A Taste of Eliza’s Journey: A Dive into Eliza, From Scratch
There’s something about a rivals-to-lovers dynamic that instantly draws me in—especially when it’s set against the backdrop of a cooking class, as in Eliza, From Scratch by [Author’s Name]. As someone who understands the unspoken but potent connection between food and personal growth, I eagerly awaited this read. A tale intertwining academic pressure, fraught family dynamics, and the power of heritage recipes felt like it had endless potential. However, while the ingredients were compelling, the final dish didn’t quite meet my expectations.
Eliza, as the protagonist, is a high-achieving student navigating the pressures of academic excellence while grappling with her mother’s expectations and her own cultural identity as a child of immigrants. Her journey begins in a cooking class where she meets Wesley, a seemingly carefree student who becomes her locker-room rival. The tension builds, but unfortunately, I found Eliza’s character arc somewhat frustrating. Her struggle with bias against "non-AP/honors kids" led to some harsh judgments, especially toward Wesley, and there’s a notable lack of introspection on her part that I found tough to digest.
What I appreciated was the exploration of more profound themes, like the complexities of identity and the shame associated with not being fluent in your heritage language. These nuances made me wish for deeper insights into Eliza’s growth journey. While she does learn from her past behavior, this transformation felt superficial compared to the rich dialogues about her friendships and cultural expectations. It was a poignant commentary on the immigrant experience—a chance for the narrative to explore how academic elitism can manifest subtly in our thoughts, yet it often slid into more overt judgments which felt too simplistic.
The writing itself had its strengths, particularly in segments that delved into Eliza’s reflections. I found those moments both insightful and relatable, speaking to the heart of the immigrant experience and the struggle of fitting in. However, there were instances where the dialog felt stilted, bloated with unnecessary details. Despite this, certain scenes between Eliza and Wesley were undeniably cute and had me chuckling, reminding me that even in flawed stories, there are glimmers of joy.
Ultimately, Eliza, From Scratch offers a valiant effort to tackle significant themes, even if it sometimes falls short in execution. If you enjoy stories rich in cultural context, with a touch of romance surrounded by the heat of culinary rivalry, this book might resonate with you. As for me, while I appreciated the heartfelt messages woven throughout, I walked away wishing for a bit more depth in Eliza’s pivotal character development. This read reminded me that sometimes, even promising recipes need a little more time in the oven to reach that perfect golden brown.