Workplace romances are always risky, heck even workplace friendships can be risky from my experience. But when the person you’re interested in can affect whether or not your job exists, that’s not a good mix.

I loved the characters in this story, and not just Julia and Rocco, but all of the Exiles, Julia’s family, the Sturm twins, and Rocco’s sister as well. The sense of fun, affection, found family and belonging was so strong throughout the book.

This was also a very realistic book. Both Julia and Rocco are aware of why they should stay away from each other and avoid any entanglements. They both face the possible issues of their relationship head on and know that things may not end favorably.

Both characters have their flaws and baggage from their pasts, though I feel like Rocco’s baggage was a bit heavier than Julia’s, maybe because she has such strong familial support as well.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to my next Adriana Herrera read!

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I think of women'sfiction, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels. This is a perfect book to snuggle up with on any day.

Such a heartfelt and charming story! I could not stop smiling the entire time I was reading it. I love both Julia and Rocco. Their playful banter and subtle flirting was a joy to read. I also loved the relationship Julia has with her crazy but loving family. It was fun learning about both Dominican and Puerto Rico culture too. The book also dealt with bigger issues such as family dynamics (blood and found), social and work issues. I really enjoyed this book and I am hoping that others in the Gotham City Exile group will get their own books too.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Harlequin Trade Publishing for giving me a copy for.a honest review.

"Here to Stay" by Adriana Herrera was truly a delightful read. This book affirmed my love for workplace Romances. I loved Julia and her passion for her work, it was inspiring. I found her dynamic with her family heartwarming and compelling. The workplace romance is certainly the main aspect but many things go with it such as the depiction of different family structures. I cannot get enough of romances that display the dynamics of Latine families. Julia's family was lovely and I enjoyed how they were supportive but also flawed. Herrera makes sure to also depict that not all families have healthy relationships and the work it takes to overcome generational family trauma.Then we have found family, which is a trope that I enjoy reading, and how as you grow older and make a life of your own this type of family can bring comfort. The novel's investment in depicting these different types of family dynamics made it much more than just an office romance. I liked the dual POV from Julia and Rocco because each voice was distinct and they had arcs besides the own in their workplace. The pace of the romance itself was good as well. I feel like in some others that I have read it develops really fast, but this one had a steady pace despite both characters being attracted to one another from the very start of the book. I cannot wait to read the next installment and wonder who it will focus on! Hopefully we get to see Julia and Rocco again because their dynamic was very sweet.

I was enraptured by Julia and Rocco's chemistry. Their banter is quick witted and punchy, and I found myself wanting to return to them moments after having put story down. I'll definitely be reading more from this author.

This was actually my first Adriana Herrera and it won't be my last. I really enjoyed this cast of characters and loved reading a few chapters each night to wind down before bed. There were a few things that I had to suspend my beliefs for (like the crappy co-worker that for sure would have been fired long ago) and the annoying people you love to hate, but the Gotham Exiles were fun and I just really enjoyed these characters. I'm sad it took me so long to finally read it!

I started reading the book, but was not drawn in & decided not to continue reading. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book, but it unfortunately just didn't work for me to continue with it.

Due to various concerns, I am unable to fairly review this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Here to Stay.

I loved the Dreamers series, but I couldn't get into this one. Maybe because there was less slow burn. Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

Fantastic book!
Really enjoyed the main characters as well as the secondary ones. The feelings I got throughout reading were so good. The whole "found family" aspect really got me.
The food? Yes! Julia's family? Adored them all!
I hope there will more from the side characters in this book. I want them all to get their HEA's.

I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this, but Julia and Rocco's inability (or refusal) to communicate fully with each other got on my ever loving nerves! But their romance and chemistry felt real and intense, the friend group in the book is phenomenal (I sort of want a book for each and every one of them), and the issues discussed are so real and relevant. Rocco is the perfect combination of sensitive and strong and Julia is the kind of woman I want as a bestie IRL. While this is not my first Adriana Herrera book, it did solidify her as a must read author for me and I can't wait to see what she gives us next! 4 out of 5 wine glasses.

