A fun contemporary romance featuring co-stars in a remake of a popular telenovela for a Netflix-type streaming company! After a messy breakup splashed across tabloids, Jasmine (Filipina & Puerto Rican-American) is determined to stay away from men and focus on her new role as the leading lady of a new show with an all-Latinx cast. Ashton (Puerto Rican) has starred as the leading man in many telenovelas, hope to break out in Hollywood, but is also intensely private and has a rule against dating his co-stars.

On their first meeting Ashton splashes coffee all over Jasmine's carefully chosen outfit, and we go from there! This was a great romance and I enjoyed the focus on behind-the-scenes production of the show and some of the scenes they are acting in. I also liked that it somewhat addresses PTSD that can come after traumatic events and shows the darker side of being in the public eye. I had mixed feelings about the conflict here with Ashton having a secret, even though it was relatively well-handled. Otherwise, this was a lot of fun and bit steamy. I received an advance copy of this book for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was such soapy fun as we follow Jasmine and Ashton and their journey filming an English language telenovela with an all Latinx cast in NYC. Jasmine is fresh off a hit role on an American soap opera and Ashton is a veteran telenovela actor trying for his last chance at his big break as a Hollywood leading man. There's food, family, and lots of passion.

As someone who used to watch soap operas and telenovelas when I was younger I can attest that there are Easter eggs thrown in for fans of both. We also get two stories in one as we follow along with their character's storyline while they film.

Ashton is very guarded about an incident with a fan and he does his best to keep his son hidden from the spotlight and the rest of the world. Jasmine has a problem with always needing to jumping into a new relationship because she doesn't feel like she's getting adequate attention from her family. these issues are both handled with care.

This summer romance was just what I needed to get through a hot weekend. I quickly devoured this light-hearted story over the course of two days. I can see this one being turned into a Netflix film especially with our two MCs sizzling chemistry.

You can check out more of my review here
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot.com/2020/07/you-had-me-at-hola-by-alexis-daria.html

The synopsis said, “for fans of Jane the Virgin” which is one of my all time favorite shows. The setting is mostly on/off camera of the show and I like all the behind the scenes tidbits of filming in the story. You get the perspective from both characters which I always like and I think it makes the story come together. And the meet-cute in this one is classic. This one had a little more steam than I anticipated, but other than that I really enjoyed it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and Alexis Daria for this Digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tabloid fodder soap opera Jasmine is ready to ditch guys and implement her "Leading Lady Plan" until she meets her new leading man telenovela heart throb and part time recluse, Ashton.

Romance, self-discovery and telenovelas.

Jasmine wants to be a leading lady but all she tends to do is end up in the tabloids for all the wrong reasons. When she is given the lead role on a TV show she is determined to do whatever it takes to not mess this chance up.

Ashton had made mistakes and at 40 he knows he can't afford to make anymore if he is ever to break out of the telenovela world. All he has to do is keep his head to the ground and do his job and keep his work and private life separate.

Neither expect to fall in love and that one failure could ruin both their futures.

The pacing of the book was superb. I really enjoyed how the show and Ashton and Jasmine's romance paralleled. This is a super spicy romance, so if you prefer your love more chaste, you might want to skip this one.

A really great HEA and I can't wait to read more by this author.

Very accurate description, great telenovela vibes without going too over-the-top to the point of jumping the shark.

You Had Me at Hola was just what I was looking for in a summer read - sexy, funny, sweet, and something a little different. Also, that cover! I was rooting for Ash and Jasmine the whole time and I especially loved Jasmine's relationship with her cousins. This was my first book by Alexis Daria, but it won't be my last!

This was a great book, don't get me wrong. And while I COMPLETELY enjoyed the first half, I more than lost interest in the second half.

Jasmine was such a wonderful heroine! I want to get that out there first. While I tend to usually dislike female leads in books due to their annoying-ness, I 100% adored Jasmine! All she wants is to be a great leading lady who doesn't have to depend on a man. After a bad break-up before the book starts, she is left reeling. But, telling yourself that you don't need a man or love, while simultaneously falling for a new man, especially when that man is your new co-star, is rough. She tells herself not to, but the heart wants what the heart wants. And through all of this, she does remain pretty true to herself. She is giving and kind, but she loves love... and that is okay. She is strong and brave, especially when it comes to how badly she is dragged through the mud at every turn in the tabloids. That stuff was rough. But she goes on with her head held high even when she is dying inside. That was AMAZING!

