Category: books

Posted in BIPOC / Latinx characters, book lists, books, Books in spanish, Chapter books, favorites, Gift guide, Picture books

Holiday Gift Guides: Picture Books & Chapter books

Posted on by ALSanchezBooks

Hello friends!

Looking for books to gift for the holidays?

Here is my annual compilation of books we’ve enjoyed throughout the year and would make great holiday gifts.

I love giving books as gifts for all occasions specially around the holidays as they are a great way to promote love of reading from a young age.
This list was compiled with the help of the kids.

So in no particular order:

  1. Los viernes comemos churros/ Fridays are for churros by Jenny Alvarado

2. Why we celebrate Earth day by Kelly Anne McLellan

3. Barnaby Unboxed by The Fan Brothers

4. The man who didn’t like animals by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

5. How to make a Shark laugh and How to make a Robot laugh by Chris Cate

6. Ellie has a secret by Amelia Bothe

7. Bud finds her gift by Robin Wall Kimmerer, illustrated by Naoko Stoop

8. The bestest big brother, ever by Ben Mantle

9. How to grow a family tree by Bea Birdsong, illustrated by Jasu Hu

10. The City of jasmine by Nadine Presley, illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee

Most of these books are appropriate for ages 3 and above and can be read to them by adults or by young readers who are learning to read on their own. They also reflect our emphasis on reading diverse books throughout the year.

I have reviewed most of them in previous IG posts. You can also check out my recommendations from previous years here and also on IG.

Have you read any of these with your kids?
Do you like to gift books?

Posted in book lists, books, favorites, graphic novels, horror, middle grade books, NAHM, Native American, Picture books, Rom-Com, YA

Native American Heritage Month book recs

Posted on by ALSanchezBooks

November is Native American Heritage Month

As many lot of us prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving next week, the sentiment behind the celebration remains a treasured and important one, but I think it’s important to research and learn about the real story behind the frequently told tale of the first Thanksgiving and acknowledge the wrong that was done to all the Native tribes through the colonization and since then.

Today I’m sharing some of the books by Native authors and native stories that we have read (or are currently reading) and have enjoyed in the last couple of years as we diversify our reading and learn more about the beautiful culture and communities.

Picture Books:

  • We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Illustrated by Michaela Goede
  • Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard and Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
  • Remember by Joy Harjo and Illustrated by Michaela Goede
  • Be a good ancestor by Leona and Gabrielle Prince and Illustrated by Carla Joseph
  • Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior by Carole Lindstrom and Illustrated by Bridget George
  • Being Home by Traci Sorell and Illustrated by Michaela Goede
  • What’s in a bead? by Kelsey Borgford and Illustrated by Tessa Pizzale
    -It’s Powwow Time! By Martha Troian and Illustrated by Hawlii Pichette
    -Bud finds her gift by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Illustrated by Naoko Stoop

Middle Grade:

  • The Second chance of Benjamin Waterfalls by James Bird
  • Ancestor Approved edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith
  • We still belong by Christine Day
  • Red Bird danced by Dawn Quigley
  • Two Tribes by Emily Bowen Cohen
  • On a wing and a tear by Cynthia Leitich Smith

YA:

  • Fire Keeper’s Daughter; Warrior girl unearthed; and Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley @angelineboulley

Horror Anthology:

  • Never whistle at night, Edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

Romance:

  • The truth according to Ember; & Love is a war song by Danica Nava @danica_nava

Non-fiction:

  • An Indegenous People’s History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
    -The Paranormal Ranger by Stanley Milford Jr.

Did you pick any books for Native American Heritage Month?
Have you read any books you can recommend?

