Here are your Latinx young adult reads in time for summer reading! Kick back and relax with diverse stories about young Latinx coming-of-age in a complex world. Encounter stories featuring first love, grief, meet-cutes, rivals-to-lovers, and plenty of self-discovery.

Rubi Ramos’s Recipe for Success by Jessica Parra

Alma University waitlisted Rubi Ramos. She must be distraction-free to make the grade and keep her parents from finding out. So falling for her cute math tutor is out of the question, and so is baking. Her parents didn’t leave Cuba for her to end up baking just like them. But the First Annual Bake-Off comes to town, and Rubi’s passion for baking goes from a subtle simmer to a full boil. And her crush on Ryan might be blooming into a full-blown relationship. Rubi’s life is changing fast, and she must distinguish between the responsibility of unfulfilled dreams and finding her path.

 

 

The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes

The goal of Ariana Ruiz is to be noticed. But as an autistic girl who never talks, her peers largely ignore her. When cute, popular Luis starts to pay attention to her, Ari finally feels seen. His attention turns to something more, and they have sex at a party. Ari didn’t say no, but she didn’t say yes, either. Before Ari even has a chance to process what happened to her, rumors spread – thanks, Ari is sure, to Luis’s ex-girlfriend, Shawni – turning Ari into an easy target for other boys at school. Then Ari finds a mysterious note in her locker, leading her to a group of students looking to expose Luis Ortega for the predator he is. But to take down Luis, Ari will have to face the truth of that night.

 

 

 

The Weight of Everything by Marcia Argueta Mickelson

 

It’s been six months since Sarah’s mom died. Sarah is struggling to make sure that the bills are paid, her brother is fed and safe, and her dad’s grief won’t crush them all. There’s hardly any time for art unless she’s cranking out a piece to sell online for grocery money. And she doesn’t have the emotional energy to find out if her classmate, David Garza, could be more than a friend. But when a school project prompts Sarah to delve into her mom’s Mexican and Guatemalan roots, she begins to understand her mom better and can face her grief.

 

 

 

Ander and Santi Were Here by Johnny Garza Villa

The smell of pan dulce. The Spanish and English in the streets. Their family’s taqueria. It’s all Ander Martinez has ever known. The Santos Vista neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas, is the place that inspired Ander as a muralist. It’s all of these things that make them hesitant to leave. To keep Ander from becoming complacent during their gap year, their family “fires” them so they can transition from restaurant life to focusing on their murals and preparing for college. Then they meet Santiago López Alvarado, the hot new waiter. Falling in love becomes as natural as breathing.

 

 

 

 

 

You Don’t Have a Shot by Racquel Marie

For Valentina “Vale” Castillo-Green, soccer is life. But, after she incites a fight during a playoff game with her rival, Leticia Ortiz, all her hard work seems to crumble. To escape embarrassment and get away from her father’s intense expectations, Vale finds herself at her beloved childhood soccer camp. This will be a summer of relaxation and redemption. And then Leticia shows up as Vale’s co-captain of a team that could play in front of college scouts. Vale’s soccer dreams depend on her team’s ability to work together to win against stiff competition. The weight of it all – growing pressure, friendship friction, and an overbearing father – pushes Vale to turn to Leticia for help. Through a shared love of soccer, Vale and Leticia discover a love for one another.

 

 

Julieta and the Romeos by Maria A. Andreu

Could this be Julieta’s own meet-cute? Julieta doesn’t believe in happily ever after. But when a mysterious new contributor begins interacting with her online writing, she gets curious. As her rom-com heats up, she can’t help but notice three boys in her real life: her best friend’s brother – aka her nemesis, the boy next door (well, to her abuela), and her oldest friend who is suddenly looking… hot? Julieta embarks on a search for her digital Romeo, with plenty of plot twists along the way.