Welcome to the world of telenovelas!  But really, this is perfect for any fan of celebrity romances where you can get a behind the scenes look at TV and movies and experiencing the struggles of actors trying to keep their life private and facing judgment from paparazzi and the media.

I first wanted to read this book because the cover is so beautiful and then the blurb won me over completely.  I was so ready for this because I grew up watching telenovelas.  I had certain expectations based on that and I’m not quite sure that this book delivered on those expectations.  However, it did bring in some of the culture through the characters.

The main characters never got me to fall in love with them though.  I especially struggled with the hero because he often acted like a jerk and as the book went on, while I understood the reason for his actions, I just wanted to see a bit more of a gradual character growth for him.  I don’t think I see the appeal he would’ve had for our heroine after a certain point.

This was my first book by Alexis Daria and the writing style felt a bit clunky.  Some of the pacing dragged at times and the dialogue didn’t flow as smoothly as I wanted.  That could be just be me though, so I do plan to give this author another try and I already have a book on my TBR by her to try.

In the end, YOU HAD ME AT HOLA was entertaining and has great representation but didn’t win me completely over.

This romcom is sexy, funny, sweet, and entertaining. I was rooting for both characters, and the charged setting of shooting a show was a fun twist to explore.

This was such a fun book! I loved the Jane the Virgin-esque vibes, the story built around a tv show set and I really enjoyed all the latinx characters.

Jasmine is our leading lady. She’s passionate, trusting and a talented soap opera star, who is making her debut in a new romantic comedy show which is going to be aired on a huge streaming platform. 
After a messy break up with her rock and roll boyfriend, Jasmine is trying to follow all of her Leading Lady rules, NOT go on the rebound and stay out of the tabloids. 

Queue Ashton, our main man who is handsome, talented and full of secrets. Jasmine, and all of her well documented love scandals, are not a part of his plan to keep his name out of the press. 

You Had Me at Hola is a fun, passionate romance about finding the balance when one of you wears your heart on your sleeve and the other keeps it locked away safe. 
I loved both of the main characters and just wanted them to be happy! I also really loved the family dynamics and Jasmine’s relationship with her cousins.

Overall a really enjoyable read! One note I will make is that if you don’t speak Spanish, I’d recommend reading this on an e-reader with a translation option like I did, as there are a few Spanish phrases in there, which is to be expected.

While I found this one predictable, I loved the Latinx focus, the way it dealt with issues without being too on the nose and the peek into the world of television and telenovelas.

For the past 6 months or so I’ve been struggling with romance novels – which are usually my escape from the world. Nothing had really grabbed my attention, so I went into You Had Me At Hola without many expectations. I’m happy to say I really was captured from the first page.
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It follows two Latinx tv stars, both of whom are trying to take their careers to the next level. The chemistry between Jasmine and Ashton on and off screen is electric, their individual backstories add complexity and depth, and the dynamics of both families are hilarious and relatable. I heard there are more books coming that follow Jasmine’s two cousins, and I’m so looking forward to their stories.

If you liked Jane the Virgin, pick this one up! A wonderfully fun escape for these trying times.

Hot, steamy and scandalous. Jasmine and Ashton starred in a romantic comedy called Carmen in Charge. This novel focuses on the importance of Latinx representation in Film and TV. Jasmine has a leading lady plan after her breakup. You had me at hola is a character driven contemporary romance/drama novel that has Latinx representation.

I loved this book. The show within a story, mixed with two leads getting to know each other was fabulous. As was the twist on the secret baby trope. The story was funny, heartfelt and sexy and I loved all the aspects of culture and family. Also, we need to get Carmen in Charge on the air, stat!

This is a romance novel about two Latinx actors on a show,  who fall for reach other.  This was a super easy read and I really appreciated the author stressing sexual consent on set. 

I'm interested to see what other stuff Alexis Daria puts out.

Jasmine has the title role in an upcoming streaming show, and she’s determined it will change her life. When she meets Ashton, her co-star, a challenging yet amazing romance begins. I enjoyed the storyline, plot, and characters. I did feel that the use of the f-word seemed out of place and unnecessary, but it wasn’t used too often.

This was a great light, fluffy read. The way the author writes the characters is great and you empathize with them as they go through challenges within the book. I would definitely recommend this book for people who love romance.

Perfect distraction from the ugliness that is all around these days. I appreciated the Latinx representation. I'm generally not a huge romance reader but this might be the type of cute reads I need in my life these days.

I loved this and have recommended it to many people already. I really appreciated that the obstacle keeping the protagonists from their HEA felt realistic rather than manufactured. I really enjoyed the inclusion of scenes from the telenovela within the novel, and the focus on BIPOC actors and creators.

I enjoyed this modern romance. The telenovela tie-in made it unique. The characters were interesting as were the relationship development.

