Papo Vega is at it again! And this time he has help from Doña Fina, former Miss Puerto Rico, and current co-conspirator to get her granddaughter to give her “boy toy” a second chance in Natalie Caña’s Sleeping With The Frenemy.

Sofia Maria Rosario Santana and Leo Vega have secretly hooked up for a decade. And with Sofia’s return from a year in Paris, and her vow that she was done with Leo before she left, their grandparents decide some gentle nudging is needed to rekindle the relationship. So when Sofi needs a free place to stay, Leo conveniently has a spare room. Then they rescue a dog who just so happens to be outside after they were told to take out the trash. There’s plenty of forced proximity and opportunities for Sofi to see Leo shirtless, and then the heated glances turn to kissing!

It would not be a Vega family story if everyone wasn’t in each other’s business, and Kamilah’s wedding to Liam (from book 1) is the perfect setup to throw Sofi and Leo together while they hide their attraction and try to figure out how to pursue their dreams when they’re both at turning points in their careers.

I saw a lot of myself in Sofi — raised by a single mom, ambitious in her career and education so she can overcome her upbringing, plus the fractured relationship with her dad — it was A LOT but that made me love the story more! Leo truly steps up for Sofi and knows they’re meant to be together even when they’re both pushing each other away. They’re both Leos so it’s no wonder they can’t resist each other.

I’m hoping this isn’t the last we’ve seen of the Vega family. I need to know if Papo Vega and Doña Fina officially become “more than friends” and what’s the deal with Alex and Gabi’s mom returning plus the theater and Chord Bailón???
Whatever @nataliecanawrites does next, I’ll be there!

- second chance
- antagonists to lovers
- best friend’s brother
- Afro-Latina FMC/Puerto Rican MMC
- moderate steam
- WDTK? Chapter 7

Thank you to @_mira_books_ and @harlequinbooks for the e-ARC in exchange for a review.

Amazing book that redeemed Leo and Sofi for me! Loved being able to see both perspective as they navigate their lives and circumstances. full review found here = https://www.tiktok.com/@stephawithbooks/video/7427277488230862110

Sleeping with the Frenemy is hands down my favorite installment in Natalie Cana’s Vega Family series. This book is messy, spicy, and everything you could want in an enemies-to-lovers, best friend’s brother romance. While each book in the series shines on its own, I highly recommend reading them in order for maximum impact—this one is just that much richer when you’ve journeyed with these characters from the beginning.

Natalie Caña has a true gift for weaving family, friendship, and community into every love story she writes, and Sleeping with the Frenemy is no exception. Leo and Sofi’s frenemies-with-benefits past takes a complicated turn when she returns from Paris and they’re thrown back into each other’s lives (and apartment). With unresolved hurt and a magnetic attraction simmering between them, their banter and undeniable chemistry make every page a delight. Their flirty nicknames and playful sparring only intensify the tension—Caña really knows how to build a slow-burn romance that’s both heartfelt and scorching.

Family is, as always, at the heart of this series, and Abuelo Papo’s antics with Sofi’s grandmother, Doña Fina, add humor and warmth. Their low-key matchmaking schemes introduce us to the lovable Tostón, who completely steals the show!

Sleeping with the Frenemy is messy, real, and everything I love about romance—it’s a story that pulls you in with relatable characters and keeps you hooked with its depth and charm. The Vega family will forever have a special place in my heart. This was by far a top read for me!

I could be having the worst day(s), when I pick up a Natalie Caña book is seriously like a warm hug. I just love them. They are funny, witty, the banter is always great. There is always thoughtful intentional representation that is absolutely incredible.

Leo and Sofi have been hiding their relationship from everyone since they were teens -or so they thought- after the events that happened in book one Sofi was once more getting involved with the Vega’s. This time if abuelo Papo and abuela Fina had anything to do with it Leo and Sofi would get together for good. Leo, being his abuelo’s twin flame of course was like sure why not. I’m down for scheming.

I loved the dynamics, the chemistry between the MCs was great, and the rest of the cast was superb as always. I will absolutely be reading more by this author.

NATALIE!!! MAAM you put your whole foot in this book. I was giggling and squealing and smiling so much. I loved the feeling of this book and I was so happy to be reading a Latina author! Truly a work of art. No notes or changes !

4.5 stars

This series keeps getting better and better. The author has woven such a rich tapestry with not only the Vega family but their whole community. Of course, my love of this story was helped by the knowledge from previous books that Sofi and Leo had a secret love story and I wanted to know more. This book can be read as a standalone, but even if you can’t read them in order I would suggest you read them all. As I said, the world being built is bright and beautiful.

Both of these characters are stubborn. So, so stubborn! To the point of frustration. They may be grown adults with years of on-again/off-again with each other, but they both have so much to learn about themselves and a lot of self-reflection to do. Through it all their chemistry is palpable and I wanted to mush their faces together. They have a connection when bickering, in bed, or just sitting in the same room.

