I got so swept up in this story! I really loved that we got to understand the characters and their motivations before they got involved, and it did not feel like insta-love at all. I'm recommending this to everyone!

Trigger warning: PTSD, experiences with racism.

Thump thump. Thump thump. Shatter.

That’s the sound of my heart on repeat while reading this book. If that doesn’t happen to you too than you’re canceled.

You Had Me At Hola is one of the most feminist romances I’ve read in a long time. It sets the stage for the future. It shows us that inclusivity means having a diverse cast of people with different genders, ethnicities and race.

The authors makes an emphasis on pronouns, on consent, and on community. Nonbinary and Trans Latinx characters. There are Queer people and it’s just a thing. They are normal. No one is writing stupid essays on trans people.

My favorite aspect of this novel is the way it emphasizes a conversation that has to be dealt with in romances through the means of a tv show. The producers ask Ashton if there’s anything he does not consent to in the scenes with Jasmine. I’ve read so many romances where the consent is not treated as normal for all the characters. The one that disturbs me most is the Duke and I by Julia Quinn, where the heroine rapes the hero. This genre needs to have a talk about normalizing consent. I love that this book continues that conversation in regards to all genders.

The conversations on diasporic differences make this book so layered. Ashton is puertorriqueno, born on the island, and Jasmine is 2nd generation Puerto Rican and Filipina. The tv show encouraged the cast and crew to put up their flags to show the range of nationalities, genders, and identities in the production to highlight their diverse Latinx community.

For the first time in a fucking while I’ve been gifted with a romance in a genre overwhelmed with white love interests being the aspiration. I want more romances where both the characters know each other’s cultures. I want more romances that don’t make white love interests the ultimate goal. Sweet bi-lingual softness. The language of their culture and experiences. This filled that gap that I’ve been wanting from the genre. So in love with each other they forget they’ve switched to another language. That. I need that.

I need an entire shelf worthy of books like this.

The set up: 2 Soap Opera/Telenovela stars fall in love. He spills coffee on her shirt, ending in a disasterously bad outfit on Jasmine’s first day. The chapters switch between them.

Jasmine and Ashton have a slow burn, godly tier ranked chemistry type of romance. Every smile she makes makes him flutter and swoon. Absolutely floored me when he said supporting Jasmine had quickly become his thing. Offensively good.

This book continues to stab my heart. I love it when he speaks Spanish to her. All that intimate crap gets me.

The fear he has for his son is developed from an attack on his son. Ashton developed PTSD after someone threatened his son in their own home. I will say that as someone with PTSD, there wasn’t much detail as there should have been.

I also want to talk about healthy relationships and understanding the difference between growth and someone repeatedly being unworthy of their partner’s love. Ashton internalizes and acknowledges when he’s being an asshole. His asshole meter never goes too far and when he does something Ashton acknowledges what he’s done. He does not repeat it. He tells us he has no right to ask her any emotional labor on his behalf. That is growth. I think we need to stop getting into the habit of not recognizing character growth, especially towards Latinx and men of color, when it comes to a good apology. I want good apologies in romance but we’ve gotten so used to the authors going past the line of forgiveness. Apologies to me are important. I grew up with a father that would apologize to me countless times every week. Apologies should mean something when someone actually does the work.

I would even argue that romances where the hero doesn’t at least do one mistake is not allowing for healthy relationships to develop. There’s a difference between emotional abuse and something that still can be forgiven. I feel like we’ve forgotten this because so much of romance’s history has been borderline toxic and abusive tendencies.

Give me more kind men in m/f romances that are nuanced and grow and work from their mistakes. More men dancing with the heroine’s grandmother. More ambitious heroines. This book should be a damn blueprint.

Loooooved this book. On top of being a great and much-needed representation of Puerto Rican love in romance, it also had this great postmodern layer: Jasmine and Ashton fall in love on the set of a romantic soap, so we see their characters fall in love in the most soapy way possible, while seeing the much more awkward reality of the two of them getting together. It plays with the difference between what we love about romance novels, romcoms, and telenovelas and what real life romance looks and feels like.

I was so excited for this book that I pitched a roundup of romances by Latinx authors so I could read it before pub date—and it was damn worth it.

First, I LOVE when heroines have A Plan. It means you can expect lots of mistakes and laughs en route to their HEA. And Jasmine has A Plan, her Leading Lady Plan to be precise. Watching it unravel—and her grow as it does—was deeply satisfying and so personally touching. I sobbed through the last chapter.

