This was a first time author for me and I really enjoyed this book! I loved the dynamic and story. The romance was sweet and the characters were relatable! It was a sweet and fun summer read too! Highly recommend this one!

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for the DRC of Takes One to Know One! All opinions in this review are my own.

Although Takes One to Know One is labeled as a romance, it is more about Daniela discovering herself and grieving for her father.

To be honest, I didn't love the romance aspect. It takes about halfway through the book to even hint at starting and it's hard to fall for Rene when you have been listening to Daniela's thoughts the whole time about how arrogant he is. What I find with a lot of hate to love romances is that they spend so much time being annoyed with each other and miscommunicating so that by the time they get together, it wasn't believable.

However, I loved the setting of Puerto Rico, the descriptions of food, and hilarious situations Daniela gets herself into throughout the book.

Daniela is risk-averse, blazer-obsessed, and likes to be taken seriously. So when she lands an interview for a publicist position at a record label, she’s prepared for anything. Except for working with the genre of music she hates reggaeton. It's supposed to inspire sensual hip-swinging dance moves and Dani’s hips do not swing—not like that anyway. Out of desperation, Dani lies and says she loves reggaeton. But not only does Dani get the job, she gets a ticket to Puerto Rico . . . on a mission to clean up the scandalous image of international reggaeton singer Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez.

Despite her best act, Dani’s dislike of his music and Rene's prickly disposition is palpable, resulting in them butting heads at every turn. Yet as the two spend more time together under the island’s sizzling sun, Dani realizes there’s more to Rene than his rough edges and good looks. The man that many only see as a sex icon actually cares about his music, community, and culture. Against her will, she slowly begins finding him harder to hate. And before she knows it, Rene is teaching Dani how to find the rhythm of the music and learn to let go. But will she ever be ready to acknowledge the heat growing between them and put her heart on the line?

Loved the characters and the plot. Will recommend to others

Ayeeeeeee THIS BOOK!!!! 🥰

When I saw Lissette Decos had another novel coming out, I was thrilled because I absolutely loved her debut novel Ana Takes Manhattan.

This is a story about Dani — a girl navigating life, grief, a break up and trying to put one foot in front of the other. The record label she works for puts her on a project to launch a solo album for their upcoming reggaeton artist. Here’s the thing, she hates this particular genre of music and knows nothing about it. Enter Rene, “El Rico” Rodriguez.

This is a very slow burn, so don’t expect love at first sight. I know a lot of people complain about slow burns, but it worked here. Throughout the book you get to know each character, individually. You see growth on both sides and I appreciated it. My favorite part of the story was seeing Dani connect with her dad’s Puerto Rican roots through song and the love of country.

I know I’ve said it before but books that you can relate to, from a cultural perspective, just hit different. I smelled the air at the beach in Puerto Rico, tasted the alcapurrias and danced to Renes songs through the pages of this book.

Thank you @lissettedecos for crafting stories for people like me — those who know and love our land through our parents stories, but have never had the chance to step foot there. Por favor dime que you have more books in the pipeline!?!?!

¡Muchas gracias to @readforeverpub for the e-Arc!

💭 Do you like Reggaeton? I love Nicky Jam 🥰

#TakesOneToKnowOne #PuertoRico #RomanceNovels #Cultura #LissetteDecos #ReggaetonRomanceBook

dnfed

not my jam but could be someone else’s. I just didn’t click with it from the beginning and the writing style wasn’t for me.

I greatly enjoyed Lissette Decos’ debut novel, Ana Takes Manhattan, and I’m happy to say I enjoyed this newest one as well! I thought this was one of the cutest romances I’ve read this year! I am not a fan of Reggaeton music but after having read this I found myself wishing there was an album to go with it- I actually tend to feel like that with every book I read that’s about a musician or group, but that’s a thought for another time.
I loved the inside look into the workings of putting an album together and the publicity that goes with it, but what I really loved was the beautiful setting of Puerto Rico. I have only ever been to San Juan, and then only near the cruise port, so getting what felt like a private tour of the island of Vieques elevated this to another label.
I also loved that every character was just lovely. While there were flaws, of course, there wasn’t any tension in not liking a character. Dani, the protagonist, was so down to earth and real that it made connecting with her easy.
I am looking forward to reading whatever Ms. Decos writes next. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an advanced copy of this. I’m sorry it took so long for me to get to it. Takes One to Know One hit the shelves on April 1st.

