I've really enjoyed this series! Adriana Herrera is a gifted writer, and her characters exude depth. I especially looked forward to Priscilla and Juan Pablo's story since second chance romances are a personal fave. While I enjoyed the story, I didn't feel as though I was *really* familiar with Juan Pablo and Priscilla's past. Rather than move between past and present to show readers what Priscilla and Juan Pablo's relationship was like in the past vs. now, we're told that Juan Pablo was very immature/unsupportive. However, I felt that not actually seeing their relationship in the past (aside from the prologue which opens with their first break-up) prevented me from really getting a comprehensive view of their relationship, of really understanding what was at stake this time around.

Herrera writes very sensual sex scenes, and Priscilla and Juan Pablo were as passionate as the series' other protagonists. As always, the sexual chemistry was palpable, leaping off the page.

Herrera has written a really wonderful queer multicultural series that shows a wide array of romantic and familial relationships. I've enjoyed it, and I will miss these characters!

(One thing I did have a question about: Priscilla often spoke about pleasure for "trans and black bodies" or "black and brown bodies" in reference to her side gig. On an editorial note, I wondered why not use "people" or "folks" as opposed to "bodies"? Of course, the choice is up to the author and her editorial team, but as a graduate student in Africana studies, my cohort members and I have been encouraged to refrain from speaking of "black bodies" as opposed to "black people" unless we are specifically referring to the dehumanization and depersonalization Black folks have endured. Since Priscilla was speaking of pleasure as a form of empowerment, I assumed she'd talk about the pleasure that trans, Black, and brown *people* should experience from sexual intimacy or discuss trans, Black and brown folks' relationships with their bodies with respect to sexual intimacy as opposed to solely referring to trans, Black and brown bodies. I hope that makes sense!)

Did I come straight home from work and read this straight through? Yes. Yes, I did. Should you preorder it? Yes. Yes, you should.

🧡 Second (tenth?) chance romance
🧡 Reformed fuckboi
🧡 Sex toys for social justice
🧡 Afro-Latinx joy
🧡 🥕🥕🥕

Adriana is doing important social justice work with her books while also delivering on romance. She delivers a message about the importance of pleasure for marginalized folx. She also depicts how first-generation Americans navigate honoring the sacrifices their parents made while also trying to find their own joy. Juan Pablo's development across the entire series comes to fruition in this book work Adriana showing that people don't just magically change--it takes hard work.