Second, this book was bound to be my catnip. Enemies-to-lovers, a plot reminiscent of Jane the Virgin, and a book set in my beloved city by an author who lives here and loves it as much as I? YES. What I didn't expect was to see so much of myself on the page (seriously: most of my notes are "yes!:" "Same" and "Attacked."). Hence: the ugly tears.

Third, Ashton. A guarded soul with some unresolved trauma. I loved the added depth that his storyline gave him and damn does he know how to grovel.

Fourth, I imagine this will be divisive, but I adored how the perspectives switched between the characters as themselves and the characters in character. How being in character strengthened and supported them, and allowed them to explore different aspects of themselves. It was so creative and so fun.

Fifth, I truly believe romance writers are culture makers—and that making happens in the details. It's little things like using an androgynous name for a character in a powerful position or casually mentioning someone's pronoun button that make you think, reflect, and grow as you read. We can't be what we can't see and for many womxn, romance is what we see. I so appreciate when authors incorporate such real world details as a normal part of the plot. People being themselves and being accepted and loved just as they are.

Lastly, I loved how the book explored the role of intimacy, from the use of the consultant on set to the script. It was a unique addition and as a sex educator, I appreciated seeing positive representation on the page.

Go preorder this one now.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was cute, and I enjoyed the telenovela inspiration. I would have loved more tension-building, but this was a fun beach read and perfect for summer.

(I sent my review to Booklist, where it may be edited.) Also - I hope there are stories about the cousins coming! :)

Soap opera Jasmine is reeling from a very public breakup splashed across tabloids as she moves to New York to begin starring in a new Latinx show for a top streaming service. She is happy to be close to her cousins, who remind her of her Leading Lady plan for her career, a plan that does not involve getting involved with co-stars. Ashton, a former telenovela star, is very private after a stalker broke into his young son’s bedroom years before. He is exhausted from flying to Puerto Rico to see his father and son on weekends. But he can’t resist his warm, vivacious co-star. Soon they are involved, but when information and a photo of his son during a visit to NYC is leaked, Ashton feels it was a mistake to be with Jasmine at all. Daria writes very intelligent, appealing characters and the scenes while they are shooting the show are delicious fun. Fans of Susan Elizabeth Philips may also enjoy the humor and chemistry of this one.-Amy Alessio

Ok, on a superficial note, the cover of this is just gorgeous. Snaps to the art department!
Overall, I really enjoyed this one! This is the second Alexis Daria story I've read and the first full novel, and I am really impressed with her skill in letting her stories unfold in a truly satisfying way and how character driven they are.
The characters really are the stand out here-- I was fully engaged by both of the leads, but also by all of the supporting cast (especially the families -- great family dynamics in this one), and I thought mirroring the h/h's internal conflict around believing in themselves in their careers and external conflicts around their family dynamics was smart & made the book effective in driving home its thematic content. Also, the interstitial scenes from the TV show that Jasmine & Ashton are shooting were fun & I found myself equally invested in the Victor/Carmen story line!
The drawback here is the "big secret" that we as the audience know about that Ashton is keeping from Jasmine. While I think the author did a lot of work to sell us on why this was a thing, it's going to be YMMV on if you buy it. For me, it didn't quite ring true and that's what kept me from just loving this one full heartedly.
Still, if you're looking for a nice slow burn romance with interesting characters in a fun set up, I don't think you'll be disappointed. I'm excited to read more from this author in the future!

I'm a big fan of Alexis Daria's previous books, so I was excited to read You Had Me at Hola. (And the fact that it was about telenovelas was a super plus.) Jasmine has worked on soaps but is approaching a new level in her career after landing the lead in a Netflix-like TV series playing the titular character in Carmen in Charge. She's gone through a very public breakup and has photographers chasing her, but has decided to concentrate on her career. Meanwhile Ashton has just been cast opposite her as Carmen's ex-husband/current love interest. Ashton has worked on lots of telenovelas but sees this role as his entry into movies and doesn't want to do anything to hurt his career. Ashton is also dealing with a lot of past trauma from an encounter with a dangerous fan, and keeps his son hidden from the public (and his coworkers). I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved both Jasmine and Ashton, and their relationships with their respective families. I also liked seeing the behind the scenes filming of the show. (As a total aside, the show employs an intimacy coordinator to help film love scenes, which I hadn't heard of before. After finishing this book I then ran across an article in The Guardian about Normal People's intimacy coordinator and how she worked to make the two leads comfortable on set while filming sex scenes.) Daria is a great writer and I really fell into Jasmine and Ashton's world. I'm hoping that this becomes a series and that the next book features one of Jasmine's cousins.