Ashton, on the other hand... While I didn't dislike him through the whole book, his character as a whole was whiny and just absolutely annoying. He is constantly standing in the way of his own happiness. He sought out a career in the public eye, yet he absolutely HATES being in the public eye and acts like the world does him a disservice when they inquire about him or his personal life. I do understand, to an extent, of why he wants to keep certain aspects of his life under wraps, but he is just insufferable. And, when he is on the brink of losing everything, even though it is all his fault and he knows it (he admits to it), still all I could envision was him - a grown man - throwing himself down on the ground in a fit of temper tantrum pounding his fists and kicking and screaming that (yet again, yes, it is his fault, but) HE is still the one unhappy. It's very much all about him all the time.

I loved all of the family in this book. Both Jasmine's family and Ashton's were a pure delight. Coming from a big family myself where there are so many different dynamics, this was really fun to see. And all of the representation was wonderful.

I love me some juicy drama and this book was packed full of it. I really did enjoy it for the most part. I loved everything about the families and all of the working on the set parts. But the relationship between Jasmine and Ashton, while was wonderful for me at first, was something that by the time the end happened and we learn if the two can really put everything behind them and make things work, I didn't even care anymore.

Not only is this cover absolutely stunning, but the story is equal parts funny, heart-achingly sweet, and STEAMY! Our main characters are both in the entertainment business and have their share of baggage.

Jasmine Rodriguez is avoiding social media after a very public and humiliating breakup. She adopts a new Leading Lady plan to focus on her career instead of falling for another co-star. But her resolve is tested when filming for a new bilingual romantic comedy series involves working on her chemistry with telenovela heartthrob Ashton Suárez.

Sparks are flying and camera lenses are steaming as these two toe the line between professional and romantic relationship. An amazing read! Look for our podcast review on August 26th.

What I loved about You Had Me at Hola was how this dual POV novel focused on the main characters, Ashton and Jasmine, but also on their families. There was a fabulous balance of their lives and struggles with ambition and heartbreak, while also being grounded in their roles in their families. Jasmine and Ashton aren't just Telenovella actors, or love interests, they're also their son's father, their mother's middle child, and all of their different roles combine to form their pressures and expectations.

Their personalities jumped off the pages immediately. You Had Me at Hola was so richly steeped in Latinx culture and I loved how it tackled issues of representation, colorism, and racism in Hollywood. While it was a story about Jasmine and Ashton as individuals, it was also very clear how much their roles/representation and their supportive work environment meant to everyone. It enforces the importance of having the roles for Latinx families more accessible and more prominent especially in Hollywood, while also discussing the desire to make it big.

If Jasmine Lin Rodriguez has learned anything from her string of loser exes it's that she’s better off alone. Take her latest breakup from a superstar musician - it’s gotten her splashed across tabloid covers, blown up her social media accounts and left her hounded by paparazzi . None of those things are the hallmark of a serious actor and Jasmine is desperate to make the leap from soap operas to meatier, more meaningful roles. Being cast as the heroine Carmen in a bilingual ScreenFlix (think Netflix) telenovela is just the break she needs.

Ashton Suárez needs this telenovela, too. He’s been playing heartthrob heroes in telenovelas for years but his last gig not only had him playing the villain, they killed him off before the final episode. He has always been in the finale, and his early death in the last show has him wondering if he’s also looking at the death of his employment. Too many people depend on him for him to be a has-been at this point in his life. Fortunately, a last minute cast shakeup has landed him the male lead Victor, a role that could re-launch his career.

The last thing either of them needs is a workplace romance with all its attendant possible problems but sometimes the last thing we need is the one thing we desperately want.

You Had Me at Hola is a steamy showbiz romantic-comedy with a plot worthy of a soap opera.  Brimming with charming, eccentric secondary characters and Latinx culture and pride this is an entertaining tale of love and television which will delight fans of the author.

Reviewers Maggie and Caroline had a socially distanced conversation about the novel and are here to share their thoughts.

Maggie: I’ll admit it - I’m not a fan of soap operas or telenovelas. Do you watch either of them?

Caroline: I don’t watch them, but I love them as a setting. My favorite romance of all time, Again, by Kathleen Gilles Seidel, is set on a soap. I love how the cast is in it together for a long haul, and how the drama the characters go through gives interesting things for the actors to work with.

