Yerba Buena

FROM BESTSELLING AND PRINTZ-AWARD WINNING AUTHOR NINA LACOUR, PERFECT FOR READERS OF WRITERS AND LOVERS

“A study of complex, modern love…Expertly illuminates the trauma that Sara and Emilie are both wrestling with, as well as their hope and healing…Lingers like a perfectly mixed cocktail.” —San Francisco Chronicle

“A Carol for our times.” Harper’s Bazaar

Sara Foster runs away from home at sixteen, leaving behind the girl she once was, capable of trust and intimacy. Years later, in Los Angeles, she is a sought-after bartender, renowned as much for her brilliant cocktails as for the mystery that clings to her. Across the city, Emilie Dubois is in a holding pattern, yearning for the beauty and community her Creole grandparents cultivated but unable to commit. On a whim, she takes a job arranging flowers at the glamorous restaurant Yerba Buena.

The morning Emilie and Sara first meet at Yerba Buena, their connection is immediate. But soon Sara's old life catches up to her, upending everything she thought she wanted, just as Emilie has finally gained her own sense of purpose. Will their love be more powerful than their pasts?

At once exquisite and expansive, astonishing in its humanity and heart, Yerba Buena is a testament to the healing qualities of a shared meal, a perfectly crafted drink, a space we claim for ourselves. Nina LaCour’s adult debut novel is a love story for our time.

BUY THE BOOK

Published May 30, 2023

304 pages

Average rating: 7.02

60 RATINGS

|

These clubs recently read this book...

Girls' Night In

Can you spend hours in a bookstore? Is being in a bookstore almost as enticing as a shoe store? Could you spend all of your hard-earned money on books

Tackle Box Brewing Book Club

This book club was founded in 2021 for those who love a good read and a good brew! We meet the first Thursday of the month at 6pm at Tackle Box Brewing in Marlborough, MA and our members enjoy lively conversations around group chosen books.

Community Reviews

Shiftyswiftie
Jan 19, 2025
10/10 stars
Good back stories and intersecting storylines
Nola G
Sep 02, 2024
7/10 stars
Very relatable!
TheCleverReader
Feb 03, 2023
10/10 stars
This was such a beautiful read about the different ways in which people grieve. Grief doesn't just come when someone passes away but we all grieve parts of our lives as we grow older. This was gorgeously written, which is not surprising for Nina LaCour, and I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something emotional. Or if you just need something that will make you feel.

The duel POV was done perfectly. It enjoyed the journey these two women that this book takes you on. It's got some darker moments that may make you feel uncomfortable but once you get through the beginning you start to see each of them grow.

The audiobook was fantastic and done by one of my favorite narrators. I definitely suggest the audio format.

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.