Marisol is such a dynamic character. She starts out the book so lost. She is not quite sure what to do. Everything that she thought she had has been ripped out from underneath her. Truly she knows what she wants to do, but is seems like the acting world won’t consider her for the types of roles she wants. So, when her now ex says she could never play a dramatic role she jumps at the chance to prove him wrong. Getting the role though is only half the challenge as she has to move to a new state spend time with a family member she really doesn’t know and then has to try and fit her personality to be more like what the director is hoping she should be. Can Marisol figure out truly what she wants before it is to late.
This is a beautiful book. Watching Marisol grow from the start of the book till the end is truly a delight. Her journey to solidify who she is not only in her private life but her public one as well is just beautiful. Readers are going to enjoy joining her on her self-discovery story.
Thank you so much to Random House Children’s and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Marisol Acts the Part by Elle Gonzalez Rose was a super fun YA Sapphic contemporary reimagining of Legally Blonde!

I had the absolute best time reading this book.
I am such a sucker for YA romance and this book is no exception.
This book sucked me in from the beginning and kept me interested. It was a quick and easy read, the characters were lovable and just so much fun!
It was super easy to get into and the flow was very quickly paced so the reader almost had no choice but to embrace it before they were swallowed up by the plot. 

Thank You NetGalley and Random House Children's | Joy Revolution for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you to the publisher for this arc!

This book follows Marisol as she navigates the aftermath of her boyfriend breaking up with her. He says that they are going in different directions, and he is trying for more serious roles, unlike her. So she lands a role at a high-profile show as him. It was a fast read. I love Marisol. She was trying her absolute best for her role. For some reason, I felt this book could go on for longer. I don't know; I was so deeply invested, or I wanted more from this book. I enjoyed the light moments between Jamila and Marisol. I am so happy this book did not have a love triangle moment. I might be checking out this author's backlist.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Marisol Acts the Part by Elle Gonzalez Rose is a first person-POV YA Sapphic contemporary reimagining of Legally Blonde. Marisol has been on the teen drama Avalon Grove since she was fourteen and has been dating her co-star, Miles, just as long. But when Miles ends their four year relationship at a public restaurant and implies that her career isn’t going anywhere, Marisol tries out for a part on the same limited series Miles is set to have a starring role in. At try-outs, she meets Jamila and her feelings start to shift.

I wouldn’t call this a romance because I classify romances as being about the romance and the couple’s story and this really felt like Marisol’s story as she’s at a crossroads in her career with her relationship with Jamila more of a B plot. There also isn’t a ton of progression for their relationship until about 40% in and I expect that to be closer to the 25% mark in a romance. The romance itself is on the softer side and isn’t a perfect one-to-one with the romance in Legally Blonde. While Marisol is an Elle, Jamila is not an Emmett and that lets their romance feel different while still having the important hallmarks.

The Legally Blonde aspects come through strongest in specific pieces of dialogue (like the ‘What, like it’s hard?’ line) and in how much Marisol loves pink and fashion and the more self-centered aspects of her personality while still being thoughtful. It’s a very hard character to write because it is such a balance to strike otherwise the character can feel insufferable. The biggest twist is not the change to Hollywood and TV dramas but that Marisol isn’t auditioning in order to get Miles back. She doesn’t try to chase him; she’s more concerned about reinventing herself because she’s been struggling to move past being typecast.

The Hollywood aspects don't take place in Hollywood as the drama is filmed in New York. They aren't so much focused on the glamor of it all and are instead focused on the loss of privacy and the slow escalation of abuse that can happen on a set by a director. Marisol's director crosses multiple lines, but she's too afraid to say anything because of what she believes the role could do for her career and other people have been through similar things with the same director but didn't really speak up. Because Marisol is a young Puerto Rican Sapphic, she's in an extremely vulnerable position when it comes to speaking up. She doesn't reflect on that as much, but it's impossible not to infer given what we know about racism and Queerphobia in Hollywood.

I would recommend this to fans of Legally Blonde and YA and readers of Sapphic romance looking for a YA contemporary with an interracial relationship

This was such a cute story! The vibes are like Legally Blonde if Elle had fallen for Vivian, with multiple nods to the movie, and I am here for it. I loved Mari; she is unapologetically pink and feminine and queer, and she is a real girl's girl. Her relationship with Jamila is so sweet and I loved both of them.

One of my most hated tropes is miscommunication so I'm very happy to report that the characters in this book actually talk to each other instead of making assumptions! I'm awarding a million bonus stars to the author for writing a compelling story without relying on tired tropes. Seeing characters have real, productive conversations with each other made my heart so happy.

Marisol's drive to challenge herself by taking on a role that felt out of her league is admirable. At eighteen, she's at that intersection of being a teen living with a parent while also being a legal adult, old enough to make her own decisions but young enough to get grounded. I loved following her growth throughout the story, and her decisions and reflections felt realistic for a young adult.

