Unfortunately this was not a favorite for me. I think it was part me and part the book that was the problem. On the one hand, I read the first two in this series years ago when these romances were more my speed, and this one didn't hit. On the other hand, there were many aspects of this book that really annoyed me. The frequent descriptions of peoples looks, clothing, decor, etc. was unnecessary and felt juvenile. Ava got on my nerves so much. Girl go back to therapy!!! Her thoughts were illogical and I wanted to yell at her. Also WHY did Roman give a lap dance to her MOM?????? Hello????? I am so sorry I did not like this.

I love it when I read a book and I like it so much that I need to go and read the author's backlist and this is how I felt after finishing this book. I liked the fling aspect and the chemistry between the main characters was instant. The fmc is a school teacher who recently got a divorce and the mmc is a millionaire who is always on the go and successful. When they meet it's only meant to be a one-time thing and of course, it's not and they start a fling.

I loved the diversity and Puerto Rican representation in this one. He fell first and wanted to explore a relationship but the fmc didn't because of her family and divorce. I thought the MCs were so cute especially when the mmc told her that one of the conditions of the fling is that he gets to spoil her. The steamy scenes were hot and everything about the fling was hot. At times I did find the fmc not wanting to tell her family and anyone about the mmc frustrating but I understood it. Loved the wedding plot between her friends and can't wait to read the other books. Thanks to Avon for the arc!

Read for:
- Latinx romance
- Secret fling plot
- Millionaire CEO mmc x teacher fmc
- Newly divorced fmc
-Tight-knit family and friend group

My review: This is charming, Grown Adult romance with a healthy dose of instalust between two characters you get the sense are just starting to let go after years of trying to do the right thing. There's a lot of comfort in a read like this, and a lot of vindication in seeing Ava especially navigate messy family dynamics. By the end, you feel genuine joy in reading both Roman and Ava blossom as people in their thirties and forties, romantically and otherwise.

If you know me, you know I'm trash for a one-night stand and not just because it's an early sex scene (and it was! there was a penthouse suite and a pool involved, and it was HOT)— to me, it sets up the couple's early chemistry, but since chemistry alone obviously can't sustain a relationship, how do they make this work? Ava is a somewhat neurotic, relationship-averse middle school teacher who was very suddenly dumped one day, and is still dealing with judgement and gossip from her family. No wonder she insists on a no-strings relationship with Roman— something I always think is funny especially when the hero is SO TRAGIC about it. Do I think this was dragged out a little too far, especially when Ava insisted on dating Roman secretly despite being a grown-ass woman who technically shouldn't have to answer to anyone? Sure, but it's a very... white American viewpoint I'm espousing, and I know all to well the expectations that come with being a part of an immigrant family, first-gen, second-gen, or otherwise, and Ava here is definitely feeling it.

Roman was the perfect counterpoint to Ava— he reminded me of something Adriana Herrera said about romance heroes sort of being "just Ken" in the relationship. Their heroines are out there doing the good work, the tough work, and they're here to rub her feet, feed her food, and dick her down, yk. That isn't to say Roman doesn't have his own stuff going on— he's a very typical (only) son of immigrants, a striver who had the added burden of feeling like he needed to take care of his mom and sister from a young age since there was no father figure in the picture.

The sex: Like I said, I'm garbage for a one-night stand and Ava and Roman's first time did not disappoint— yes it was hot but it was also just really ROMANTIC the way Roman eased Ava back into things and made her feel like it was okay to voice her desires, something that continues throughout the book.

BUT my favorite scene by far was probably him eating her out from behind in a very tense, "what if someone catches us" moment followed by a door bang.

Overall: I'd strongly recommend this to any romcom reader. It has a little bit of everything: glamorous locations with a wedding backdrop, hot sex, messy families. Alexis Daria knows how to write a good contemporary that doesn't take itself too seriously (see: Roman's bachelorette party lap dance), but still gives you this feeling of romantic and emotional catharsis.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Pub Date: May 27th

ok so brutal honesty here. I actually enjoyed this book. It was steamy and filled with characters that we have enjoyed from previous books. I liked the romance between Roman and Ava and I liked watching them both grow personally through their relationship. BUT this book had no business being 512 pages long. None. Anything over 400 is too much and something needed to change here. Good story. Nice romance. Way too long.