This one looks like the perfect beach read and is super cute for those who are looking for a slow burn and no spice!

Uptight publicist Dani would rather wear blazers than dance to reggaeton—but when a new job sends her to Puerto Rico to clean up the image of sexy superstar Rene “El Rico” Rodriguez, she’s forced out of her comfort zone. As the island heat rises, so does the tension—and maybe something more. Turns out, finding the rhythm might mean letting go. 💃🌴✨

This one was just not for me but I know it will be for a lot of others! Perfect to sit by the pool or beach with.

This was my first experience reading something by this author and I also enjoyed this as an audiobook. This story is pure tropical escapism with a beat—and I enjoyed every second.

Daniela is the kind of heroine who sounds as tightly wound as she is written: polished, practical, and hilariously out of her element in the world of reggaeton. The narrator captures her voice perfectly—authentic, crisp, anxious, but with a warmth that deepens as her character grows. And Rene's character was also well done. The narrator's range gives him the perfect balance of edge and vulnerability, making their push-pull dynamic even more electric.

The Puerto Rican setting comes alive in audio, the rhythm of the language being portrayed so well. The tension between Dani and Rene builds with every charged conversation, and when the banter turns to intimacy, the chemistry is chef’s kiss.

This isn’t just an enemies-to-lovers rom-com—it's funny, sexy, heartfelt, and oh-so-listenable. If you're looking for an audiobook with heart and heat, you've come to the right place.

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Dreamscape Media and am voluntarily leaving my review.

The cover of this book is gorgeous, and it is a great visual for how beautiful Puerto Rico is described in the story. I really liked Dani and Rene individually as characters, but I never really felt a connection between them.

Dani’s journey through grief and exploring her culture is incredibly heartwarming and one of my favorite parts of the story. I also enjoyed seeing Rene open up more throughout the story and show more of his true self.
It never felt like there was much of a spark between them though. It seemed like their individual storylines, especially Dani’s, were more prevalent than the romance. I think this book would have been better as a contemporary fiction book, because if I hadn’t been expecting the romance to be the main element I think I would have loved this!

I still enjoyed it - but definitely adjust your expectations going in.
Thank you to Forever & NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

This one started off intriguing but it just didn't give me enough. Not enough Puerto Rican culture outside of the surface level tourist stuff. Not enough reggaeton. Not enough romance.

This book falls into the same trap that so many of my most anticipated releases this year have fallen into: Mismarketing a contemporary fic as romance. I enjoyed it more once I processed my disappointment in this not being an actual romance and decided to enjoy it for what it was. Also enjoyed getting to explore Puerto Rico culture and music as a profession.

I expected a fun enemies-to-lovers rom-com, and while it definitely delivered on that front, it also gave me a heartfelt story about reconnecting with culture, processing grief, and finding your voice. The reggaeton angle added a unique layer, and I appreciated how Decos treated the music as something meaningful, not just background noise. Dani starts off a little uptight and out of touch, but her growth throughout the story feels real and earned. Rene is more than just a hot celebrity—he's grounded, thoughtful, and deeply tied to his community, which made their connection so much deeper. And Puerto Rico? It was practically its own character. Warm, vivid, and full of life, the setting added so much heart. If you're into romances with depth, music, and a strong sense of place, this one’s a solid pick.

I wanted to love this, really, I did but it was just okay. The setting was stunning, and the cultural richness of Puerto Rico was beautifully captured. The island, the food, the people, it all felt so alive on the page. But the romance? That’s where things fell flat.

I came in expecting a good enemies-to-lovers arc with banter and romantic tension, but it lacked spark. There was some build-up and longing on Dani’s part, but then we get one quick kiss, some clothes shedding, and a fade-to-black. I don’t mind closed-door romance, but this story needed more emotional or romantic payoff to justify the relationship.

Dani was a great lead, but her arc got repetitive, and her final choices lacked depth. Rene, unfortunately, remained surface-level, which made it hard to believe in their romance.

Overall, this was a beautiful story in terms of setting and cultural backdrop, but the love story didn’t land. I liked it, but I kept waiting for it to give me more.

Thank you Forever Pub for the eARC via Netgalley.