One of the things I love and appreciate about this book is the many aspects of family that are woven into the story. Big families, single-parent families, made families, and multi-generational families; are all represented in a positive light. To Sofi, the Vegas are her family. She was raised by her single mom and is very close to her, but she loves the extended community she gets with the Vegas. That is one of the things that has always held her back in her relationship with her best friend’s brother. In this story, Sofi learns that blood doesn’t negate love.

I’m not a fan of a couple who fights more than talks and, I’ll be honest, I was afraid this book would end up like that. It didn’t. Sure, Leo and Sofi had their fights. And their third act break up was a doozy that had my heart hurting. Yet they also had a lot of fun and tender moments.

With as much as I’m seeing this author grow as this series progresses, I cannot wait to see which couple gets their HEA next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and MIRA for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

rounded up from a 4.25-4.5 star

Sleeping with the Frenemy is the third book in Natalie Caña’s Vega Family Love Stories which means we finally get to see what Leo and Sofi have been up to.

When we last saw Sofi, she was reeling from the fact that Kamilah, her best friend and Leo’s sister, lied to her for years about a decision that ultimately changed the course of her life. The hurt she feels leads her to call it quits with the entire Vega family and puts an end to the secret on-again, off-again relationship she and Leo have been in for years. After a year abroad, Sofi is back home and ready to mend things with the Vega family. And now that she’s back in Leo’s life he is determined to get a real chance at a relationship with her.

I love a second chance romance and Natalie Caña delivered with this one!! Leo and Sofi have hurt each other in the past and some of that pain still lingers between them but their chemistry is undeniable. The Spanish dirty talk is perfection 🥵 and their character arcs are beautifully done.

And we can’t forget the stars of the show; Papo and his new partner in crime Abuela Fina (Sofi’s abuela). Papo is always a scene stealer but these two are so fun together!

I love the Vega family and this community that Natalie Caña has created and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

I LOVE the Vega family and the richness of the culture represented. The characters are full fledged and I enjoyed spending time with them. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel like I got enough time with the couple alone. There’s was too many side characters constantly around with the dog, and the wedding plans. I ended up losing interest and skimming the rest. 2.5 ⭐️ rounded up.

I will go back to read the second one though since I loved the first one.

Normally I'm a complete sucker for a second chance romance but sadly this one sort of missed the mark for me. I definitely can understand how people loved this book and I will still recommend it to a lot of my friends but unfortunately the miscommunications, the characters egos, and what I felt like were really poor choices took away from me really loving this story. I was glad to see Leo and Sofi get their love story I just didn't really enjoy the journey. I will add as a side note I really thought the author did a beautiful job discussing Leo's ADHD within the story!

Secretly former on-again-off-again lovers turned frenemies forced to room together while preparing for the best friend's/little sister's wedding? It's the perfect recipe combined with the author's strong storytelling skills that made this entertaining and spicy romance so enjoyable.

Leo and Sofia were likable and well-developed main characters. Their desire to find a career that made them happy and feel like they had a purpose was relatable. As independent and self-assured as MCs may seem, their personal, familial, romantic, and professional journey has been anything but smooth sailing. But I loved how the deep, close-knit bonds and unwavering support between the Vegas and Santanas helped Sofia and Leo discover what they truly wanted for their lives and each other.

A story of reconciliation and forgiveness, "Sleeping with the Frenemy" will leave readers believing in the unmatched power of love, friendship, and family.

Thanks again Mira, HTP Books, and NetGalley for the e-ARC to read in exchange for an honest review!

Sleeping with the Frenemy was a sweet story; full of pleasant surprises and swoon-worthy moments, but also very thought provoking. I loved getting to experience the culture and different family dynamics. The main characters, Leo and Sofi, had an interesting history with each other, but taking things to the next level was more challenging than they expected, imo. I found myself equally frustrated with Sofi but also empathizing with her dilemma - she was broken, seeking validation from her father, which poured over into her relationships. Leo was patient, I think he wanted Sofi in any form she would allow but he too was in need of validation. Leo always felt that he was handled with kiddie gloves from his parents, even going as far as almost injuring himself to be a firefighter to prove a point. The book was easy to follow, and the characters were developed throughout the story. I felt the love and chemistry between them - and the spice was much appreciated. I enjoyed this story so much and brownie points for Leo and Sofi taking in the doggie, I was swooning!

I did not expect this spice from Leo and Sophi. They def brought what was needed. I was really happy to see the growth from Leo, even tho he was still a pest at times, he def grew up a lot from the previous books. I didn’t think I would love him and Sophi together but I actually did. They brought out something good from each other. Of course the grandparents always gone bring the funny lol. They def make the Vega series sooooo much better. This book did not disappoint at all.

