Kiss Me, Mi Amor

In Albertson’s second “Love & Tacos” novel (following Ramón and Julieta), a farm owner and a fast-food mogul construct a fake relationship to satisfy their traditional Catholic Mexican families. After years of working on a California farm with her parents and sisters, Carolina Flores purchases the farm and dedicates it to the ethical treatment of its workers and sustainable land stewardship. Meanwhile, Enrique Montez, part owner of the Taco King empire, is interested in charting a more responsible path for his company’s future. Enrique tours Carolina’s farm and agrees to take part in community celebrations to get in Carolina’s good graces and court her as a potential supplier. After Carolina’s father experiences a medical emergency, she impulsively invents a fake relationship with Enrique to boost her father’s spirits. As Carolina and Enrique spend more time together, they question whether their fake relationship could develop into something real. Carolina’s quest for growth and independence from her family’s stringent patriarchy is as important as her growing relationship with Enrique; her agency flips this retelling of The Taming of the Shrew.