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Too Soon for Adiós
From author Annette Chavez Macias comes a heartfelt novel about a woman who embarks on an emotional journey when she meets her biological father on the day of her mother’s funeral.
No one expects to meet their father at their mother’s funeral. But for Gabby Medina, that’s exactly what happens. Her dad abandoned her when she was a baby, and now he’s back.
And he wants to give her a house.
Gabby doesn’t want the house—or him. But she could use the money. So Gabby agrees to take it under two First, she can sell the house whenever she wants. Second, accepting it doesn’t mean she accepts him.
After they strike a deal, Gabby hires a contractor in preparation for a quick sale. But as she gets to know the town and these two new men in her life, she learns more about herself than she ever dared to think possible.
But is she ready to open herself up to the truth of what happened—and the promise of what could be?
No one expects to meet their father at their mother’s funeral. But for Gabby Medina, that’s exactly what happens. Her dad abandoned her when she was a baby, and now he’s back.
And he wants to give her a house.
Gabby doesn’t want the house—or him. But she could use the money. So Gabby agrees to take it under two First, she can sell the house whenever she wants. Second, accepting it doesn’t mean she accepts him.
After they strike a deal, Gabby hires a contractor in preparation for a quick sale. But as she gets to know the town and these two new men in her life, she learns more about herself than she ever dared to think possible.
But is she ready to open herself up to the truth of what happened—and the promise of what could be?
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 2023
1074 people are currently reading
10908 people want to read
About the author
Annette Chavez Macias
10 books691 followersAnnette Chavez Macias writes stories about love, family, and following your dreams. She is proud of her Mexican American heritage, culture, and traditions, all of which can be found within the pages of her books. For readers wanting even more love stories and guaranteed happily ever afters, Annette also writes romance novels under the pen name Sabrina Sol. A Southern California native, Annette lives just outside Los Angeles with her husband, three children, and four dogs.
To learn more about Annette and her books, visit www.authorannette.com. Or follow her on Instagram at @authorannette.
To learn more about Annette and her books, visit www.authorannette.com. Or follow her on Instagram at @authorannette.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 625 reviews
March 22, 2023
Mexican American author writes Mexican American main character and is then read by Mexican American reader. Full circle, eh? Call me a narcissist but I’m damn proud of my heritage and I really loved seeing the representation in this book. I felt so many parallels between myself and Gabby: same age, Los Angeles natives, lost souls, no relationship with their biological dad. I wanted to say all of this to stress that this is probably a biased review because of the deep connection I felt to it.
Too Soon for Adiós is a beautiful piece of women’s fiction! Absolutely loved it. The story is about a 29 year old woman named Gabby and her journey to connect with her father, past, and Mexican roots immediately after losing her mother to cancer. It was such a heartwarming read filled with humor. One of those books where you finish it and think “That was nice” while releasing a content sigh.
The descriptions of the food, characters navigating grief, found family, small town setting, the scary part of your late 20s when you don’t have your life figured out yet, navigating massive student debt, and falling in love when you’re still figuring out how to love yourself all made for my type of contemporary read. The book definitely tackles tough themes but does it in such a thoughtful way. And I loved the romance in this so much! Diego is totally my new book bf and the urge to move to a small town to bag me a hot mayor/handyman/former doctor has never been stronger. Gabby and Diego had fantastic chemistry and I was straight up swooning at some parts. The book was predictable in the way that these type of books normally are but I don’t read this genre for shock value so I wasn’t bothered. Really loved the ending!
I also loved learning about the soldaderas in the Mexican Revolution. Strong woman in history often get snubbed from the textbooks and I loved how this was such a big part of the Gabby’s journey as she learns about her heritage.
I didn’t rate this 5 stars for a couple reasons, mainly down to some technical issues with the writing that I’m sure will be fixed in the final edit, but it is absolutely worth reading if you’re a fan of women’s fiction.
I haven’t read Macias’ other book Big Chicas Don’t Cry but it is very high up on my TBR now.
Favorite Quotes:
“I thought the worst thing in the world was going to be having my mom die. But it’s not. The worst thing is learning how to live without her.”
“The world’s not going to end, Gabby, if you accept someone else’s help. You’re not proving anything to anyone by always making things harder for yourself.”
“Love isn’t supposed to be a power play or some game where there has to be a winner or a loser. Real love, true love, is about two people entrusting their hearts to one another so that together they can become something much more wonderful.”
“Can’t you see this is the path you’re supposed to be on? Do you know how many things in the universe had to collide in order to bring you here?”
“You’ll never be happy guarding yourself from hurt. It’s not possible. People you love are going to hurt you. People you love are going to leave. People you love are going to die. That’s life.”
Too Soon for Adiós is a beautiful piece of women’s fiction! Absolutely loved it. The story is about a 29 year old woman named Gabby and her journey to connect with her father, past, and Mexican roots immediately after losing her mother to cancer. It was such a heartwarming read filled with humor. One of those books where you finish it and think “That was nice” while releasing a content sigh.
The descriptions of the food, characters navigating grief, found family, small town setting, the scary part of your late 20s when you don’t have your life figured out yet, navigating massive student debt, and falling in love when you’re still figuring out how to love yourself all made for my type of contemporary read. The book definitely tackles tough themes but does it in such a thoughtful way. And I loved the romance in this so much! Diego is totally my new book bf and the urge to move to a small town to bag me a hot mayor/handyman/former doctor has never been stronger. Gabby and Diego had fantastic chemistry and I was straight up swooning at some parts. The book was predictable in the way that these type of books normally are but I don’t read this genre for shock value so I wasn’t bothered. Really loved the ending!
I also loved learning about the soldaderas in the Mexican Revolution. Strong woman in history often get snubbed from the textbooks and I loved how this was such a big part of the Gabby’s journey as she learns about her heritage.
I didn’t rate this 5 stars for a couple reasons, mainly down to some technical issues with the writing that I’m sure will be fixed in the final edit, but it is absolutely worth reading if you’re a fan of women’s fiction.
I haven’t read Macias’ other book Big Chicas Don’t Cry but it is very high up on my TBR now.