The side characters were great and I loved all the queer rep! This book was so sweet and heartwarming, I loved it and highly recommend if you enjoy sapphic stories, celebrity romance, and Legally Blonde.

Legally Blonde, make it diverse and Sapphic and about shooting a TV series. This is a fun, sweet rom com that highlights how awful the acting industry can be to people, but it's wrapped in a family-oriented romance. I love Marisol's family so much. She's surrounded by amazing people who never let Marisol forget that she's loved. This book is a perfect sweet romance for teens.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

This is a very cute and quick read. I loved the romance between Marisol and Jamila. Marisol is put through the ringer but she comes out on the other side stronger than ever.

didn't love how marisol wanted her ex back so badly but did love that this was sapphic and talked about the abuse directors can inflict on sets and that culture of behavior in hollywood

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I have read all of Elle’s books and can say this is my favorite. I loved Marisol. She was unapologetically herself and I can see younger people looking up to someone like her. She and Jamila were absolutely adorable. I liked Marisol’s unique look at family and how different hers was. Her friends were also so sweet and supportive. Everyone in her corner was on her side and ready to fight for her. I liked how this was Legally Blonde because that is one of my fave movies and I could almost see it in my head as I was reading. Besides all the cute romance, this goes into the predatory nature of Hollywood and how abusive directors can be. This book made me smile so much and I absolutely loved it. Reading it in one day wasn’t even a challenge cause it was so good.

WHAT, LIKE IT’S HARD? 🎀 This was so so cute and tell me why I was tearing up at the end?! Fell so in love with everyone in this book (except the two who shall not be named, IYKYK).

THE VIBES:
💄 legally blonde but make it sapphic and diverse (!!!)
🎬 teen actors navigating toxic sets & early adulthood
🤭 unconventional families with so much love
💅 iconic drag queen moments
🌆 NYC backdrop with all the city vibes

P.S. this is me formally making a plea for an Eli Rowan spinoff thank you 🙂‍↕️

TYSM to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC. 🩷

Thank you to NetGalley and Joy Revolutions for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was really a cute little rom-com.
This book is basically Legally Blonde but make it sapphic and honestly what more could you want? Marisol has just wrapped on her career breakout teen tv show and has no prospects when her boyfriend of four years breaks up with her and tells the press it was because they were going in very different directions, insinuating that his was more "serious" acting roles. This pushes Marisol to try to get on the same show as her now ex-boyfriend where she learns to push herself and tries to find a way to believe in herself again.
This book also has a couple of underlying themes that it tackles including family dynamics, homophobia in Hollywood, and abusive workplaces all of which I think were fairly well done here, if a bit compressed and overly simplistic. The book just didn't have the length to fully flesh them out, I don't think. But I feel like keeping them simple was the right move here either way in order to keep the story light.
I really liked Marisol and her struggle to prove herself. I think every woman has felt that at some point in their life because of the patriarchy that we all suffer from. So it's definitely a relatable character goal and I liked watching her push herself and then gain confidence when she realized that she actually could do something that she never imagined she could. I loved watching her confidence grow to the ultimate realization that she didn't need to prove anything to anyone else as long as she believed in herself. It's a very noble theme to pursue.
I also loved Jamila and her relationship with Marisol. They were so sweet to each other and always made space for the other. They communicated so well and listened to one another. It was really refreshing and beautiful to watch them fall in love.
I think the biggest downside here was the lack of support Marisol had in her life. She didn't have anyone in her corner telling her that she was good enough to do that show, instead everyone was second-guessing her, even her mom and her agent who she was closest to throughout the novel. Both of them kept telling her she could give us and come home. And I understand that they wanted her to know that it was okay to give up, but they should have also been telling her that she could do whatever she set her mind to. Even Elle Woods in the original Legally Blonde movie had her sorority girls cheering her on while she studied to get into Harvard. But that was missing here and it was sad to see. I wanted more female solidarity than what was given honestly.
Still, overall, this is definitely one that I would recommend to anyone looking for a cute sapphic rom-com and especially if they enjoyed Legally Blonde.

Lights, camera, bisexual chaos! Marisol Acts the Part is a swoony, sapphic rom-com bursting with charm, queer joy, and the kind of heart that makes you want to scream “YES, QUEEN” every five pages. Elle Gonzalez Rose has delivered the ultimate YA celebrity romance fantasy, and I would like to personally thank her for it.

Let’s talk Marisol Polly-Rodriguez. She’s the definition of extra in the best way—witty, dramatic, slightly messy, and 100% aware she’s the main character. After getting dumped by her ex (a floppy-haired, insufferable “serious actor” named Miles 🙄), Marisol decides to prove she can be just as legit… by landing a role on the same show as him. Petty revenge? Iconic. Necessary? Also yes.

But the real scene-stealer? Jamila. Leading lady. Magnetic. Actually talented. And oh-so-unexpectedly swoonworthy. Their chemistry? Sparks. Banter? Off the charts. And the slow-burn realization that Marisol might be falling for the girl in the scene instead of the script? Chef’s kiss. 🎬✨

This book gives you everything:
💅 Enemies-to-lovers energy with castmates
🎭 Over-the-top Hollywood antics
🌈 Bisexual rep that feels joyful and authentic
❤️‍🔥 Sapphic yearning in shared dressing rooms
💬 Lines that should win awards, tbh

It’s also quietly powerful in how it tackles self-worth, ambition, and the way people dismiss teen girls—especially Latina teen girls—as unserious, even when they’re doing the most. Marisol doesn’t just want to be seen—she wants to be taken seriously, and her journey to owning her identity as both a romantic lead and a real artist is so deeply satisfying.

TV Teen Queen gets dumped by her longtime on and off screen boyfriend at the swankiest eatery in Hollywood. Cue the paparazzi! Cue the gossip rags and online haters. Marisol is an 18 year old of Puerto Rican heritage who needs to prove she can do more than sappy teen rom-coms, so she gets a part on an award winning Netflix drama series that just so happens to be the same show her ex is starring in. No worries! She is ready to move on especially when she meets her beautiful co-star Jamila.
Since the show films in NYC, Marisol has to move across the country to live with her estranged father and his longtime partner in their already cramped five story walkup apartment. Marisol Acts the Part by Elle Gonzalez RoseIt is a story of reconnecting with family and culture. It is a super sweet sapphic YA romance that also addresses the perils of a toxic workplace.

love the romance, the entire story throughout feels quite natural and interesting, and the setting is super awesomely done. would definitely recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I truly loved this YA bisexual Hollywood actress comeback story that has Marisol getting dumped and then cast on the same show as her ex only to find herself falling for the newbie female actress on set. There was a lot of misogynistic workplace BS Marisol had to deal with and some family drama but she gave off such great Elle Woods vibes and I was totally here for it. Great on audio, this is a new fav by Elle Gonzalez Rose and a great read for Pride Month. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This was such a cute story! I loved the characters, especially that the main characters were LGBTQ. Thank goodness that Marisol was bi, because bi erasure definitely happens. I loved the plot line and how everything came together in the end. This will definitely be a repeat read!!

This one unfortunately didn’t work for me. I think the fame part of the plot that was promised in the premise didn’t fully come to fruition or felt slightly underwhelming, which was disappointing.

Oh my goodness!! This was TOO cute and I read it in less than 24 hours! Here’s the thing: if a book was inspired by Legally Blonde, I have to read it. That’s the rule and I kicked my feet in delight with all the callbacks, ESPECIALLY when there’s a “what, like it’s hard?” mention.

What starts out as a plot to get revenge and prove her ex wrong, Marisol’s journey quickly turns into one where she learns her worth and stops allowing herself to be conformed by others. As women, there are too many times when we’re told we’re “too much” simply for caring or diminished because of the things that bring us joy, and I love how Marisol finally took a stand against this and didn’t allow those jerks to snuff out her light. I really appreciate how even though the broke up, Marisol and Miles still maintained their supportive friendship and celebrated each others’ accomplishments.

The romance between Marisol and Jamila was soooo sweet and swoony! And the buildup to their first kiss was full of suspense and there was no shortage of fireworks when they finally did kiss!

This was absolutely delightful! 💖

Marisol Acts the Part is basically Legally Blonde but if Elle fell for Vivian—and honestly, what more could you want? It’s funny, flirty, and full of heart. Marisol is chaotic in the most lovable way, trying to prove she’s a “serious actress” while accidentally falling for her beautiful, talented co-star Jamila.

There’s drama on and off set, a terrible director you’ll love to hate, and so many adorable moments that made me smile. The sapphic romance is sweet and genuine, and the whole thing feels like a warm hug with a side of behind-the-scenes Hollywood chaos.

So, so cute and fun. Highly recommend if you’re into messy girls, queer romance, or just want something that’ll make your heart happy.

This was such a cute story! A sapphic spin on the Legally Blonde archetype, it follows 18-year-old Marisol, a successful young actress who decides to audition for the same TV drama series her ex-boyfriend is joining — who also happens to be her former on-screen love interest. After he breaks up with her and tells her she’s “not serious enough,” she sets out to prove she is.

Marisol loves pink, has a dog named Bruiser, and is all about fashion — but this isn’t just a surface-level makeover story. What I love is that while it nods to a classic, it fully stands on its own. Marisol’s voice feels so authentically 18 — emotional, bold, a little messy —but even at 27, I still found myself relating to her journey.

One of my favorite elements was watching her reconnect with her Puerto Rican roots. While staying with her father in New York to work on the show, she gets to explore a side of herself she hadn’t really known — trying tostones and other dishes her white mom never quite managed to make. Still, both sides of her family show up for her in meaningful ways. The representation was joyful and layered: her gay father, her drag queen stepfather and cousin, her cultural rediscovery — I loved every moment of it.