Posted in BIPOC / Latinx characters, book lists, books, Books in spanish, favorites, Hispanic / Latine Heritage Month

Latine/Hispanic Heritage month Book recs: Adult Books

Posted on by ALSanchezBooks

Here is my fourth and final list of book recs. I think this is the most extensive one, as I do read mostly adult books. I’m excited to share a good variety of genres for all preferences and I also added a little bonus with flags from the authors heritage 😊

Featured books:

Magical Realism:

⁃ The Storyteller’s death & We need no wings by Ann Davila Cardinal

– The Cemetery of untold stories by Julia Alvarez

– The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

⁃ The Volcano daughters by Gina Maria Balibrera

⁃ Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo

⁃ A Touch of moonlightby Yaffa S. Santos

Romance:

— Historical:

⁃ A Caribean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

⁃ Compromised into a scandalous marriage & Unexpectedly wed to the heir by Lydia San Andres

— Contemporary:

⁃ A Vega family love story series: A Proposal they can’t refuse; A dish best served hot & Sleeping with the frenemy by Natalie Caña

⁃ Raiders of the lost heart & Temple of swoon by Jo Segura

Contemporary & Historical fiction:

⁃ Olga dies dreaming & Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez

⁃ Dominicana & How not to drown in a glass of water by Angie Cruz

⁃ Neruda on the park & The Grand Paloma resort (CR) by Cleyvis Natera

Horror:

⁃ Mexican Gothic & The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

⁃ The Hacienda; Vampires of el Norte & The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas

⁃ Our Shadows have claws – Anthology (multiple authors)

⁃ The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro

– Bochica by Carolina Flores-Cerchiaro

Fantasy:

– The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero Lacruz

– Quislaona – Anthology (multiple authors)

Poetry:

– Plantains and our becoming by Melania Luisa Marte

– The House on Mango street by Sandra Cisneros

Non-fiction:

Memoir:

– Solito by Javier Zamora

History/Politics:

– Latinoland by Marie Aranas (CR)

Have you read or seen any of these before?

Have you read any Latinx/ Hispanic authors this month?

Tell me in the comments!

Posted in BIPOC / Latinx characters, book lists, books, Books in spanish, favorites, Hispanic / Latine Heritage Month, YA

Latine/Hispanic Heritage month Book recs: Young Adult Books

Posted on by ALSanchezBooks

This week I’m sharing me third, admittedly short, list of book recs. I’m working on reading more YA as my oldest is now in this age group, and have added a couple of new ones since last year, so I call that a win!

Enjoy these wonderful books:

– The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

– With the fire on high by Elizabeth Acevedo

– Clap when you land by Elizabeth Acevedo

– The girl, the ring and the baseball bat by Camille Gomera Tavarez

– Twin Flames by Olivia Abtahi

– Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass by Meg Medina

– Guava and Grudges by Alexis Castellanos

– A tall dark trouble by Vanessa Montalban

– Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

– Aristotle and Dante dive into the waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Do you ever read books “not for your age group“?

I don’t think books have limits on age to be able to appreciate and enjoy them. Because I have kids of different ages, I do read books geared for many different groups more often.

Have you read or seen any of these before?
What are your favorite YA books or series?

Posted in BIPOC / Latinx characters, book lists, books, Books in spanish, favorites, Hispanic / Latine Heritage Month, middle grade books

Latine / Hispanic Heritage month Book recs: Middle grade Books

Posted on by ALSanchezBooks

This week I’m sharing the second list of book recs. Middle grade books can be surprisingly profound in the topics they deal with, and at the same time, have an uplifting message.

With my kids, we’ve picked some of our favorites. For this one I added some info about book genre and also adding little flags from the authors heritage if known 😊

Featured books:

Standalones:

– 🇨🇺 Graciela in the abyss by Meg Medina

– 🇵🇷 Iveliz explains it all/ Iveliz lo explica todo;  Something like home / Casino, casino un hogar & It’s all or nothing Vale / Todo o nada, Valentina by Andrea Beatriz Arango 

– 🇧🇷🇵🇷Lola Reyes is so not worried by Cindy L. Rodriguez

– 🇲🇽 The last cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

– 🇲🇽 The Pecan sheller by Lupe Ruiz-Flores

– 🇲🇽 Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan

– 🇩🇴 The extraordinary orbit of Alex Ramirez by Jasminne Paulino

– 🇩🇴 Ghost squad by Claribel Ortega 

Series:

– 🇨🇺 Sal & Gabi by Carlos Hernandez

– 🇲🇽 The Storm runner by JC Cervantes 

– 🇩🇴 Witchlings series by Claribel Ortega

Graphic Novels:

– 🇩🇴 ¡Manu! By Kelly Fernandez

– 🇩🇴 Frizzy / Rizos by Claribel Ortega and illustrated by Rose Bousamra

– 🇩🇴 Doodles from the Boggiedown by Stephanie Rodriguez

– 🇨🇺🇨🇴 Home & Speak up, Santiago! by Julio Anta

– 🇨🇺 How to say goodbye in Cuban by Alexis Castellanos

– 🇨🇺 Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos

Have you read or seen any of these before?