Daniela pretends to know Rene ‘El Rico’ Rodriguez to keep her job. She doesn't like the reggaeton music he's known for and what she knows about him she got from her little sister. But, Dani must sacrifice to ultimately get what she wants. Only she didn't count on Rene seeing right through her lies in the beginning. Nor did she see spending time in Puerto Rico anywhere in her future. Yet here she is managing Rene's recording in PR. As they spend time together in PR, they each discover the real people behind the facades. Suddenly, Rene is taking her to all the places mentioned in her late father's song and she's discovering that his public persona is nothing like the private one. They start living for themselves while falling in love with each other. But like all romances, there's conflict between Dani and Rene that may ultimately break the bond they have. No worries, there is still an HEA.

I love a good book that includes diverse characters. They are the ones I most identify with and reading a story with that perspective gives life. The characters's personalities in this book were relatable. There is so much about pleasing your family and not wanting to rock the boat with them that I so relate to. It's tough to want things for yourself without feeling guilty for wanting them which made me see myself in Dani so much more.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

As a Cuban/Dominican Latina, I’m always searching for stories that reflect even a fraction of our culture, our roots, our joy. Takes One to Know One didn’t just reflect it—it celebrated it. This book felt like both a love letter to Puerto Rico and an embrace of what it means to reconnect with your heritage.

Daniela is a record label publicist whose career forces her out of her comfort zone and into the world of reggaetón—and straight to Puerto Rico, a place she’s never been but that holds her father’s history. I loved seeing her slowly open up: to the music, the island, and to Rene, the reggaetón artist she initially butts heads with. Their romance builds from tension to trust, and what started as a “just get through it” job becomes a deep, emotional reconnection—not just with each other, but with culture, grief, and identity.

Watching Daniela soften, honor her father’s memory, and embrace the music she once dismissed felt real to me. And Rene? A soft reggaetón star who brings her to all his favorite places and makes her feel seen? Yes please.

This wasn’t just a romance. It was a reminder of how powerful it is to see our stories on the page. And how healing it can be to come back to your roots—even if you’ve never physically been there.

Read if you love: enemies to lovers, rediscovering your identity through culture, music that brings people together, and a Puerto Rican backdrop that shines.

Huge thanks to the author, NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for the ARC—all opinions are my own.

I'm not sure that I would categorize this as a romance. It really felt like women's fiction to me.

The romance felt a tad meh to me. There wasn't much chemistry I feel between the two main characters. There wasn't really any angst to their relationship despite physical attraction.

The author did a wonderful job portraying the island of Puerto Rico. I felt like there wasn't much depth to either character. Renee was very basic to me and didn't have much to him. I didn't really care for him and I found myself not really caring about either of them.

I feel the author really lost the romance aspect here and really developing good characters for the romance. I think the author focused so much on the Latinx community and island which was amazing but lost the actual depth of the book for romance.

3/5 stars

A fun, tropical, slow burn romance. If you’re looking for insta-love, insta-lust, or a spicy read, than this book isn’t for you. I wish there was just a little more lust or pining between the characters for how slow of a burn this was

Thanks to Forever for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review! Takes One to Know One is quite a slow burn and unfortunately, not the kind I really enjoy. I found myself bored with the pacing and craving more pining between the main characters. There were moments in the story I enjoyed related to the music scene and the setting and some of the side characters but I had a hard time connecting to the central romance plot. I think this is a me thing- if you are a big fan of that Mariana Zapata style slow burn journey, I think that you’ll really like this!

I was really excited for this one, and I enjoyed the read. The setting (Puerto Rico) is definitely a character in this book. It made me want to catch the next flight there.

I didn't really feel like there was a lot of romance. There were small moments, but it left me feeling like it was a slow burn that gave me very little of them as a couple.

I did enjoy the story of Dani navigating her grief and finding herself throughout the book. For me, that was the core of the story and something I really enjoyed. I think eldest daughters will feel seen reading this.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I love the setting of this book, and that the MMC, René, is a sexy reggaeton star, however Dani, the FMC, started to bug me a bit with her up tight-ness and the lack of communication she and René exhibited. My biggest pet peeve is the miscommunication trope, so that’s the main reason I didn’t give it a full 4 stars, plus I really wish we could have gotten more insight on René’s character as well.

Overall It was a cute book, and parts definitely had me swooning, giggling and kicking my feet! I just needed a little more depth to the characters and their romance.

Thank you Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.