In this fun and flirty rom-com, Jasmine Lin Rodriguez has decided to learn how to be a Leading Lady. She has been cast as Carmen in the English-language telanovela Carmen in Charge, but really needs to figure out how to take charge in her own life. This includes not being on tabloid covers for bad reasons (especially for a disastrous public breakup with her ex), not needing a mad to be happy (especially her cheating ex) and definitely not sleeping with costars (especially her new sexy costar, Ashton Suarez).
But Ashton and Jasmine begin getting close through their on-air personas and, not to spoil too much, but some steamy sex scenes follow. Jasmine begins to think what they have could be real, but does Ashton feel the same way? Can he open up his life again or will fear and trauma from the past keep him away?
This latinx-centric book was a joy to read, especially the drama in both the main characters’ familias. While personally, I think the storyline of the Carmen in Charge telanovela within the book was more focused on Ashton’s character than Jasmine’s when it should have been the opposite, the overall story of You Had Me at Hola was focused on both characters and their development. Highly recommend this fun romance!
I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of #YouHadMeatHola

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Alexis Daria continues her series on successful Latinx women and their families. Trust is at the center of this book about two telenovela stars, one who is in the tabloids because of her relationships as much as her acting talent and the other who is still terrified after fame brought a fan too close to his personal life. The author creates a world full of supportive, accepting communities filled with the many varieties of Latinx people. The vivid and likeable characters will leave you wanting more. This Own voices book is recommended for fans of Jane the Virgin.

::I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read your work!::
First off..look at this glorious cover!! Go ahead and judge this book by its cover...I loved everything about this story. In #YouHadMeAtHola by #AlexisDaria we get the story of soap star Jasmine. She's always in the tabloids for her love life, but deep down she just wants a real relationship. On her new streaming show, Jasmine gets to work with telenovela heartthrob Ashton. Over time they grow closer, Ashton has a big secret, and they're both avoid the spotlight of the paparazzi. This book reminded me a lot of the studio scenes in Jane the Virgin, and the show Telenovela with Eva Longoria. Both characters are driven and trying to navigate their passionate affair, but also the sudden realization that having something real will change their personal and working lives. Daria really makes it a point to celebrate Latinx community and culture, and the book is all the better for it. I really hope this book becomes a wild success, and we get a Netflix show out of it. Go ahead and pre-order this book today, it drops on July 7th.

I don’t often seek out or read books featuring actors but this one is very well done. The acting chapters are separate from the main story so you get a two for one: the story of Ashton and Jasmine along with Victor and Carmen. The glimpses into the behind the scenes of TV making is a fun backdrop for a romance. And that Latinx led TV show (and by extension the book) features a highly diverse cast.

Jasmine is at a bit of a crossroads coming off a bad breakup and trying to not let the press ruin her life. She wants to focus on herself and her career without losing herself in another undeserving person. So the Leading Lady Plan is born. I loved her epiphany at the end.

I also don’t always enjoy secrets plot points but I think it’s more the intention or motivation behind it that really matters. In this case, Ashton keeps a secret as a result of trauma and lingering fear. Not logical at all, but that’s what those experiences can do to us.

The dark moment was tough. It felt like Ashton’s head wasn’t connected to his mouth so all the things he said could only hurt Jasmine. His grand gesture though was awesome.

Other random bits: I really liked the normalization of using lube. Super cute cover and title.

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC!

Ayyyy dios. All the tension. Hello sexy tension. This isn't the kind of tension were you're screaming JUST KISS ALREADY (although there is part of that). It's the kind of tension were they are kissing and you feel like you should look away because it's TOO MUCH.

I'm making this sound like erotica, and it's not. It's a very lovely story about two people learning to trust again. Two people who have insane chemistry but also have a lot of trust issues. There's a lot of passion in this story, and while I didn't completely buy into the angst/conflict, the chemistry & desire between Jas & Ashton overpowered everything else.

I loved all the Latinx rep--it was SO varied. There were first generation Latinx, second generation, spanish speakers, non-spanish speakers... I loved that there was mention of colorism, which is such a huge issue in Latinx communities. I loved that we have two Latinx MCs, but the conflict was not about their race/identity/ethnicity.

I didn't think I'd love how Daria included scenes of the telenovela. At the beginning, it pulled me out of the Jas and Ashton's story, but by the end she wove it all together so well.

