effort into her historical preservation quest so the reader could feel more invested in it. More often than not this felt like reading colorful filler rather than truly propulsive plot.
There’s a fun ritual Clary has of eating sugar cereal with her dad, that left me wanting a bigger taste of their bond, and it isn’t every day where a story has a character who thinks of their grandmother as their mother, yet disappointingly, this rarely showcased that relatively unique dynamic let alone explored it as fully as I would have loved.
There is romance, and Emilio’s a likable enough guy, but to me, it bordered on boring, if you’re going to do hate-to-love then really do it, give the reader more antagonism than was on display here, and a more concrete reason for that antagonism, so that trying to get over that long-standing hurdle feels like a big deal.
Not surprisingly the one story thread here that felt the most developed (though still not as thoroughly as it could have been) was far and away the best part of the novel, and that was Jada’s arrival, the half-sister Clary didn’t know she had, there’s a depth to Jada and to their arc, that was absent nearly everywhere else in this book.
There’s a fun ritual Clary has of eating sugar cereal with her dad, that left me wanting a bigger taste of their bond, and it isn’t every day where a story has a character who thinks of their grandmother as their mother, yet disappointingly, this rarely showcased that relatively unique dynamic let alone explored it as fully as I would have loved.
There is romance, and Emilio’s a likable enough guy, but to me, it bordered on boring, if you’re going to do hate-to-love then really do it, give the reader more antagonism than was on display here, and a more concrete reason for that antagonism, so that trying to get over that long-standing hurdle feels like a big deal.
Not surprisingly the one story thread here that felt the most developed (though still not as thoroughly as it could have been) was far and away the best part of the novel, and that was Jada’s arrival, the half-sister Clary didn’t know she had, there’s a depth to Jada and to their arc, that was absent nearly everywhere else in this book.
August 27, 2024
Thank you Simon Teen for my #giftd copy of With Love, Echo Park! #SimonTeenPartner #SimonTeenInfluencer #WithLoveEchoPark #laurataylornamey
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐄𝐜𝐡𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐲
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟕. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 - 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐰!
𝟰.𝟱★
Laura Taylor Namey writes the BEST YA books and this book just might be my new favorite or her books! This book was so amazing and I loved everything about this book. I was drawn to this book by the cover beautiful and bright cover, by the amazing story is what really hooked me. I loved how there was Cuban history and culture infused within this book too, which allowed the reader, especially a YA reader, to learn more about a topic they may not be familiar with. I really like how this book had your typical romance storyline, but was also about community and family. I would highly recommend this one to anyone who enjoys YA novels!
💐YA Romance
🚲Neighbor Rivalry
💐Family Drama
🚲Foodie References
💐Cuban History
🚲Lots of Chemistry
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐄𝐜𝐡𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐲
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟕. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 - 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐰!
𝟰.𝟱★
Laura Taylor Namey writes the BEST YA books and this book just might be my new favorite or her books! This book was so amazing and I loved everything about this book. I was drawn to this book by the cover beautiful and bright cover, by the amazing story is what really hooked me. I loved how there was Cuban history and culture infused within this book too, which allowed the reader, especially a YA reader, to learn more about a topic they may not be familiar with. I really like how this book had your typical romance storyline, but was also about community and family. I would highly recommend this one to anyone who enjoys YA novels!
💐YA Romance
🚲Neighbor Rivalry
💐Family Drama
🚲Foodie References
💐Cuban History
🚲Lots of Chemistry
October 7, 2024
Didn't grab me as much as some of Namey's other work, but had a lovely overall message about the Cuban community in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles and the way their stories, which are not a part of any official historical record of the neighborhood, continue to matter even as changes and gentrification rapidly alter the landscape of the neighborhood. The romance was pretty cute, though occasionally bogged down by its heroine's absolutist thinking: when the book cover looks like that, hearing Clary matter-of-factly muse that "me and Emilio are always going to be on separate sides of the street" really takes you out of it. I also thought there was just a LOT going on in this book, none of which got as much attention as it really needed. But overall quick and enjoyable the way all of Namey's books are; she's been one that I follow ever since I read When We Were Them and I imagine I'll continue to do so!