Favorite Quotes:
“I thought the worst thing in the world was going to be having my mom die. But it’s not. The worst thing is learning how to live without her.”
“The world’s not going to end, Gabby, if you accept someone else’s help. You’re not proving anything to anyone by always making things harder for yourself.”
“Love isn’t supposed to be a power play or some game where there has to be a winner or a loser. Real love, true love, is about two people entrusting their hearts to one another so that together they can become something much more wonderful.”
“Can’t you see this is the path you’re supposed to be on? Do you know how many things in the universe had to collide in order to bring you here?”
“You’ll never be happy guarding yourself from hurt. It’s not possible. People you love are going to hurt you. People you love are going to leave. People you love are going to die. That’s life.”
January 17, 2026
"It hit me then that, after today, I would never see my mom again unless it was in a picture. I would never be able to call her on the phone to tell her about something that had happened. I would never be able to just be with her." 🥺
Annette has delivered yet another incredibly heartfelt and authentic novel about a young woman who embarks on a very emotional journey after coming face to face with her biological father (for the first time) at her mother’s funeral.
This story was delivered with all of Annette’s trademark qualities, resulting in a very moving and engaging story. A simple plot that becomes rich with detail and feeling. As usual, Annette includes themes of self-discovery, Mexican culture, and lots of delicious food 🤤
The question is: Will Gabby allow herself to open up to the truth of what has happened in the past, and to the promise of what could lie ahead?
Told completely from Gabby’s POV, this story follows her journey of grieving, exploring, and discovering everything that family means. After meeting her biological father at her mother’s funeral, Raul suddenly wants to give her a house…YES, a house! At the age of nearly 30, Gabby has no interest in him or his house. However, deep in her mother’s debt, she could certainly use the money. With that in mind, Gabby agrees to accept his offer providing she can sell the house whenever she wants and that accepting it doesn't mean she accepts him.
Mission: fix up Raul’s grandmother’s house, sell it, pay off her debts, and get on with her life. Furthermore, that life was going to happen as far away as possible from Sonrisa.
However, things are never as simple as they seem. After arriving in Sonrisa, she gets to know the small- town and the community, eventually learning more about herself than she dared to think. Where will her future lead her?
Being the same age as Gabby, I found her to be an incredibly relatable main character. Her character had such a rich backstory that weaved throughout the story, revealing more and more unknowns about her life by the chapter. It was so heartwarming to read about her character and I genuinely felt uplifted by her. She never had it easy yet she made her way in a very real world.
Furthermore, I love how Annette always gives us an insight into what it feels like to be a Latino…I also loved learning about the soldaderas in the Mexican Revolution 🇲🇽
“But throw in being a Latina? I have to prove I deserve to be in a kitchen even before I cook a single meal. Everything I do, everything I say is dissected and judged. It took me years to get to my first position, but to do it, I had to be smart—but not too smart. I had to be nice—but not too nice. I had to be tough—but not too tough. I had to be attractive—but not beautiful”
And on the theme of Mexican, let’s talk about the FOOD 🤤 Annette always has me drooling over the fantastic sounding authentically Mexican recipes that are prepared with great love and time. This book had a central foodie theme as Gabby was a chef and Raul owned a successful Mexican restaurant. I loved how she created a sense of shared passion between them and their roots.
Romance also runs throughout this storyline. It is very subtle during the first half, then slowly builds in a raw and genuine manner. Gabby and Diego had fantastic chemistry and it was a privilege to watch how they both grew stronger together and let down their guard.
“We don’t choose who to fall in love with or whether it fits into our plans. Love just happens. And it usually happens when we least expect it.” 💘 ✨
I thought that the challenging topic of grieving was handled with great care, tenderness, and truth. Gabby continues to grieve for her mother has the story goes on. However, it is written in such a way that it leaves us feeling comforted rather than sad. It is always heartbreaking to loose someone close to us, but despite the challenge, we must learn a way to move forward with that grief. It may never go away but it changes over time. Annette had a very insightful view on this topic which I really appreciated.
"I thought the worst thing in the world was going to be having my mom die. But it’s not. The worst thing is learning how to live without her.” 🥺
Overall, I totally fell in love with both this storyline and its wholesome characters. Annette always leaves me feeling so content and reassured of the good in the world. Through her beautifully smooth and easy to follow narrative, she shows us how our lives can turn around for the better. That said, I love how her books aren’t just stories, they are thought-provoking and inspiring. I look forward to her next release 🙇🏻♀️
"It was time to let go of everything that was holding me back from my future. It was time to be brave and be free." 🙌🏽 💖 ✨
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Annette has delivered yet another incredibly heartfelt and authentic novel about a young woman who embarks on a very emotional journey after coming face to face with her biological father (for the first time) at her mother’s funeral.
This story was delivered with all of Annette’s trademark qualities, resulting in a very moving and engaging story. A simple plot that becomes rich with detail and feeling. As usual, Annette includes themes of self-discovery, Mexican culture, and lots of delicious food 🤤
The question is: Will Gabby allow herself to open up to the truth of what has happened in the past, and to the promise of what could lie ahead?
Told completely from Gabby’s POV, this story follows her journey of grieving, exploring, and discovering everything that family means. After meeting her biological father at her mother’s funeral, Raul suddenly wants to give her a house…YES, a house! At the age of nearly 30, Gabby has no interest in him or his house. However, deep in her mother’s debt, she could certainly use the money. With that in mind, Gabby agrees to accept his offer providing she can sell the house whenever she wants and that accepting it doesn't mean she accepts him.
Mission: fix up Raul’s grandmother’s house, sell it, pay off her debts, and get on with her life. Furthermore, that life was going to happen as far away as possible from Sonrisa.
However, things are never as simple as they seem. After arriving in Sonrisa, she gets to know the small- town and the community, eventually learning more about herself than she dared to think. Where will her future lead her?
Being the same age as Gabby, I found her to be an incredibly relatable main character. Her character had such a rich backstory that weaved throughout the story, revealing more and more unknowns about her life by the chapter. It was so heartwarming to read about her character and I genuinely felt uplifted by her. She never had it easy yet she made her way in a very real world.
