Becoming Latina in 10 Easy Steps by Lara Rios: A Book Review

This book is about, Marcela Alvarez, a Mexican American woman in her late 20s with a high powered job in animation who finds out that she is half Mexican at a family function by her cousin. This becomes the start of her journey of becoming more Latina to prove to her family that she is as much as Latina they are. So one night, she writes a list with her best friend called "Becoming Latina in 10 Easy Steps" hence the title of the book.

Becoming more Latina is harder than it looks. On her list, Marcela wants to learn how to cook Mexican food, date mainly Mexican men, and make a difference in her Mexican community. Marcela starts dating a man named George who is different than any man she has met. She also gets involved with an at-risk teen through a crazy circumstance. In the end, she accomplishes most of her list, but I won't say exactly how because then you wouldn't want to read the book and this is a good read.

Overall, this book was a very entertaining read. It was funny in some parts and heart warming in others. Sometimes I wanted to hit Marcela upside her head and say " What are you doing?" Marcela is a character that many young women can relate to because essentially she's trying to find out who she is and what she believes in. Sometimes, she make choices that put her in some strange predicaments but all of her choices help her to become the Latina she already is but didn't know it yet.