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The Chismosas Only Book Club
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Expected 26 May 26Win a free print copy of this book!
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10 copies available
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The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants meets Mexikid in this heart-warming novel with illustrations about four friends and the magical bookstore that holds them together.
Cat, Sofia, Ana, and Mari are best friends. Nothing, nada, can break their bond. When Cat’s mom scolds them for their loud cackling at the bookstore, calling them a bunch of chismosas, the name sticks. Cat creates the The Chismosas Only Book Club, giving the girls a way to stay connected as they begin high school.
But ninth grade is hard, and it seems like no amount of conchas y libros y risas at Milagro’s Books, founded generations ago by Cat’s great-great-great-grandmother, can repair the ever-growing cracks in their friendship. But maybe the spirit of Milagro herself can . . .
Brimming with whimsy and heart, and woven with black-and-white graphic novel chapters, this enchanting book celebrates the magic of friendship, the embrace of ancestors, and the power of stories to hold us together.
Also available in Spanish, from Vintage Español.
Cat, Sofia, Ana, and Mari are best friends. Nothing, nada, can break their bond. When Cat’s mom scolds them for their loud cackling at the bookstore, calling them a bunch of chismosas, the name sticks. Cat creates the The Chismosas Only Book Club, giving the girls a way to stay connected as they begin high school.
But ninth grade is hard, and it seems like no amount of conchas y libros y risas at Milagro’s Books, founded generations ago by Cat’s great-great-great-grandmother, can repair the ever-growing cracks in their friendship. But maybe the spirit of Milagro herself can . . .
Brimming with whimsy and heart, and woven with black-and-white graphic novel chapters, this enchanting book celebrates the magic of friendship, the embrace of ancestors, and the power of stories to hold us together.
Also available in Spanish, from Vintage Español.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 26, 2026
About the author
Laekan Zea Kemp
32 books611 followersLaekan Zea Kemp is a writer living in Austin, Texas. Her debut novel, Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet was a 2022 Pura Belpré Honor Recipient. She has three objectives when it comes to storytelling: to make people laugh, cry, and crave Mexican food. Her work celebrates Chicane grit, resilience, creativity, and joy while exploring themes of identity and mental health.
Find her on social media @LaekanZeaKemp
http://www.laekanzeakemp.com/
Find her on social media @LaekanZeaKemp
http://www.laekanzeakemp.com/
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
2026
March 11, 2026Latine Heritage Month TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus
The town of Nueva Rosita, New Mexico is the charming setting of this story about a slightly magical bookstore and the four girls who have a book club there. Milagro's Books is indeed the site of a miracle. When Cat was very young and her parents inherited the store, she wandered in and the whole store fell down around her, but she was safe. A piece of paper, an insurance policy, even wafted down into the wreckage, and the store was covered. Things aren't going as smoothly as she would like, as her parents now fight all the time, but Cat and her cousin Sofia still enjoy getting books from the store. Sofia's grandmother is very strict, and forbids even the reading of Tarot cards, so frowns on Sofia's spells and herbal remedies. She would also not be happy to learn that Sofia has a crush on Jules, a girl at her new high school. Ana's parents have a restaurant near the bookstore, and Ana frequently has to help out watching her siblings, making sure her grandmother doesn't burn down the house, and pitching in to help with the family business. This is stressful and makes it hard for her to get her schoolwork done, so it's no surprise that she takes refuge in a treehouse in the family's yard. Mari loves to draw, which takes her mind off her mother's health problems, and the fact that her father lives far away. In between reading a wide array of books, which are listed at the end and include middle grade titles like Witchlings and Frizzy but are largely young adult and adult titles, the girls have lots of drama during their freshman year. Cat gets her period and tries out for drama club while dealing with the fact that her father might be having an affair, Ana meets up with Gabe in the treehouse, Sofia starts to hang out with Jules, who shares her love of nature and magic, and Mari finds out that she has a half brother, Noah, who starts to date Cat. Even though life is challenging, it is easier to navigate with good friends. And, of course, lots of literature!