Furthermore, I love how Annette always gives us an insight into what it feels like to be a Latino…I also loved learning about the soldaderas in the Mexican Revolution 🇲🇽
“But throw in being a Latina? I have to prove I deserve to be in a kitchen even before I cook a single meal. Everything I do, everything I say is dissected and judged. It took me years to get to my first position, but to do it, I had to be smart—but not too smart. I had to be nice—but not too nice. I had to be tough—but not too tough. I had to be attractive—but not beautiful”
And on the theme of Mexican, let’s talk about the FOOD 🤤 Annette always has me drooling over the fantastic sounding authentically Mexican recipes that are prepared with great love and time. This book had a central foodie theme as Gabby was a chef and Raul owned a successful Mexican restaurant. I loved how she created a sense of shared passion between them and their roots.
Romance also runs throughout this storyline. It is very subtle during the first half, then slowly builds in a raw and genuine manner. Gabby and Diego had fantastic chemistry and it was a privilege to watch how they both grew stronger together and let down their guard.
“We don’t choose who to fall in love with or whether it fits into our plans. Love just happens. And it usually happens when we least expect it.” 💘 ✨
I thought that the challenging topic of grieving was handled with great care, tenderness, and truth. Gabby continues to grieve for her mother has the story goes on. However, it is written in such a way that it leaves us feeling comforted rather than sad. It is always heartbreaking to loose someone close to us, but despite the challenge, we must learn a way to move forward with that grief. It may never go away but it changes over time. Annette had a very insightful view on this topic which I really appreciated.
"I thought the worst thing in the world was going to be having my mom die. But it’s not. The worst thing is learning how to live without her.” 🥺
Overall, I totally fell in love with both this storyline and its wholesome characters. Annette always leaves me feeling so content and reassured of the good in the world. Through her beautifully smooth and easy to follow narrative, she shows us how our lives can turn around for the better. That said, I love how her books aren’t just stories, they are thought-provoking and inspiring. I look forward to her next release 🙇🏻♀️
"It was time to let go of everything that was holding me back from my future. It was time to be brave and be free." 🙌🏽 💖 ✨
4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
July 15, 2023
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this, but I can confidently say I love this book. I think it’s often hard to keep the momentum going after kicking off with a bang, but Annette did it flawlessly here. It’s everything I could want from women’s fiction and I think I especially needed the heart that was carried in these chapters. Auto-buy author.
Every single character has my heart. 🫶🥹
Every single character has my heart. 🫶🥹
March 13, 2023
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Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
A poignant but hopeful story about grief.
"Too soon for adiós" follows Gabby Medina, a young, Mexican-American chef, as she navigates loss, grief and family secrets.
Gabby was raised by her mother in Los Angeles, with the help of her aunties and, eventually, her adopted dad, on the belief that her bio dad had never wanted her. After her mother's funeral, a man she's never seen before claims to be her father, and that he wants to give her a house for Gabby to sell back in his hometown of Sonrisa, New Mexico. Torn between needing to pay off a mountain of debt and loyalty to the parents who raised her, Gabby decides to accept the offer, get the job done as far as possible and leave. At least, that's the plan.
The beginning was very tough and it almost made me want to stop. The protagonist's mother has just passed away from cancer before 50, and the first chapter is the funeral as seen through Gabby's eyes. I'm really glad I decided to move forward, but I wanted to point this out so you can decide if or when to read it. While this is a story about processing and learning to live with the grief of losing someone forever, and therefore might be a healing read for some people, it could also trigger feelings of grief and anxiety in others.
The premise falls into the romcom-esque trope of "woman moves into small town to escape a situation, falls in love, finds herself". However, I'd argue that it has a heart that sets it apart from that kind of romcom and, while it has romance, it's not the focus of the story.
I found the characters to be complex and relatable, and their relationships compelling, overall. Gabby is at times exasperating in her reactions, but they're also generally justifiable for someone in her situation - grieving and dealing with 30 years of abandonment. I really appreciated her nuanced relationship with her mother and her aunties, at times tense, and her journey with her bio father. I was a bit indifferent about her relationship with the love interest, but it grew on me.
This book is a love letter to Mexican-American culture, from Gabby's food to the town's history with las Adelitas (something I learned!). It had a lot of that small town charm you can expect from this type of stories, but it felt culturally significant.
I do wish the appearance of the main characters had been described more. I finished the book and still didn't have a mental image of how they looked like, not even Gabby.
The book also includes a storyline of sexual assault that is described, plus a background story of gender violence and femicide. Your mileage may vary regarding the purpose of both. Personally, in regards to the first one, I thought that the survivor had valid reactions to the situation, though I wish it had been used for something beyond a plot device for the character to do something else. I don't think that sexual assault can't be part of a story unless the story is about the sexual assault, but I also felt like it was almost brushed off. As for the second one, it was used to inform another character's background and motivations, but I thought it added a heaviness that the story didn't need, because it already had enough.
Other than that, I enjoyed this book a lot and would really recommend it to anyone looking for a story about learning to live with your grief and moving on.
Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
A poignant but hopeful story about grief.
"Too soon for adiós" follows Gabby Medina, a young, Mexican-American chef, as she navigates loss, grief and family secrets.
Gabby was raised by her mother in Los Angeles, with the help of her aunties and, eventually, her adopted dad, on the belief that her bio dad had never wanted her. After her mother's funeral, a man she's never seen before claims to be her father, and that he wants to give her a house for Gabby to sell back in his hometown of Sonrisa, New Mexico. Torn between needing to pay off a mountain of debt and loyalty to the parents who raised her, Gabby decides to accept the offer, get the job done as far as possible and leave. At least, that's the plan.
The beginning was very tough and it almost made me want to stop. The protagonist's mother has just passed away from cancer before 50, and the first chapter is the funeral as seen through Gabby's eyes. I'm really glad I decided to move forward, but I wanted to point this out so you can decide if or when to read it. While this is a story about processing and learning to live with the grief of losing someone forever, and therefore might be a healing read for some people, it could also trigger feelings of grief and anxiety in others.
