somewhere between bitter and sweet
BY laekan zea kemp
Penelope Prado has always dreamed of opening her own pastelería next to her father's restaurant, Nacho's Tacos. But her mom and dad have different plans-leaving Pen to choose between disappointing her traditional Mexican American parents or following her own path. When she confesses a secret she's been keeping, her world is sent into a tailspin. But then she meets a cute new hire at Nacho's who sees through her hard exterior and asks the questions she's been too afraid to ask herself.
Xander Amaro has been searching for home since he was a little boy. For him, a job at Nacho's is an opportunity for just that-a chance at a normal life, to settle in at his abuelo's, and to find the father who left him behind. But when both the restaurant and Xander's immigrant status are threatened, he will do whatever it takes to protect his newfound family and himself.
Together, Pen and Xander must navigate first love and discovering where they belong in order to save the place they all call home.
About the Author
Laekan Zea Kemp is a writer living in Austin, Texas. She received her B.A. in Creative Writing from Texas Tech University and her M.F.A. in Teaching from the University of North Texas. She’s the author of SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BITTER & SWEET, forthcoming from Little Brown Young Readers in spring 2021. When she’s not writing she’s religiously re-watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, reading anything by Melina Marchetta, and teaching English as a Second Language to the most amazing teenagers from all over the world.
#Somewherebetweenbitterandsweet
FROM NOVL NATION
“This is a fantastic coming of age story that really dives into the importance of family and culture.”
– Toya, @thereadingchemist
“Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet is the book equivalent of a mug of hot chocolate, or inside jokes with your best friend - just completely warm and comforting and delicious. Truly cannot recommend it enough.”
– Jamie, @jlew8
“Xander and Pen felt so genuine and real, as well as those characters around them - this book really brought this world to life, and I loved every second spent in it.”
– Olivia, @onemused