As a Latina, Ava and her family dynamics are so relatable. I loved how she’s a character written in her 30s and how Roman is in his 40s. I don’t want to give too much away, but this was a 5 star read for me.
I knew I was going to love this book from the moment I read the synopsis. I couldn’t put it down! It had me giggling and laughing, especially with some of the cheesy lines. It also had me a little sad and angry at times too. I ate it up! I’ll definitely be picking up the first two books in this series! Thanks to Netgalley, Avon, HarperCollins and Alexis Daria for sending me an e-arc of this book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Passion, family chaos, and one irresistible hotelier

Alexis Daria delivers a steamy, heartfelt romance packed with no-strings-attached, forced proximity, best man/maid of honor, and “uh oh, that’s my family!” drama. Ava is determined to keep her heart locked up after a painful divorce, but Roman—the swoon-worthy, patient, almost-too-good-to-be-true hotelier—has other plans. Their agreement was supposed to be casual, but fate (and meddling relatives) had different ideas.

The chemistry between Ava and Roman is off the charts, and Roman’s unwavering devotion had me swooning. However, Ava’s reluctance dragged on a bit, making her emotional journey a slow process. The family dynamics were rich and entertaining, though at times they overshadowed the romance—I wanted more one-on-one development between Ava and Roman. But Family dynamics are always fun, especially when I can see my own family in Ava's.

This book had me tearing up, laughing, and fanning myself in equal measure. If you love sexy, emotional romances with strong cultural roots, Along Came Amor is a must-read!

Huge thanks to Alexis Daria, Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the ARC! ❤️🔥

I had been waiting for the third primas of power book for years! I was stalking her Instagram and checking the website to see when this book would come out. I really enjoyed it and it was worth the wait! I appreciate when one of the characters is emotionally mature and can help with resolving conflict. The family trauma and ingrained beliefs were relatable which made some of the plot lines more frustrating because you just wanted them to snap out of it! But I think that’s what made it a great book. The 🌶️ was !!!!!! & very much centered on female pleasure.

It was definitely a page turner and I always look a book that goes back and forth between perspectives for the reader. I also enjoyed the plot twists that came up and the cultural references.

Overall thoroughly enjoyed! 3.9 ⭐️

Ava has just finalized her divorce and is at a conference for educators. She is so used to doing everything expected of her but when she meets Roman the millionaire owner of the hotel she's staying at finally decides a no string attached hook up is just what she needs.
With this being the third book in the primas of power series, I was very excited for Ava's story and especially to meet her man and was not disappointed. Roman is perfect book boyfriend material in everyway. What disappointed me about this story was sadly Ava. She continues to try to sabotage their relationship at every turn caring more about her families opinion than her own feelings and it became exhausting after awhile. She also kept secrets from the primas which was disappointing but not unexpected. I'm sad the series is over and wish it didn't end on this note.

This was an amazing conclusion to a terrific series. One of the reasons I loved the Primas of Power series is how each book dives into the dynamics of latine families. Each one of the primas have to deal with a different aspect of growing up in a latin american family. This series is mainly romance, yes, but it has an engaging emotional plot. As a reader, I was truly invested in the characters' emotional development.
Also, it was so refreshing to read a romance book without a third act break up! I am an avid romance reader, but I am so annoyed at the "cake recipe" style of writing so many contemporary authors have: romantic pair starts as rivals, overcome their diferences, have a two-four chapter honeymoon phase, break up or miscommunication, one or two chapters or reconciliation. Epilogue if we are lucky.
I appreciate how mature and realistic the conversations between the main characters sounded. Will definitely recommend the book at my store.

Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria is the conclusion of the Primas of Power trilogy.

Ava, the “perfect” one, has finally settled her divorce from Hector. Struggling with her identity as Old Ava vs New Ava, she makes a reckless decision to go after what she wants in a one-night stand. Or so she thought. Roman is a hotelier who works non-stop, but Ava has him wanting to clear his schedule. A no strings attached agreement becomes complicated when Ava’s Abuela and Tías get involved while planning Jasmine and Ashton’s wedding (from book #1).

I’m not gonna lie, I’m sad to see this series end, but Daria wraps up all the loose ends which is much appreciated! Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Alexis Daria always hits! This authors books have the best amount of humor, romance and family in them! They make me giggle and swoon! This cover is so adorable and the book is delicious!

I really enjoyed the first two books in the series and so I was happy to see that this book with Ava‘s story was coming out. And I did really like the story of her and Roman falling in love and putting aside their issues and working through them and coming out stronger. But the book was easily 200 pages too long. There’s absolutely no reason why I needed to go on for 500 pages. There were whole pages that just seemed like I was sitting in a therapist office listening to somebody psychoanalyze somebody else. And I get that some of that was necessary for the characters, but 500 pages of it was just far too long. There were many pages that I was just skimming over because I just didn’t want to read about their internal monologue anymore. I’m sad to see these sisters get their ending and I wish I felt better about this book.

exy, romantic, and love-affirming conclusion to the series.