The premise falls into the romcom-esque trope of "woman moves into small town to escape a situation, falls in love, finds herself". However, I'd argue that it has a heart that sets it apart from that kind of romcom and, while it has romance, it's not the focus of the story.
I found the characters to be complex and relatable, and their relationships compelling, overall. Gabby is at times exasperating in her reactions, but they're also generally justifiable for someone in her situation - grieving and dealing with 30 years of abandonment. I really appreciated her nuanced relationship with her mother and her aunties, at times tense, and her journey with her bio father. I was a bit indifferent about her relationship with the love interest, but it grew on me.
This book is a love letter to Mexican-American culture, from Gabby's food to the town's history with las Adelitas (something I learned!). It had a lot of that small town charm you can expect from this type of stories, but it felt culturally significant.
I do wish the appearance of the main characters had been described more. I finished the book and still didn't have a mental image of how they looked like, not even Gabby.
The book also includes a storyline of sexual assault that is described, plus a background story of gender violence and femicide. Your mileage may vary regarding the purpose of both. Personally, in regards to the first one, I thought that the survivor had valid reactions to the situation, though I wish it had been used for something beyond a plot device for the character to do something else. I don't think that sexual assault can't be part of a story unless the story is about the sexual assault, but I also felt like it was almost brushed off. As for the second one, it was used to inform another character's background and motivations, but I thought it added a heaviness that the story didn't need, because it already had enough.
Other than that, I enjoyed this book a lot and would really recommend it to anyone looking for a story about learning to live with your grief and moving on.
May 29, 2023
2.5/5 stars, it felt like many things I’ve read before
Thank you to Montlake for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Just like I stated in my initial thought sentence up above, this has felt like quite a few books I've read before, the one that kept popping in my mind the most being Beach Read by Emily Henry. They have similar plotlines and while I tried not to compare them the entire time, especially as it's a trope I think is fun, it just didn't give me as much as I wanted it to. I think this book would have benefited from being longer because then it could have felt like there was more substance behind a lot of the scenes that were supposed to be very emotional.
There were times where the emotional scenes did feel forced though in my opinion, or once again not written with the depth that they deserved. It was like the author was brushing over the implications of some things, even if that was not the intention. Although I did enjoy how the setting of a small town came into play with certain scenes in this book as well as the tone. I love small town stories, not to mention small town romances so that was really nice.
While I don't remember too much about the characters I do remember one of the best things about this book was the culture and family connections. Gabby's mother has died, but she has two "aunts" (her mothers best friends) who are there for her until her father shows up again suddenly offering a house. The connection between her and her aunts was well done and even how she slowly learned to process her father returning into her life as well. Though I will say the romance in this book felt very swift, like they didn't like one another but it was apparent from the reader's perspective that he started liking her right after that (the "who did this to you" happened right after they agreed they didn't like one another). I know it was supposed to be enemies to lovers in a sense, but it felt a little too fast for me.
[TW: death of a parent, heart attack mentioned, cancer, depiction of panic attacks, sexual assault, sexual harassment, racist slurs]
Thank you to Montlake for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Just like I stated in my initial thought sentence up above, this has felt like quite a few books I've read before, the one that kept popping in my mind the most being Beach Read by Emily Henry. They have similar plotlines and while I tried not to compare them the entire time, especially as it's a trope I think is fun, it just didn't give me as much as I wanted it to. I think this book would have benefited from being longer because then it could have felt like there was more substance behind a lot of the scenes that were supposed to be very emotional.
There were times where the emotional scenes did feel forced though in my opinion, or once again not written with the depth that they deserved. It was like the author was brushing over the implications of some things, even if that was not the intention. Although I did enjoy how the setting of a small town came into play with certain scenes in this book as well as the tone. I love small town stories, not to mention small town romances so that was really nice.
While I don't remember too much about the characters I do remember one of the best things about this book was the culture and family connections. Gabby's mother has died, but she has two "aunts" (her mothers best friends) who are there for her until her father shows up again suddenly offering a house. The connection between her and her aunts was well done and even how she slowly learned to process her father returning into her life as well. Though I will say the romance in this book felt very swift, like they didn't like one another but it was apparent from the reader's perspective that he started liking her right after that (the "who did this to you" happened right after they agreed they didn't like one another). I know it was supposed to be enemies to lovers in a sense, but it felt a little too fast for me.
[TW: death of a parent, heart attack mentioned, cancer, depiction of panic attacks, sexual assault, sexual harassment, racist slurs]
May 31, 2024
3.5 ☆
”I know some people say that grief gets better with time. But I would argue that it just takes on a different form. You don't get over losing a loved one; you just learn how to live with it.”
I loved reading about Gabriela’s journey of finding a home and a place in the world. I read this in one sitting and didn't want to put it down. This is a story about grief and healing.
☼ ☼ ☼
Short to the point synopsis
Gabriela is grieving her passing mother. At her mother's funeral, she meets Rual who claims to be her biological father. He wants to give her a house to renovate and then sell. She could use the money so she accepts. She moves to a small town called Sonrise in New Mexico. Gabby hires a contractor to help her (Diego). The more time she spends in this town and with these two men the more she doesn't want to leave.
☼ ☼ ☼
The found family in this was so beautiful. I really enjoyed the culture. This is definitely women's fiction with a subplot of romance. I did like the romance part, but I wasn't obsessed. We didn't exactly learn about anything Diego (love interest). I honestly couldn't say a single deep thing about him.
I do wish we got more. More descriptions and details. I think this book could have been a bit longer tbh.
The fmc was kind of annoying at times but I get it. She was going through stuff.
☼ ☼ ☼
Trigger warnings: grief, death of a parent, cancer, panic attacks (on page), SA (on page), racism, etc.
”I know some people say that grief gets better with time. But I would argue that it just takes on a different form. You don't get over losing a loved one; you just learn how to live with it.”
I loved reading about Gabriela’s journey of finding a home and a place in the world. I read this in one sitting and didn't want to put it down. This is a story about grief and healing.