I enjoyed this so much!! I always get really intrigued by books, especially romances, about famous people, but then I often feel disappointed when I actually read them. The way it was portrayed here was just so delightful though! It had a great balance between the glamour of the TV world and portraying the characters as real people with real problems and real feelings. Especially Ashton was a very loveable main character, he was amazing.

One thing I'm disappointed by is how much of the plot hinged on Ashton not telling Jasmine something personal for very valid reasons. I honestly don't think she had a right to get this angry about it, and I would have liked to see it resolved sooner.

I sometimes struggle with contemporary M/F romance, but I was excited to finally dig into an Alexis Daria book. I mean, a Latinx romance with a telenovela feel? I had to try it. However, though the book was a good read overall, I had mixed emotions about the story and it took me *forever* to finish.

I enjoyed the plot of the story, even if it felt a bit slow with some pacing issues. I was genuinely interested in each of the MCs and their own journeys through their careers. I liked that they had wildly different paths and experiences in the entertainment industry, and even though I know next to nothing about that world, I was interested in what they were going through.

Personally, I found the male MC, Ashton, to be too closed off. I had a much harder time connecting to him, and I found him to be not vulnerable enough, even within his own head. I thought the romance felt a bit... strained? It didn't quite feel natural to me. In fact, I found the romance of their character that they were playing to be more organic. I also thought that the Ashton withheld too much information from the female MC, Jasmine, even when they were in a tentative relationship, for me to have much sympathy for him.

I was interested in the plotline more than the romance, to be honest. I loved the Jasmine and I'm still not convinced that Ashton is quite right for her. The drama was a bit much at the end, and I left the story not being in love with the relationship and how everything went down.

I liked the story, but I didn't love it. Contemporary romance is hard for me, folks, but I'd read another Alexis Daria book in a heartbeat.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

I'm late to the party on this, but I'm so glad I'm here! This was a fantastic romance filled with heart and heat. I want Jasmine and her cousins to be my best friends. Great read!

I loved this romance, set behind the scenes on the set of a telenovela! It filled the hole left after the end of Jane the Virgin (but with more of an R rating.) I would love to see more from Daria set in this world.

Soap opera favorite Jasmine Rodriguez is reeling from a breakup from her much more famous boyfriend (via tabloid!) and about to take the next step in her career: spearheading an ambitious Latinx remake for the number one streaming service in the country. There's just one problem: her co-star, Ashton, won't give her the time of day.

Jasmine tried not to take it personally, but taking things personally was one of her greatest skills.


Absolute perfection.

Seriously. This book was just delightful. I loved Jasmine. I loved her cousins and friends and her dedication to her looks (so people took her seriously) and to her craft. I loved her passion and drive.

And while I was lukewarm over Ashton (totally understandable why he was the way he was—what a horrifying experience) I I absolutely adored his father and Yadriel. The kid was delightful

Now I want to watch all the telenovela shows in the world, and I really wish Carmen in Charge was a real series.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review

This book was so good I am not sure I have the words to properly explain it. Beautifully written and engaging from page 1, Daria tells the story of two actors who fall in love. Jasmine previously worked in Soaps and gets a job on a telenovela for a streaming service. Her co-star, Ashton, is a notoriously private actor from Spanish speaking telenovelas and he is getting his first big English speaking part. As they fall in love, we get to meet their loving families and get to know them better. 

There is a thing that happens that I didn’t love. It never quite made sense to me. But because I loved almost everything else about the book, I am willing to forgive it. I heard there are more books that will be about Jasmine’s cousins and I look forward to it.

The two actors rom-com trope isn’t a new one but the way Alexis Daria spins it, it definitely felt new. A soap star and a telenovela star coming together for a big break Netflix-style Latinx heavy show was the perfect setting for a successful romance book.

The story’s various focuses on family, work, safe spaces, talent, fame, and expression, combined into a wonderful mix. The author really strived to show a healthy and ideal environment while also highlighting mental stressors and toxic thoughts as believable plot conflicts.

I loved both of the main characters. Jasmine, thought-wise, is probably my complete opposite but it was so nice to read a character that craved love so much. Often, this is portrayed as “needy” or “desperate” but the author managed to write her so well and explore this personality in a way that I haven’t seen before.

And Ashton as a leading man was perfect. Just damaged enough, also in a believable way (no spoilers), sweet and delightfully nervous. Together, the leads, and their desire to create bigger and better things for their careers and self, worked so well. Plus there were some spicy chemistry that definitely got a lot of page time. 

Couple criticisms...
The diversity of characters and situations was great, but at times it felt like there was a checklist the author was going through. Something would pop up for only a a paragraph or two and then disappear. It would have felt more organic if there had been repetition and naturally woven throughout the book.

Also, it got a little too self-reflective in the last 20% for me. Character shifts, constantly talking or inner-monologuing like they’re in therapy sessions, just takes me out of it.

Overall, though, this was a fun, flirty, and sexy read. Really enjoyed it!