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Summary: Could have been a great book-but it wasn't!
Review: A deceptively simple story that gets more and more powerful chapter by chapter, but ultimately suffers from lack of focus and direction. It was disappointing to settle for the ending in the book when I expected Tita to find a deeper and more meaningful solution to her problem than what she came up with. I cared greatly for Tita, her sisters (even Rosaura), and John. However, Pedro is a shallow character with no courage whatsoever. Why in the world would Tita, a woman of such depth and emotion, choose this vapid shadow of boy who absolutely never becomes a man? A woman who can influence people's emotions through food, have contact with the spirit world and face her dead mother's evil spirit has no need for Pedro! I can't see where Pedro has any sense of honor, or depth of love. He only has needs. All the themes of the book (John's influence, the effects of the food, the intrusion of the revolution, forbidden love, domineering customs and family) are wonderfully introduced but remain undeveloped. We are tantalized with the unspoken hint that Tita's kitchen skills helped her mother and Rosaura along their journey into the light... This could have been a much better book!
Rating: 
Summary: Awakens in the reader a desire to love and be loved.
Review: This is the first novel I ever read in Spanish. I literally could not put it down. Even though I did not understand every single word, I was captivated by the depth of Tita and Pedro's love. I was drawn into their battle against Mama Elena the cruel custom that separated them. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's insights into the thoughts and feelings of Tita as she struggled to overcome the fate that had been dealt to her. This book reminded me of Romeo and Juliet, but it was much more enjoyable reading. I also gleaned cultural and historical tidbits from the book. I also saw the movie, and can attest to the fact that, like always, the book is so much better.
Rating: 
Summary: What on earth!!!
Review: Im sorry to all you feminists that are in love with this book. I am 16 and I was forced to read this book for school, by my more than likely feminist teacher, and it was insane! All you women like it because it showed some chicks emotions in her food. Come on, Mama Elena comes back from the dead when Tita makes Ox soup? The ending was the worst, A: you couldent follow what the hell was going on, B: her quilt turns into a volcano burning up the entire farm, and C: WHO ON EARTH DIES WHILE HAVING PASSONATE SEX?!?! This book was a total waste of my time, thank God Laura Esquivel didnt decide to make this book 1000 pages long. The only quality of this book was length, nice and short.
Rating:
Summary: SO REAL!!
Review: When reading books of fiction literature one never imagines picturing in mind such vivid images that the text helps to emerge. Narrative is just as good as the recipes. Tita is a woman that lives for love and suffers her entire life because her mother wants her not to marry anyone,because she's the youngest and she's supposed to take care of her mother till she dies. It has magical moments covered with tears.
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Summary: A MUST READ FOR TRUE ROMANTICS
Review: SUCH A SIMPLE BOOK THAT COMPLETELY ENCHANTED ME! AFTER I READ THE CHAPTER WITH THE MEXICAN CHOCOLATE RECIPE, MY NEIHBOR SPONTANEOUSLY CAME OVER AND ASKED ME OUT FOR A CUP OF HOT CHOCOLATE. I GRACIOUSLY ACCEPTED WITH TEARS RUNNING DOWN MY FACE FROM THE LAST CHAPTER I HAD READ. THIS BOOK CAN BE TOTALLY CATHARTIC AND RESTORE HOPE IN TRUE LOVE. I KEEP A COPY BY MY BED AT ALL TIMES.
Rating:
Summary: a FIRST book for those who detest reading
Review: I started reading the book and couldn't put it down. The author's style and the elegance of her writting led to me buying and reading her next book (which is excellent!). I recommended Like Water For Chocolate to everyone I knew would appreciate it and also to those who I knew usually found no joy in reading. Their reaction didn't surprise me. They all loved it as much as I do.
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Summary: Much culture information in simple recipe chapters
Review: Finally I read this book because of several recommendations and I was glad I did. What I found interesting was how Laura pushed much information of Mexican life and history, swirled with a love story into recipe chapters. An excellent way to knock two birds with one stone: the Mexican food with the Mexican storyline. For a love story, it was disgused with actual plot. Some fantastical parts such as the mother's ghost and the ending (don't want to spoil the ending) enhance the story and didn't actually make it a fantasy. The author also got away with the time spans in between most chapters well, but I would have liked to have read the time spans she left out. Perhaps nothing much happened, we may never know. I have not read THE LAW OF LOVE as of yet, but even if it doesn't match COMO AGUA PARA CHOCOLATE, Ms. Esquivel has a classic on her hands, in my Latino world. ---Sandra Concepcion, age 20
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Summary: THIS IS, BY FAR, THE TASTIEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN!!
Review: For my summer reading for school, I had to choose two out of four books to read and write an essay on them. What drew me to this book was the title. What kept me reading it was the enticing manner in which it was written. This book has every thing any reader could ask for: a forbidden romance, an over-bearing mother, hidden secrets (some revealed at the very end, it should keep you reading!), and a sibling rivalry so strong only death could possibly end it. I loved the way Esquivel combined recipes and food with the story. I also liked the way she wrote the novel in "monthly installments." When I reached December, I gave a little frown because I knew the story would be over soon, then gave a little smile, because that's where all the secrets and mysteries lie. I would really, really, REALLY recommend this book to anyone who's tired of the same old novel format, or to anyone who would just like to read a good book. -IKT, 15 years old!!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: How Tita never stops loving a louse like Pedro is beyond me
Review: Perhaps one has to understand early-twentieth century Mexican culture thoroughly in order to make complete sense of "Like Water for Chocolate". If Pedro truly loved Tita, he could surely have waited until Mama Elena was dead in order to marry Tita. After all, children do, as a rule, outlive their parents. Pedro comes across as an opportunist. He marries Rosaura because, as the eldest, she will inherit the ranch. Is it normal in Mexican society, for the groom to move in with the bride's family? If it is, then Pedro surely knew he would have it made -- possession of the ranch, as well as of Tita. It is interesting that he does not rape Tita until it looks like she might leave the ranch to marry another man. Then he shows his selfishness by ruining her chances of marriage, in a culture which surely prized virgin brides. There were two other aspects of the book which intrigued me. One was the comment, when Tita was raped by Pedro, that she had now discovered what love was all about. One may certainly draw one's own conclusions about love between men and women. The other was the description of Gertrudis having nymphomaniacal tendencies, and a sense of rhythm, because her natural father was mulatto. Would a North-American best-selling author have been able to get away with making that kind of racist allusion? One also wonders, is Trevino a very common name in Mexico, or was Sergeant Trevino Gertrudis' half-brother? One trusts she never had sex with him.
Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding Love Story
Review: Like Water For Chocalate was a very interesting story of forbidden love. I personally named this book my new all time favorite. I was moved by Tita's bravery, and how she never let go of her feelings for Pedro. This was a sign of true love. I would recommend this book to all people who think that if they can't have the person they love that they should give up. This story changed my mind. I'll never give up on true love. I also enjoyed the recipies and hope to try them.
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