I am simply obsessed with the Vega Family, this series, and all of the characters. Natalie has built such a rich, diverse, funny, sweet, spicy world in Humboldt Park and this was such a great addition to the collection.

Leo and Sofia are on fire! Their young adult frenemies, best friend's brother, with benefits to lovers is literally to die for. Both characters are also kind of a hot mess, so there's that too 😅They help each other grow up and find themselves during some pivotal changes and moments in their life. I loved their chemistry, the bickering, the way they can read each other's minds 🥵🥵💀 It has all the dynamics of why falling in love with someone you knew since you were kids is my absolute favorite trope!

The Vega Family, and specifically Papo Vega's meddling, is just as present in this book, if not the most of all 3, and it's one of the biggest reasons I come back to this series with each new book. As a white, cys woman, being able to learn about Puerto Rican history, some fun Spanish phrases (thanks Kindle translate), the Puerto Rican community in Chicago, Latino family dynamics, while reading a fun and steamy romance is why I love reading, this genre, and why representation matters.

I highly recommend this whole series for anyone who wants to add more diverse writers and stories to their TBR, or who like most of us, just enjoys sweet, sexy, funny, romances ❤️

I enjoyed this book. It was sweet, fluffy and romantic to be a great palette cleanser. I will be checking out more titles from their author

Natalie Caña’s Vega Family series has grown on me. Centered around a Puerto Rican family and community in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago, the books in this series feel alive. The romance is the central relationship in each book, but they happen with in the context of family and friendships. A Proposal They Can’t Refuse sets the scene with the family restaurant, El Coquí, meddling grandparents, and the younger generations’ mission to fight gentrification and strengthen the existing community. A Dish Best Served Hot continues the theme of community building and meddling elders. Sleeping With the Frenemy wraps up some of the loose ends from Proposal, but I hope we get many more Vega Family love stories.

Sofi declared herself done with the Vega family when Kamilah revealed that she had lied about why she didn’t go to Paris a decade earlier. In cutting off the Vega family, Sofi also ended her secret off and on situationship with Leo Vega. And then she took a year to do the world traveling she had thought she would do with Kamilah years before. While she was abroad, Leo was shot, damaging his shoulder and possibly ending his career as a firefighter.

I’ve been anticipating Sofi and Leo’s story and was so happy to read it. Sofi and Leo are both at points where their lives aren’t going the way they wanted. Sofi quickly makes amends with Kamilah and is welcomed back into the Vega family, though Leo is unwilling to jump back in to their secret situationship. Enter the meddlesome elders, Papo Vega (a three time offender as a meddling matchmaker) and Sofi’s Abuela Fina. These two know that Sofi and Leo have feelings for each other, and need to be thrown together repeatedly in order to acknowledge it. Meanwhile, there are professional futures to sort out, family expectations to work through, fears to face, and a puppy to raise.

Be prepared for all the feelings. A bad father gets dealt with, family misunderstandings are worked through, and friendships are healed. Caña is not afraid to go hard on the third act break up. And she needed to get some stubborn character to look beyond their noses. It’s fantastic.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Harlequin and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

I was ready to LOVE this couple because I just knew they would be so entertaining and overall, I did enjoy this addition to the series, but I didn't love it.

I think my biggest issue was that it often felt like we weren't really getting enough time with Leo and Sofi actually being together. There was a lot of drama around things going on in Leo's life and there was drama around things going on in Sofi's life and of course their dealing with the wedding but all of this this never left time for just Leo and Sofi establishing and relearning each other after their year+ apart.

Overall, I love this series and there are some really great things here:
-Afrolatine rep
-ADHD Rep
-Chronic Pain Rep
-Best friends brother
-Secret relationship
-Papo Vega's excellent meddling

Thank you to Netgalley and Mira for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I always love when you get to check in with couples from past books, so that was an added bonus. Sofi and Leo's story was spicy and sweet and the tension between them was chef's kiss. I didn't love the third act break up, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book overall!

I have been waiting for Leo's book. Natalie Cana knows how to write a rom-com. This second chance romance is filled with banter and tension. I had so much fun reading this book

The Vega family finale !!
Sofi & Leo are my fave couple in this series. They are messy & chaotic. Reckless & passionate. Relatable & real af.
I love me a childhood sweetheart second chance romance! This was so well done with many complex layers of friendships, family, heritage & even some professional development.

I saw myself in Sofi more than any of the other ladies & I loved how much she grew over the three books! Her growth felt intentional & I want to see her win. Leo is such a loverboy. His smoldering moodiness & sexy little tantrums scream Scorpio. lol

I laughed. I cried. I had to fan myself from the spice. This was so well done. If you don’t know the Vega family. It’s time to get acquainted.

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin for this ARC!

Another fantastic book by Natalie! The banter, the secret, the plotting grandparents!! Everything I love in a romance