Strengths: Nueva Rosita is an interesting setting, and I don't know that I've read a novel about a book club since Frederick's Mother-Daughter Book Club series. There is lots of Latine culture, with extended families, involved grandmothers, and lots of tasty treats. I had to look up a lot of Spanish words, but many of my students won't. This is a solidly upper middle grade book, and while there are plenty of serious teen problems, none of them are sensitive enough that a sixth grader couldn't read this book. The chapters alternate between the perspectives of the four girls, and Mari's chapters include cartoon panels, which graphic novel readers will enjoy.
Weaknesses: The cover makes the girls look a bit younger than I envisioned them, but as least does mention high school.
What I really think: This reminded me a little of Meriano's Love, Sugar, Magic mixed with Lopez's Lucky Luna and should be popular with fans of some of the books mentioned in the reading list!
The town of Nueva Rosita, New Mexico is the charming setting of this story about a slightly magical bookstore and the four girls who have a book club there. Milagro's Books is indeed the site of a miracle. When Cat was very young and her parents inherited the store, she wandered in and the whole store fell down around her, but she was safe. A piece of paper, an insurance policy, even wafted down into the wreckage, and the store was covered. Things aren't going as smoothly as she would like, as her parents now fight all the time, but Cat and her cousin Sofia still enjoy getting books from the store. Sofia's grandmother is very strict, and forbids even the reading of Tarot cards, so frowns on Sofia's spells and herbal remedies. She would also not be happy to learn that Sofia has a crush on Jules, a girl at her new high school. Ana's parents have a restaurant near the bookstore, and Ana frequently has to help out watching her siblings, making sure her grandmother doesn't burn down the house, and pitching in to help with the family business. This is stressful and makes it hard for her to get her schoolwork done, so it's no surprise that she takes refuge in a treehouse in the family's yard. Mari loves to draw, which takes her mind off her mother's health problems, and the fact that her father lives far away. In between reading a wide array of books, which are listed at the end and include middle grade titles like Witchlings and Frizzy but are largely young adult and adult titles, the girls have lots of drama during their freshman year. Cat gets her period and tries out for drama club while dealing with the fact that her father might be having an affair, Ana meets up with Gabe in the treehouse, Sofia starts to hang out with Jules, who shares her love of nature and magic, and Mari finds out that she has a half brother, Noah, who starts to date Cat. Even though life is challenging, it is easier to navigate with good friends. And, of course, lots of literature!
Strengths: Nueva Rosita is an interesting setting, and I don't know that I've read a novel about a book club since Frederick's Mother-Daughter Book Club series. There is lots of Latine culture, with extended families, involved grandmothers, and lots of tasty treats. I had to look up a lot of Spanish words, but many of my students won't. This is a solidly upper middle grade book, and while there are plenty of serious teen problems, none of them are sensitive enough that a sixth grader couldn't read this book. The chapters alternate between the perspectives of the four girls, and Mari's chapters include cartoon panels, which graphic novel readers will enjoy.
Weaknesses: The cover makes the girls look a bit younger than I envisioned them, but as least does mention high school.
What I really think: This reminded me a little of Meriano's Love, Sugar, Magic mixed with Lopez's Lucky Luna and should be popular with fans of some of the books mentioned in the reading list!
May 25, 2026
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.At first when I received this from the publisher I was not going to read it because it was a middle grade book and I was still a high school librarian. But then, I’d been interviewing for some middle school library jobs, so I kept it just in case I happened to get a job, and I did, so I decided to go ahead and read it. And I’m really glad I did! This book could also be for a high school, as the four main characters are all just starting 9th grade, so in reality it would have worked either way.
It was in 3rd person, which is always a little harder for me to read, and I’m wondering if more middle grade books will be that way? For me with the 4 different main characters each getting their own POV chapters, there were a couple girls that maybe I had to check and remember who I was reading at first. However they did each have their own storylines that were different. One character, I think it was Noah? appeared in two different stories, so I think that one confused me a little.
Each girl’s story was really good though. It was sad to see how much stress they were in for their own reasons. All of them had some kind of family drama, something kids that age definitely deal with. So it was very real. It was so emotional, and there were so many things for the girls to realize as they were getting older and dealing with how things change when you move to that next level of school. I loved how the author used real books to connect the girls in the club, as well as how each girl seemed to find something in each story that really applied to her own life and problems. The way I feel books do in real life. So many of the books are ones I know of and had in my own school library, and a few were new to me that I will have to check out.
