Words, Words, Words: 'Ramón and Julieta' by Alana Quintana Albertson

The Folger’s virtual book club, Words, Words, Words continues on Thursday, November 3 with a discussion of Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson. To get ready for the conversation, we’ve compiled some introductory information on this retelling of Romeo and Juliet set amongst warring taco restaurants.

What is Ramón and Julieta about?

When fate and tacos bring Ramón and Julieta together on the Day of the Dead, the star-crossed pair must make a choice: accept the bitter food rivalry that drives them apart or surrender to a love that consumes them—perfect for fans of Jane the Virgin!

Ramón Montez always achieves his goals. Whether that means collecting Ivy League degrees or growing his father’s fast-food empire, nothing sets Ramón off course. So when the sexy señorita who kissed him on the Day of the Dead runs off into the night with his heart, he determines to do whatever it takes to find her again.

Celebrity chef Julieta Campos has sacrificed everything to save her sea-to-table taqueria from closing. To her horror, she discovers that her new landlord is none other than the magnetic mariachi she hooked up with on Dia de los Muertos. Even worse, it was his father who stole her mother’s taco recipe decades ago. Julieta has no choice but to work with Ramón, the man who destroyed her life’s work—and the one man who tempts and inspires her.

As San Diego’s outraged community protests against the Taco King takeover and the divide between their families grows, Ramón and Julieta struggle to balance the rising tensions. But Ramón knows that true love is priceless and despite all of his successes, this is the one battle he refuses to lose.

Critical Reception

” Albertson’s emphasis on Mexican cuisine puts a refreshing twist on the Shakespearean tragedy… their chemistry is palpable.”—Publisher’s Weekly

“Alana Quintana Albertson created a beautiful, romantic story that successfully magnifies topics within the Mexican American identity. She celebrates the culture while having readers think critically about bringing forth the intricacies of the identity, history, and community. “—Latinx in Publishing

“Ramón and Julieta left me hungry (the food preparation and meal descriptions within are incredible), warm at the heart and curious about which Shakespearian tale Alana Quintana Albertson will rewrite in the sequel. I’ll be reading it for sure. “—All About Romance

POPSUGAR Most Anticipated Romance of 2022

Why did we pick this book?

The Folger Shakespeare Library’s collection explores not only Shakespeare’s life and works, but also the plays’ historical context, source material, critical and performance histories, and the ways in which they inspire and are adapted by contemporary novelists.

Words, Words, Words is committed to exploring a wide variety of genres and Ramón and Julieta represents our first romance pick. An increasingly popular genre, romance has been gaining in critical attention and readership in recent years as well as diversifying the types of love stories being told. Ramón and Julieta reimagines Romeo and Juliet in Barrio Logan, referencing Shakespeare while also addressing questions of gentrification and exploring cultural traditions.

About the author: Alana Quintana Albertson
From her website

Alana Quintana Albertson is a Latina bestselling romance and mystery author (#3 in entire Amazon store) with over one million views on her Se7en Deadly SEALs romantic mystery serial on Radish. Her own voices, Latine Rom Com series, Love and Tacos, has been optioned for television. She holds a Masters of Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Stanford University. She’s the former President of Romance Writers of America’s Contemporary Romance, Young Adult, and Chick Lit chapters. A recovering professional ballroom dancer, she lives in Poway, California, with her husband, two young sons, and six rescue dogs.

Meet our Bookshop Partner: Loyalty Bookstores

For our November session, we are excited to partner with Loyalty Bookstores, a Black, Queer owned independent bookstore in the Petworth neighborhood of DC and Silver Spring, MD that specializes in diverse books.

Please be aware that Loyalty Bookstores are taking safety precautions related to COVID-19. Both stores are open for both shopping and in-store pickup. Masks are required in both stores. Place your order online or by emailing orders@loyaltybookstores.com or order through their website. Click here for further information on current policies and operations.

To learn more, visit loyaltybookstores.com.

Make a plan to join us on Thursday, November 3 to discuss Ramón and Julieta. Visit our website to register and stay tuned for additional Folger resources to enrich the conversation.