☼ ☼ ☼
Short to the point synopsis
Gabriela is grieving her passing mother. At her mother's funeral, she meets Rual who claims to be her biological father. He wants to give her a house to renovate and then sell. She could use the money so she accepts. She moves to a small town called Sonrise in New Mexico. Gabby hires a contractor to help her (Diego). The more time she spends in this town and with these two men the more she doesn't want to leave.
☼ ☼ ☼
The found family in this was so beautiful. I really enjoyed the culture. This is definitely women's fiction with a subplot of romance. I did like the romance part, but I wasn't obsessed. We didn't exactly learn about anything Diego (love interest). I honestly couldn't say a single deep thing about him.
I do wish we got more. More descriptions and details. I think this book could have been a bit longer tbh.
The fmc was kind of annoying at times but I get it. She was going through stuff.
☼ ☼ ☼
Trigger warnings: grief, death of a parent, cancer, panic attacks (on page), SA (on page), racism, etc.
November 9, 2022
cw: loss of a parent, attempted sexual assault
I was very pleasantly surprised with this book. I didn't know the author, but the cover caught my attention and after reading the synopsis I decided to give it a try. And guess what, I ended up reading it in one sitting!
The book begins with the funeral of Gabby's mother, who has died of cancer and has left her with a lot of debts to pay. Without warning, a man who claims to be the protagonist's biological father shows up, and offers her a solution that could put an end to all her problems. But it requires a move to a small town that hides the origin of the unknown part of her family.
I was surprised at how quickly I connected with the story, probably because I saw my own mother reflected in many of the things told about Gabby's mother and her character, as well as in their mother-daughter relationship. I also loved the relationship between Gabby and her mother's two best friends, how they have stayed by her side and been her support network throughout everything.
You will love the romantic aspect of this book if you are a fan of well executed enemies to lovers. Also, a "who did this to you?" moment?? Chef's kiss.
But beyond all that, this book is about loss and mourning and how it's a different process for everyone. I think many people who have or are going through something similar will identify with the protagonist and will probably find some kind of comfort or help in its pages. Overall, a highly recommended book.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, all views and opinions are my own.*
I was very pleasantly surprised with this book. I didn't know the author, but the cover caught my attention and after reading the synopsis I decided to give it a try. And guess what, I ended up reading it in one sitting!
The book begins with the funeral of Gabby's mother, who has died of cancer and has left her with a lot of debts to pay. Without warning, a man who claims to be the protagonist's biological father shows up, and offers her a solution that could put an end to all her problems. But it requires a move to a small town that hides the origin of the unknown part of her family.
I was surprised at how quickly I connected with the story, probably because I saw my own mother reflected in many of the things told about Gabby's mother and her character, as well as in their mother-daughter relationship. I also loved the relationship between Gabby and her mother's two best friends, how they have stayed by her side and been her support network throughout everything.
You will love the romantic aspect of this book if you are a fan of well executed enemies to lovers. Also, a "who did this to you?" moment?? Chef's kiss.
But beyond all that, this book is about loss and mourning and how it's a different process for everyone. I think many people who have or are going through something similar will identify with the protagonist and will probably find some kind of comfort or help in its pages. Overall, a highly recommended book.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, all views and opinions are my own.*
April 22, 2023
This novel was an easy listen during my runs. The best part was the New Mexico setting and Latino culture. The part I enjoyed less was the whiny, needy female narrator in contrast to the steady, emotionally mature leading men. Yes, the female lead has gone through hard things. But I read too many books where men rescue (either physically or emotionally) the main female character. There is not a mutuality of growth, and this portrayal feels sexist to me.
September 21, 2024
Total unlikeable FMC and she absolutely asked her father all the wrong questions like none important ones. She was also totally judgy. Read Big chicas dont cry too and I think this is just not my author unfortunately.
September 8, 2023
A beautiful story of life, love and life. How do you move on when you lose everything? How do you decide to be brave and know what you need in life and become ok with leaving go of things that don't belong.
February 11, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
What an incredible story. A Story about grief and loss and how we all process it differently. A story about family and friendship and their secrets. A story about love and healing , A story about our roots and ancestors. ❤️🩹
The story follows Gabby Medina who just lost her mother and on the funeral day, her biological father mysteriously re appears after being absent all of her life. At the moment she doesn’t want to deal with him & the idea that he exist and is trying to get back into her life by offering her his family home as a present.
She obviously refuses as she is focused to get her old job back ( she’s a chef) BUT things go awry wrong and she has to reach out to her father Raul and well… your story begins. Gabby moves to Sonrisa, New Mexico to sell the house her father is gifting her and finally have a chance at following her dreams.. or so she thinks…
This was a lovely story about second chances. The author set the tone from the very first page and it was an emotional ride that I didn’t want to end.
What an incredible story. A Story about grief and loss and how we all process it differently. A story about family and friendship and their secrets. A story about love and healing , A story about our roots and ancestors. ❤️🩹
The story follows Gabby Medina who just lost her mother and on the funeral day, her biological father mysteriously re appears after being absent all of her life. At the moment she doesn’t want to deal with him & the idea that he exist and is trying to get back into her life by offering her his family home as a present.
She obviously refuses as she is focused to get her old job back ( she’s a chef) BUT things go awry wrong and she has to reach out to her father Raul and well… your story begins. Gabby moves to Sonrisa, New Mexico to sell the house her father is gifting her and finally have a chance at following her dreams.. or so she thinks…
This was a lovely story about second chances. The author set the tone from the very first page and it was an emotional ride that I didn’t want to end.
June 1, 2024
I’m giving this one 4.75⭐️
The story had me in tears because you could feel the emotion of the characters. Having dealt with death in the family and how to move on, this book made me think about how important family and community is during those times.
I also loved how cultural was embraced as well♥️ Makes me proud to embrace my Mexican side🇲🇽
Will definitely recommend this to everyone
The story had me in tears because you could feel the emotion of the characters. Having dealt with death in the family and how to move on, this book made me think about how important family and community is during those times.
I also loved how cultural was embraced as well♥️ Makes me proud to embrace my Mexican side🇲🇽
Will definitely recommend this to everyone
December 21, 2022
Having lived through a parent who walked away, I related to the book so much. It’s always hard allowing someone back in your life when the trust has been completely broken is hard.
