Breakup from Hell

November 1, 2022
A high school senior falls for the new guy in town--who is hot, charming, and definitely up to no good. Miguela "Mica" Angeles lives in the small, boring town of Stowe, Vermont, with her uber-religious grandmother. Between school, church, and hanging out with her three best friends--Barry, Zee, and Rage--nothing really exciting happens. So when Sam, a mysterious tourist passing through town, appears interested in Mica, she starts to fall for his seductive ways, going along on exciting adventures that border on law-breaking (and definitely break abuela's rules). As Mica spends more time with Sam, strange things start to happen to her and her friends, as each of them develop supernatural powers accompanied by terrifying visions of the end of the world. It soon becomes very clear that there is a lot that Mica's abuela has kept from her regarding their Puerto Rican roots and family history and that Mica and her friends have a lot to learn before all hell breaks loose--literally. This entertaining fantasy with roots in Catholic lore has a fast-paced plot and features a delightfully charming friend group. It's empowering and subversive to see a Latine protagonist taking on the role that Mica is assigned and equally heartwarming to witness the love between Mica and her abuela. Major supporting characters are White. A page-turning otherworldly adventure. (Fantasy. 13-18)

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November 7, 2022
High schooler Miguela Angeles’s life is turned upside down after she falls for gorgeous and mysterious stranger Sam in this paranormal lovers-to-enemies romance by Cardinal (the Five Midnights series). Mica feels as if she’s simply going through the motions—attending school and church and adhering to her strict religious abuela’s rules—until she starts dating Sam, a newcomer to her small Stowe, Vt., hometown. Though she must keep her fledgling relationship a secret from Abuela, Sam almost effortlessly charms Mica’s friends. As their whirlwind romance unfolds, however, a host of bizarre supernatural phenomena occur to Mica and her friend group, including Mica exhibiting uncanny feats of athleticism and her friends suddenly experiencing nightmarish visions. When Abuela shares long-buried family secrets steeped in Catholicism that hint at Sam’s past, Mica and her friends must work together to prevent the destruction of everything she loves, even if it means sacrificing her relationship. Uneven pacing sometimes slows the plot, but Cardinal cleverly subverts Catholic lore via a magnetic protagonist whose complex connection with her heritage and developing relationships, particularly with her abuela, elevate this imaginative supernatural adventure. Mica is Puerto Rican; Sam presents as white. Ages 13–up. Agent: Linda Camacho, Gallt & Zacker Literary.

January 1, 2023
Grades 10-12 When Mica meets Sam, she crushes on him immediately. When he turns out to be a fan of the author who writes her favorite horror novels, her feelings only grow. But as strange things start happening to Mica and those around her in her small town--terrifying visions of Hell; Mica's closest friends suddenly perform amazing feats--Mica wonders if she's losing it. Her abuela, though, has long been hiding a truth about Mica's parents from her, and as she and Sam get closer, she starts to wonder if her family history has something to do with the appearance of Sam and his creepy sister. Sam says all the right things and inspires Mica to live her life on her own terms. But will she even have a life left after she finds out Sam's own secret? Each chapter begins with a piece of scripture from Revelations, setting a chilling stage right away. Cardinal's latest horror romance fills an increasingly popular niche--grab this one fast.

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June 16, 2023

Gr 7 Up-Miguela Angeles, a high school senior, lives with her pious, strong-willed grandmother in Stowe, VT. While she loves her overprotective grandmother, she is seeking independence and begins to break the rules when she falls for Sam, the new hottie in town on vacation. However, something just isn't right with Sam. While Miguela and Sam hit it off, his sister, Rona, has other plans and a sinister aura. What starts out as a fun romance quickly turns dark when Miguela realizes that her grandmother is hiding family secrets that will change her future, and Sam has a hidden agenda. This supernatural romance is fun and steeped in Catholic traditions. The writing flows well, is easy to read, and will appeal to reluctant readers. Miguela and her grandmother are of Latinx descent from Puerto Rico; Miguela's strong friendship group is comprised of white males. When the depths of Hell open up, the story unfolds quickly. Even though the ending is predictable, readers will find it fun and adventurous as the fight scenes and world-building are exciting and well written. Miguela proves to be a compelling female protagonist who knows how to take charge of a situation. VERDICT Fast-paced fantasy for readers looking for supernatural romance and strong friendship. Recommended.-Karen Alexander

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