A workplace romance with enticing characters with real chemistry, this book was a fast but enjoyable read.

This is a difficult one for me because I love Adriana's books, but even an OK book from her is wonderful. As always, she creates wonderful found families.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The language was a little much at times and had me feeling like abandoning it a few times. But once I got past that it was good. Not a book I would have picked up on my own.

I absolutely loved this book. The chemistry between the main characters was perfection. Adriana Herrera wrote and wonderful romance.

3.5 stars Fun, quick to read. But I could not get into the overall story. It was cute of course, as contemporaries are, but eh.

Here to Stay is a fun, sexy contemporary romance About starting over. I love stories with found families and this book had a great one.!

FULL REVIEW ON FRESH FICTION

HERE TO STAY by Adriana Herrera is an emotional, heartfelt, and fun contemporary romance. Having two hardworking people admit their attraction to the other early on, fight it for a while, and then finally, deliciously give in to their desires was refreshing--it was easy to see from the start that Julia and Rocco wanted to be together. The Gotham Exiles is a delightful group of great friends who know exactly when Julia and Rocco need to be teased about their growing relationship as well as when they need to be supported through hardships. Hopefully, they all get their own love stories! Julia’s loud and loving family was wonderful; it was clear they wanted the best for Julia and welcomed Rocco with open arms, knowing he was right for her. Rocco’s family story was more fraught and his strained relationship with his parents and his need to make sure his sister and niece were all right was heartbreaking because it hindered his ability to fully open up to Julia and see his own self-worth. The details about the department store’s IPO started to muddle a bit, but the scenes where Julia was at work with students and families in need were great and gave insight to her character. Adriana Herrera’s love of New York City is clear and added an authentic voice to the Gotham Exiles, but anyone who has felt homesick will relate to missing home. HERE TO STAY is an entertaining and heartwarming romance!

I have to say that I liked the friend group (though they felt underdeveloped a little) and the family dynamics (though Rocco's was a little tragedy porn-ish) but the actual sex scenes....no. We follow two people from New York relocated for work to Dallas, Texas. Which is fine. The cultural representation of both places was good. The MC, Julia's family was great and I enjoyed their interactions. The work Julia did was important and the messages contained in her story arc were good. I liked the couple outside the bedroom for the most part.

But if that man SUCKED HIS TEETH one more time I was gonna be sick. I dry heaved, a lot. And what's with a confident woman actually asking a man who was clearly enjoying performing oral sex on her "doesn't the smell gross you out"? Because, what!? What grown man is saying yes to that? I can't. Their out of bedroom relationship was very cute pre sex and then turned into aggressive dirty talk out of nowhere. It was jarring and unsettling, to be honest. Again, the themes of loyalty, family, and friendships were good but the actual sexual side of the romance...hard pass. The romance itself--that was fine. But who hates the sex scenes in a book? That's not the way it should go.

Julia, a Latina Queens native who has recently relocated to Dallas, is a social worker at a foundation for a family-run, luxury clothing store that is soon to go public. Her job is dependent on the report of consultant NY-based Rocco, who has been charged with deciding the best way to make the company look good in potential stockholders' eyes. But while Julia is determined to not like Rocco, the physical attraction between them can't be denied. Can they keep it professional? Is it fair to ask either of them to uproot their their (finally) stable lives for one another?

I heard about this book in a book buzz preview (Library Journal Day of Dialog maybe??) late last summer, and I was excited when I saw it on NetGalley. Took me awhile to get to it, but I'm glad I continued to remember it as a TBR. I really enjoyed the conundrum of being professional at work/relationship issues, and I'm SO glad that wasn't what caused the Miscommunication. And then when Julia's dad gives here some really great advice, I thought, "Great! The Miscommunication also won't be from lack of talking-- MAYBE the final climax (no pun intended) won't be about miscommunication at all!" Unfortunately, it was, so the four stars. Overall, it was good; I was just excited that it wasn't going to be a "typical" romance ending, and then it was, so it was a bit of a let down.