Maggie: I loved that book! I picked up this one because I’ve heard great things about Alexis Daria and also because I love verbal plays on famous movie lines. What drew you to the novel?

Caroline: I read Daria’s Dance-Off books and loved them. Stone and Gina from Take the Lead are one of my favorite slow-burn couples.

Maggie: If I had to pick one word to describe heroine Jasmine it would be sweet. She struck me as a genuinely nice, friendly, caring person. The meet cute moment (Ashton spills coffee on her!) displayed that so perfectly - she could have been angry at what happened but she handled it with such grace. What did you think of her?

Caroline: I liked Jasmine and her professional competence. I appreciated that she handled the coffee spill rationally, not by flipping out, like a lot of heroines seem to do these days. I felt like the device of a list is overused, though.

Maggie: True - I’ve read two list books in the last month, where the heroine writes a life goals/relationship goals list and then immediately breaks it because of luv.

I kept picturing actor Diego Luna whenever I read about Ashton, even though Diego is Mexican and Ashton is Puerto Rican. Ashton started out as a very strong character. I loved how he could be awkward, the way he wore old man (guayabera) shirts and his love for his family. I was especially impressed with Ashton’s take on life in show business, the way his career had had ups and downs, and his having to balance his need for a steady income with his desire to do this work and his attempts at balancing a personal and private life. What did you think of him?

Caroline: I don’t typically picture people, but I got a very “silver fox” vibe off of Ashton. Maybe like Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente with his beard? Ashton does start as a strong character, but for me, his concerns about his son’s safety came across as irrational rather than protective. It became deeply frustrating to watch Ashton freak out about his fame endangering his son while simultaneously pursuing prominent roles. Did this bother you?

Maggie: I did feel he overreacted to what the text refers to as The Incident, although I could certainly appreciate his fears. And I’ve certainly read enough interviews with celebrities who aren’t necessarily fearful but who are intensely private and who will often say that they are selling their work, not themselves.

It takes a while for our two leads to move into a romantic relationship. Once they did I would call it more heat than sweet - meaning they were moving more on chemistry than they were on a deep, emotional connection. Would you agree with that?

Caroline: Generally, I love slow burns, but I agree that their slow-burn time wasn’t spent well enough. The author didn’t use that time to build a strong foundation.

Maggie: I’m Puerto Rican and could relate to Jasmine’s experience with her culture a lot. The big family, the way traditional roles are venerated, the part food plays in celebrations and even in everyday life. The cousin relationship tends to be an important one in Hispanic families. In this story, Ava and Michelle, Jasmine’s cousins aka The Primas of Power, are her closest confidants and the primary secondary characters.

I also know people like Ashton and his family, who are all about the Island and the importance being there plays in their lives. While we don’t see as much of Ashton’s family I loved what little we got to know of his father Ignacio. I thought this aspect of the text was handled very well.

Caroline:  I appreciate that Daria transcends the stereotypes of ‘sassy girl squad’ and ‘zany old lady’ with Jasmine’s cousins and grandma, who could easily have been crammed into those niches. His dad’s great! (I’m getting old when the heroes’ dads start doing it for me…)

The most interesting representation element was the language. Recently, bilingual/multicultural authors have advocated for treating non-English words the same as English words, which means not italicizing unless the English word would be italicized, too: “Hola, Ashton,” not “Hola, Ashton,” or the Primas (not Primas) of Power you mentioned.

I liked it. Non-native English speakers play a major role in my life, and I’ve lived as a non-native speaker in other countries, and this felt natural and authentic. Did you like it, or did it bother you?

Maggie: It works fine for me either way.

Ultimately, You Had Me at Hola had charming moments but in spite of its meet-cute start, the romance didn’t work for me. I never felt a strong connection between Ashton and Jasmine, and some of her behaviors at the end of the book - especially those regarding her professional life - had me thinking she wasn’t quite mature enough to be in the kind of relationship Ashton needed. I also felt the resolution was rushed. I’m giving it a B-.

Caroline: I think B- is fair. I actually had fewer concerns about Jasmine than I did about the superficiality of Ashton, who concealed his son from the woman he was in love with and clung for decades to The Incident without introspection. His sudden 'Oh, wait! I could do this differently!’ felt too abrupt. Also, the romance/chemistry aspect wasn’t what it needs to be to warrant a higher grade.

