Publisher's Weekly Review
Childhood friends are forced into a fake relationship by octogenarian matchmakers in Caña's wildly fun and foodie-friendly debut. Chef Kamilah Vega's life revolves around her family's Puerto Rican restaurant, El Coquí. So when the gentrification of her Chicago neighborhood puts the restaurant in a tight spot, Kamilah hopes that entering the Fall Foodie Tour will put El Coquí back in the spotlight. Convincing her family is a struggle; her abuelo agrees, but with the condition that she marry his best friend's grandson, Liam Kane, whom she's known since childhood. Liam has helped his grandfather run the family distillery, which shares a building with El Coquí, for a decade and is set on winning a national competition. But his grandfather, too, gets in on the setup, and both men threaten to sell the building if the youngsters won't give each other a chance. To outwit them, Kamilah and Liam agree to a fake engagement--but they're unprepared for how tangled their lives become and for the feelings that bubble up between them. Kamilah and Liam's passion for their work and connection to their Puerto Rican and Irish heritage, respectively, shine through, and Caña does a fantastic job surrounding them with vibrant communities. This delightful mix of food, familia, and culture will leave readers hungry for more. Agent: Patrice Caldwell, New Leaf Literary. (May.)
Kirkus Review
A modern-day fake engagement between a chef and a whiskey distiller forces both halves to admit to some very real feelings. Kamilah Vega has always been something of a people-pleaser, especially where her family is concerned--but she's also had long-simmering ideas about ways to modernize their Puerto Rican restaurant, especially with their Chicago-area block already starting to show signs of gentrification. Unfortunately, her grandfather isn't willing to agree to her vision so easily, and his terms are as follows: If she wants to give the restaurant a makeover, she has to get married to his best friend's grandson, her childhood friend-turned-frenemy, Liam Kane. Liam's grandfather is in on the blackmailing scheme, too, in part because he's just been diagnosed with cancer, and seeing his grandson tie the knot is his dying wish. If they don't agree to get hitched, their grandfathers will sell the restaurant and the Kane family distillery right out from under them. In an act of desperation, Kamilah and Liam agree to fake an engagement long enough to figure out a long-term solution, but it turns out that feigning affection only clues them in to the deeper feelings that exist below the surface--feelings that have secretly existed for as long as they've known one another. Caña has cooked up a romance that succeeds from Page 1, with a rich supporting ensemble on both sides of the equation and a central love story between two people who have to dispense with the walls around their hearts in order to find the perfect flavors they can create together. A sizzling, emotional romance with a generous helping of family and culture. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Childhood best friends Kamilah Vega and Liam Kane grew up in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood where their grandparents started their businesses. Kamilah's abuelo opened a traditional Puerto Rican restaurant, El Coquí, in the same building that Liam's Granda opened Kane Distillery, where they make traditional Irish whiskey. Decades later, gentrification is turning their old neighborhood into a hipster enclave, and lonely workaholics Kamilah and Liam have grown apart. But the sneaky old matchmakers have a plan. In exchange for their permission to update their businesses and let their grandkids take the lead, Kamilah and Liam must get engaged. Their fake arrangement has a rocky start, but as they spend more time together, Liam and Kamilah recognize that they understand each other better than anyone else and will do anything to support each other's hopes and dreams. With beautiful references to Puerto Rican and Irish folklore, the cultural and linguistic nuances Caña inserts into her heartwarming contemporary romance are flawless, as is the slow buildup of romantic feelings. This spectacular debut has tremendous series potential and is highly recommended for all libraries, especially those looking to highlight authors who deliver diverse true-to-life characters that leap off the page with originality and heart.
Library Journal Review
DEBUT This steamy romantic comedy features well-developed characters with understandable motivations and stressors. Kamilah Vega and Liam Kane have only one thing in common: their troublesome grandfathers, who are best friends and co-own the building that houses both families' businesses. Kamilah is a chef whose family runs a Puerto Rican restaurant, El Coquí, while Liam and his grandfather run the Kane whiskey distillery next door. Kamilah has taken over most of the responsibility for El Coquí but her family still treats her like a failure. Liam's grandfather has abdicated more and more decisions yet refuses to allow Liam any control over the distillery's future. Now the meddlesome duo have announced their plan to sell the building unless Liam and Kamilah get married. Though they grew up together and were best friends, Liam and Kamilah have done nothing but fight for the last decade. Can they put their personal issues aside long enough to outwit a couple of octogenarians? VERDICT The well-written storyline, fast-paced plot, deft characterizations, and delectable descriptions of whiskey tasting and Puerto Rican cuisine will keep readers turning the pages long into the night.--Heather Miller Cover