Middle-school teacher Ava needs a change in her life. When she gets news that her divorce is final, she decides to embrace "New Ava" and takes herself out for a drink at a swanky hotel bar. There, she meets charming, handsome Roman, who happens to own the hotel. One thing leads to another, and Ava and Roman are having a no-strings fling. Roman immediately wants more from this intriguing woman, but Ava is reluctant to jump into any that would expose her to further heartbreak or her family's teasing and gossip. While they continue to have occasional hook-ups, Ava is happy to keep him her secret--until it turns out that he's the best man at her cousin's wedding, where she so happens to be the maid of honor. Now, Ava will work to keep her romantic and family lives disentangled, even as she and Roman fall in love.

At times, this was a frustrating romance. Ava, putting up a barrier as soon as it seemed like she and Roman made progress. Roman, being patient (for the most part) and so calm and adult about it as he continued to try to give her what she needed. It seemed at times like an unequal balance, like she was taking too long to catch up. That said, while Ava did seem to have the greater work to do on herself to overcome what was holding her back with Roman, her family, and herself, he did some soul-searching to become better at being present and supportive of those he loves. (Though to be fair, he was already almost too good to be true from the start.)

Just when I'd get almost fed up with Ava--"c'mon, already!"--she would come to a realization or open herself up more to Roman and I'd be right back in it with them. And it didn't hurt that they had wonderful chemistry, in and out of bed.

All in all, Ava felt realistic as a people-pleasing perfectionist who has "failed" at love and marriage, and who needs to leave behind unrealistic expectations and the critical voices in her head to be in an adult relationship.

I did tear up a few times here, so I would definitely recommend this to someone who wants an emotional read, and to watch two people become better versions of themselves for--and because of--the person they love. Plus, if you were a fan of the first two books in the series, you'll spend plenty of time catching up with Ashton and Jasmine (You Had Me at Hola) and Michelle and Gabe (A Lot Like Adiós).

Along Came Amor delivers a steamy, emotional romance with the perfect balance of passion and heart. Alexis Daria once again proves she knows how to craft a compelling love story, blending culture, family, and sizzling chemistry.

Ava and Roman’s “no strings” agreement had all the makings of a fun, carefree fling—until fate throws them together in the most unexpected way. I loved Roman’s devotion and how he wasn’t afraid to challenge Ava’s walls, but I wished she had shown more emotional growth earlier in the story. At times, her reluctance felt repetitive, making it harder to fully invest in their journey. Roman is the definition of book boyfriend too, and I absolutely adore him.

The family drama added a rich layer, but it sometimes overshadowed the romance, which left me wanting more of Ava and Roman’s relationship development. That said, the tension, slow burn buildup, and undeniable chemistry kept me hooked until the very end.

If you love steamy, heartfelt romances with strong cultural influences and a dash of family meddling, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Thank you to NetGalley, Alexis Daria, and Avon for the eARC of this book.

Be still my heart, this book was FANTASTIC! I know the third Primas of Power book has been a long time coming (and I have been not-so-patiently waiting for it), but Alexis Daria truly knocked it out of the park with this one! The wait was so worth it.

Along Came Amor follows the third (and final) prima of power, Ava Rodriguez, a middle school teacher whose life has not gone according to her (carefully organized) plan. A chance encounter with a handsome stranger, hotelier Roman Vazquez, on the night her divorce is finalized leads to a one night stand, something Ava has never done before. But one night is not enough. Soon, Ava and Roman strike up a “no strings attached” arrangement with her family none the wiser. As the two spend more time together and the more they connect, they learn that amor sometimes comes along when you least expect it.

It should come as no surprise that I loved this book. I have been such a huge fan of the other two Primas of Power books (You Had me at Hola and A Lot Like Adios) and consider those some of my comfort reads. Alexis writes in such a way where you cannot help but fall head first into the story and in love with the characters.

Ava and Roman felt like real people to me and had me so emotionally invested in their relationship from the start. The chemistry between the two of them right off the bat was as hot as a blazing inferno. Normally, I am very anti love/anti lust, but Alexis Daria had me changing my mind as I was reading this book.

I loved Ava’s character growth and how Roman repeatedly encouraged her to be brave, step outside her comfort zone, and believe in herself. In fact, I found Roman to be one of the best male protagonists I have ever read in a romance book. I also loved his character arc and how he balanced his role as the CEO with his family life (Ava included).