You Had Me at Hola is a fun, sexy, and soft story. While it didn't sweep me off my feet, it did transport me to this fun-filled telenovela set in New York and I had a lot fun while I was there. (Also, the people on this set must have been placing big bets on these two...)

A whole star goes to Jasmine's grandmother, Esperenza, who deserves her own book.

**Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing an advanced ecopy in exchange for an honest review.**

Thank you to Harper Collins Publishing and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Available August 4th 2020

A novel within a novel, Alexis Dara's latest novel "You Had Me at Hola" is an intricate rom com with a heart of gold. When Jasmine Lin decides to take on Carmen, her first real break from the world of soap operas, she promises herself one thing - that she won't get carried away with romance yet again. Cue the handsome yet reclusive telenovela heartthrob Ashton, her costar. While things heat up on stage and in their private life, will Ashton and Jasmine be able to handle the stress? Or will the pressure of media and family take over? Seamlessly blending Jasmine and Carmen's narratives, Dara presents with a heartwarming love story, perfect for a summer read.

While there were some things that slightly bothered me about the text - mainly the amount of "sheathing" (?) and the fact that Jasmine forgot that Ashton had given her the coffee cups later on in the book- there were many things that made me surprised and happy. For one, it was great to see a male lead display complex emotions. The character of Vera and the recurring importance of communication in relationships was another selling point. I especially love that no one character is perfect, but they work through their issues together. Overall, Dara conveys positive messages in an engaging, hilarious and empathetic romantic comedy!

Love, love, love. You Had Me at Hola is phenomenal, romantic, and sexy as hell. Easily a candidate for one of my favorite reads of 2020 so far. RTC.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Jasmine and Ashton are both scared. Scared of fame, scared of not being in control, and scared of their feelings for each other. Their journey on the way to an HEA is beautiful and special, and I loved it!

A telenovela romance in which Jasmine Lin Rodriguez finds herself in the tabloids after a messy breakup, wants to do better for herself and moves back to NYC (where she’s from) to film a Netflix like English adaptation (think Betty La Fea / Ugly Betty). She thinks she’s gonna stick to her Leading Lady Plan (No Drama, No Hookups, Good Image) until the sexy Ashton Suárez walks in and spills coffee on her.

He’s the biggest male lead in telenovela’s ever. Ashton is the male lead for this series, wanting to break out of his telenovela streak and into Hollywood proper. After their awkward first meeting, they have to build up chemistry to make it believable on screen. Rehearsing leads to shenanigans, but can Ashton keep his deep secret away for any longer? Can Jasmine stick to her plan and not get hurt?

It was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed it. The story was really well done, and cheesy when it needed to be. Both Jasmine and Ashton were great to follow, and I felt the “insta love” thing wasn’t exactly true like some reviewers said, because Jasmine kind of knew of him since she followed his career for years. It also explored Latinx in the entertainment indusrry and it was pretty diverse in its cast of characters. I think the only thing I would add is that I felt that Ashton’s problems were resolved too quickly, but that’s mostly because I’m new to romances! I still really loved this book!

4 - 4.5 Stars - I highly recommend if you enjoy contemporary romance.

I'll admit that the gorgeous cover drew me to this book, but holy cow, it was so much fun to read. I loved the premise and the characters so much. The book switching back and forth between the show and real life, as well as dual POV made this book feel really well rounded. I loved Jasmine and her goals to improve her career and image. I loved her soft heart and young spirit. Jasmine's family was delightful, and it was so telling that they featured in her thoughts even when they weren't together how important they are to her. As someone who suffers from anxiety, I could relate to Ashton's character. His drive to take care of his family and improve his craft were very compelling. I thought that the chemistry between the characters, while a little bit slow burn, was really really steamy. I enjoyed the angst and the reluctance they had to be together. The steamy scenes were VERY STEAMY. I also enjoyed their dual language conversations and terms of endearment. I won't give any spoilers, but I also liked the mini twist at the ending of the book. Overall, this was a great book, very fun but also important in terms of representation and conversations about representation. This won't be my last Alexis Daria book!

I enjoyed Daria's previous two books immensely, and You Had Me at Hola did not disappoint. Jasmine and Ashton are not only likable, they're flawed, which makes for a romcom where people are fallible and human in relatable ways. It's a book full of diversity that feels authentic and prescient; it unpacks the glamour of fame while also showing its dark side too. The romance was believable with a great arc throughout, complementing the TV show scripts as part of the plot line.