Share some of you own recs!

Posted in BIPOC / Latinx characters, book lists, books, Books in spanish, favorites, Hispanic / Latine Heritage Month, Picture books

Latine / Hispanic Heritage month Book recs: Picture Books

Posted on by ALSanchezBooks

For the first list of book recs we are diving in the beautiful and colorful world of picture books.

I picked some of our household favorites to share and added a little flag from the authors heritage 😊

Featured books:

  • 🇩🇴 Islandborn / Lola by Junot Diaz
  • 🇩🇴 Plátanos are love by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris
  • 🇩🇴 Angelica and La Güira by Angie Cruz
  • 🇵🇷 Just Ask / Solo pregunta & Just Shine! / ¡Solo Brilla! by Sonia Sotomayor
  • 🇵🇷 Mother of Sharks / Madre de tiburones by Melissa Cristina Marquez
  • 🇵🇷 The Coquies still sing / Los Coquíes aún cantan by @wordsbykarina
  • 🇵🇷 De aquí como el coquí / Coquí in the city by Nomar Perez
  • 🇵🇷 Across the Bay by Carlos Aponte
  • 🇵🇷 La noche before Three Kings day by Sheila Colon-Bagley
  • 🇧🇷🇵🇷Three pockets full by Cindy L. Rodriguez
  • 🇵🇪 Alma by Juana Martinez Neal
  • 🇨🇺 Mango, abuela and me, & No more señora Mimi! by Meg Medina
  • 🇸🇻 Rene has two last names by René Colato Laínez
  • 🇨🇴 I am La Chiva! By Karol Hernandez
  • 🇦🇷 The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi
  • 🇲🇽Mi papi tiene una moto by Isabel Quintero 
  • 🇲🇽 Areli is a dreamer by Areli Morales
  • 🇲🇽 Barrio Rising by Maria Dolores Aguila

Have you read or seen any of these before?

Posted in books, favorites, recipe, recipe and review, reviews, Rom-Com

Recipe and a Review: Problematic Summer Romance

Posted on by ALSanchezBooks

Sicily in the scorching summer, a wonderful villa by the water, and Maya and Connor. Ingredients for a super steamy summer romance. After reading this, I needed some serious cooling down, and what better way than to try 2 refreshing drinks inspired by this novel. 

Starting your day with a cooling glass of granita, whipped cream, and a brioche bun is the norm in Sicily (as per this book) and espresso is a popular choice th perfect choice.

Acqua e menta is a classic Italian drink is a mixture of mint syrup and chilled still or sparkling water. 

I hope you enjoy these!

Summary:

Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life. Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him.

It’s such a cliché, it almost makes her heart implode: older man and younger woman; successful biotech guy and struggling grad student; brother’s best friend and the girl he never even knew existed. As Conor loves to remind her, the power dynamic is too imbalanced. Any relationship between them would be problematic in too many ways to count, and Maya should just get over him. After all, he has made it clear that he wants her gone from his life.

When Maya’s brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and Conor end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. There, on the beautiful Ionian coast, between ancient ruins, delicious foods, and natural caves, Maya realizes that Conor might be hiding something from her. And as the destination wedding begins to erupt out of control, she decides that a summer fling might be just what she needs—even if it’s a problematic one.