A wonderful story for 8th/9th grade girls, or even middle grades like 6th-7th would be good to read this as well. I’m so glad that I took the time to read this one!This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
It was in 3rd person, which is always a little harder for me to read, and I’m wondering if more middle grade books will be that way? For me with the 4 different main characters each getting their own POV chapters, there were a couple girls that maybe I had to check and remember who I was reading at first. However they did each have their own storylines that were different. One character, I think it was Noah? appeared in two different stories, so I think that one confused me a little.
Each girl’s story was really good though. It was sad to see how much stress they were in for their own reasons. All of them had some kind of family drama, something kids that age definitely deal with. So it was very real. It was so emotional, and there were so many things for the girls to realize as they were getting older and dealing with how things change when you move to that next level of school. I loved how the author used real books to connect the girls in the club, as well as how each girl seemed to find something in each story that really applied to her own life and problems. The way I feel books do in real life. So many of the books are ones I know of and had in my own school library, and a few were new to me that I will have to check out.
A wonderful story for 8th/9th grade girls, or even middle grades like 6th-7th would be good to read this as well. I’m so glad that I took the time to read this one!This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Chismosas Only Book Club does a great job representing the real-life problems that girls go through in their families, friendships, and school. Kemp portrays four best friends as they spend the summer getting ready for high school. The girls form the Chismosas Only Book Club so that they will stay connected as they start different classes and activities in the fall. Cat’s parents are going through a divorce, and she doesn’t know how to handle it or help her little sister. Ana’s mother expects her to help her grandmother with dementia, babysit her much younger sisters, and help in the family restaurant, all while making perfect grades. Sophia’s abuela living with her makes her feel judged for existing. Mari’s scared because her mother has kidney disease. Milagro’s bookstore is where the book club meets and the magic happens. If the four friends remember to communicate with each other, they all will have a great year, but there are some speed bumps along the way that remind the reader that teamwork makes the dream work.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
TCOBC was brilliant! So thankful for this awesome book and can’t wait to read it with my book club!
The characters and friendships developed so naturally with the multi-POV of all four main characters ❤️ I loved all the book references throughout and the book list in the back. The way the characters were able to relate to and understand their worlds better because of their friendships and the books they read is so beautiful. I hope it is what is true for all of us; we are more empathetic and better versions of ourselves because our relationships and the art we consume changes us.
I also love how much each character gets to live out their own journey. As stated in the book “reading someone else’s story was just as important as writing your own.”
The characters and friendships developed so naturally with the multi-POV of all four main characters ❤️ I loved all the book references throughout and the book list in the back. The way the characters were able to relate to and understand their worlds better because of their friendships and the books they read is so beautiful. I hope it is what is true for all of us; we are more empathetic and better versions of ourselves because our relationships and the art we consume changes us.
I also love how much each character gets to live out their own journey. As stated in the book “reading someone else’s story was just as important as writing your own.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“She wanted to be so far away from her mother that not even her disappointment could reach her.”
Thank you to Putnam for the eARC of The Chismosas Only Book Club. This was such a fun coming of age story! Focusing on a friend group consisting of Mari, Cat, Sofia and Ana - all four girls face struggles of their own as they’re getting ready for high-school. I loved how certain cultural struggles/pressures among younger Latinx members were presented. As a Latina woman myself, I could relate to a lot of the tensions happening in their home, school, and personal lives between all 4 characters. And can I just say that I LOVED the graphic novel illustrations within the chapters! Plus we see in real life books mentioned throughout this story. I’m going to definitely check them out.
Thank you to Putnam for the eARC of The Chismosas Only Book Club. This was such a fun coming of age story! Focusing on a friend group consisting of Mari, Cat, Sofia and Ana - all four girls face struggles of their own as they’re getting ready for high-school. I loved how certain cultural struggles/pressures among younger Latinx members were presented. As a Latina woman myself, I could relate to a lot of the tensions happening in their home, school, and personal lives between all 4 characters. And can I just say that I LOVED the graphic novel illustrations within the chapters! Plus we see in real life books mentioned throughout this story. I’m going to definitely check them out.