July 9, 2024
I just finished reading this book and I will say this is one of my favorite books that I have read from Laura. It is so beautifully written and heartfelt, I at times found myself relating to Clary as a character. I especially loved how down to earth all the characters seem and it was nice to learn about Cuban culture through this book. This is a perfect example of a fun, summer-y, slice of life/coming-of-age book that taught me a lot about relationships and family dynamics. Great representation of found family and teen romance. I especially enjoyed Emilio and Clary’s relationship in this book, it seemed so realistic and very adorable. I hope to find an Emilio one day. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves being surprised by what they’re reading because this book definitely took me for a loop.
July 22, 2024
"WITH LOVE, ECHO PARK" by Laura Taylor Namey
ARC Review:
Clary Delgado and Emilio Avalos are like oil and water. She's deeply rooted in her LA neighborhood of Echo Park where her family flower shop is and wants to preserve the Cuban history tied to it. He's got his sights on leaving it all behind--including his family's bike shop--and exploring the world.
When a series of unfortunate events force the two together and keeps them in Echo Park, they must think beyond their differences for the greater good of their families and community.
What I loved about this book:
*Family Secrets keep dropping;
*Swan Boat-ride Confessions;
*Flowers Everywhere;
*Foodie References;
*The Banter between Clary & Emilio is fire!
Thanks to Laura Taylor Namey for the ARC and for having me on the street team!
ARC Review:
Clary Delgado and Emilio Avalos are like oil and water. She's deeply rooted in her LA neighborhood of Echo Park where her family flower shop is and wants to preserve the Cuban history tied to it. He's got his sights on leaving it all behind--including his family's bike shop--and exploring the world.
When a series of unfortunate events force the two together and keeps them in Echo Park, they must think beyond their differences for the greater good of their families and community.
What I loved about this book:
*Family Secrets keep dropping;
*Swan Boat-ride Confessions;
*Flowers Everywhere;
*Foodie References;
*The Banter between Clary & Emilio is fire!
Thanks to Laura Taylor Namey for the ARC and for having me on the street team!
August 2, 2024
Very grateful to the lovely author for sending me this in exchange for an honest review! It's an honour to be on Las Flores street team ❤️
I absolutely loved this book for many reasons! Here are just some of them:
💐 The telenovela vibes!! There were so many twists and turns and dramas. I gasped many times. It healed the Jane the Virgin shaped hole in my heart.
💐 Just the whole atmosphere - the flower shop, bike shop, murals, beach, pastries, Swan boats. It was such a fun place to retreat into even if it did make me hungry!
💐 I loved how the history of Cuban migration to LA and the legacy they'd built there was such a key part of the story. It was interesting to learn about and also important to have this kind of story represented
💐 Obviously I adored Clary and Emilio! It was so fun watching their relationship develop and their bickering was everything.
I absolutely loved this book for many reasons! Here are just some of them:
💐 The telenovela vibes!! There were so many twists and turns and dramas. I gasped many times. It healed the Jane the Virgin shaped hole in my heart.
💐 Just the whole atmosphere - the flower shop, bike shop, murals, beach, pastries, Swan boats. It was such a fun place to retreat into even if it did make me hungry!
💐 I loved how the history of Cuban migration to LA and the legacy they'd built there was such a key part of the story. It was interesting to learn about and also important to have this kind of story represented
💐 Obviously I adored Clary and Emilio! It was so fun watching their relationship develop and their bickering was everything.
June 18, 2026
This book transcended my expectations completely. The depth in the characters, relationship dynamics and history made the story feel like an absolute treat and made the book hard to put down (especially coming down towards the end). I appreciate how realistic it was as well, in terms of everything working out but not in a fairytale ending sort of way - which I suppose is like our real lives.
I appreciate Laura's consistent inclusion of Cuban culture in her stories. I love learning about Cuban traditions, history and undertones and it truly felt like being in a warm Latino family for a little bit.
Definitely a delightful book, and there is a lot that I will be pondering on in the days to come in terms of avoidance vs fighting for peace in relationships, the importance of culture to our daily lives and the complexity and joy of family life. Absolutely wonderful!
I appreciate Laura's consistent inclusion of Cuban culture in her stories. I love learning about Cuban traditions, history and undertones and it truly felt like being in a warm Latino family for a little bit.
Definitely a delightful book, and there is a lot that I will be pondering on in the days to come in terms of avoidance vs fighting for peace in relationships, the importance of culture to our daily lives and the complexity and joy of family life. Absolutely wonderful!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews