Book Review: Salty, Bitter, Sweet ~ Heidi

 Book Review: Salty, Bitter, Sweet

In this review, I will be talking about Salty, Bitter, Sweet by Mayra Cuevas. This book is about seventeen-year-old aspiring chef Isabella Field, her path pursuing her culinary career, navigating the loss of her Cuban Abuela, and dealing with her parent's divorce. 

First, I want to note this book is all about food. In almost every dialogue and paragraph, Isabella mentions a recipe ranging from across the world. I have learned about 30 new recipes from this book that I need to try immediately! The author also italicized the food mentioned and provides a description at the end of the book. I would say this book is half a fiction book and half a cookbook.

Review: (SPOILERS)

I liked this book! The author builds a cozy character background using many stories and anecdotes with both Isabella and her Abuela, especially noting how Isabella's love for cooking began at her Abuelas small cottage in the fields. It was interesting to watch Isabella’s uncertainty about her culinary identity progress before and after her Abuelas death, especially with the memories and feelings associated with cooking. It was also great to watch Isabella resolve her inner grief at the end of the book, and the symbolism was A+. I am trying not to spoil too much, but it involves a world-famous apple pie recipe and a taste with a new family. 

On that note, I think this book did a job well done with the culinary ending. I liked the build-up to Isabella’s epiphany about what she desired, and the characters the author introduced to further that point. I especially liked the trip to Barcelona and the introduction of Clara. Clara was a successful woman, who knew what she wanted in life, and I respect that. Her restaurant was also wonderfully described, and I could almost imagine her rooftop restaurant, filled with sounds of music and laughter. I believe during that trip, Isabella realized she did not have to take the apprenticeship spot to succeed as a chef and that no amount of prestige or award would change the taste of a darn good flan recipe. That message resonated with me since it showed how even without awards or Michelin stars, what truly matters most is your passion and attitude toward something you love. Before that trip, I believe Isabella felt she was cooking just for titles and to secure a certain job path, not so much because she enjoys and loves being in the kitchen. The ending displays beautifully how you can choose between a life path that makes sense and a life path you want. 

However, there were several plots the author introduced but did not resolve as well as the central one. For example, one of the main characters, Diego, struggles with his tiger parents. His parents enrolled him in swimming when he was young, and he has been swimming ever since. However, he grows to loath swimming and quits right before his Olympic trials, leaving his parents disappointed and angry. This animosity with his parents is the root of his inner conflict. Therefore,  I expected far deeper content and resolution, but I did not get that. Instead, the author included one scene of Marco visiting his father, arguing, then coming back and saying everything was fine. Frankly, I think that scene was insulting. The author builds up an understandable character with an issue that many readers are likely to relate to but then does not expand into it. I think the author should have left out this plotline rather than introduce it and rush the ending.   

Added Bonuses:

The Characters:  All of the characters in this book are very likable! The author articulates and crafts each character so well that even with blatant mistakes and flaws, you find yourself rooting for every single one. 

The Setting: A good portion of this book occurs behind the scenes of a famous restaurant's competition between 12 young aspiring chefs competing for an apprenticeship. Therefore, with the casual and honey dialogues, it feels like a Netflix baking competition. I love baking shows and cooking competitions, and this book feels identical to the feeling of turning on a baking show and lighting a cinnamon oat candle on a nearby coffee table. 

The Romance: The romance was so cute. I cannot describe the severity of cuteness, but if you imagined your favorite love song times 100. If you want to feel lonely and let out a big sigh, go ahead and borrow this book. 

Shoutout:

I got to read this book because of "Blind Date with a Book" so shout out to the Uni High library!