Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet

Laekan Z 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.

This stunning and poignant novel from debut author Laekan Zea Kemp explores identity found families and the power of food all nestled within a courageous and intensely loyal Chicanx community.

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