Yerba Buena - Review by Emmie Vargas

The definition of Yerba Buena is an aromatic herb with white or lilac flowers. Many Natives use them medically and as tea. Yerba Buena is sourced in California which is where our story starts. Sara is our protagonist in this story. She and her "friend" Emilie have a strong bond and keep each other afloat throughout the hardships of their adolescent years. After something dreadful happens to Emilie, Sara searches for answers, and her mind spins. Without the woman she depended on, she falls deep into depression and feels as if she can't move on in this town with the glimpses of her presence. We see how she experiences suffering, intimate relationships, and masses of miseries that plague her life to come. She runs away from her small town, leaving behind her family and the life she used to love. She tries to forget the things that damage her as a teen by creating a new personality and career for herself. After years and years of growth, Sara is now a renowned bartender working in a contemporary restaurant with cocktails that are mysterious as her. Across the city, Emilie is a lost soul. She is lost in what to do in her life. She yearns to branch out and cultivate a career like her Creole grandparents. On a whim, she is offered a job arranging flowers at a new modern restaurant named "Yerba Buena". She finds the community she longs for and a sprouting romance with the owner of the restaurant. On one ordinary day, they cross paths and reconnected as new people with loose threads of their pasts. Through this novel, the reader sees these women learn to live with the past and present. 

       Yerba Buena was most likely the most captivating novel I have read in a while. I adore this book from start to finish. I am a sucker for a good mystery plot, but this story's twist intrigued me even more. I have read Nina LaCour's previous novels such as "We are okay" and I can see the writing similarities in both stories. LaCour has a certain way to explained relationships, whether platonic or romantic. In this novel, she describes Emilie and Sara's relationship so vividly that it almost makes you feel as if you are one of the characters in the novel itself. This novel had me on my toes during the entire read. The plot is well done and keeps the reader entertained. LaCour uses suspense, thrill, and playfulness to guide the reader through this incredibly dense read. The book is directed at readers who are looking for a good read and people truly letting go of their past and stepping into their much brighter future. I would rate this novel a 4 out of 5 coffee cups. 

Rating - 4/5 

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