Salty, Bitter, Sweet
Out now from Blink/HarperCollins
A slow-burn romance in a cutthroat kitchen! There’s more to becoming a top chef for 17-year-old Isabella Fields than just not getting chopped … especially when the chances of things heating up with an intriguing boy and becoming a food star in the kitchen are both on the chopping block.
“An impressively and deftly crafted novel by an author with a genuine flair for narrative driven storytelling.”
Aspiring chef Isa’s family life has fallen apart after the death of her Cuban abuela and the divorce of her parents. She moves in with her dad and her new stepmom, Margo, in Lyon, France, where Isa feels like an outsider in her father’s new life. Isa balances her time between avoiding the awkward, “why-did-you-cheat-on-Mom” conversation with figuring out how a perpetually single woman can at least be a perpetually single chef.
The upside of Isa’s world being turned upside-down?
Her father’s house is located only 30 minutes away from the restaurant of world-famous Chef Pascal Grattard, who runs a prestigiously competitive international kitchen apprenticeship. The prize job at Chef Grattard’s renowned restaurant also represents a transformative opportunity for Isa who is desperate to get her life back in order—and desperate to prove she has what it takes to work in an haute kitchen. But Isa’s stress and repressed grief begin to unravel when the attractive, enigmatic Diego shows up unannounced with his albino dog.
How can Isa expect to hold it together when she’s at the bottom of her class at the apprenticeship, her new stepmom is pregnant, she misses her abuela dearly, and things with the mysterious Diego reach a boiling point?
Discussion guide for bookclubs:
Educator Guide for classroom discussion:
AWARDS:
Georgia Author of the Year Nominee (2021)
PRESS:
Hypable: Best Books of Winter 2020 “I’m not kidding when I say that Salty, Bitter, Sweet will make your mouth water from the very first page… Salty, Bitter, Sweet is a wonderful contemporary YA novel full of heart, hope, and, of course, mouth-wateringly delicious descriptions of food. It’ll inspire you to grab an apron, get in the kitchen, and start whipping up something tasty for your loved ones. It’s a balm for the soul and an inspiration for the cook inside you!”
WABE/NPR: City Lights Interview with Lois Ritzes
Hola! 10 Books That Will Take You on a Journey While You Are at Home “Jam-packed with all the food-related goodness that foodies will love, Mayra takes you to the beautiful country of France (where the novel takes place) with her vivid and imaginative writing as we journey alongside Isa.”
BuzzFeed: 30 YA Books By Latinx Authors We Can’t Wait To Read in 2020
Frolic: The Year of the Latinx “…top six Latinx reads mixed with friendship, New Year’s resolutions, wedding disasters, food and family, fantasy, and spooky fun adventures!”
TRADE REVIEWS:
Kirkus: “Fans of Top Chef won’t be able to resist a taste of this culinary drama.”
School Library Journal - “A heartwarming testament to the power of female friendships, the drive for success on one’s own terms, and accepting one’s family, even if they turn out differently than originally thought.”
Booklist - “The book’s layout, with its wide margins, recalls a cookbook, as if any moment the reader may be treated to a recipe for something decadent. Readers may catch small nods to figures of the food world, such as Anthony Bourdain, or salivate over the tantalizing descriptions—or itch to visit the French countryside. A treat for foodies.”
Publisher’s Weekly - “Cuevas effectively touches on the complexities of female ambition in a male-dominated field and multiracial identity, making this an engaging, multilayered read for aspiring chefs.”
Midwest Book Review: An impressively and deftly crafted novel by an author with a genuine flair for narrative driven storytelling, "Salty, Bitter, Sweet" by Mayra Cuevas will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to both school and community library YA fiction collections for teen readers.
ENDORSEMENTS:
“A story that will fill your heart and warm your belly.” - Ismee Williams, critically acclaimed author of Water in May and This Train Is Being Held
“Poignant and heartfelt, Salty, Bitter, Sweet has it all. Full of culture, love, and loss, every page is a feast for the senses in a story that never shies away from exploring complicated family dynamics. Cuevas’s writing is pure magic.” - Nina Moreno, author of Don’t Date Rosa Santos
“Salty, Bitter, Sweet sparkles with wit, humor, and heart. Cuevas’s debut is as delectable a morsel as the gourmet creations aspiring chef Isa creates along her journey to find her place in her family, the culinary world, and her first romantic relationship. I devoured this charming novel in one sitting and can't wait for more from this talented author.” - Gilly Segal, author of I'm Not Dying with You Tonight
"Sweet, delicious, and beautifully layered—not unlike the perfect mille crêpe cake. You'll want to devour this book immediately." - Rachael Allen, author of A Taxonomy of Love and The Summer of Impossibilities
“Both deeply poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, Mayra Cuevas’s Salty, Bitter, Sweet expertly blends heartbreak, romance, and the joy that comes from letting go of expectations and learning to love yourself—the perfect ingredients for this deliciously satisfying debut!” - Marie Marquardt, author of Dream Things True, The Radius of Us, and Flight Season
“In addition to being an incredible YA romance that will absolutely sweep you off your feet, Salty, Bitter, Sweet is also an honest meditation on slowing down and appreciating the simpler things in life. Isa’s tunnel-vision on winning the kitchen apprenticeship is relatable for so many teens who feel pressure to achieve at a certain level, all the time, and her journey illustrates that taking care of yourself is more important than any award or grade or job. I loved this book!” - Norah, Little Shop of Stories
“What a magnificent treat. This novel is delicious and nutritious, with a captivating romance garnished in family drama. Cuevas has crafted a page-turning tale that explores our most private motivations.” - Kimberly L. Jones, writer/director and coauthor of I’m Not Dying with You Tonight