May 23, 2026
“Everyone else besides you guys is straight basura.” Teen girl friendship stories have always been a favorite of mine. Movies like Now and Then, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and Mean Girls have shaped who I am and the kind of girl mom I hope to be. I fell in love with this foursome the moment I opened the book. The big changes, mixed with a touch of magic, kept these girls together. As they read and bond over books, they face the obstacles. I feel guilty for my TBR pile, which has grown ridiculously thanks to the diverse novels mentioned throughout the story. I can’t wait to read this with my own daughters one day. The Latina representation and illustrations were amazing. I would recommend this to anyone.
Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam’s Sons for the ARC.
4.5 stars rounded up
Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam’s Sons for the ARC.
4.5 stars rounded up
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A delightful middle grade novel with a fresh yet classic feel. I just love the concept so much: four friends just starting high school form a book club in a magical bookstore that chooses the exact book each girl needs to read at that specific moment in their lives. The story is charming and thoughtful, and the perspective of each character feels distinct and lived-in. Also, it's so fun that the book club reads lots of current books written by diverse authors. It was exciting when the club would read something that I've read recently! And for the book club books I haven't read yet, I immediately added them to my TBR!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 girls who have been together pretty much forever, now starting high school, each with big issues to handle. First periods, parents breaking up, infidelities, anxiety, overwork, lack of acceptance, so many hurdles, first kisses, first crushes, competing priorities, and rock-solid friends to help get through it all. The bonds get stretched and frayed, but with the added help of a magical bookstore, everything surely will come out okay in the end. Reminded me in some ways of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH. The Chismosas Only Book Club is a perfect upper MG novel about four friends entering high school together. Cat, Ana, Sofia, and Mari are realistic, well-developed characters with distinct personalities and I loved each one of them. This book touches on several topics like family issues, bullying, friendship, sexuality, crushes, anxiety, and health challenges. I loved the Mexican American representation and the girls' spiritual connection to Milagro. I will definitely be purchasing a copy in May.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The title of this book is the reason I picked this book up (I am a chismosa in my own life) and I DEVOURED this book....in fact I didn't want it to end so I dragged my feet while reading it.
The illustrations added to the story perfectly and the friendship between Cat, Sofia, Ana & Mari was so touching....it's hard to start high school, especially when you have lots of individual problems you are dealing with as well. Kemp is an amazing writer and I can't wait to pick up more books by this talented writer.
Thanks to Putnam for the ARC!
The illustrations added to the story perfectly and the friendship between Cat, Sofia, Ana & Mari was so touching....it's hard to start high school, especially when you have lots of individual problems you are dealing with as well. Kemp is an amazing writer and I can't wait to pick up more books by this talented writer.
Thanks to Putnam for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
As someone who primarily reads adult thrillers, this isn’t a genre or age category I would normally read, but I can appreciate what this book is trying to do for its intended audience. The story has strong themes of friendship, family, and identity, and I think younger readers who enjoy contemporary middle grade stories with a touch of magic will connect with it. The drawings and humor added charm, and I could see this being especially enjoyable for readers going through middle school or early high school experiences.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader PDF of this book! This story had me hooked from the premise, a magical bookstore that provides every person with the exact right book they need at the exact right time. The heart of the book is the friendship between the four friends. Cat, Ana, Sofia, and Mari are four incredible, strong, and unique characters, and I fell in love with all of them. It was an honor to accompany them as they embark on the adventure that is starting high school.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Thank you to Edelweiss for the ARC. This was a supper light read with heart and a bit of magic. The friends deal with the first year of high-school and all that brings with it in a real and heartfelt way. The one thing I wanted was a bit more resolution between the girls and the perspective adult they were having issues with. But like life, not everything gets wrapped up neatly in a bow. A good read for younger readers that are already ready teen books.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love every single one of these characters — the bold, brave, frightened, practical, magical tweens who embark on their first year of high school, each with their own very personal, very high-stakes, challenges. The whole story is steeped in Mexican-American culture, and leavened with magical realism at just the correcte dose.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Courtesy of NetGalley, I’m writing this review based on an advance reader copy. This story follows 4 friends starting high school and their circle composes a book club. This book club is the glue to their friendship and they each go through growing pains entering high school. It was a smooth read and I would recommend for 8th grade and up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
How I wish had something like this growing up. I yearned for stories where I could see myself. I loved that I got to view the lives of each of the girls through their own perspective. Just like the books they read, I found myself relating to each of their stories in small and big ways. It felt like I was giving my inner adolescent some love and healing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this book. It was a tad difficult to get into it at first as I didn't understand all of the language and references, but that was quickly moved to the side as I got caught up in the girls' lives. Very sweet, very honest. Definitely a good read.
