About the Author

Rebecca Carvalho is a Recifense writer based in Berkeley, California. She loves crafting stories filled with close-knit neighborhoods, Brazilian food, and telenovela-esque settings. When she is not writing, you can find her with her camera, gaming with her husband, or watching Star Trek for the hundredth time. Rebecca has a bachelor's degree in English from Lawrence University. Salt and Sugar is her debut novel, and it was inspired by her life in northeastern Brazil.

Reviews

A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen & YA Romance Book of the Year

"A spectacularly heartwarming story about food, family, and finding your person, with the kind of lush prose you wish you could sink your teeth into. Simply delicious." —Eric Smith, author of Don't Read the Comments

"Salt and Sugar has everything you want in a love story: enemies to lovers, generational feuds, a beautiful setting that will make you want to book a ticket to Brazil, amazing food, and a Romeo and Juliet-esque romance that will leave you swooning. Carvalho’s writing nourishes your soul while teasing your senses, and I can’t wait to read whatever comes next!" —Ashley Schumacher, author of Amelia Unabridged and Full Flight

"Full of heart, humor, and will, Salt and Sugar is about two determined, feisty, hilarious star-crossed teens working together to create something new, but baked with elements of tradition. I could not put this book down!" —Jennifer De Leon, author of Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From

"A sweet, charming story that sets its perfectly seasoned enemy-to-lovers tale in the diverse region of northeastern Brazil...A delectable rom-com debut." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Carvalho employs theatrical prose, familiar plot beats, telenovela-feeling dialogue, and an ebullient protagonist to examine themes of gentrification, grief, familial obligation, and rich entitlement, making for a charming read." —Publishers Weekly

"Multigenerational family dynamics, profound grief, and the timely struggle of small businesses to stay afloat against big-business encroachment make this debut a layered, delicious read." —Booklist

"A fun read that will have readers cheering for the courage and love of the two protagonists." —SLJ