“Why did she bring me a slushy?” Conor looks at me like I just produced a legally actionable claim. “Jesus Christ.” “What?” “Maya.” “What did I do?” “Took a dump on centuries of Sicilian culture?” I blink. “Because I asked about the slushy?” “It’s called a granita. Granita al caffè. With panna—the heavy cream on top.” He plucks a brioche bun from the basket on his left and puts it on my plate.…. “Shut up and eat.” It turns out to be crunchier than a slushy, made of little shards of ice infused with sweet espresso. It’s delicious, of course—creamy and refreshing and cloud-fluffy, and: “I’m moving here,” I tell him after two bites, scooping more granita onto my pastry.

If you make it or share it please tag me 🤩

My thoughts:

  • I’ve been lusting for a  Maya and Connor book since I saw their guarded interactions in Not in love. I could sense there was something there.
  • I was afraid of this book because the title made me worry it would be a insta-love story. But I was so wrong. The two timelines clearly show us there had been a lot going on the previous 3 years, and there was a greater depth on their relationship than was evident.  The 3 years had been the slowest of slow burns, with occasional episodes of exploding heat (The cave scene 🔥🔥🔥)
  • I loved how Maya was so certain of what she wanted with Connor and how she expressed it. It did feel at times she was the only one fighting for them, and he was constantly fighting against his feelings and found his reluctance a bit repetitive.
  • I didn’t find the age gap to be a big deal, probably because of how the author handled the development of their relationship, by having them come into each other’s radar well after Maya is an adult, and having them go from mere acquaintances to friends to prospective lovers.
  • While this is a stand alone, I feel like reading Not in love first gave me a better understanding of the other characters and situations, and also the anticipation for M & C to get together.
  • As always, I absolutely love Ali’s style, the romance and humor intermingled with seriousness.
  • I also enjoyed getting a bit of continuation of Rue and Eli’s story, and the setting in the Italiand villa was fantastic 
  • The audio narration was perfection, the duet style by Elizabeth Lamont & Eric Nolan (with his Irish accent) *chefs kiss 

Have you ever been to Italy?

Where would you like to go?

“After sneaking out of the theater, I spent a couple of hours wandering down Corso Umberto while sipping on a delicious drink made of water and sweet mint syrup. ”

Enjoy!

Posted in books, favorites, recipe, recipe and review, reviews, Rom-Com

Recipe and a Review: What Happens in Amsterdam

Posted on by ALSanchezBooks

As Dani experiences the sights, culture and cuisine that Amsterdam has to offer, I couldn’t help but get craving for trying so many delicious sounding foods. But one stood out, buttery and fluffy Poffertjes. These dutch mini pancakes, were the absolute best, and instant hit in my home. I’ve since made them several times, and we’ve gotten more creative with the toppings, the possibilities are endless.

Summary:

Dani Dorfman has somehow made it to her thirties without knowing what she wants to do with her life. So when an office romance ends poorly and gets her fired, she applies for a job in Amsterdam, idly dreaming of escaping the mess she’s created, but never imagining she’ll actually get it. Except she does. By the end of her first week in Amsterdam, she’s never felt more adrift or alone. Then she crashes her bike into her high school ex-boyfriend—and suddenly life is blooming with new opportunities.

Wouter van Leeuwen was a Dutch exchange student Dani’s family hosted, a forbidden love that ended in a painful breakup. Years later, there’s still sizzling chemistry between them, and okay, maybe a little animosity. More importantly, Wouter needs to be married to inherit a gorgeous family home on a canal—and when Dani’s job falls apart, she needs a visa. As the marriage of convenience pushes them together in unexpected ways, Dani must decide whether her new life is yet another mistake—or if it’s worth taking a risk on a second chance.

“I stop in front of a cart selling miniature pancakes, where an older man is pumping batter into small circles on a griddle. Poffertjes, says the sign above him. “One of these please”… “with sugar or nutella?” “Both?”

I watch my little pancakes rise, darkening at the edges before he scoops them onto a paper tray, sprinkling them with powdered sugar and a healthy dollop of nutella.”

