Twice a Quinceanera: a story of strength, self-discovery and second chances at love

Twice a Quinceanera by Yamile Saied Mendez is a story of strength, self-discovery and second chance at love. One month before her wedding, and her thirtieth birthday, Nadia Palacio stood up to her cheating fiancé for the first time in their long relationship. She breaks off their engagement. While she congratulates herself on her strength, she dreads telling her Argentinian family. As the family struggles with the news and what to do next, Nadia sees a magazine that gives her an idea. With the wedding venue paid for and family from around the world coming into town, Nadia is determined to create her own happily ever after. She will celebrate her double quinces or treintanera. As the first professional in her family, she sees the opportunity to raise a glass to her achievements. Until she discovers that the man in charge of the wedding venue is none other than her college fling, the one she let get away, and he looks more delicious than ever. Can her journey of self-discovery lead to a second chance at love? 

Twice a Quinceanera is touted as “a pure delight for every woman who needs to be her own biggest fan—and who dreams of a second chance at first love” and “full of exuberant heart.” While it certainly lived up to this sentiment, I’m conflicted about the overall story. I felt the pace was off. I liked Nadia’s journey of finding the strength to end a relationship and be herself. The story clicked all the boxes for inclusivity and representation. There were so many characters that I stopped trying to keep track. I enjoyed the Spanish phrases that were mixed in with the story. However, I felt there wasn’t any explanation or translation as to what was said in the following text to give non-Spanish speaking readers a clue what was said. My Spanish is basic so I can decipher many phrases; however, I found myself stopping to Google search some phrases. Toward the end, I stopped and just skipped over the Spanish. Overall, Twice a Quinceanera is a good story of self-discovery and second chances at love. 

Twice a Quinceañera is available in paperback and eBook