I am so sad the Primas of Power series is done but am eternally grateful to Alexis for writing them. I have laughed, cried, and swooned within the pages of each book in the series. These books have been some of my very favorites to read, and to have experienced such beautifully written romance novels that center Latinx love has been an honor.

If there’s one book to preorder this year, I highly encourage you to make it this one. You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

title: Along Came Amor

author: Alexis Daria

publisher: Avon

publication date: May 27, 2025

pages: 512

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: divorce

summary: The day Ava's divorce is finalized, she's at a teacher's conference and decides to go to the hotel's bar and let the universe lead her way...which it does, to buying a horrible lemon drink that makes her wince. The face she makes attracts a man who turns out to be the hotel's owner. She follows her desire into a one-night stand with him. To her surprise, he turns out to be the best man at the upcoming wedding of her cousin, for whom she's the maid of honor. Despite wanting to be with Roman, the hotel magnate, she doesn't want her family to know about him because of how they treated her after her divorce.

tropes:

unlucky in love
he's self-made and super-rich
ex is getting married
one night stand turns into something real
family is everything and too much

what I liked:

great cousins and friends
spicy romance
he's genuinely a good guy

what I didn’t like: the book should have been MUCH shorter. At 300-ish words, this would have been a total joy, but Ava spends too much time fighting against something that's not enough of a barrier.

overall rating: 3 (of 5 stars)

3.5⭐

Después de un desastroso matrimonio, Ava no quiere entablar una relación con nadie. Sin embargo, cuando conoce a Roman, empieza a dudar. Como no puede alejarse de él pero no quiere enamorarse y volver a sufrir, hace un trato con él: una relación sin sentimientos, es decir, su relación se basará únicamente en lo físico. Pero no contaba con que Roman no estaría de acuerdo con el trato y que haría lo imposible para demostrarle que quiere algo serio y que nunca la abandonará.

Mi calificación iba a ser de 3 estrellas, pero me encantó Roman.

Odié a los familiares de Ava; era imposible que la pobre no desarrollara traumas y miedos con sus hirientes comentarios.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a remarkably touching and poignant book. I have read both books 1 and 2 in the Primas of Power series and thoroughly enjoyed both; however, this is my favorite book. It was my favorite because not only can I relate to Ava, in a way that feels like we are friends, but also because this book has so much emotional intelligence. The story was compellingly written, exploring how the events of our lives can affect every aspect of our behavior. Ava has had a rough go in the arena of love, but Roman was the perfect antidote. I loved getting to know Ava inside and out, and Roman is the ideal counterpart for Ava in every way. This was such a good book, and I cannot say enough good things about this story. I was engaged and engrossed in equal measure and look forward to new stories from this author. Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis
Along Came Amor is the third, and final book, of the Primas of Power series. This book focuses on Ava just as she closes the chapter on her marriage and wonders what lies ahead for her. Roman is a self proclaimed workaholic who has worked his way up from the throes of poverty and abandonment. Their two worlds collide in an unexpected way. Their hookup seems like a one and done but is that truly the end of their story?

Review
I was so excited for this book after reading the first two. Unfortunately, I was not as impressed as I was with You Had Me at Hola or A Lot Like Adios. Firstly, I had a hard time connecting with the MFC. She was whiny, annoying, and her reasoning sucked beyond measure. She played the role of martyr through over 90% of the book (and that’s not an over exaggeration because I checked). She constantly pushed away the people who supported her while embracing the people who put her to shame. It was such toxic behavior that I wanted to climb through the book and throttle her. Girl needed therapy badly! Honestly, I think the book could have been about 100 pages shorter because it was repetitive. I was so exhausted by Ava’s constant rationalizing that it made the book feel like it was dragging on and on. The book felt too long. It’s over 500 pages where its predecessors were each under 400.

What I liked
I loved Roman as a MMC. He was patient and kind even when he was nearing the end of his rope with Ava 🙄. I also enjoyed hearing more about Jasmine and Michelle who were featured in the first two books. There were some funny bits here and there as well.
The ending was redeeming but I’m not sure if even it was enough. I love Alexa Daria’s books but this one just missed for me.

Overall rating: 3.25⭐️

Oof, this felt a little too close to home in some ways. I've loved this series from the start, and I was so happy to see Ava as a heroine. Because of my own personality/background, Ava's particular brand of putting all of herself forward and needing something completely separate from family in order to feel like it would work was...intense. But Alexis Daria did an amazing job of taking this very real and difficult issue and weaving it together with humour and a beautiful love story. If you loved the rest of this series, you'll love this one too. And if you cried, laughed, and loved along with the family Madrigal in Encanto? You'll probably love this as well (though this one is definitely not rated PG ;)).