If you make it or share it please tag me 🤩

My thoughts:

  • This was absolutely perfect. I loved Dani and Wouter. These 2 had undeniable chemistry from the start, funny they were the ones that couldn’t see it.
  • Plus the steam was A+, I love how the author manages to make them vulnerable yet so open to each other in the intimate moments. And there were plenty of deliciously 🔥 scenes.
  • Second chance romance is a hit of miss for me, but the author managed to make them endearing and you can’t help but root for them.
  • I always love how she also manages to have mental health representation, and how Dani initially struggles to speak up for herself and show her independence to her family. Her growth was great throughout the story.
  • The author clearly loves Amsterdam, and she makes me want to visit, and soon!
  • The narration by Elizabeth Lamont was fantastic, specially listening the words and names pronounced correctly.

Thank you @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the gifted copy of the book.

What’s your favorite topping for pancakes or waffles? 

Enjoy!

Posted in books, favorites, recipe, recipe and review, reviews, Rom-Com

Recipe and a Review: Great Big beautiful life

Posted on by ALSanchezBooks

What’s better than a refreshing sip of lemonade on a hot and humid day? A cold glass of Mint lemonade. This was the perfect inspiration to share a favorite of mine, and check out the adult beverage twist at the end 🍋🍹

Summary:

Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives: Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess.

When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, but the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.

“I take a tiny sip of the lemonade, which turns into a long gulp, because it’s amazing, fresh and crisp with torn mint leaves swirling around along with the ice cubes.”

If you make it or share it please tag me 🤩

My thoughts:

  • This book felt like a mix of classic EmHen romance in the present story with the classic witty banter and  undeniable chemistry; but mixed with a historical family drama in the flashbacks of Margarets story, with the drama and secrets, that reminded me a lot of a TJR novel. 
  • It felt different than her previous novels so it’s hard to compare and rank against her other books, but I was still hooked and loved every minute of it.
  • I loved the development of the relationship between the MCs. Forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes, and these two kept bumping into each other, until they just wanted to spend more and more time together.
    Alice was so open from the start, but Hayden went from quiet and reserved, to full on committed to making something work with Alice.
  • And I also enjoyed the drama and the mystery of Margaret’s story. While I had my suspicions there was something she was hiding and I did guess one correctly, I didn’t see the big reveal coming and that twist was completely unexpected.
  • The problem they encountered towards the end was the most heartbreaking and the saddest I’ve read and it really really broke me.
  • The narration by Julia Whelan was superb as always.

Thank you @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the gifted copy of the book.

What’s your favorite refreshing summer drink of choice? 

Enjoy!

Posted in BIPOC / Latinx characters, books, favorites, recipe, recipe and review, reviews, Rom-Com

Recipe and a Review: Just our Luck

Posted on by ALSanchezBooks

There was no doubt in my mind as I was reading this book that I should make donuts. Now Blueberry cake donuts filled with Lemon curs were a bit too complex, but these Blueberry donuts with lime glaze hit the perfect sweet spot. I hope yall can try them out! 🍩

Summary:

A lottery ticket + donuts = love in this steamy new fake dating romance. When Sybil accidentally leaves behind her winning lottery ticket in Kiran’s donut shop, his attempt to find her goes viral and sales at his family’s donut shop soar. So of course, to help save his shop, he and Sybil fake date, and it doesn’t take long for real feelings to bloom. 

“Filled is good.” She said. “Filled to overflowing with…” she leaned forward and lowered her voice, the words raspy to anove a whisper and so fucking sexy that it took my brain a moment to register she was saying something else “lemon curd”.

If you make it or share it please tag me 🤩

Ingredients

My thoughts:

  • This was a fun fake dating story
  • I enjoyed Sybil and Kiran meet cute, and that definitely escalated quickly 🔥
  • The twist of the winning lottery ticket was fun
  • I liked Kierans devotion to his family and helping his grandfather
  • I didn’t like how Sybil’s family treated, thankfully she had a great group of supportive friends. I’m happy she was able to find her voice and tell them how they made her feel
  • I thought she should have owned up to how her actions affected those around her, I don’t think she took responsibility for them enough. Even after the reveal at the end, I think there should have been a bigger reconing from her part.
  • The narration by Emma Ladji and Teddy Hamilton was perfect

Thank you @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the gifted copy of the book.

What’s your favorite type of donut? 

Enjoy!