I respect Gabby and what she has done, I respect her wishes and it couldn’t have been an easy decision. Raul, her Dad, literally done all he could for her - giving her the house to do up and sell was respectful on his part.
Diego started off as a douche to me but as soon as he was introduced, I knew there would be something between him and Gabby.
It was such a heartwarming read and something I really needed to read. The emotion, character building and grief was written to perfection. I felt every emotion Gabby felt and I was there with her every step of the way.
Thank you @netgalley and Montlake for allowing me access to this ARC. @authorannette thank you for writing such a great book. It touched me right in the feels throughout.
I respect Gabby and what she has done, I respect her wishes and it couldn’t have been an easy decision. Raul, her Dad, literally done all he could for her - giving her the house to do up and sell was respectful on his part.
Diego started off as a douche to me but as soon as he was introduced, I knew there would be something between him and Gabby.
It was such a heartwarming read and something I really needed to read. The emotion, character building and grief was written to perfection. I felt every emotion Gabby felt and I was there with her every step of the way.
Thank you @netgalley and Montlake for allowing me access to this ARC. @authorannette thank you for writing such a great book. It touched me right in the feels throughout.
September 22, 2023
Great book to start off 
!
As a Latina myself, I love reading books about the Mexican American experience, history, and community. Annette Chavez Macias did that so well.
This book does have a Hallmark formula but offers so much more: connection with the characters and real problems/feelings. I highly recommend this entertaining book on a slow afternoon.
✨READ IF YOU LIKE ✨
-Family secrets
-Culture and history
-Self discovery
-Love
-Learning to heal
-Small town
Favorite Quote:
“I know some people say that grief gets better with time. But I would argue that it just takes on a different form. You don’t get over losing a loved one; you just learn how to live with it.”
!As a Latina myself, I love reading books about the Mexican American experience, history, and community. Annette Chavez Macias did that so well.
This book does have a Hallmark formula but offers so much more: connection with the characters and real problems/feelings. I highly recommend this entertaining book on a slow afternoon.
✨READ IF YOU LIKE ✨
-Family secrets
-Culture and history
-Self discovery
-Love
-Learning to heal
-Small town
Favorite Quote:
“I know some people say that grief gets better with time. But I would argue that it just takes on a different form. You don’t get over losing a loved one; you just learn how to live with it.”
April 26, 2024
this book felt like a warm hug. i loved that that gabby navigated grief, love, ancestral ties, and found family all in one book. i didn’t feel myself get bored at a single point. (i also loved that she was a mexican american woman that didn’t speak spanish because FELT!)
July 30, 2025
It’s a beautiful story with multilayers to each character. I enjoyed learning the history about the Adelitas too!
May 2, 2024
3.5 seemed a little rushed in some parts, but overall good story!
October 31, 2024
3.5⭐️
A bit predictable but still a good read. A realistic story about grief, self discovery and love.
A bit predictable but still a good read. A realistic story about grief, self discovery and love.
October 9, 2023
The topic of grief was so relatable. This was a great story about Gabby finding herself and her roots. Definitely a heartwarming story, despite the heavy topics. There is talk about life in L.A., Sonrisa, and even El Monte.
October 19, 2022
3 stars//
Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Gabby Medina, a chef from LA, who meets her biological father for the first time at her mother's funeral. He offers her a house back in his small hometown, Sonrisa, with no expectations of amending their relationship. Gabby takes the opportunity to make some money and moves to Sonrisa to renovate and sell said house. In the process of renovating the house, she meets the town mayor and handyman, Diego, who is the love interest. We watch Gabby navigate through grief, self discovery, and family's past while trying to keep her head over the water and falling in love with both the town and its mayor.
Starting with my likes, it was so fun to read about the latin representation through food specifically. The Mexican (correct me if I'm wrong) dishes described were painted so vividly I literally want to try to make them because they sounded so delicious. The author did an incredible job at representing latin culture and the importance of preserving it. I also loved Lola and her words of wisdom. A lot of what she told Gabby resonated with me; she was like a therapist to both Gabby and me. The found family and small town tropes are bonuses too!!
As for my dislikes, the rest of the plot felt bland to me. It had so much potential to be so much more; alas, I was let down. It took me so long to get through it even though I was so excited to read it after the synopsis. I didn't like Gabby's character at all. I know she is supposed to be going through her character development as part of the plot, but I just didn't like her as a person. She was super opinionated, immature, moody, and too prideful at times. Diego's character is also very lackluster. I couldn't tell if he was grumpy or sunshine??? It felt like he was only there for the romance element, which honestly, if that was the case, the whole romance element wasn't needed in this book. Why you may ask? Well, because it is heavily character driven and revolves mainly around Gabby's self-discovery after her mother's death + they had absolutely no chemistry. Their dynamic was just so bland and almost rushed amidst everything else happening in Gabby's life.
All in all, this book had its cons and pros. I didn't love it, but it was a fun one.
Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Gabby Medina, a chef from LA, who meets her biological father for the first time at her mother's funeral. He offers her a house back in his small hometown, Sonrisa, with no expectations of amending their relationship. Gabby takes the opportunity to make some money and moves to Sonrisa to renovate and sell said house. In the process of renovating the house, she meets the town mayor and handyman, Diego, who is the love interest. We watch Gabby navigate through grief, self discovery, and family's past while trying to keep her head over the water and falling in love with both the town and its mayor.
Starting with my likes, it was so fun to read about the latin representation through food specifically. The Mexican (correct me if I'm wrong) dishes described were painted so vividly I literally want to try to make them because they sounded so delicious. The author did an incredible job at representing latin culture and the importance of preserving it. I also loved Lola and her words of wisdom. A lot of what she told Gabby resonated with me; she was like a therapist to both Gabby and me. The found family and small town tropes are bonuses too!!