I received an ARC copy of this book and this is my honest review.
I received an ARC copy of this book and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Chismosas Only Book Club by Laekan Zea Kemp completely stole my heart. This one is full of friendship, culture, and just a touch of magic. Watching these girls navigate growing pains while trying to hold onto their bond felt so nostalgic and tender. Plus books about book clubs? Always a win. The magical realism elements and generational ties added such a beautiful depth.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"A humble monument to the kind of magic only books can summon."
This is the blurb of the girls' bookshop where they all come together. But it also perfectly describes this book.
My students are going to adore this book.
I adore these characters. Each chapter is told from a different character's pov (one is entirely in graphic novel).
And I think this would make the perfect book club read!
This is the blurb of the girls' bookshop where they all come together. But it also perfectly describes this book.
My students are going to adore this book.
I adore these characters. Each chapter is told from a different character's pov (one is entirely in graphic novel).
And I think this would make the perfect book club read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The premise for this story was good. I really enjoyed the different elements (text boxes, cartoon panels, typical paragraphs). I think upper middle grade students might enjoy this. Many relevant topics were discussed.
May 20, 2026
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5⭐️ - I loved the idea behind this book, but it just didn’t come together the way I hoped it would. A lot felt unfinished - will there be a sequel?
3.5⭐️ - I loved the idea behind this book, but it just didn’t come together the way I hoped it would. A lot felt unfinished - will there be a sequel?
March 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Representation is everything. I wish relatable stories like these existed when I was a young teen. It allows you to understand that you are not alone and that healing can look like many things. Whether is speaking to your ancestors or throwing a milkshake at your parent’s car.
I love all of the Latin culture bits throughout the story. The mini comic strips sprinkled in was a great idea for those who appreciate visuals. The essence and power of the Lotería cards was genius.
🪜 🧜♀️⚱️🥁🍾🍉☔️⭐️🌙🌞🌹🌴🦜
✨multiple POV
✨4 best friends
✨sisterhood of traveling pants-esque
✨spiritual connections
✨lotería cards
✨found family
✨also available in Spanish
Out May 26, 2026.
Thank you, @netgalley for the opportunity to read this in advance.
Representation is everything. I wish relatable stories like these existed when I was a young teen. It allows you to understand that you are not alone and that healing can look like many things. Whether is speaking to your ancestors or throwing a milkshake at your parent’s car.
I love all of the Latin culture bits throughout the story. The mini comic strips sprinkled in was a great idea for those who appreciate visuals. The essence and power of the Lotería cards was genius.
🪜 🧜♀️⚱️🥁🍾🍉☔️⭐️🌙🌞🌹🌴🦜
✨multiple POV
✨4 best friends
✨sisterhood of traveling pants-esque
✨spiritual connections
✨lotería cards
✨found family
✨also available in Spanish
Out May 26, 2026.
Thank you, @netgalley for the opportunity to read this in advance.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bring back YA like this! Marked as middle grade, it’s more like old school YA vibes.
Review of advance copy
read this for my library and it was pretty good for a middle grade book!
April 5, 2026
A YA book about four girls on the cusp of high school - infused with magical realism. Cat, Sofia, Ana and Mari have big dreams for ninth grade - and are confident that their friendship will provide the ballast to launch their high school careers. However, coming-of-age rituals like puberty, cool kids, and family hardship test the bonds of their friendship. Luckily, Milagro's Bookstore and their book club, might just have the right magical spark to keep them together. The characters are energetic and have sparkling dialogue, crackling with wit and numerous Spanish language references. The characters' story arcs are a bit hard to keep track of, especially in the beginning, but if a reader, especially those with a love for Spanish and Latin-American culture, will enjoy this book.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews