I wibbled with my score. Should I take off a point or half a point for being such a typically unsubtle YA problem novel and for the impossibility of Manuel? But I can't. It is totally a five star book for me.

But yeah, it was good in a lot of ways. Aside from Manuel and Abuelita, who were a little to saintly and perfect, the characterisations were really believable (especially Paul, which is good since he's the main character!), and even Manuel and Abuelita I loved despite raising my eyebrow to them on more than one occasion. And I really liked that Angie was Paul's best friend first and stayed his best friend after they broke up. She wasn't some cardboard girlfriend. She was a real person.