As for my dislikes, the rest of the plot felt bland to me. It had so much potential to be so much more; alas, I was let down. It took me so long to get through it even though I was so excited to read it after the synopsis. I didn't like Gabby's character at all. I know she is supposed to be going through her character development as part of the plot, but I just didn't like her as a person. She was super opinionated, immature, moody, and too prideful at times. Diego's character is also very lackluster. I couldn't tell if he was grumpy or sunshine??? It felt like he was only there for the romance element, which honestly, if that was the case, the whole romance element wasn't needed in this book. Why you may ask? Well, because it is heavily character driven and revolves mainly around Gabby's self-discovery after her mother's death + they had absolutely no chemistry. Their dynamic was just so bland and almost rushed amidst everything else happening in Gabby's life.
All in all, this book had its cons and pros. I didn't love it, but it was a fun one.
March 23, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Finding yourself, where you belong and what you deserve sometimes means redefining everything your thought you knew
Gabby is at her mothers funeral after a long battle with cancer, and as she is saying her final goodbyes, she meets a man claiming to be her biological father. The only thing she knows about him is he abandoned her and her mother when she was a baby and never came back, her aunts enlighten her it is more complicated than that but to stay away anyways. He offers her the opportunity to fix up and sell his grandmothers house no strings attached, and she has a lot of debt and bills to pay so she takes him up on his offer. She is determined to get to the small town of Sonrisa in New Mexico, get the house fixed and sold asap and return back to her life in LA. What she doesn't expect is to find everything she has been hoping for in this small town.
This was a nice read and I really enjoyed the small town setting, and the culture weaved throughout the novel. The characters felt too one dimensional, and this book would have benefited from being longer and having more meat to it. The author did a lot of telling instead on showing. Everything felt rushed nothing felt fully fleshed out.
Finding yourself, where you belong and what you deserve sometimes means redefining everything your thought you knew
Gabby is at her mothers funeral after a long battle with cancer, and as she is saying her final goodbyes, she meets a man claiming to be her biological father. The only thing she knows about him is he abandoned her and her mother when she was a baby and never came back, her aunts enlighten her it is more complicated than that but to stay away anyways. He offers her the opportunity to fix up and sell his grandmothers house no strings attached, and she has a lot of debt and bills to pay so she takes him up on his offer. She is determined to get to the small town of Sonrisa in New Mexico, get the house fixed and sold asap and return back to her life in LA. What she doesn't expect is to find everything she has been hoping for in this small town.
This was a nice read and I really enjoyed the small town setting, and the culture weaved throughout the novel. The characters felt too one dimensional, and this book would have benefited from being longer and having more meat to it. The author did a lot of telling instead on showing. Everything felt rushed nothing felt fully fleshed out.
December 11, 2022
What an incredible, heart-warming story. To me, this was about so much more than Gabby learning she has a father at her mother's funeral. It's a story about grief, complex family histories, and learning to love oneself and those around you.
Gabby is an incredibly relatable main character. While processing the loss of her mother, and the life she had with her mother, she finds multiple reminders that life doesn't wait for you to process your grief. With a mountain of debt, and a disastrous work-situation, Gabby is forced to consider an offer from her estranged father that she never would have considered before. In doing so, she finds herself doing a deep-dive into her existing boundaries and where she is comfortable shifting them.
I was thoroughly impressed with the characters in this story. Besides Gabby, every other character has a rich backstory that threads together so beautifully. I loved that, even though the story is centered around Gabby finding herself, you are rooting for some of the subplots to unfold in a specific way. Every story is told with warmth and depth, and I found it incredibly touching.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
Gabby is an incredibly relatable main character. While processing the loss of her mother, and the life she had with her mother, she finds multiple reminders that life doesn't wait for you to process your grief. With a mountain of debt, and a disastrous work-situation, Gabby is forced to consider an offer from her estranged father that she never would have considered before. In doing so, she finds herself doing a deep-dive into her existing boundaries and where she is comfortable shifting them.
I was thoroughly impressed with the characters in this story. Besides Gabby, every other character has a rich backstory that threads together so beautifully. I loved that, even though the story is centered around Gabby finding herself, you are rooting for some of the subplots to unfold in a specific way. Every story is told with warmth and depth, and I found it incredibly touching.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.
May 8, 2023
This was a book that started slow for me but got better the deeper I got into it. Most of my niggles are a "me" thing - namely I thought the incident that got the heroine to leave LA for New Mexico was really unnecessary (honestly, her being broke and the promise of a monetary windfall from selling a house was MORE than enough IMHO) and her lack of anger towards her mother for going behind her back and getting her in said debt was just thrown in there and then glossed over. I get that the heroine was grieving for Dead Mom, but the lack of anger towards her mother blew my mind.
That being said....
Once the story shifts to New Mexico is when it picked up for me. The romance takes a stronger focus, and I enjoyed the moments between the heroine and Lola especially. I didn't love this like Big Chicas Don't Cry - but it was still a solid read.
That being said....
Once the story shifts to New Mexico is when it picked up for me. The romance takes a stronger focus, and I enjoyed the moments between the heroine and Lola especially. I didn't love this like Big Chicas Don't Cry - but it was still a solid read.
December 8, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
What I liked:
-The descriptions of all the food were amazing. So detailed and I genuinely felt like I could smell and taste it.
-I love a small town romance, which was a nice addition to the plot
What didn't do it for me:
-This really felt like nothing was happening for so long. Other than the first chapter, I never felt compelled to keep reading. It just wasn't holding my interest, and the MC was my least favorite character.
All in all, I felt like the story had a lot of potential, but it just dragged. The main character fell flat for me and that made it difficult to rate highly.
What I liked:
-The descriptions of all the food were amazing. So detailed and I genuinely felt like I could smell and taste it.
-I love a small town romance, which was a nice addition to the plot
What didn't do it for me:
-This really felt like nothing was happening for so long. Other than the first chapter, I never felt compelled to keep reading. It just wasn't holding my interest, and the MC was my least favorite character.
All in all, I felt like the story had a lot of potential, but it just dragged. The main character fell flat for me and that made it difficult to rate highly.
December 7, 2023
I loved every character in this novel. Every person introduced has a purpose and perspective advancing the plot in a very relatable way. This is such an endearing and wholesome story about grief, love, family, community - against the backdrop of absolutely colourful Mexican American culture. It is lighthearted yet touching. I loved that the author integrated cultural tidbits from language to recipes (because of course, food is a love language of cultures).