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I grew up watching telenovelas. In a Hispanic household, they were a huge staple of weeknights in my younger days, and gathering around the TV to partake in the entertainment was just the thing to do. I remember bits and pieces of titles such as Maria La Del Barrio, Esmeralda, Pasión de Gavilanes, and La Mentira. These stories were often over the top, but also rather entertaining. To this day, I'm fond of Portuguese telenovelas—such as O Clone—even though it has been years since I've dedicated the time to watching them. But as soon as I caught a peek of the synopsis in You Had Me at Hola, I knew that reading it would be my chance to enjoy a little bit of that history.

This novel is one of those books that I consider a guilty pleasure, with which you can sit back, relax, and just spend a day enjoying without another care in the world.

The story splits its time between the real lives of telenovela and soap opera stars Ashton Suárez and Jasmine Lin. Jasmine is a rising star in soap operas with a rather messy recent breakup splashed all over the tabloids. And Ashton has made acting in telenovelas his bread and butter for years, while he supports his family in Puerto Rico—which he prefers and struggles to keep very private from his public image—and tries to make his current new project alongside Jasmine successful enough that it will hopefully give him the boost he needs to get to Hollywood.

First of all, author Alexis Daria did a fantastic job of portraying families of Hispanic roots. The close relationships that both leads have with their own, the small nitpicking fights that break out, and the fact that there are no such things as secrets because your business is shared throughout whether you like it or not (it's all in the name of familial love, don't you worry), is such a typical thing to experience in this environment. As a Cuban born and raised, I've had my share of these moments. You love them, you sometimes hate them, but in the end it's family and that's the closest thing that you keep to your heart. The representation was spot on.

Since Ashton and Jasmine first meet, and work together, because they're both actors in the remake of a Venezuelan telenovela, it stands to reason that parts of this story would take place on set while they film. What I did not expect—but was delighted by—was to actually be able to follow along with the script. It was very immersive to feel like I was behind the camera while Victor and Carmen—the two characters that Ashton and Jasmine portray—flourish in their own stories. And through them, our own novel's protagonists start to grow closer to each other. It was a great addition to the book, and made it that much more unique.

The romance that wraps around said protagonists was not without its own diverting moments. What starts off as a disastrous first meeting of spilled coffee and mumbling apologies, finishes in a sweet and warm connection and happily-ever-after for these two individuals. Ashton has his baggage, which is not easy for him to get rid of in order to let Jasmine in. And while Jasmine's own seems to weigh her down, she still has the type of disposition that doesn't allow her to turn her back on love. She's a very open and warm person, and inadvertently, she's what pulls Ashton out of his comfort zone and his shell, helping him learn to live again.

While I generally enjoyed these two—and the heat between them was absolutely undeniable—I will say that when things got a little rough near the end between them and secrets were revealed, what could have been solved with a calm conversation was tossed out the window and replaced with misunderstandings and misplaced blame. Granted, considering the indulgently diverting dramatics of telenovelas, it fit. And Ashton's show of trust toward Jasmine at the end came into effect smoothly because of this. But there was still a nagging little feeling that they didn't need to suffer quite as much as they did to reach that ending.

Paired with this, there were instances when characters would sit down to have a conversation, and rather than follow a dialogue, the author would just tell us what was said, what the reactions and resolutions were, and continue with the narrative. This was not the rule, and there's plenty of growth between the characters on their own, but these moments almost felt rushed. It was as if we, as the reader, were being hurried along to the rest of the novel.

These points aside, You Had Me at Hola does not disappoint. If you want to read a romance that will keep you glued to the pages from the beginning, will make you melt a few times, and will pack on the sexiness, this is the one for you.

This one lands as a 3.5 stars for me, rounded to a four because I am nothing if not generous.

This was a solid romance novel! I loved the casual diversity of the cast of characters and the more overt discussions of being Latinx in the entertainment industry. The discussions of the importance of diversity on screen and behind the camera was absolutely fabulous.

The story follows serial monogamist Jasmine who swears off dating after a particularly disastrous tabloid incident post-breakup. Ashton is an older telenovela star looking to make his break into Hollywood. Together they’re starring in an English language remake of a telenovela for a major streaming service, and when the sparks fly between them both on and off-screen it complicates everything.

I loved the characters in this and if I don’t see companion novels about the rest of the Primas of Power I will feel CHEATED. I felt that the flaws and strengths of both Jasmine and Ashton were particularly well-drawn and made them incredibly lovable. I also enjoyed how their flaws drove the conflict of the book, rather than random drama or excessive external circumstances. I also totally believed the chemistry of the two main characters and the steamy scenes were quite well done.