Tapping into gentleness and grief to tell the stories of intergenerational women is also powerful storytelling approach.
I am looking forward to reading more books by the author.
Tapping into gentleness and grief to tell the stories of intergenerational women is also powerful storytelling approach.
I am looking forward to reading more books by the author.
September 29, 2024
Maybe I’m biased because usually as a latina I don’t see myself in the characters in most books. this was a perfect book about accepting grief and understanding life can change in many ways. i cried a few times thinking of the mom/daughter relationship and how similar it is to my own story. I enjoyed this book from start to finish.
February 13, 2023
3 stars
I found the first 20% of the book very, very depressing, which made it difficult for me to pick my phone up to continue reading. But once Gabby reaches Sonrisa, the story starts to pick up. I went into a 'Hometown Cha Cha Cha' haze then. A pink and yellow, cotton candy phase, if you want the visuals. The haze was a good thing, because 'Hometown Cha Cha Cha' is one of my all-time favourite pieces of content I have ever consumed.
The book introduced so many good characters, the collection of life stories from these characters which Gabby collects and falls in love with Sonrisa (very slowly) and learns to accept Raul as a part of her life. Her budding relationship with Diego was a wholesome development. And every time Diego was shy???? It made me melt into goo so much and so fast! So much so that I declare him my favourite character from this book.
The author did an excellent job at explaining Gabby's relationship with her mom, who passed at the beginning of the book. There was so much bitterness yet so much love. At times, I hated Sandra as much as Gabby would have, or was supposed to. I felt mad for Gabby for going through a difficult time even though Sandra wasn't around. But then there were the times when Gabby felt guilt and the way she handled her grief truly made me feel the love she had for her mom, despite their differences.
After the 60% though my 'Hometown Cha Cha Cha' haze lifted and the story started becoming predictable. The language became choppy, especially with the formatting. Or maybe I noticed it because the haze lifted.
All in all, I thought it was like any small-town book, with more focus on Gabby's story rather than the romance, but with a Mexican twist. It was a fun but not a memorable read.
Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
"The fact that he knew the feel of my mattress threw me for a second. It was personal. Intimate. But the man had seen me naked. We were way past intimate, I guess."
"“No. But it does mean they have the power to hurt me.”
“You can’t think of it as who has more power and who has less power. You’ll never be happy guarding yourself from hurt. It’s not possible. People you love are going to hurt you. People you love are going to leave. People you love are going to die. That’s life. Teresa tried so hard to hide herself away from being hurt again that she never got to experience love again. That’s the real tragedy.”"
I found the first 20% of the book very, very depressing, which made it difficult for me to pick my phone up to continue reading. But once Gabby reaches Sonrisa, the story starts to pick up. I went into a 'Hometown Cha Cha Cha' haze then. A pink and yellow, cotton candy phase, if you want the visuals. The haze was a good thing, because 'Hometown Cha Cha Cha' is one of my all-time favourite pieces of content I have ever consumed.
The book introduced so many good characters, the collection of life stories from these characters which Gabby collects and falls in love with Sonrisa (very slowly) and learns to accept Raul as a part of her life. Her budding relationship with Diego was a wholesome development. And every time Diego was shy???? It made me melt into goo so much and so fast! So much so that I declare him my favourite character from this book.
The author did an excellent job at explaining Gabby's relationship with her mom, who passed at the beginning of the book. There was so much bitterness yet so much love. At times, I hated Sandra as much as Gabby would have, or was supposed to. I felt mad for Gabby for going through a difficult time even though Sandra wasn't around. But then there were the times when Gabby felt guilt and the way she handled her grief truly made me feel the love she had for her mom, despite their differences.
After the 60% though my 'Hometown Cha Cha Cha' haze lifted and the story started becoming predictable. The language became choppy, especially with the formatting. Or maybe I noticed it because the haze lifted.
All in all, I thought it was like any small-town book, with more focus on Gabby's story rather than the romance, but with a Mexican twist. It was a fun but not a memorable read.
Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2023
What an amazing story.
Annette truly knows how to storytell and Too Soon for Adios is a prime example. This story resonated with me so much, a daughter of a single mom there are little tiny feelings that are wrapped into that relationship and she captured it so well.
As Gabby mourns her mother, she also reaches rock bottom in her professional/financial life. But an opportunity is brought to her from her biological father that had always been out of the picture.
She moves into the small town of Sonrisa (which gives me all the cozy and quirky vibes that I love.)
It's all about Gabby taking the next step forward, finding out the next right step for her. It also has forgiveness and self actualization. I couldn't help but see myself as Gabby through this whole story, she's very deep and very relatable.
I would LOVE to see this into a movie.
Annette truly knows how to storytell and Too Soon for Adios is a prime example. This story resonated with me so much, a daughter of a single mom there are little tiny feelings that are wrapped into that relationship and she captured it so well.
As Gabby mourns her mother, she also reaches rock bottom in her professional/financial life. But an opportunity is brought to her from her biological father that had always been out of the picture.
She moves into the small town of Sonrisa (which gives me all the cozy and quirky vibes that I love.)
It's all about Gabby taking the next step forward, finding out the next right step for her. It also has forgiveness and self actualization. I couldn't help but see myself as Gabby through this whole story, she's very deep and very relatable.
I would LOVE to see this into a movie.
April 27, 2023
I am glad I took my time before finishing this book because if I would've continued reading this while my relationship with my dad was rocky, I would've hated it. Why does Gabby get two great dad's and I get shit?
This book is not about me, it's about Gabby's pain and dealing with the loss of her mother and figuring out how to even think about having a future while her mother doesn't get one. It was such a great story about loss, finding new family and home and discovering more about herself. Loved every bit of it.
This book is not about me, it's about Gabby's pain and dealing with the loss of her mother and figuring out how to even think about having a future while her mother doesn't get one. It was such a great story about loss, finding new family and home and discovering more about herself. Loved every bit of it.
March 12, 2025
A good, heartfelt story. Reading this felt like watching a hallmark movie. A story about growth, learning to love yourself, and acceptance. I loved the heritage and cultural references in the book as well.
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