I also loved the TV behind-the-scenes aspects of the plot and enjoyed having scenes written from the perspective of the characters acting as the show. It all came together to create a really engaging plot.

However, after the first intimate scene it felt like less attention was given to building the relationship between Jasmine and Ashton. So while I really believed their attraction to one another the jump to love felt a lot less earned. This felt particularly egregious when both main characters have really well-drawn reasons to have attachment issues. There was a lot of talk about how intimacy with one another was “different” but not as much demonstrating of why or how. And for a romance that was otherwise so well-drawn in regards to character development, this feels like a pretty significant flaw.

Ultimately, this book is still so stinking cute and one I will definitely be recommending to romance lovers. Especially for the lovely Latinx and casual queer representation.

This was really cute and fun. Liked the main characters and their story. Similarities to Jane the Virgin throughout and you ended up loving the characters in the same way. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

For fans of Jane the Virgin with a side of steam!

I really enjoyed this book! I loved jasmine and her fiery personality. I also loved Ashton and his more reserved nature. During the acting scenes you could see more and more of his personality come out! The two of them were such a great pair!

This was actually the first book I've read by Alexis Daria, believe it or not. Her other books are on my TBR but I haven't gotten around to it yet. This one was really enjoyable.

The chemistry between the two in this book was awesome. I also want to say that the use of lubrication during the intimate scenes was a plus for me. I want those types of mechanical stuff to be talked about more in contemporary romances. Let's normalize that!

One thing I didn't care for was the interludes that were basically the scenes they were filming and they were written in the characters they were playing perspective. I don't know, it just felt like it did nothing for me.

Did find them both to be frustrating in their stubborness at different parts. But I was glad that it all worked out in the end.

*I received a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

You Had Me At Hola is very sweet. I appreciate that, and I like the fact that both main characters are so so deeply involved in their families. The author also does an good job with their characters and their chemistry. The love scenes are lovely. But the conflict at the center of the narrative didn't work as well, so I was not as charmed by this book as I expected to be.

Every reader has their pet peeves and for me it's a lack of communication and the exaggeration of obstacles that could be easily dispatched. The male love interest is suffering from some historic trauma and that hampers the relationship quite a bit. His emotional difficulties aren't really dealt with until the very end, however, and the female protagonist is dealing with her own blocks. There's a lot of melodrama as a result but the underlying causes aren't given the attention needed for me to see them as real.

I was so lucky to have gotten an ARC of this on NetGalley. You Had Me at Hola drew me in from the first page. My family are big into telenovellas and this was a such a fun premise for a modern romance. The diverse Latinex cast of characters, the unapologetic Spanish, the humor, the discussions about Hollywood culture, consent, the cost of fame, and representation were *chef's kiss.*

The side characters were just as funny, punchy, and vibrant as the protagonists and I was just as invested in them as I was the main characters. It was such a fun book with substance behind it and a great love letter (and not so subtle hint) as to all of the reasons WHY we need more representation on screens, in books, and (for the love of all that is holy) more Latinex romances and romance writers.

I can't wait to read more by the author. 4.5 well earned stars!

This book is glorious. That’s it. End of review.

Okay, okay. Here’s more…You Had Me at Hola is witty and emotional. It’s full of nuanced characters and vibrant, interconnected families. It’s layered and complex but it’s also bright and fun. Jasmine and Ashton are telenovela/soap opera stars who play love interests in a new series they each hope with launch their careers. The glamour and the drama and the gossip and on-set life…it’s really fun to read. In fact, I was nearly as into the story of Carmen and Victor (their TV roles) as I was the rest of the book. It was like a two-for-one romance within a romance. But the heart of this book in grounded in the emotional work of each MC as they make their way to each other.

Loved this book. The cover is pure, colorful FIRE. And it comes out on August 4th which happens to be my mom’s birthday so *maybe* it’s going to magically arrive on her doorstep that day. Don’t miss this one!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading about characters that reminded me of myself. I loved visiting the world of Telenovellas. It reminded me of so many afternoons watching them with my grandma!

I didn't really like that the book switched between real life and the script from the show. It was also pretty disappointing that each character only had their issues (PTSD and alcoholism) mentioned in the epilogue. It just felt like throwaway facts.

The book was hilarious though, definitely earned its rom-com description.